Author's Note: Hi everyone. Sorry that I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy with school and other urgent stuff. Please forgive me! :) Here's a new chapter at last! Don't forget to review!

BEDROOM PRISONERS

The morning of my wedding, I have a tender moment with my family-one that seems to mark the death of something between the three of us despite its sweetness. We all huddle on the floor of the living room in my hotel room, our arms intertwined around one another. My mother and sister's demeanors have shifted this morning, and when I study their faces after embracing them there is a cloud of seriousness settling over both of them.

I have not shared with them all of the details of this marriage and the grave stakes involved. But they seem to have caught on. The haste planning of the nuptials. My obvious reluctancy. The rumored (and real) uprisings in other districts in my name. It has been revealed to my family that this ceremony is more than just a declaration of love. It's a necessary distraction for the country.

"Will you be okay today, Katniss?" Prim whispers to me, my arm wrapped around her shoulder. I want to convey some sort of emotion in my response to her. Perhaps it would be better to act upset rather than indifferent. But that's my usual default-to be emotionless-and I can't seem to pretend to feel differently.

"I'll be fine. Thanks, Prim," I add, rubbing her arm gently. My mother, sitting on the other side of me, has a pained look on her weary face.

"Oh Katniss..." her mouth parts as if she's about to say more, but simply shakes her head. A rare feeling of sympathy towards my mother overcomes me. She must feel so confused and bewildered here in the Capitol, with her underage daughter having a Capitol wedding so unlike the traditional ones in Twelve. And my father is not here. Whatever sort of milestone I'm experiencing, my father is not here to witness it. I wonder if he would have liked Peeta. Upon thinking this, I already know the answer. Yes. At least, that's the one thing I can feel relieved about regarding today.

"Everything will go as it should. Just-act excited and happy for me and stay close to Haymitch and Effie. These people here... well, you saw them at the station. It's just better if you keep to yourselves," I explain to them delicately.

I slip out of my trance at the end of the reception when it's time to say farewell to the guests. The ceremony happened in a blur with only the physical presence of Peeta's hand in mine to anchor me to reality. I must look like a picture perfect bride to the Capitol, in my custom flowing white gown sewn together by Cinna's hands with tears flowing down my face as I embrace my family. Flavius strategically made up my face with water proof products today so I can cry endlessly without ruining his work.

And these tears aren't for show, although they add a nice touch to the whole event. I don't have to be strong in this moment like I was after the reaping last year. There is no one to impress by appearing stoic. Instead, expressing more emotion has become my strategy to gain people's affection. I even readily hug each of Peeta's family members as well, and Peeta's mother gives me a decent pat on the back, so at least I have gained some kind of approval. However, I think she's a bit tipsy on expensive champagne and basking in the luxuries of the Capitol to really care about what's going on.

"Be gentle with him tonight, Katniss. Peeta's still a virgin," Rye jokes while Peeta shoots him a glare. Little does he know...

"You know, if we weren't in front of all of these people I'd break your nose," Peeta counters through smiling teeth, patting his brother on the back harder than usual. The driver of our sleek getaway car opens the door, and Peeta helps me gather up my dress so I can get in smoothly. I feel like I'm sitting on a cloud with all of the layers surrounding me in the backseat. I look back out the rear window at my mother and Prim, watching them wave to me until they are tiny specks on the sidewalk. If everything goes as planned, I'll see them soon and we'll all be safe together again. I'm already anxious for how they are going to handle the rest of their stay in the Capitol, but I have to have faith that Haymitch and Effie will take care of them for me.

"Katniss..." Peeta's breath reaches my neck. I glance over at him, gazing into those concerned blue eyes I know so well. The privacy panel between us and the driver is up, so I feel comfortable kissing him in this moment. His hand works it's way under my head to the nape of my neck, bringing my lips against his. Despite all of the foreign things that have occurred in the last few hours, I imagine in this moment that it's just us at home. Perhaps right after we had our toasting in my old home. My family there. His family somehow there, too. The few guests we invited cheering in the living room...

For the rest of the ride, we hold each other. I don't even bother to look out the window until we've reach the resort. It's far beyond the foothills where the city is located. An enormous lodge sits upon the top of a cliff with a forest surrounding it. I'm utterly relieved to find that there are no cameras or reporters bombarding us when we exit the vehicle and climb the steps to the entrance. A pair of avoxes working as doormen greet us with respectful nods as they open the doors. I try to give them an appreciative look, but Peeta and I are immediately startled by the approach of two grinning flamboyant individuals who introduce themselves to us as the concierges. Apparently, they're in charge of showing us to the honeymoon suite and giving us a tour of the lodge and it's surrounding grounds.

"The exclusive suite is located on the fifth floor. We'll show you up and give you both some time to get settled. The official tour can begin tomorrow morning, if you like," one of the concierges suggests to us.

"Yes, we'd like that," Peeta replies for the both of us, as we are already exhausted from the day and desperately need a break from Capitol-related activities. One of the concierge escorts us to the room and hands us our keys. He informs us that there are two restaurants located on the second floor that offer food and drinks 24 hours. There is also a spa, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, and a large garden overlooking the valley with a spectacular view of the city. Peeta and I could hardly care about these details at the moment. We hastily thank the man and quickly shut the door behind us.

In a peaceful silence strongly contrasted with the intense noise of today's events, we take a look about the room. Or several rooms, really. Deep wood paneling separates a sitting room before us from the the large bedroom beyond. On the left of the bedroom, there is a luxurious bathroom the size of my room at home. On the right, there is a walk-in closet where all of our clothes for the honeymoon, carefully picked out and organized by Cinna and Portia, have been hung up and folded away. In the bedroom, there are four large glass doors leading out to a large balcony overlooking the jagged purple mountain peaks. Below them is a deep forest intertwined with a rushing river.

I throw open one of the doors and wander out onto the balcony, feeling the cool air pinch my face. Despite the discomfort, it helps me wake up a bit from the champagne I drank. Pressing my stomach against the railing, I peer down into the vast drop. It's deliciously far and dark. I can't even see the ground. I feel Peeta approach my side.

"You better not jump, otherwise I'll have to dive down after you," he quips.

"You do make things so difficult for me," I reply in a mock Effie accent. We allow ourselves to laugh and return back to the room. However, I feel light for only a few seconds until instant dread hits me. Haymitch's words echo around my head. Cameras everywhere. We've finally reached the moment I've been losing sleep over. The Capitol will be spying on our every move. Snow will be making sure we play our part entirely authentic. I glance at Peeta, watching the same thoughts circulate in his brain. It's the games all over again, only this time we must approach a different tactic so to stay alive. My entire body begins to shake, and I try to clasp my hands together in order to remain steady. I see Peeta watching me, his brow furrowing with fear and concern.

I shut my eyes tightly and take deep breaths, trying to suck up all of the air in the room. I need my brain to transition over to survival mode. I have one task I must force myself to complete in order to live. It doesn't matter where the cameras are or who is behind them watching hungrily. As difficult as it seems, I must place my human dignity below survival now. I open my eyes and lay them on my target. I lunge towards Peeta, kissing him with full force. He almost jumps back, but he's quick thinking enough to return the passion. His mouth slams back against mine, yanking my hips towards him. We collapse onto the bed, our movements violent and urgent. Get it over with. Get it over with.

Unfortunately, the skirt of my dress tangles us up, and I have to stop to unbutton it. Peeta assists me, attempting to undo every tiny button down my back as quickly as possible. However, I realize midway that the cameras won't actually see anything if I keep my dress on. Maybe we don't have to strip after all.

"Stop-I can't wait," I breathe the excuse smoothly, whipping around and hiking up my dress before climbing on top of Peeta. Between kissing his neck, I whisper to him my idea. His hands try to slide under my dress in order to unbuckle his pants and also take off my undergarments. I continue kissing him intensely, preparing myself to have him, until something horrible begins in the back of my throat. Oh no.

"Wait-" I push Peeta away and cover my mouth, tumbling off of the bed and rushing to the bathroom. Everything comes out and I throw up in the toilet. I guess my mind can't control my body as well I as thought. Tears roll down my face uncontrollably. Peeta's beside me in an instant, holding my hair up. After two more sessions of retching, completely emptying my stomach of the food from the reception, I fall back against Peeta's chest while he flushes the toilet.

"Today's food must have made you ill. You should rest tonight, instead. I can wait until tomorrow," Peeta speaks loudly enough for the onlookers. I nod, relieved and yet disappointed in myself. We'll do it tomorrow morning. We have to. Follow Snow's rules, you get to go home. Follow his rules and everyone is safe and you don't end up like Finnick.

But by tomorrow morning, Peeta wakes up before me and has the projector screen on. My eyes peer open between the stickiness of yesterday's makeup, and I witness my home, District Twelve, getting invaded by a new set of peacekeepers and the Seam getting destroyed. People are screaming, some fighting back, and many are bleeding in the streets. Somehow, a camera discovers Gale, at the center of it all, fighting off a Peacekeeper who is in the midst of beating an elderly woman. The screen then cuts to a whipping post that has been placed in the town square. And now I watch Gale's back getting slashed to bits.

A/N: I'm sorry, I know this is a mean cliffhanger. Don't hate me! I'll update!