Everthorne

Chapter 13

I walk back home with Gale. I didn't speak, neither did he, we were too wrapped up in our own thoughts. The sight of the house comes nearer and nearer, but when I get close enough I notice something is wrong. The door is still locked. Usually, by this time of day Peeta would be awoken by enthusiastic Rue and Prim who want to be taught how to bake. Every day Peeta makes cookies or bread with them, it's like a family tradition. I, however usually go out to the shops to buy some flour or something for Peeta's baking. Peeta knows I'm out so he would open the door so that the smell of his baking would welcome me back home, however it is closed. Maybe he is still asleep I think as I unlock the door.

I enter, Gale trailing behind me, to see Peeta tied to a chair his face sickly pale. "What the..."

"Katniss, don't do as they say," Peeta says. "Who..." two men into black masks enter the room. I feel dread fill my lungs until I can barely breathe anymore. I immediately run up to Peeta and try to untie him from the chair. Gale runs up and immediately pulls out his foldable gun and points it at them in a threatening way. I struggle with the ropes and finally untie him from them.

"Peeta where are the kids?" I ask him in panic. "In a safe spot, I got them there in time," Peeta replies. His voice is strained, like he is chocking. "What did they to you Peeta!? What did they do!?" I yell frantically.

"We poisoned him," the man replies. "And only we know how to heal him,"

"Well heal him! Or I shoot," Gale yells from across the room. "We will not heal him, unless you bring the old Capitol and Hunger Games back," The other man says. I whimper. I don't want the Hunger Games back, but I also don't want Peeta to die. I turn to Peeta. "What do I do?" I ask softly.

"Let me die, there should never be a Hunger Games again," Peeta says. I feel sadness and fear overwhelming me, both options are terrible. "But I don't want you to die," I say.

"I would rather have one death rather then 23 every year," he says. He is right, completely right. "But Peeta, what about the kids?" I ask. "They could die if the Hunger Games came back," he says. I feel tears welling up in my eyes. I can't let Peeta die.

"Heal him, I will bring the Hunger Games back," I say. Peeta shakes his head in disapproval. "No, Katniss you can't, we can't let people go through the same thing that we did,"

"Not unless you have to die for it," I say. "Just get on and heal him," I say to the men. They grab Peeta and get a bottle full of blue liquid. The man gave the medicine to Peeta. "Drink it," he says. Peeta handles it carefully and throws it onto the floor, the glass breaking and the liquid oozing out. I look at Peeta in shock. "I'm sorry," he says

Gale instantly shoots the men and pulls the bodies outside. "Why Peeta, now you're going to die," I say, tears are running down my face. "Remember the pain we suffered? I don't want anyone to feel the same," Peeta says. He is getting worse, he could die any second now. "Is there really nothing you can do? There has to be a way out of this," I beg, the tears are not stopping. "No, Katniss, but you have to promise me something,"

"What?"

"That you will not become like your mother when she lost her husband, you have got to looks after Prim and Rue," he says, he has almost already lost his voice. "No, no Peeta, you cannot leave me like this," I say. I am losing control of my crying, Peeta can't die. "I'm sorry Katniss," he says. After those simple words, he collapses onto the floor.

Dead.