A Love that Transforms a Nation

Trapped

About a month after our surprise visit from Bonnie and Twill, Peeta and I are walking through town after a long morning hunt when we begin to notice the abundance of white uniforms surrounding us. Everywhere we look, there are Peacekeepers. I turn to see what Peeta makes of all this, and I can tell by the furrow in his brow that he does not like it at all.

"It seems that Bonnie and Twill must've been telling the truth about Eight," whispers Peeta as we continue walking along. "The Capitol must be slowly dispersing Peacekeepers all across Panem. I guess it just took them longer to reach us since we are farther away."

"Yeah, but why? What's all the fuss about?" I wonder.

An increase in security from the Capitol is never a good sign. It simply means that they have a need to impose more oppression and control on the districts. Something is about to happen, and it doesn't look good.

"I guess we'll find out soon enough. Let's just hope it's not as bad as Bonnie and Twill said," he replies.

We decide to finish delivering our goods from this morning separately. That way it won't take us as long, and we can get rid of all the incriminating evidence in our game bags before some novice Peacekeeper, who doesn't know how things run around here, tries to turn us in.

"Be careful," Peeta says as he plants a kiss on my forehead before heading to drop off some goods at the mayor's house.

I head off toward the opposite side of town to drop off some game at Cray's house; he's the head Peacekeeper of Twelve, but he is a faithful trader. Even with all the new Peacekeepers, Cray will still want his meat for the week. Cautiously, I approach the front door and knock three times while simultaneously unzipping my game bag so as to quickly transport the game from the bag to the crack in the door unseen. A few moments later, I hear the lock being clicked loose on the other side of the door. As soon as the crack forms, I lift the squirrels from the bag and slide them through the door.

"Here's your meat for the week," I say in a lowered voice, but in that moment, I realize that I have made a huge mistake. The man at the door is most definitely not Cray. This man has gray hair and cruel dark eyes.

"What's this about?" he growls.

I don't know what to say or do. I'm frozen. Where is Cray? Who is this man?

"Where'd ya get these squirrels, huh?" He begins to understand the situation, and I watch as a twisted smirk forms at his lips.

"I—I found them running around the Seam and caught them for Cray. Where's Cray?" I ask, trying to keep the fear from affecting my voice.

"You won't be seeing Cray around these parts anymore, Miss. I'm the new head Peacekeeper here. The name's Romulus, Romulus Thread," he says with an evil grin that is even worse than his previous smirk. "You got anything else hiding in your bag there? You know, it's illegal to kill animals for food no matter where you find it," he explains, enjoying my predicament.

"It's just a couple of pesky squirrels. I'm sure no one will miss them," I reply stubbornly. If he's going to play dirty, I'm not going to give in so easily. "And no, to answer your question, I don't have anything else hiding in my bag, just some things I purchased in town today."

I am lucky that we hadn't caught much today; otherwise, I have a feeling I would be in a much worse position. I can only pray that Peeta is having an easier time than I am.

"I see. Well, to tell ya the truth, I've been expecting you to drop by, but I had no idea it would be so soon," Thread says as he looks me up and down. At first, I don't know what to make of his comment, but a few seconds later, it hits me. Mrs. Mellark. "You're gonna have to come with me, Miss," he says, clearly amused, as he grabs my arm below the shoulder and begins hauling me to the center of town.