Reuniting Our Lives

Flashbacks

The past few days have been the same. I spend countless hours with Peeta, trying to regain the months that we lost while we were apart. Most of the time, we sit on the couch just talking about what happened before he came back, avoiding anything that might trigger a flashback. Today was just like any other day. Until I slipped.

"So, what exactly happened when you were in the Capitol?" I've been so curious, and I had tried to avoid the topic of the Capitol for a really long time, but I guess my subconscious curiosity got the best of me. As soon as I asked him, I immediately regretted it.

His teeth clenched, his hands balled up into fists. This can't possibly be happening. I don't know what to do, so I slowly stand up, avoiding any quick motions that could be taken as a threat. His eyes cloud over completely as I stand up, and that's when I know that I need to run.

"YOU'RE A MUTT! YOU KILLED MY FAMILY!" Peeta yells. I run up the stairs as fast as I can, taking two and three steps at a time, scared for my life. Somehow, he keeps up with me, and grabs my ankle, yanking my body down the steps like I'm a rag doll.

When I'm down on the floor, he pins me to the ground and puts his hands on my neck all the while screaming that I'm a mutt. I start to see spots, and my vision blacks out. The pressure comes off of my neck and I try to regain my breath.

"Stay here so I can finish you off," the hijacked Peeta whispers into my ear. I bring my hands to my neck to rub the soreness from it, but it just hurts even more. I roll onto my side, trying to crawl away, but then a sharp pain comes to my arm. I'm pinned down once again, and see the knife that's dripping in blood; my blood. My vision fades even more than before, and I know that I'm about to die. The last thing I see is the cloudiness in Peeta's eyes briefly fade away before all I see is darkness.

**************************************

I wake up, and I'm in a sterile white room. There's a beeping machine right next to my head, cords and tubes all over my body, and a large piece of gauze on my right arm. I try to sit up, but my neck won't bend and I get an intense headache. I expect the worst, like I am paralysed, but there is only a brace around my neck.

A man in a white coat enters the room and doesn't speak. He has a strange bulge in his throat, and before leaving, speaks up with a mechanical voice.

"You won't be able to speak for a while due to a crushed larynx, Miss Everdeen. If you'd like, I can send in Mr. Mellark to visit you," he says, his voice monotone the entire time. I try to nod my head, trying to tell him that I'd like to see Peeta, but he leaves before confirming with me.

I lay in this awful room for hours, waiting to see anyone but these doctors and nurses that keep checking up on me. Eventually, I allow myself to fall asleep, only to have nightmares that I can't be drawn from.