Beautiful Scars

Knife

Katniss POV

"Okay everybody get in the panic room. I'm staying out here to wait for Peeta and Haymitch." Gale tells us after we've gotten inside and told him what Cato said to Peeta.

I take a seat on a bench in the panic room but I keep thinking, we can't leave Peeta out there. Cato could kill him.

"Gale you should be with Madge. She needs you. Let me stay and that way if they get in you can defend them." I suggest.

"Katniss you know I can't let you do that." Gale counters.

I get closer to him and look him in the eye.

"Gale, that is the man I love out there. This whole thing is happening because of me and he doesn't deserve to be tortured and left for dead. Cato won't kill me but he would have no qualms in taking you out. Protect our family. And take care of my little girl if..." I start choking up towards the end of my spiel.

"Okay Catnip. Okay, but take this." He hands me a cross bow and sheath of arrows.

I look at him astounded and he pulls out another one for himself.

"How did-"

"Haymitch, he's a grumpy old troll, but he loves you and knew it might come in handy one day. I just asked if I could have one." Gale smirks.

I give him a quick hug while Hazelle gets the last of the supplies in the room with Posy.

Melody is clutching Dandy Lion and looking very scared.

"Come here Munchkin. Do you know that your daddy and I love you so very much?" I ask.

She nods her head in acknowledgment.

"Okay well Grandma Roobs and Hazelle love you like Grandma did before she died. And all your Aunties and Uncles love you just as much as mommy and daddy, okay? I want you to listen to them and be a good girl. Love you." I hug her and kiss her forehead.

"Where are you go-wing mommy?"

"I'm going to get daddy."

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Peeta POV

I can see into the house and I can hear Cato breathing harder and rocks crunching through the phone.

Where are you, you bastard?

From my location, I can just make out a shadow by the gate. I don't know if it's friendly or enemy so I stay put but twist around the side of the plastic shed I'm crouched by.

"I could just blow up the house and be done with all this. I can only imagine what it's like to lose everything you hold dear in a fire." Cato says.

Why haven't I hung up on this prick?

I know Cass was involved. But I don't know to what extent. So I ask him.

"How did you know I would fall for Cashmere?" I pry.

"Oh that was not the original intent. Cori sent her in to sleep with you and get info on Katniss's whereabouts and she fell for you. Stupid whore." He admits.

"She was under the impression you loved her and would be easy to control. Can you believe that?" Cato continues. "You and I both know you never stopped wanting our little Kitty Kat. But she didn't believe me. Not until I told her to ask you to choose. And she came crying to us, about how she didn't want to actually hurt you and that she could win you back if we just got rid of Katniss. Too bad."

"What's too bad?" I question.

"I don't think you are gonna make it. You keep getting in my way. And you won't admit that little girl is mine so Cass isn't getting her toy back." Cato seethes and just as he finishes his words I hear gunshots and the shed I'm next to starts getting holes blown through it.