Keep the reviews coming peeps! And happy new year!
Jane POV
I've never been in a hovercraft before. But right now the rev of the engine is giving me a headache.
Her voice always gave me a headache. But now that I'm free of her, it feels like she'll never leave. She affected all of us. Finn sits in his seat across from me deep in thought, looking out the window, eyes looking slightly glazed over. Peyton just looks out the window sitting away from us.
I need to walk. I get up ready to leave the room.
"He'll come around." Haymitch's voice says from behind me, it makes me jump.
"How do you know?" I ask.
"I've seen this kinda thing happen before." He gazes off as if in memory. "Go talk to him."
"But what if he doesn't like me?" My voice shakes. Tears threaten to overflow.
"MJ, I saw this exact same thing happen with his parents when they were your age. Look at them now. At least Peyton didn't try to kill you." Then he mumbles something to himself about how he should have been more cautious. "We'll be there in an hour. These things are fast. Go make use of your time alone." And with that he walks away.
I take a deep breath and walk over to Peyton. He doesn't acknowledge me as I sit across from him.
"Hey Peyton." I say.
"Hey." He doesn't even look at me.
"How are you holding up?"
"Fine."
I play with my thumbs.
"You happy to be going home?"
"What's with all the questions?" He finally turns to me.
"I'm just trying to make conversation." I reply a little defensive.
"I don't feel like talking right now." He gets up and starts to walk away.
"Then what do you feel like doing right now?" I ask angrily getting up to follow him.
"None of your business." He walks faster.
"I'm your gir-… friend. Talk to me please!" I yell.
"I said no!" He stops abruptly, whips around and brings his hand down on my arm to restrain me.
The feeling of his skin on mine is electrifying, but the pain from the healing wound overrides it. I let out a squeak. His harsh expression changes instantly from hard and cold to soft and gentle, like the old Peyton.
"Jane?" He questions.
My eyes meet his. He leans in closer as if to get a better look at me. His snow gray eyes suddenly flash a darker color and he shuts them tight. He lets go of me and starts backing up.
"I… no." He mumbles, then falls to his knees.
"Peyton." I start over to him. But he gets up like nothing happened and turns to me, eyes still closed.
"No." He says. No? What did he mean now? Then he turns and walks into a room.
Something happened. Something happened just then that I can't quite explain. But one thing I know for sure, something that refueled my hope, even if it was for a second… I had Peyton back.
An uncontrollable smile breaks on my face. I actually giggle to myself. For the remainder of the trip I think of ways I can get him back.
As we near the district I walk back to the main room we all started in where Finn was sitting. But he's not alone now. Haymitch is talking to him. I can't help but overhear though I probably shouldn't.
"Listen kid, things are different back home."
"What do you mean?" Finn asks.
"It's not my place to tell you."
"At least give me a hint?"
Haymitch huffs. "It has to do with Katrina."
Finn leaps up then. "What?! What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong. She's fine. More than fine."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Finn is getting defensive.
"Nothing, just sit down and let me finish."
Finn sits back down, eyes open wide and on the edge of his seat.
"She's healthy, but she's changed a bit."
"What do you mean?"
"That you have to find out for yourself." Haymitch says, then gets up and leaves. Katrina's changed? Peyton's fiery spirited sister with a voice like silk? How did she change? Ha, wouldn't it be funny if she was pregnant? I laugh at the thought, but dismiss it cause that's not possible; she and Finn are smart enough to avoid something like that. Plus Mr. Mellark would castrate Finn. I laugh out loud.
"Jane? Something funny?" I hear Finn ask.
"Nope." I say, then go sit down with him watching the world below us pass by at immense speed.
"We shall be landing soon. Please buckle up." We hear the Captain say over the intercom. "Welcome home." Finn and I buckle up and watch from the window as we pass over the outer gates marking the edge of District 12, not long now until we land. The hovercraft slows down, I can see houses and the town, and soon we are above the landing pad.
Out the window, I can see the woods. I plan to spend time there soon. Maybe camp out for a couple days. It's early April so we'll need to dress warm. I can see the Victors Hill, and my house, along with the Mellark's, Odair's and Haymitches.
Then I look to the center of the district, the stores and homes are full of life with smoke coming out of the chimneys.
That's when I notice them. Mom standing next to dad standing next to Mrs. Mellark standing next to Mr. Mellark standing next to Mrs. Odair standing next to Mr. Odair. All of them standing in front of a crowd of reporters. Great.
"Try not to kill any of them." Finn whispers to me as if reading my thoughts.
"If they don't get in my way, I won't get in theirs." I huff. Looking to my mother I quickly recognize the scowl-smirk mix she wears when she's next to reporters of any kind. Ready to be defensive, aggressive, or sarcastic. I feel myself smile at memories of past reporter encounters.
We hear the door open. Haymitch comes in. "Time to go." He says. Peyton standing behind him eyeing me strangly. I take one look back at our families. Then I notice that they're all on edge. Shoulders tensed with shaky expressions.
"Haymitch?" I call out following him.
"Yes?"
"Do they know that we: Finn, Peyton and I specifically are alive? Or do they still only know that two died and they don't know which two?"
Haymitch sighs. "They only know two died. They know that you'll be coming home one way or another whether it's walking into their arms, or being wheeled in a body bag."
"How could you not tell them?!" I yell.
"I just couldn't okay. Please understand and think about the people who actually lost someone. If they heard that you three were alive they would have known the other districts for sure lost someone." Haymitch looks tired.
"He's right Jane." Finn says from behind him.
I let out a long sigh. "Okay."
We walk down to the exit, as we do some of the crew line the halls smiling at us. We all reach the door, but Haymitch stops us. He motions for Finn to go first.
Finn looks at us, smiles and walks into the sun. There's no windows down here by the door, so we can't see their expressions, but we could most definitely hear Annie's scream. It was mostly happiness I think, but an Annie scream none the less. I smile at a warm feeling I feel for Finn. He's another older brother to me. Always been there, and now he can be there for Katrina and they can get married.
Haymitch motions for me to go next. I nod okay. Then by placing one foot in front of the other. The light hits me and blinds me. I look to my mother who lets out a long breath. She smiles at me. I can't help but smile back. I break into a run and throw my arms around her. I can tell by the way she's breathing that she's about to cry. I feel it too. An uncontrollable moist feeling behind my eyes. Trouble pulling in a deep breath. I close my eyes and feel them drain down my cheeks. I feel hers hit my shirt not much later.
"I love you mom." I whisper only loud enough for her to hear.
"I love you too Janelle." She whispers into my hair.
I open my eyes and my eyes meet my father's gray ones. He looks sad. Disappointed. Ashamed.
"Dad?" I ask. His shoulders relax, but instantly tense again when he looks at something over my shoulder.
I hang my head and don't follow his gaze though everyone else does. Peyton's silent footsteps ring in my ears louder than any screams I've ever heard. I hear the Mellarks, or at least Mrs. Mellark run to her son, but she stops in her tracks.
"No." Haymitch says.
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Mellark asks quickly.
"They boy's been highjacked."
There's a pause. "What's with everyone getting highjacked!?" Mrs. Mellark yells angrily.
"Who else has been highjacked?" Finn asks concerned.
Everyone is silent. I look at dad. He looks sad.
"Dad?" I ask. He nods his head. "But how did they get to you?"
"They injected him with an extremely high dose in late summer. He said he doesn't remember when or where. I don't imagine he would either." I hear a voice.
"Aunt Posy?" I look behind dad and see her standing in between Uncle Rory and Uncle Vick. "What are you all doing here?"
"To help your dad. But also to visit with you of course." Aunt Posy says happily. I don't remember her ever really being sad. She kind of reminds me of Greg in that way. I look around. He, Grayson, Katrina, and Maggie aren't here.
"Where are the others?" I hear Finn ask.
"Back at home." Finnick responds. I can't help but notice how Finnick is looking at Finn. Like a mixture of happiness and at the same time frustration. Not only Finnick, but Mr. Mellark too. While Mrs. Mellark is not letting go of Peyton, Mr. Mellark looks as though he wants to bite something.
"Lets get back." Mom says after a moment of silence.
Everyone starts walking back, except for three of us. Posy, Vick and Rory haven't moved.
"Are you coming?" Dad asks.
"Gale, we have to get back." Rory says. Posy nods sadly. "We haven't seen our own families in three months. Diana's going to give birth any day now, and I'm not going to miss my son's birth." Dad nods.
"I'm going to District 4 to help mom. She can't move much after what happened." Vick says a bit icily. Dad winces. Posy smacks Vick upside the head.
"Don't make him feel worse." She scolds him.
"What happened to grandma? Was she here?" I ask.
"Yes." Mom says sadly.
"Well what's wrong?" Mom is fighting tears and she wraps her arms around her stomach, as if shielding herself. Why isn't dad comforting her?
"We'll explain later." Mom says.
Everyone says goodbye to Rory, Vick and Posy. Then we leave the landing pad and walk right into the paparazzi field. Flashes of light blind me and microphones are shoved in my face as well as Finn and Peyton's.
"How do you feel to be back?"
"Who died?"
"How was it being kept down there?"
"What happened to the others?"
"Who were Isis and Damon?"
Then come the individual questions.
"Peyton! Were you highjacked like your father? Are you alright?"
"Jane what happened to you? Was it electrocution?"
"Finn how do you feel about Katrina being-" Mr. Mellark jumped at the reporter. Finn looks at him confused. All the parents are on edge. This could get ugly very quick. Then one of the reporters steps over the line.
"Jane what happened between you and Damon?" I feel my face go white. Never trust Capitol doctors. My fists clench and suddenly I'm filled with rage. My nails digging into my skin.
"None of your business." I snap.
"The people want to know!"
"The people can fuck off!" I yell back.
"Come on Jane. Didn't he-" I run at him and tackle him to the ground. Pounding my fists into his face. Pictures are flashing around me. But I don't care. Tears are streaming down my face.
Suddenly I'm yanked off by strong arms. My vision is going fuzzy. More questions are thrown my way. All about Damon. My head feels light and dizzy. I can't stand.
"Shut up!" I scream. People are closing in around me. Still being held up by strong arms I scream "Please just SHUT UP!" I feel something sharp being jabbed into my arm. Then my legs give out, and the world goes black.
By now I'm used to this. Blacking out from medication, electricity or by trauma. It doesn't really bother me anymore. I feel like the inner me is just sitting there waiting to wake up. Dreams fill my head. Isis, well Corisa, Peyton, Finn, Damon, Peyton, Mom and Dad, Katrina, Peyton. What was up with Peyton in the hovercraft? How did the reporters find out about Damon, well Emmett? No one can know! But based on my reaction to the question, they know something happened. Crap. What would my parents think? They would take pity on me. They would treat me like I were a china doll; fragile, about to break. I just want things back to normal.
A tingling sensation comes to my fingers. I'm gaining consciousness. I open my eyes to white lights. Another hospital? My arm feels weird. I glance down. My scars are gone. Every. Last. One. NO! Why did they do this?! I told them I wanted to keep it. Tears begin to drain out my eyes. My lip is quivering. I try to stop it but it shakes even more. I wrap my arms around my knees pulling them to my chest and lay on my side digging my face into the pillow, as if it would help me escape.
As I break down under these hospital lights, I make a silent wish that no one walks in on me like this. And that no one finds out what happened in that room.