Pleasant Nightmare

Chapter 4

"What is it Haymitch?" I say with a really demanding tone.

"There is a slight problem.." Haymitch starts with hesitancy in his words.

"Are you insane? This is no slight problem!" Effie cuts Haymitch statement. I can feel her panicking. Oh God.

"Well, sweetheart, whether it will be a big problem or not depends on your victors' interview with Caesar tomorrow, and how you handle the incoming victory tour."

"Also depends on how well the society takes you and your fellow District Two's victory, and how they will react upon it." Effie cuts Haymitch once again.

"What's going on here? I don't understand." Haymitch and Effie look on each other with tired and defeated expression on their features. "Haymitch? Effie? Mind telling me what is going on?"

"President Snow doesn't like that this year's Hunger Games has two victors. He thinks that your and Cato's winning might cause something bad to happen, somehow." Haymitch try to explain the problem to me, but I still don't get what's wrong with mine and Cato's winning.

"What is exactly that something bad? Enlighten me."

"Honey, President Snow thinks that your action might cause rebellion in the districts." Effie explains explicitly.

"What? How? "

"President Snow thinks that what you did out there was a form of rebellion towards the Capitol."

"You tricked the game maker into letting you and Cato win."

"What? That was not what I and Cato intended to do! We really wanted to kill ourselves!"

"I know sweetheart, I know. But you can't deny that what you did was a form of superiority towards the capitol."

"It may give the districts hope and bravery to try to overthrow the governments." I can't help to look baffled after hearing what Haymitch and Effie just said.

"But sweetheart, as far as we know, the districts have not taken your action as a form of rebellion against the Capitol; well not yet. So you still have a chance to fix things up before sparks turn up."

"What should I do then?" I'm desperate now. This whole rebellion thing makes sense. It is no joke.

"Now Katniss dear, what you should do is to have your dinner, go shower, and try to rest. Tonight Haymitch and I are going to discuss things with that district Two boy's mentors. We'll talk to you and instruct what you should do tomorrow firstly in the morning. Remember the interview is tomorrow night, so now go get some rest." Effie hugs me tight before head off with Haymitch. So here I am left alone in this big apartment.

If I had had my lunch, Effie and Haymitch's announcement wouldn't left me any apetite. But since I haven't had my lunch, now I'm famished. I can only gulp down pork stew and dinner rolls though. After I finish eating, I head to the bathroom thinking a hot shower will make me feel better.

Instead of feeling better, the shower leaves me thinking harder about this messed up situation. What should I do in the interview tomorrow? Is Cato aware about this situation? Are we going to be fine? Is this mess has anything to do with the worn out Seneca at
the park?

Oh God. That's it. He knew that this whole situation was caused by him. President Snow must had threatened him.

I pick a pair of pajama but instead of going to bed I decide to stay at the living room, knowing quietness and darkness on my bedroom would only leave me with my own thoughts. I won't be able to sleep anyway.

When I have just set in on the couch, the doorbell rings. I open the door to find Cato standing in front of the door. He looks somewhere between lost and upset.

"Katniss have you heard?"

"Yes, I have. I'm scared."

"Me too. But I don't know what to do. Do you?"

"Neither do I. Suppose we should wait for our mentors to tell us what to do. Now as we wait why don't we make ourselves comfortable as well. Tea, Cato?"

"Yes please." Cato sits on the couch, turns on the TV.

"What are you watching?" I get back with a tray of tea and scones to put on the coffee table.

"They are showing the recap of the game apparently. I honestly want to just erase the game from my memory forever."

Believe me, that's my dying wish. It has been a day passed and I never once think about Peeta. Suddenly the fear about the messed up situation because my winning with Cato disappear. Just a week ago I began to love Peeta. It's only yesterday Peeta died. Because of me. I almost lost it when Cato suddenly call my name.

"Katniss? Are you alright? You've been standing there for a solid minute." He shows concern from the look of his face. I sit down next to him.

"Nothing. I'm sorry I've drift off."

"It's about Peeta, right?"

"Well let's just say he is in a better place now." I bow down my head and gulp down tears. My chest hurts. I let one drop of tear slip down my cheek. Damn.

"I don't expect you to forgive me, because I'm not forgiving myself either. I would be happy if you would just kill me right now. But listen to my advice, you can't shrug your feelings forever. At some point, you have to let it all out in order to heal. Believe me, I've been put in the same situation."

"Thanks for your kind advice. And yes we may be friends now, but I still can't fogive you, if that's alright." That is more like a question. Why should I ask him if it's okay or not to not forgive him? I'm veil.

"Perfectly fine. Now I should be leaving, I guess. See you tomorrow Kat." He pats my head slightly and heads out of my apartment.

I lay down on the couch the second Cato closes the door. I stare blankly at the ceiling and getting lost in my thoughts. Thoughts about Peeta.

To think about it, I barely know Peeta. I just know that Peeta was on the same class with me and that his family owns a bakery. I sometimes drop my games to Mr. Mellark because he loves the way I kill my games-shot right in the eye, so that the arrow won't ruin the meaty body. Mr. Mellark was really good to me, he used to give me delicious cheese rolls as barter to my games-which I knew valued more price than my squirrels. On the other hand, Mrs. Mellark seems so harsh, especially to Peeta. And Peeta had mentioned that he had two older brothers. That's all I know about Peeta.

I may barely know Peeta, but I can't help to like him. And when I began to fall in love with Peeta and when the odds were in our favor, he was taken away from me. And the funny thing is I can't hate Cato and can't help to like him either. That pats Cato gave me do make me feel good.

My thoughts about Peeta and Cato make me forget about the danger I'm settling in right now. And after a while I drive off to sleep. One more night I overslept somewhere else but my own room.