Always

Chapter 5

The glass chandeliers tinkled and shook as the train sped along to the third stop on the tour. We had to let the people know that the Mockingjay was alive and well. On the outside, at least. I sighed, leaning my head against the cool glass window, and gazed out at the sun-dried fields to my left.

Finn sat on Annie's lap, bouncing up and down and busying himself with a set of toy blocks. Until he saw Buttercup, of course. With uncanny aim, he launched a wooden square at Buttercup's head with a squeal, sending the cat scampering past my legs and under the couch. I rolled my eyes with a chuckle.

Gale had just gone to get changed into clothes more suitable for the tour. The stops and speeches had been very routine and monotonous, but something about this one felt ... different.

The feeling of reluctant hope stirred deep inside of me, or maybe it was just the baby. I shuffled my cold feet on the shag carpet and reviewed the notecards Effie had prepared for me. Sighing, I closed my eyes. I didn't know half the words written so carefully on the paper.

After a few minutes, I decided I knew them well enough, put them down for a 'study break', and went to explore something a little less familiar.

Slipping on my jacket, I padded down the cart to the end of the train. I opened the rear hatch. A rush of cool air greeted me and the door squealed in protest as I stepped outside and bolted it back in place. I peered up at the ladder leading to the roof.

Grasped for the first rung, I hitched myself up the ladder. My knees suddenly felt weak, and I paused to regain stability. After a few long seconds, I continued, but the remainder of the climb seemed to stretch on forever.

As I reached the top, I glanced about and took in the brambles and thorns that overtook what used to be a garden. I spun around, looking for a trace of the past, and found, in one corner, something remarkable. A single flower stood among the vines. A flower the color of the sunset.

It took all my efforts not to break down and lose myself completely, instead I slowly walked toward it. A singular object of beauty among the greedy and obscene. It was so precious; I didn't want to harm it. Carefully, I plucked it from its soil bed and swept away the small weeds choking its stem. It was a sign.

I stroked the broad petals, and felt the dampness of the lingering touch of morning dew. Swiftly, I brushed the debris off a small stone bench and sat myself down, still transfixed.

I pondered the meaning of my discovery. Peeta was the only thing that came to mind. He was like the flower: a spark of hope in the midst of tragedy.

I must have been up there for a while because the next thing I knew Gale was calling for me from the bottom of the ladder.

My head snapped to the direction of the sound, just in time to see his hand grasping the surface of the roof and his dark hair peeking over the edge. I hid the flower in a nearby dilapidated urn, not knowing exactly why.

"W-what?? What's wrong Gale?" My voice sounded slightly guilty.

He gave me a questioning look, but didn't quite press for an explanation.

"We're almost to District 7, Katniss," he started. They're letting you wear what you want, but Effie made me promise I'd see to it that you'd at least shower before we got there."

"Alright." I didn't lengthen the conversation. I didn't want him to become suspicious of what I'd been doing. For some reason, I felt I had to keep my newfound treasure to myself.

Stalking over, he slid into the seat beside me. He draped his arm across my shoulders and I leaned in, glad for his warmth.

"We better head down," I said after a minute, turning to look at him. He gazed out across the fields.

Getting to his feet, he grabbed my hand, leading me back toward the end of the train and the ladder.

As I lowered myself down, I looked to the right, my hair twisting wildly in the wind.

In the distance, I saw a gleam of sun on one of the tin warehouses, meaning only one thing: we were almost there.