Katniss
Or he would've died. My hopes of killing him vanish as soon as Peeta and I walk into his large office and notice several guards holding big guns and keeping their eyes trained on us. "Ahh, Mr and Mrs. Mellark. You have finally arrived," Snow says. "Please, please, take a seat." Déjà vu. He said the same thing on Hope's first birthday when he paid me and Peeta a friendly visit.
"You said!" I growl, banging my fists on his desk. Fear flashes in his eyes but it goes as soon as it came.
"I said nothing about your child," he says, calmly.
"You liar!" I scream and lift one knee, ready to jump over the desk and strangle him despite the guard's presence.
"Katniss!" Peeta yells and pulls me tightly to his chest.
"Oh, Mrs. Mellark," Snow smiles. "I thought we agreed not to lie to eachother."
"Katniss, calm down," Peeta whispers and I relax a little, remembering he's with me.
"I want proof," I snap and his grins widens.
"And proof you will get but please sit down," he hisses, reminding me of a snake. Peeta takes my hand and guides me to the loveseat opposite the desk. "This little recording is of the day I paid you both a friendly visit," he explains and I narrow my eyes at him. He's lying. He has to be. He presses a large red button on his desk and his voice fills my ears. That's when I realise he is right. That day flashes through my head:
"It's an honour to be here," he replies and smiles with his puffy pink lips.
"Is there a reason you have come to our home or is this a friendly visit," I speak up, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
"You can decide what it is later," he replies. "I have given you two so much. I don't think you really appreciate what I have done for you two."
"Of course you have. You give us money and this huge house," Peeta says and Snow shakes his head.
"Those things are nothing. I have made sure little Primrose hasn't been reaped… again, I let both of you come out of the arena together, I even stopped the Quarter Quell so you could go home with your baby," he replies and Peeta nods while I sit there stiffly, questions taking all over my mind. Why is here? What does he want?
"As you know there have been trouble in some of the districts, that is all being stopped. I have sent Peacekeepers to each district, Peacekeepers who won't hesitate to kill, and they'll stop all of the mutts that are planning an uprising. I want to make a deal with you two. No uprisings and Prim won't get hurt, your father will be safe in the mines," he says. "The bakery won't magically burn down and District 12 will not be bombed."
We sit in silence; I'm too horrified to speak. "You promise?" I finally say.
"Oh, Katniss. We agreed not to lie to eachother. Of course I promise," he smirks.
"Fine," Peeta replies and I nod.
"We'll do as you say. No uprisings," I say.
I come out of my flashback when I realise the recording has stopped. "But I-I thought you meant Hope, too," I whisper.
"You could've made it a little clearer!" Peeta yells. "Okay, you've made your point but why? Why her? Why the other victor's children? And what about Jesse?"
"Well, the Capitol wants some drama- a little more excitement and I agree with them," he replies. "And, of course, you're not the only victor's I have threatened. Oh, the joys of being President!"
"And Jesse?" Peeta presses.
"Well, you don't have a son and Haymitch definitely doesn't. So, I decided to chose any male I like."
"You're sick. Shouldn't you be dead yet?" I growl.
"I live in the Capitol, Mrs. Mellark. There are all types of medicines that help me survive," he admits. Only if those medicines ran out…
"What, are you saying you're going to live forever?" Peeta asks.
"Of course not. I'll be disappearing in a couple of years. Maybe I'll wait until your baby is at least twelve years old," he replies and I freeze. How does he know about my baby? No one knows except my family. I look from my stomach to him.
"I'm not pregnant," I lie.
"You're lying, Mrs. Mellark." It was worth a shot.
"How do you know?" Peeta snaps.
"You seem to forget that there are camera's in your house," Snow smiles. "Or should I say my house. I did give it to you. Oh, and next time you plan on making a baby- be a little quieter."
I would've blushed if I wasn't talking to him. "I thought you would've liked watching us," I say, smirking.
"Oh, I do." I feel dirty now, knowing that creep had been watching Peeta and I. He is disgusting. "As much as I'd love discussing your sex life with you two I can't because I have a speech to make," he says and stands up. "Mrs. Mellark I just remembered you haven't thanked me for keeping your stylist alive. Cinna, is it?"
"Thank you," I mutter and he grins.
"You are very welcome. That's another thing I did for you. Now, you make yourself comfortable in the dining room and I'll be there shortly. Then we can watch the opening ceremonies together." And with that he leaves…
Hope
I feel like a hairless cat. My whole body from the neck down is now hairless, my nails are clean and painted in a flames pattern, my hair is in its usual braid and my face is highlighted with make-up here and there. I know my prep team well as they were my mom's too when she went into the Hunger Games. I like them. They're ridiculous but friendly and they seem to love me. "You look so much like your mother," Octavia smiles. "Except for your father's gorgeous blue eyes. You are beautiful!"
I smile and thank her before the trio leave the room and I wait for my stylist.
Cinna walks into the room and I can't help but be thankful that he's my stylist even though I like Portia, too. Cinna made beautiful dresses for me when I was a child but I think it's a good idea to not mention that I never wore them. I admit I feel uncomfortable standing naked in front of him and he seems to sense that and throws me a robe. I slip it on and as soon as I'm covered I put my arms around him. "Uncle Cinna," I whisper and he pats my back.
"Hey, little Mockingjay," he says and I smile at his nickname. My dad and grandpa Haymitch call me that, too. "We don't have long so we better get you dressed." He holds out a matching set of underwear and I look around, wondering where I should go to get changed. "You are more pure than your mother was," he chuckles and I roll my eyes.
I snatch the underwear off him and turn so my back is to him. I slip the pants on while keeping the robe wrapped around me. I shrug the robe off once they are on and then put the bra on. I didn't realise my breast were that big, I think to myself. I guess every girl is different. Cinna clips the bra at the back for me and I turn so I'm facing him again. "So, what am I wearing?"
He holds a large black bag up which I assume is contained my outfit. "You'll have to find out," he says and unzips the bag. I gasp as he pulls the dress out of the bag.
"It's beautiful," I whisper and he grins.
"It'll look even better on," he says and helps me slide it over my head. I look in mirror and that's when I realise I'm a Mockingjay. The dress is coal black and made out of feathers. I twirl in the mirror and notice that the gems attached to the dress shine orange… like fire. Cinna is so clever.
"I look…"
"… Amazing. Like your mom fifteen years ago when she wore a similar dress," Cinna finishes. "Come on, we have to get down to the stable."
We find an elevator and ride down to the stable. The double doors open and reveal a large room, twelve chariots and twenty-three tributes. Cinna leads me to my chariot where I find Jesse and Portia. I greet Portia with a hug and smile at Jesse who's wearing a black suit with an orange shirt that's made of silk. The suit has gems, like my dress, here and there that glimmer like fire when he moves. "Right, we want you two to hold hands and act happy. Wave, blow kisses, smile. Do whatever you think will give you sponsors.
Music starts blasting from the speakers and the first chariot starts moving. Jesse and I get onto the chariot. "Where are my mom and dad?" I call to Cinna.
"They're having dinner with the President," he says and I gulp- even I don't like the President. A meeting with the President means something bad. District 11 rides away and I grab Jesse's hand.
"You nervous?" I whisper and he looks at me and nods.
"Terrified, you?" he asks back in a whisper.
"Same," I sigh.
A deep voice announces us and our chariot starts moving. I can do this, I tell myself over and over again. The stable doors finally open and we ride into the city.
AN: I decided to finish here. It's not a very exciting ending but I'm sure you can forgive me! REVIEW!