The Hunger Games - PRIM EDITION

Chapter 9 - Days Left

I sit back stage, in silence as I listen to Ceasar announcing Peeta.

"And last but not least, from District Twelve, we have Peeta Mellark!" Ceasar's voice booms. The crowd roars as Peeta walks out onto the stage.

I am relieved to be off the stage. My hands are still shaking dramatically, so I try to calm them as Peeta and Ceasar have a friendly chat. The crowd laughs, and Flickerman moves onto the last question.

"So, Peeta." He starts. "Who came to see you after the reaping?"

"My parents did." Peeta says, slightly confused about the random question. And the he adds. "And someone from my class at school did."

"Oooh? Really?" Ceasar sounds excited. "Was it a girl?"

"Erm, yeah." He says awkwardly. "It was actually."

"And what was her name?" Ceasar pushes with a little laugh.

"Um, well I'm not sure I should say..." Peeta trails off.

"Come on Peeta! Your secret is safe with us!" he lies. The whole of Panem of watching, so spilling your secrets out in front of the cameras will certainly not keep them safe.

"Oh, okay!" Peeta gives in. "Her name was Katniss Everdeen. Primrose's sister." The whole room fills with gasps, and my head shoots up abruptly. Why did Katniss go to see Peeta?

"And why was she there?" Ceasar asks, being a bit nosey.

"She made me make a promise." Peeta says quietly.

"And could you tell us what that promise was?" Ceasar asks.

"To do whatever it takes to save her sister in the Games." More gasps. I don't know what to feel. I just sit there in silence. Peeta was going to try and protect me? Then why has he teamed up with the Careers? I don't know the answer to these questions, and right now I don't want to. The careers just caught my eye.

Cato, Clove, Marvell and Glimmer are huddled in a little group on the other side of the room, whispering excitedly about something. And I know what they're talking about. Both I and they know the next person who is going to be targeted in the arena. It is going to be Peeta.

Every year the careers target the weak ones, and anyone who gets in their way to get to the weak ones. I know, of course that I will be on their kill list, but I just hope that they don't get to kill me. For Katniss' sake.

I hear the crowd cheer their goodbyes to Peeta. I need to tell him. I need to tell Peeta about the Careers. I stand up and go to search for him, only to find he's gone. Haymitch is slumped against a wall nearby.

"Where did Peeta go?" I ask urgently.

"Ummm..." Haymitch stands there in his drunken state, thinking for a minute before pointing in the direction of the lift. "That way." He says, the odour of liquor spreading around him.

I run into the lift, and automatically press number thirteen. I suspect Peeta will have gone back to the apartment. But when I get there to find he's not, I am baffled. Where could he be? He won't have gone to any of the other levels, because we're not allowed.

Think Prim. Think. The roof. I remember him mentioning something about liking going on the roof. I run to the door and climb the steps. When I get to the top I see him, sat on the edge of the roof. I approach him in silence.

"Peeta?" I say, sitting down beside him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine." He tells me.

"Did Katniss really come to see you?" I ask him. He nods. "And did you really promise to try and keep me alive?"

"Yes." He nods. I don't know what to say to him, so for a moment I am just silent.

"Thank you." I say quietly. And then I remember the real reason that I found him. "Peeta?" he looks round at me, telling me to carry on. "You know the careers?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I –"

"Stop!" I interrupt him. "I'm not talking about that."

"Oh. Okay, carry on."

"I think the careers will target you in the arena. They always target the weak ones, so obviously they will be after me. And after the weak ones, they target anyone who gets in the way of the weak ones. What I'm trying to say is..." I hesitate. What am I trying to say? "... Be careful."

"Okay." He grins at me. "And you." And with that, he gets up and leaves.

I sit there, feeling the wind blowing on my face. I am cold, but I like the feeling of being so high up. It makes me feel free. Like a bird. Like a mocking jay.

I hug my knees up to my chest, looking out at the horizon. I wonder where District Twelve is from here. I wonder how my mother and Katniss are. I hope they are okay.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, holding back the tears. I feel strange. I can't tell if it's a happy feeling or a sad feeling, but it's probably down to the fact that I can count on my fingers the days I have left to live. 

Just a quick thank you note to anyone who has read my story so far! I really appreciate it! Thanks x