Katniss and Peeta (When the Going gets Tough)

From Bad to Worse

I'm in a room it's white. everything is solid white and sterile. I'm lying on this cold table with nothing but a sheet covering my body. My entire body aches and burns. I look an everywhere is burnt. The pain is unimaginable.

It's amazing what I can sense beyond the pain. I smell roses, and blood. The scent of the rose is extremely potent at first I don't smell the blood but I can also smell burning, rotten, flesh. I know the smell is me. Except for the roses.

"Am I in the hospital?"

"No, but your gonna end up in one when I'm through with you. If you survive." It is a man with a bear that is shaved into a flame pattern. He just chuckles.

"Why? What did I ever do to you?"

"You entered our country. Try to come here and tell us what to do. I thought you of all people would know not to defy the Capitol, or even mess with Panem for that matter."

"I'm a solider. That is it no more, no less. I am a college graduate. I got a job teaching high school gym, because I know how to safely use a bow. Then you started this war and I was uprooted and drafted. So how in the world are you saying this is my fault. "

"Katniss, you don't even know the truth do you? You really don't know? Do you?" He is laughing maniacally. I try to get up but my wrists are tied down. I can't move.

"Don't know what?"

"Not my business to tell you." Then I feel pain and start screaming.

I bolt straight up as I wake up. I'm gasping for air it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest.

"Katniss what is wrong?" It's Finnick. He's just the person I needed to talk to right now.

"Roses." It's all I can say and I know it doesn't make sense to him. It makes sense to me though.

"What?" He asks very perplexed.

"Roses, roses there were roses," I need him to understand.

"Katniss, what do you mean roses. There are some next to your bed."

I look over and instead of seeing beautiful white roses, a symbol of perfection. I see blood dripping off the petals and coating them. I scream louder than I thought possible.

I have freaked Finn out at this point, "Katniss calm down. It's just a vase of flowers."

"Get them away from me! Now!" I'm still freaking out.

"I'm getting rid of them okay?" He gets up walks over to the trash can and throws them away.

"No! I want them gone. I want them out of this room!"

Finnick goes me a look like I'm being ridiculous. The look on my face had to be sheer horror. Because being the great friend Finnick is he opened the door an set the trash can out in the hall.

"Okay Kat. They are gone. Do you want to tell me why a bunch of flowers freaked you out?"

I start crying my eyes out. "Oh Finnick, I think I remembered something. It was horrible. It felt like I was reliving the pain all over again. The roses...their...scent...was...everywhere." I was choking out the last part in between sobs.

"Oh Kat I'm so sorry." He comes over, hugs my tight, and kisses my forehead.

"What are you doing in here? You do know I have a boyfriend right?" I love to mess with Finn. I love him like a brother and he treats me as a sister. We might as well be siblings.

" I snuck in. You know I have a girlfriend right?"

"Of course you and Johanna are inseparable." I know he is dating Annie. He can tell by the tone in my voice I am joking.

"Just like how you are dating Gale."

"You're what!" I hadn't even noticed Peeta walked into the my room. He is still wearing a hospital gown. He still hasn't been discharged.

"Peeta, I was joking." Finnick is trying to explain.

"Peeta I have missed you so-," he cuts me off.

"Save it for someone who cares. Because I don't. So go talk to Gale."

As he is turning around I'm ripping the IV and morphling drop out of my arm. I pull out this tube in my side. I feel a lot of pain, but I have to talk to Peeta.

"Katniss what do you think you're doing." Finnick asks.

"I'm going to go talk to the love of my life."

"Katniss, you are too sick. You shouldn't be moving."

"I know and I don't care."

"Katniss-," he starts but I cut him off.

"Finnick! I love him! I would die for him and you know I almost have!"

I stand up and I'm unsteady, but adrenaline works. I run out the door turn down the hall an follow Prim's directions. Every step hurts. Every breath hurts more than the last. My head is pounding, I'm dizzy. I feel nauseous. I walk into his room. He looks at me with tears in his eyes.

"Peeta I love you!" I scream it at him. He steps toward me, and is smiling. i take a step forward and my knees feel weak. Then everything goes black.