Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Ninety-Seven

Katniss POV-

(On the phone)

"Hello?"

"This is the Head Peacekeeper. I'm looking to speak to Peeta Mellark?"

I take a deep breath.

"He's my husband."

"Is Mr. Mellark available?" The man asks.

I turn around and glance about to kitchen to see if maybe Peeta happen to come down, which he hadn't.

"I'm sorry. He is asleep."

"Could you pass on a tough message for me, please?"

I hold my breath, "Okay." I let out.

"I am sorry to inform you that the Mellark Bakery and residency burned down sometime between ten last night and six o'clock this morning."

My heart drops, along with a plate that I was drying seconds before.

It crashes onto the floor, shattering into a billion tiny shards of glass.

"Are you alright?" The man asks me, very concerned.

My throat feels like I'm trying to swallow sand, "No." I simple state.

"I'm so sorry. As soon as you can, please have Mr. Mellark visit the scene so we can speak to him in person."

My hands tremble, "Are they alive?" I ask, knowing that the answer is surely 'no.'

"As far as I know, they were all inside, except your husband."

Peeta's family is dead.

I drop the phone and start up the stairs, running into Peeta about half way up.

He holds my shaky arms and tears stream down my face and I feel lightheaded.

This is going to change everything.

Again.

"Katniss! Are you okay? What was that loud noise?" He asks, looking me over and hugging me tightly, when he sees I'm fine.

"Peeta, I'm so sorry." I cry hysterically into his shirt.

"It's okay. Did you break another plate? It's not a big deal." He says me nonchalantly.

"Yes but that's not it, Peeta. Something bad happened." I tell him.

"Katniss, tell me what's going on. What happened?"

I stutter, "Everything is changing." I start but I can't bring myself to tell him.

I can't deliver the news.

"What Katniss? What happened? You're scaring me. Please, tell me?" Peeta asks, his nostrils flaring and his hands growing shaky too.

I close my tear filled eyes and swallow hard, "There was a fire. They're gone, Peeta. Everything is gone. I am so sorry." I choke out.

"Who's gone, Katniss?" He asks me desperately.

I close my eyes, not wanting to see the look on his face when I break the life-altering news.

"Your family. The bakery."

If hearts could break, right now, I know that Peeta's heart would look about like that plate I dropped in the kitchen.

He buries his face into my neck and I hug him tightly as sobs begin to wrack his body.

"I'm so sorry, Peeta." I say into his back and push hair away from his eyes.