Beautiful Scars

Keel

The next day we wake up, to check on the rest of the family. Rye tells me that they heard a noise at the back door last night. They called the police, but they didn't find anyone outside. Then this morning there was an envelope addressed to Katniss in the mailbox.

"What does it say?" I ask Katniss once I've taken her to get the letter.

"It's a subpoena for a Motion to Change Custody Hearing for Melody Violet Everdeen-Mellark." She reads as a tear falls down her face.

"Hey. It's okay. Haymitch will know what to do. Don't worry. He's not gonna get her." I try to sound strong, but truthfully this is my living nightmare.

"You guys okay? What is it?" Prim asks.

Katniss tries to keep her tears at bay, because she doesn't want her sister to worry. But I take the initiative to do something she probably should've done long ago.

"Let's go in the house and we can tell everybody at once." I suggest.

Katniss looks scared for a second but fixes her features. She is going to be brave.

After we tell Hazelle, Rooba, Rory, Vic, Prim, Rue, and Rye about Cato trying to get custody of Melody. Only my brother and the teenagers get carried away with questions of of how this can possibly happen. The two matrons of the family, don't look surprised and they share a meaningful glance.

They knew!

Maybe Lily told them.

"Alright now. Everyone calm down." Hazelle says after a minute.

"Okay what you kids need to know is that no matter what happens, Peeta is Mel's father. If anyone asks you, the three of them are a happy family. Do you understand?" Rooba says.

They all nod their understanding.

"The teenagers are dismissed. Go look after Mel and Posey." Hazelle then says with authority.

They groan but leave. Rye still looks confused. I explain it so Katniss won't have to.

"Wait, so you aren't Melody's dad, biologically. But you have a paternity test that proves you are? How did Cato even find out she exists?" Rye asks after I tell him the truth.

"I don't know. No one in this family would betray us." Katniss says frustrated.

"When is the last time anyone spoke to Jo?" I ask suddenly dreading the answer.

"It's been a couple of days actually. I just thought she was busy with the new baby coming." Rooba says.

Then the phone rings.

It's Haymitch, who already knows about the custody case and has more bad news. I put him on speaker.

"My two Fed guys are the only ones who knew the location in Utah where I put the Mason/Everdeens. One of them showed up in a ditch in Texas yesterday. We had to send someone out to confirm the body, it was so unrecognizable. They think he had been dead for a few days. I'm guessing they got the location out of him, killed him and dumped the body. Jo was not working anymore because she was put on bed rest. Cato's people must've found out because, I just got confirmation that she was checked into a hospital with abrasions to the head. She isn't awake but the baby is fine. C.J was at the daycare so he's safe. Social Services are bringing him to Rooba as we speak. But Joanna's husband... was found strapped to a chair in their kitchen. Four of his fingers were missing and his throat was cut. He didn't make it. I think they tortured him to get info out of Jo about Melody's paternity. I'm so sorry Rooba. Thom said he and Delly are flying there to be with her when she wakes up. And Hazelle? Gale and Madge are on the way to you." Haymitch informs us.