Chapter 8
I hardly realize I'm shaking until the table begins to vibrate. Upon reading the last words, Peeta shakily lies the book down on Haymitch's table. My father's horrible recounting of his hunger games has awakened mine from my memories. Instead of Haymitch's sister, I picture Rue, arms slightly outward like a bird about to take flight. Violet, Rue, Prim, all young girls a lot like each other, all murdered by the capitol's cruel ways.
Haymitch's head is resting in his hands. He's probably recounting the last farewell he ever said to his sister, at the reaping.
At last I summon up enough strength to ask the questions I have been meaning to ask this whole time, "Haymitch, why did you never say you had a sister? How did my father survive the explosion? What happened to Amaranth?"
Haymitch uncovers his face, revealing his sorrow stricken features, "I couldn't tell you about any of it. The fifty-second hunger games were completely banned from all citizens of Panem and the districts. At about the part when Leon began telling the capitol off, they cut the hunger games off the air and all screens across the nation went black. They didn't want to have another uprising. Your father, he survived the explosion with many burns that would never heal. President Snow let him live on one condition, that he should never mention the fifty-second hunger games again. As for Amaranth, she didn't make it from the explosion. When we were still children, Leon used to tell me all about how even the capitol had trouble finding all of her pieces."
Peeta flinches at the gruesomeness of it all, but I keep staring into Haymitch's eyes. The eyes I know so well.
Finally, I ask the question that has been dying to be answered throughout the whole story, "Was my father's death really an accident?"
Haymitch pauses and stares right into my eyes for a long time, "No," he says quietly, "Panem decided they should fight fire with fire. So they used the tactic that he himself used when he was 17, an explosion."
I stare into his face for who knows how long, and then I let it all out. The emotions I've been holding in the whole time. I begin to sob, and I pound the table with my fist. Why had I not known about this? Surely Haymitch could have told me.
"I never told you," Haymitch says right on cue, "Because I knew you weren't ready. You've never been ready for the real story until now."
"Haymitch," Peeta says, "You must've helped Violet in some way, I mean, she was your sister."
"I admit," Haymitch shrugs sadly, "I did send her a few parachutes."
"Thank you," I muster, "I know my father really appreciated it."
"He never talked about the fifty-second hunger games again," Haymitch says, "He was too afraid that President Snow would kill his family if he did."
"I don't have a grandfather or grandmother on his side of the family," I say slowly.
"Oh yes," Haymitch sighs, "Sea and Tarin were killed before Leon ever got back from the capitol after the games."
"Who was this 'Sarah' he kept talking about?" Peeta asks.
"My mother," I say immediately, "Her name was Sarah."
"How did she take the kiss?" Peeta wonders, a small smile showing on his face.
Haymitch laughs weakly, "We weren't supposed to mention the hunger games, remember?"
I nod. I am stable enough now to think properly, and I know what to do now.
"Thank you, Haymitch," I smile.
"Katniss, you're going to have to tell me the beginning when we get home," Peeta turns to me, standing.
"No," I say quickly, sharply, "You'll have to read it for yourself."
Peeta nods, "I see your point."
Everyone musters a weak laugh, and I stand to leave with Peeta.
As we slip out the door into the calm night, surprisingly unchanged since before, I hear Haymitch whisper after us, "You're welcome, and may the odds be ever in your favor."
THE END
Well, there you have it. Thanks for reading, everyone! I have planned and am starting to write a sequel to this, called "Muttation".
I may never finish it, so don't get your hopes up, but the more support I get the faster I'll work. (^o^)/
Thank you for reading!
-Fubukikou135