p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I open my eyes once, watching the sky above me continue to explode while I'm moving through the air. Am I dead? I feel Rue move against my chest and I'm able to move my arm to hold her closer. I can't be dead. I try to keep my eyes open, try to see where I'm being lifted and where I am going, but I can't fight it and my eyes close again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I flutter my eyes open again, slowly. A dim light illuminates the room I'm in. I'm in a hospital bed, machines surrounding me. I have a mask on my face and tubing connected to be, there is an IV in my arm with medication running through it. Beetee is across from me, connected to even more machines than I am. I hear a noise from beside my bed, looking beside me and seeing a crib. Rue is moving her legs, her eyes open as she stretches out. She is here, she is with me. Where is here? I look over at Beetee again as one of his machines makes a noise. We have to be in the capital. They should've let us die. Rue should've been given to Peeta or my mom and Prim and they should've let me die. I slam my head back into the bed, my eyes closing again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I wake up again, I'm not sure how much time has passed. I look to my side, the crib Rue was in is now empty. I look around the room, there is still only Beetee. Where are the others? There should've been more. Where is Peeta? Finnick? None of them are here. They have separated Peeta and I. I sit up, looking around the room more. I'm in a hovercraft. I pull the IV out of my room and stand up. There is a door close by and I can see light shining under the door. I pick up a syringe, unsure what is in it, as I head to the door. I don't know who is out there, I don't know who I want to be out there. I want Peeta. I want my daughter. I reach to open the door and I hear voices, pausing to listen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Communications are down in Seven, Ten, and Twelve. Eleven has transportation control, so we may be able to get supplies out," I vaguely recognize this voice, it sounds like Plutarch, but I've only spoken with him once on the tour. "I can't get you to four, I'm sorry. I've given orders for her retrieval. It's the best I can do right now Finnick."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She's going to lose it when she finds out about the boy," I hear another voice say, it sounds like Haymitch. It can't be Haymitch. What boy? They can't mean Peeta, they don't mean Peeta. He promised./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She won't cooperate without the boy." Finnick speaks this time./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Without Peeta..." Without Peeta? I open the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Just tell her when..." I walk into the room, Finnick's eyes meet mine as he stops talking. I see Haymitch, Plutarch, and Finnick standing around some type of table. I see Rue in Finnick's arms, sleeping and safe. She is curled into his chest. Where is Peeta? I look around again, he isn't here. My heart drops as everyone's eyes are on me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Good morning sweetheart," Haymitch says smiling at me. I launch myself forward, more at Haymitch, trying to land a blow anywhere on him with the syringe. Haymitch quickly counters my attack, forcing my arm upward and backing me against the wall. I continue to struggle against him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where is Peeta?" I shakingly demand from Haymitch as he pins my arms up against the wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You want to syringe against the Capitol. See this is why no one lets you make the plans sweetheart." He takes the syringe out of my hands. I look over his shoulder at Finnick./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""What the hell are you doing here? Why do you have my daughter?!" He looks at me with a look of sympathy. What the hell does he have the right to sympathize about? He raises his hand up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Stop. Please. Just listen to us," he says to me, as if he actually has anything worth saying./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""We couldn't tell you. With Snow watching you it was too risky. Better for you to know nothing," Haymitch states, still pinning me against the wall. I push him off of me and he takes a few steps back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where's Peeta?" I demand again, hoping at least one of them will answer me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Katniss," Plutarch begins, "You have been our mission from the beginning. The plan was always to get you out. Half the tributes were in on it. This is the revolution, and you are the Mockingjay. We are on our way to district thirteen right now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Thirteen," I ask as he walks over toward me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Yes thirteen."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where's Peeta," Finnick turns toward the window he was standing by when I ask that. I know the answer isn't going to be what I want to hear. Haymitch turns back toward me. He shakes his head./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""He still has his tracker in his arm, Johanna cut yours out," Haymitch hesitantly starts to explain to me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where is he?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""In the Capitol," he pauses and looks at me, "they got him and Johanna."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""YOU SON OF A BITCH," I rush forward again, throwing my hands against him, landing every blow I can. He wraps his arms around me, holding me against him and preventing my attacks. "You son of a bitch!" I try to fight against him again, thrashing against his arms. I feel someone stabbing me in my arm with a needle. "You promised me you would save him over me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'm so sorry Katniss," Finnick turns back to look at me, "I tried to go back for him and Johanna, but I couldn't. It will be better for him than her. They'll figure out he knows nothing, and they won't kill him because they think they can use him as bait for you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Like bait? Just like how they'll use Annie for bait?" I grit my teeth as I say it, trying to fight the medication as I feel my body starting to get heavy./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Haymitch tries to comfort me as he lowers us to the floor. My eyes feel heavy again and I try to fight it harder this time. My body begins to sink further into him as whatever medication was in the syringe begins to take effect. My screams turn to sobs, and I can't breathe. I look at Finnick again, Rue is safe. She is staying safe. I lean against him, my eyes closing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You promised me. You're a liar. You're a liar." I stop fighting it and give in to the medication. "I. Love. You. Peeta," I breath out softly as I sink back into the nothingness the medication has brought me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I wish she were dead," I hear Finnick slowly saying as I drift off, "I wish they were all dead and that we were too. It would be best."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"That's the last thing I hear before fall asleep. Finnick wishing for Annie's death, for everyone in the capital and us to be dead. I wake up a few times in various places with various people around me each time. All the faces swim together. I drown out the words, not wanting to hear anything. Once the words become too distinct, I close my eyes and groan, eventually being injected with more pain killers until I go out again and no longer have to listen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I start to wake again; this time is different. Someone is in the bed with me, I can feel the extra weight. I keep my eyes closed, if my eyes are closed it can be Peeta and we can be back home, and we can be safe. I feel someone stroking my hair, as I try to fake sleep. I finally give up and open my eyes. Gale is sitting on the bed beside me. I look around the room and take in where I am for the first true time. I'm in an actual medical unit and Gale is here. I can't drown him out, I don't want to drown him out. I take in his appearance as he brushes a piece of hair behind my ear. He has burn marks on his face. I notice bandages under his shirt That's all I need to see to know that know that something very bad has happened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Hey Catnip," he whispers. "You're okay now. You've just been asleep for a few days."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""How are you here? Are we home?" I choke out my words, trying to sit up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"He guides my lay back down, but he doesn't answer my question./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Gale, where's Rue?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She's here, just a couple of rooms over. I've been there most of the time since I got here. Already won me over. She's beautiful, just like her mother."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where's Prim?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She's alive and here too. So is your mother. I got them out in time."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Got them out? They're not in twelve?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""After the games, they sent in hovercrafts, and they started dropping firebombs and well... you saw what happened to the hob."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""They aren't in twelve," I repeat this again and look up at him. He isn't telling me everything./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Katniss…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Don't." Gale won't keep secrets from me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""There is no district twelve. It's all gone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I blink back tears and look up toward the ceiling. Snow has taken Peeta away from me and destroyed my home. I take a few deep breaths as the hurt turns to anger and then take a final one to settle myself. I feel sick./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Thank you," I mutter under my breath, "For saving them."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Katniss," I sit up this time and he rubs my back, "I'm sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""How's my daughter?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Like I said, I love her. She is so much like you and already so stubborn. She has his eyes you know; her blue eyes look just like his."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Peeta. The thought of him in the Capitol makes me gag. Gale grabs a basin from beside the bed and holds my hair up within seconds. I take a deep breath to steady myself. Peeta is gone. District twelve, my home, is gone. I have no home./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'm fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""No, you're not. They told me about what happened, you know. The Capitol got him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I shake my head, willing Gale to stop talking. I know what happened. I don't need to be reminded of it. I want more medication. I want to go back to sleep. I want to stay asleep. My family is safe. Gale is safe. Rue is safe. I remember Finnick's words. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I wish they were all dead. I wish we were dead. It would be best./em I agree with him. It would be best. They couldn't torture us. I try the groaning again, like I have with everyone else. Faking physical pain so they will give me the medication to numb the actual pain. Gale doesn't buy it, but I keep doing it. Eventually he gives in and calls for a nurse. They administer the medication again and I am once again granted relief from the pain and rewarded with sleep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I flutter my eyes open again, slowly. A dim light illuminates the room I'm in. I'm in a hospital bed, machines surrounding me. I have a mask on my face and tubing connected to be, there is an IV in my arm with medication running through it. Beetee is across from me, connected to even more machines than I am. I hear a noise from beside my bed, looking beside me and seeing a crib. Rue is moving her legs, her eyes open as she stretches out. She is here, she is with me. Where is here? I look over at Beetee again as one of his machines makes a noise. We have to be in the capital. They should've let us die. Rue should've been given to Peeta or my mom and Prim and they should've let me die. I slam my head back into the bed, my eyes closing again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I wake up again, I'm not sure how much time has passed. I look to my side, the crib Rue was in is now empty. I look around the room, there is still only Beetee. Where are the others? There should've been more. Where is Peeta? Finnick? None of them are here. They have separated Peeta and I. I sit up, looking around the room more. I'm in a hovercraft. I pull the IV out of my room and stand up. There is a door close by and I can see light shining under the door. I pick up a syringe, unsure what is in it, as I head to the door. I don't know who is out there, I don't know who I want to be out there. I want Peeta. I want my daughter. I reach to open the door and I hear voices, pausing to listen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Communications are down in Seven, Ten, and Twelve. Eleven has transportation control, so we may be able to get supplies out," I vaguely recognize this voice, it sounds like Plutarch, but I've only spoken with him once on the tour. "I can't get you to four, I'm sorry. I've given orders for her retrieval. It's the best I can do right now Finnick."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She's going to lose it when she finds out about the boy," I hear another voice say, it sounds like Haymitch. It can't be Haymitch. What boy? They can't mean Peeta, they don't mean Peeta. He promised./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She won't cooperate without the boy." Finnick speaks this time./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Without Peeta..." Without Peeta? I open the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Just tell her when..." I walk into the room, Finnick's eyes meet mine as he stops talking. I see Haymitch, Plutarch, and Finnick standing around some type of table. I see Rue in Finnick's arms, sleeping and safe. She is curled into his chest. Where is Peeta? I look around again, he isn't here. My heart drops as everyone's eyes are on me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Good morning sweetheart," Haymitch says smiling at me. I launch myself forward, more at Haymitch, trying to land a blow anywhere on him with the syringe. Haymitch quickly counters my attack, forcing my arm upward and backing me against the wall. I continue to struggle against him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where is Peeta?" I shakingly demand from Haymitch as he pins my arms up against the wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You want to syringe against the Capitol. See this is why no one lets you make the plans sweetheart." He takes the syringe out of my hands. I look over his shoulder at Finnick./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""What the hell are you doing here? Why do you have my daughter?!" He looks at me with a look of sympathy. What the hell does he have the right to sympathize about? He raises his hand up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Stop. Please. Just listen to us," he says to me, as if he actually has anything worth saying./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""We couldn't tell you. With Snow watching you it was too risky. Better for you to know nothing," Haymitch states, still pinning me against the wall. I push him off of me and he takes a few steps back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where's Peeta?" I demand again, hoping at least one of them will answer me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Katniss," Plutarch begins, "You have been our mission from the beginning. The plan was always to get you out. Half the tributes were in on it. This is the revolution, and you are the Mockingjay. We are on our way to district thirteen right now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Thirteen," I ask as he walks over toward me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Yes thirteen."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where's Peeta," Finnick turns toward the window he was standing by when I ask that. I know the answer isn't going to be what I want to hear. Haymitch turns back toward me. He shakes his head./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""He still has his tracker in his arm, Johanna cut yours out," Haymitch hesitantly starts to explain to me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where is he?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""In the Capitol," he pauses and looks at me, "they got him and Johanna."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""YOU SON OF A BITCH," I rush forward again, throwing my hands against him, landing every blow I can. He wraps his arms around me, holding me against him and preventing my attacks. "You son of a bitch!" I try to fight against him again, thrashing against his arms. I feel someone stabbing me in my arm with a needle. "You promised me you would save him over me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'm so sorry Katniss," Finnick turns back to look at me, "I tried to go back for him and Johanna, but I couldn't. It will be better for him than her. They'll figure out he knows nothing, and they won't kill him because they think they can use him as bait for you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Like bait? Just like how they'll use Annie for bait?" I grit my teeth as I say it, trying to fight the medication as I feel my body starting to get heavy./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Haymitch tries to comfort me as he lowers us to the floor. My eyes feel heavy again and I try to fight it harder this time. My body begins to sink further into him as whatever medication was in the syringe begins to take effect. My screams turn to sobs, and I can't breathe. I look at Finnick again, Rue is safe. She is staying safe. I lean against him, my eyes closing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You promised me. You're a liar. You're a liar." I stop fighting it and give in to the medication. "I. Love. You. Peeta," I breath out softly as I sink back into the nothingness the medication has brought me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I wish she were dead," I hear Finnick slowly saying as I drift off, "I wish they were all dead and that we were too. It would be best."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"That's the last thing I hear before fall asleep. Finnick wishing for Annie's death, for everyone in the capital and us to be dead. I wake up a few times in various places with various people around me each time. All the faces swim together. I drown out the words, not wanting to hear anything. Once the words become too distinct, I close my eyes and groan, eventually being injected with more pain killers until I go out again and no longer have to listen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I start to wake again; this time is different. Someone is in the bed with me, I can feel the extra weight. I keep my eyes closed, if my eyes are closed it can be Peeta and we can be back home, and we can be safe. I feel someone stroking my hair, as I try to fake sleep. I finally give up and open my eyes. Gale is sitting on the bed beside me. I look around the room and take in where I am for the first true time. I'm in an actual medical unit and Gale is here. I can't drown him out, I don't want to drown him out. I take in his appearance as he brushes a piece of hair behind my ear. He has burn marks on his face. I notice bandages under his shirt That's all I need to see to know that know that something very bad has happened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Hey Catnip," he whispers. "You're okay now. You've just been asleep for a few days."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""How are you here? Are we home?" I choke out my words, trying to sit up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"He guides my lay back down, but he doesn't answer my question./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Gale, where's Rue?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She's here, just a couple of rooms over. I've been there most of the time since I got here. Already won me over. She's beautiful, just like her mother."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Where's Prim?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""She's alive and here too. So is your mother. I got them out in time."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Got them out? They're not in twelve?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""After the games, they sent in hovercrafts, and they started dropping firebombs and well... you saw what happened to the hob."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""They aren't in twelve," I repeat this again and look up at him. He isn't telling me everything./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Katniss…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Don't." Gale won't keep secrets from me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""There is no district twelve. It's all gone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I blink back tears and look up toward the ceiling. Snow has taken Peeta away from me and destroyed my home. I take a few deep breaths as the hurt turns to anger and then take a final one to settle myself. I feel sick./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Thank you," I mutter under my breath, "For saving them."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Katniss," I sit up this time and he rubs my back, "I'm sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""How's my daughter?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Like I said, I love her. She is so much like you and already so stubborn. She has his eyes you know; her blue eyes look just like his."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Peeta. The thought of him in the Capitol makes me gag. Gale grabs a basin from beside the bed and holds my hair up within seconds. I take a deep breath to steady myself. Peeta is gone. District twelve, my home, is gone. I have no home./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'm fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""No, you're not. They told me about what happened, you know. The Capitol got him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I shake my head, willing Gale to stop talking. I know what happened. I don't need to be reminded of it. I want more medication. I want to go back to sleep. I want to stay asleep. My family is safe. Gale is safe. Rue is safe. I remember Finnick's words. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I wish they were all dead. I wish we were dead. It would be best./em I agree with him. It would be best. They couldn't torture us. I try the groaning again, like I have with everyone else. Faking physical pain so they will give me the medication to numb the actual pain. Gale doesn't buy it, but I keep doing it. Eventually he gives in and calls for a nurse. They administer the medication again and I am once again granted relief from the pain and rewarded with sleep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p