YAY summer starts Wednesday! I'll probably be able to update more often, but I help out at a summer camp for community service hours and I'll also have some soccer camps. But I'll try to update a lot! Including my other story...
Peeta's POV
I don't know what Coin wants with Katniss and I. But she is leaving Briar out of whatever she is wanting us to do, she is too young to be taken into war. I take Katniss' hand and we walk to the command center. The walk is long, but Briar is keeping us entertained with her talking, well talking in baby language. She would mumble something in her baby talk and Katniss and I would agree, I don't know what she was saying, but whenever we would reply, she sounded satisfied and would continue on.
"What do you think Coin wants?" Katniss asks out of the blue.
I don't know what I should tell her. I'm sure it had something to do with the three of us, but I don't want this to freak out Katniss. "I'm sure she just wants us to do some filming to air it in the capitol." I say. Silently agreeing to myself that this would bring comfort to Katniss on her wondering what Coin wants for now.
"She better not include Briar in this. I don't agree to anything if it includes Briar." She warns me. I nod, we were thinking the same thing.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure that Briar isn't included in whatever Coin wants." I say. This must convince her because she doesn't ask any further questions. We walk down more hallways, I'm surprised I haven't gotten us lost yet, everything looks the same. All of the hallways are the same white dull color. The only thing that shows us that we're not passing the same apartments is that the labeling in each one. "This is it." I say. Before we can enter, they must take a DNA sample and our finger print to make sure we are not impostors. I don't know who would want to impostor us because we are in hot water with the capitol right now. And it's probably the same with Coin.
After the testings, we were brought in by guards to a conference room where Coin, Gale, Haymitch, Paylor, guards and a few other important people sit. "Mr. and Mrs. Mellark, I'm glad you were able to make it along with your daughter. She is a quite a beauty." She says, if you didn't know her, this comment would make her seem like a genuinely nice person, but I know better. And I can tell Katniss knows better too by the way she tenses up. I give her hand a little squeeze to try and help reassure her that Coin won't ever harm our little girl.
"We were told to report her immanently." I say changing the subject off of my daughter.
"Yes. We wanted some more propos to air." She says. I let out a sigh of relief that Coin doesn't actually want our daughter. "But we also estimate in about two to three months time, the capitol has a breaking point." A breaking point? What does she mean about this? I'm not sure, but how does she know the capitol will be at a breaking point in a few months? "Now, you both are probably wondering how I know all of this, but all of the districts have sided with us, that means to capitol has no more imports on food or any basic supply needs. I want the both of you to start training for this. And we must have all three of you fly into District 2 tomorrow, they just recently sided with us and we need to show them how much we care. And that this was the right choice to also rebel against the capitol."
"I won't do it. Because Briar is not coming with us to District 2. I'm not putting my daughter's life at risk." Katniss snaps.
"It's either she goes with both of you to District 2, or going into the capitol and have a huge risk on getting killed during the takeover." Coin said why a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She's right, if we have to take Briar with us, it must be to safest place possible. She knows that she has the power right now and not us and using it all the way to her advantage.
Coin could tell that Katniss and I had no way to defend ourselves and Briar so we just silently agreed. "When will be leaving for District 2?" I ask Coin.
"Tomorrow. This is a top secret mission, you may not tell anyone. Including your families." Coin told us. "You're both dismissed and be prepared for an early wake up call."
Katniss' POV
I hate how Coin is able to control us right now. Peeta and I survived in District 12 for sixteen years, survived two Hunger Games and for me many months in the Capitol. Peeta and I are dismissed from Coin's conference area.
Peeta and I start the long walk to our apartment. We spend the night wrapped in each other's arms, with Briar in the middle of us. It's not fair for Briar's life to be put on the line because we are her parents. It's not her fault she was brought into this world. And that reason leads back to all of the other reasons why I didn't want to get married or have kids. I know that if we lose this war, the Games will continue and get crueler than ever. Probably change the rules making it four tributes from each district and say that every 76 it switches from 24 to 48 and say that it's in the rule book just like the Quell this year, how it was so perfectly timed that if have had to been fake.
The next morning we receive an early morning wake up call. We were taken to a dressing room by the hanger where our hovercraft will take us to District 2. The outfits we are suited in are sort of like the outfits we worn during our training sessions for our first Games, but they have more of a mockingjay feel. I can tell that Cinna made these, before we was brutally murdered, well at least I think he was murdered. I drop that thought from my mind. Peeta and I are in the same outfit while one has been made for Briar.
On the loading dock for boarding the hovercraft, I feel butterflies form in my stomach. I have no clue what District 2 holds for us. Peeta, Briar, and I are ushered onto the hovercraft by some guards who show us where to sit. The ride to District 2 won't be more than a hour. The guard explains to us that we have to visit the wounded in the makeshift hospitals to show that Peeta, Briar, and I are still going strong even though they were recently bombed.
The ride over there was mostly silent. I hold Briar close and vow to myself not to let anything happen to her or Peeta. I guess Peeta can tell I'm really tense because he gives my hand a squeeze but doesn't speak. "We are now in District 2." A mechanical voice says over an intercom. I'm completely still, too scared to move.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine." Peeta says and pecks my lips. I let out a breath and walk with a guard who is taking us to the exit of the hovercraft.
When the doors open, I'm speechless. This does not look like the District 2 Peeta and I saw on the Victory Tour. The District 2 we saw was so rich and so dignified. There was a peacekeeper training center and everyone look so healthy. And now, everyone looked so...destroyed. The people no longer looked healthy, they looked broken and damaged. But I guess that is what they are. There is smoke coming everywhere in the air, still stained from the bombs. District 1 and 2 were the Capitol pets, they got everything the need pretty much, no one rarely starved, now they're just as damaged and broken as District 12 was. "Peeta, how could they do this?" I ask him, because it's the truth, the capitol is really heartless, but this is terrible just like the Games are.
"They betrayed them Katniss." Peeta says calmly. Thankfully Briar is sleeping, even though in ten years from now, she probably won't even remember this, I still don't want her to see this awful sight.
Another guard walks up to us, "We've already double checked security, it's safe." He says, he leads us to a tent like structure, "This is the hospital, it's not much, but until we find something else, this is the best we have. The reason why we wanted the three of you in District 2, is because they need to see someone strong, like you guys. Just talk to them and tell them some plans, tell them that it's going to be all right." I hate to do that, because I'm sure that I'm lying to half of them that they won't die when they have a high chance of doing so.
Peeta and I nod our heads and are granted entrance into the makeshift hospital. When the flab door opens, what I see takes me back. People are throwing up, doctors are tending to the patients as best as they can. Even some surgeries are being preformed without much privacy. Peeta and I walk up to a teenage girl who looks distressed. She turns to look at us, she's quite stunning, dirty blonde hair (a luxury trait in District 12) and a mix of blue and green eyes, she has freckles going across her face. "Wow, you guys are really alive." She says. I can see some burns on her legs, she must have been near the bombs then.
"Of course we're alive." I say, I start to stroke her hair as a comforting gesture, it always calms both Peeta and I down, so I just assume it does that to everyone as well. "And the three of us are not going anywhere, just like you." I say, I can only imagine how much physical and emotional pain she's going through right now.
"The worst part of the Games was when you were giving birth, I thought you were going to die." She says. She was worried about me? "I remember when the screens went blank, I saw the capitol planes fly above our heads to your district in such a rush." She must have seen a lot of tragic stuff then. "And the interviews the aired when you were in the capitol broke my heart, to see you suffering so much."
"Thank you, it was hard, but I had to keep going." I say. We say our goodbyes, Peeta, Briar, and I walk away in search of more patients who need some cheering up. As we were walking to another patient, a guard tells us we have to make a public speech to all of the patients. We are lead up to a stage that allows us to overlook the vast tent and see how bad of shape some of these patients are, and it makes me feel really guilty about it. We were not given a sheet to read off of or a way we could prepare, so we just winged it.
"We're really sorry all of this happened." I say, I look over at Peeta who is now holding Briar who is starting to fidget around in his arms, I hope Peeta got a hint that I don't know what to say from here, and he needs to take over.
"We promise we'll do everything we can to end this war as soon as possible. And when we do, the Games will be ended forever." He says. We go on and on about stuff we're throwing together in our head. I hope this speech doesn't sound unsympathetic and we're not sorry this happened because to me, that is what it sounded like.
Peeta and I both walk outside the makeshift hospital, "That went well..." I hear Peeta say, I can't make out what he says next, there is this loud noise coming from above.
"Peeta, Katniss. I need you three to follow me immanently." He says. During the walk, I keep questioning him where we are going, but he always tells us there is no time. The guard has turn all of these corners, he leads us into the wooded part of the district, where hunting is considered poaching, but I doubt anyone would poach because someone would rarely die of starvation in this district. We enter the woods, I stay swift like a fox with my hunting feet. And Peeta is just as loud as normal. I remember the Games last year when we were looking for food but Peeta was so loud he was scaring away all of the Game. "You're so loud." I tell Peeta and he chuckles and punches me lightly on my arm. The guard takes us to a small log house, just like the one I sometimes go to that my dad built all those years ago.
"Why are we here?" Peeta asks once we are settled into this house.
"The spies we have in the capitol told us that the plans for the three of you to visit us made it's way to the capitol and they were sending planes to bomb the district in hopes to kill you three off." He explains.
"But how would those plans reach the capitol. We haven't told anyone, we only found out last night we would be traveling here." I say, this doesn't make sense at all.
"I have no clue, but it would have had to be an inside job for them to have found out. That conference room is high equipped and highly guarded." He explains.
"What do you mean an inside job?" Peeta says. "Someone we know, who was in the room with us when we had the conversation with Coin is a trader?"
"It would have had to been." The guard says, "I must go now, but please don't leave this house until a guard comes to get you. There's food and water under the bed." After that the guard exits the door and leaves and disappears into the woods. I say a silent pray that he makes it back safe and that everyone in the hospitals stay safe as well.
"What do we do now?" I ask Peeta who is stroking Briar's brown hair.
"I guess we'll just wait it out." Peeta says and grabs some food from under the bed. Peeta puts some nuts and berries on two plates and fills up two glasses of water. We rationed out or food since we have no idea how long we'll be here. After our dinner, we decide to get some sleep. Peeta says he'll stay up to keep guard. He still holds me in his arms with Briar in the middle of us.
The little house didn't provide us with many blankets and it's freezing. "Peeta, tell me when you want to switch and you can sleep too." I say, he nods and promises to wake me up later. He gives me a kiss on my forehead. I focus on trying to keep Briar warm because she's ice cold. I close my eyes and try to sleep. "Peeta." I whimper some, I probably sound like a little girl.
"Yeah." He says in a soft soothing voice.
"It feels like we're back in the Games. Someone is keeping guard, while the other sleeps while we are just awaiting our death. I can't do it. I just can't handle it." I say, I feel tears slide down my face. Peeta is quickly to wipe them though.
"Don't worry Katniss. We're not in the Games and never will be again. We'll all be safe." He comforts.
"But Peeta. Think about it. If we don't end this war, the Hunger Games will continue and become even worse. And I'll bet everything we have that as soon as Briar turns 12, her name will be entered more than one time. She'll be drawn and have to compete. Then her in the arena her life would be hell and then soon be killed off all why we watch and mentor her." I argue back. He doesn't reply because he knows I am right. Instead he strokes my hair and tries to calm me down.
Briar notices that I am crying. "Mama crying." She says and tries to wipe some stray tears. I smile at how caring she is at such a young age, she'll be like her dad in some ways. "Wuv Mama."
A smile spreads across my face. "I love you too Briar. And so does Daddy." I say. She smiles at that. She has a smile across her face, she looks into my eyes and then into Peeta's. She giggles some and the buries her head into the crook of my neck.
I drift off to sleep, until I'm violently awoken by an explosion. "Peeta, what's that?" I ask, I'm scared out of my wits. The peace keepers probably know where I am at and are about to attack us at any moment.
"I think the capitol found bombed the district again." He replies.
I can't help but to feel guilty because they wouldn't have bombed District 2 if they knew I wasn't here. "Peeta, who could have told them?" I ask.
He thinks about it for a second. "Well, the only people in the room with us was Gale, Haymitch, Coin, Paylor, other important District 13 people and some guards. Haymitch and Gale wouldn't tell. They both hate the capitol just as much as we do. So it could only be the guards or Coin." He says. I nod my head. I insist that Peeta go to sleep while I take guard. I take this time to talk to Briar who is wide awake.
"Briar, I love you. We promise nothing bad will ever happen to you." I say. Briar smiles at this. I don't expect a response because her vocabulary is very limited.
"Wuv Mama Dada." She says. I laugh at her voice and how she struggles to pronounceate words correctly. I open my mouth to respond but before I can do that I hear some voices and a twig snap. "Mama?" Briar says.
"Yes, baby, I'm right here. Be quiet." I try to comfort her. I pull her into my chest and I can feel some tears fall on my arm while she tries to cry silently. I don't know if I should wake Peeta or if I should just go out there and lead them away so both of them can escape. I think back to my promise almost a year ago how I vowed to give my life for Peeta in the arena and the promise I made hours ago that I would do anything to keep Briar and Peeta safe. I go with the first, but I need to wake Peeta first so Briar and him can safely escape into the night.
"Peeta, Peeta." I shake his shoulder. "Peeta you need to get up. I need you to take Briar to safety."
"What? Why?" He asks in his sleepy voice. "We are safe."
"No, no someone is out there. I need you to get Briar to safety. I can go distract them." I try to convince him.
But turns out we better make different plans because as we were fighting, someone threw a fire torch on the house and now the house we are in is engulfed in flames...