Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! I do not own Mockingjay, any direct quotes will be in italics.
Ch. 44
I'm running, I'm running, and I know at some point I must give up. I can't run forever and neither can they, but what happens when they can go faster than I? It could be seconds from now; I prepare myself for the end.
You would think that maybe I would be used to. That I had already come to terms with it before, but I hadn't, not really. I had come to terms with the death by a cut in my leg, I had come to terms with a death caused by berries, I had come to terms with a death caused by mutts, I had come to terms with a death caused by a fellow victor, but not this. Not the Peacekeepers looking me straight in the eye as they pulled the trigger that would end my life.
"Hey!" One yells at me, "You can't run for long lover boy!" I turn my head at the long lost nickname I had for only a few days. It's Cato running behind me, along with Clove, and Glimmer, and Marvel, and that girl from Four, what was her name? She liked Finnick. I mean, how couldn't she? Everyone loved Finnick.
I fall down at the memory of his death, they catch up to me, but they don't kill me. They only stop and fall down with me as if to help me.
"Peeta, it's better. It's okay." These words come out of Clove, so ruthless in her killing, where had this come from?
"Peeta, don't worry." That's when they all turn at the sounds of footsteps. They all vanish into thin air.
"Oh, Peeta, don't you know? You must die first." It's Snow who holds the gun against my forehead. It's Snow that starts the screams that wake me up.
I wake up with a cold sheen of sweat across my forehead. I see Pollux across the room also awakened by his nightmare. It wasn't an easy night for any of us really, Katniss moves around uncomfortable and Gale just sits wide-awake. I stay awake like him until it is the appropriate time to get up and start walking.
When everyone is up we go upstairs and eat the food that we had left over. After that Tigris begins to disguise us. She's pro, making us look just like the Capitol citizens that walk mindlessly to the President's mansion.
My comment, "Never underestimate the power of a brilliant stylist," seems to put a smile on her face.
Our plan is simple, to go out in three groups. Katniss and Gale in the middle, me at the end. If I see something go awry I must make some sort of diversion so they can get out. We all know it is better that I die than Katniss and Gale. Katniss must assassinate Snow, and Gale could do much more than I could. I watch as Cressida and Pollux leave. Would I ever see them again?
Katniss turns to me, her eyes lost as they peruse my face. Would I really be leaving her? She was so beautiful. From the way her grey eyes shone to the way she held herself. I don't know how I ever doubted her beauty because it was oh so evident. Her face was dirty from lack of bathing and parts of her braid were falling out in some places, but that's what was so amazing about her; she didn't care. She was going out there and risking her life for the better of our country.
I know she sees herself as selfish, but she isn't, in any way, shape, or form. She wasn't perfect, but she was what our country needed. They needed something that the Capitol had never intended, they needed their Mockingjay.
Though I didn't like that she might die today, I knew with out doubt that she had to go out there. I begin to let myself accept it.
"Listen, don't do anything foolish." She says to me in an urgent tone. I knew she felt the same way about me.
"No. It's last resort stuff. Completely." I promise her. She wraps her arms around my neck and I wrap my arms around her body and I am reminded again how tiny she is. I feel her heart beat with mine the familiar pattern of warmth and safety. I breathe in her familiar smell, it's not a sweet smell like most of the girls that would hug me way back in school, but something deep and rich, it stays with me forever. Her tough muscles wrap tighter and tighter and I do the same. I never want to let go.
"All right, then," She said before letting go of me. All wasn't right, but just right then it could've been. I want to convince her to stay, but we both know that will get us nowhere.
"It's time," says Tigris, reminding us that they do have to go. They are both gone too soon for me to call out to them.
It's a few minutes before Tigris tells me it's my turn to leave. I give her a quick hug and a thank-you before stepping out into the cold frigid air.
Out into the unknown.
Surprise! A special treat to you guys for Katniss' birthday. It was also because I got 2 really nice reviews and it made me want to write more! I really really really liked that last chapter! Please your feedback does help!
Don't forget to REVIEW on the way out! Thanks! ~boywithbreadlover