Everlark • the perfect ever after

Chapter 2 KATNISS

Gunshots. Gunshot after gunshot. It won't stop. It's driving me crazy. I'm running in the streets of the Capitol, as fast as my legs will go. As the gunshots go on, I feel myself slowing down. I try to run faster but every time a gun goes off, I run slower and slower. When my once very fast run is diminished to a walk I look down. My legs are dark red. Blood. It forms a puddle in the street. The gunshots were aimed at my legs. Half of my left leg is so damaged to the point were it is near decapatation. Suddenly, I black out.

I wake with a start. This time I'm not screaming. Most nights I would wake up screaming and dreading sleep again. It must be a sign. A sign that things will get better. But probably not.

I dress and head downstairs. Greasy Sae is in the kitchen, as usual, making me breakfast.

"Well you look nice" she says. I'm guessing she is commenting on my closes. For the past few months I hadn't really changed closes, I just got up and sat by the fire. I wonder if Greasy sae is surprised.

"I'm going for a walk. Just around town though." I reply quickly in an uncertain tone.

"Why don't you go to the forest and hunt for game. I could use it around here." She smiles, I guess trying to comfort me. It doesn't work. I don't reply, indicating that's not an option.

"Well have a good walk dear." She concludes. That's why I love her. She just gets me, and she doesn't question.

It's fall in district 12, so when I open the front door to my house all the leaves in the trees are orange. This sparks up a memory but I push it aside. After a few seconds, I start outside. When I get to town, I realize this is a bad idea. Everyone, old and young, stare straight at me like I was a wanted person and that I shouldn't be here. But I am a wanted person. Or I was. During the civil war I was the cause of the rebellion. And president snow was committed to finding me. Now I am seen as the spark that killed thousands of people.

I run to the only safe place I can think of. The forest. I run and run until I am engulfed by the trees. I pick a spot under an old oak tree. I sit.

I guess I lost track off time, but when I reside form my thoughts it is nearly night fall. The sun if setting in a beautiful colour of orange and pink.

Oh no, not the sunset. I try to look away but all around me are those beautiful colours of the sunset. Peeta I think. Peeta's favourite colour is sunset orange. Now the one place were I feel safe is not always safe. Now at night fall the forest becomes one of the most terrifying places in 12. Now almost everywhere I look I have memories, good and bad. But mostly bad.

Before the sun fully sets I head back home. Greasy sae is busy in the kitchen cooking supper. When she looks at me, her face fills with relief.

"Oh there you are. I didn't know you were going to be gone for so long. Where did you go?" This question makes me uneasy. I bend the truth.

"I was talking with my old friend form 13. She invited me for tea." Greasy sae looks at me in concern but doesn't go any further.

"I'm going to skip supper tonight, but thanks for making it anyways. You can take the left-overs home. I won't eat them." I say with I smile. I hope this fools her into thinking I'm okay.

"If you say so." She pauses "I will leave a serving if you feel hungry." Yes, it fooled her. I wish her a good night and hurry upstairs.

I try to sleep but I can't. The image of the sunset is still replaying in my head. Eventually the sunset image evolves into memories of Peeta. When I found him by the river in our first hunger games together, the cake he decorated for Finnik and Annie's wedding, and most of all his blue eyes. Those intriguing ocean blue eyes that could mesmerize you if you looked at them for too long. I miss those eyes.

I miss Peeta.