Catching Fire: Peeta's Story

Chapter Six: Rue

We exit the double doors to the front of the Justice Building. Hundreds, maybe thousands of men, women and children watch us. Two huge screens show the faces of both Thresh and Rue, under which their family's stand. I place my palm on Katniss' back to steady her, reassure her of my presence. I know how much Rue meant to her. But I can only guess how difficult this will be for her now.

I step up to the microphone and begin to read the card that Effie previously gave us. But I suddenly stop myself. These people deserve better than the words a Capitol woman wrote about their people she didn't even know. I put the cards in my pocket. Some faces of the crowd seem shocked, others little emotion.
"We're honoured to be with you today to honour your fallen tributes." I begin my speech with an even tone, "both Thresh and Rue fought with honour, and with dignity," I pause, "until the end." All eyes upon me. All faces blank as I commemorate two people I did not know on their deaths. They don't deserve this. Effie's words mean nothing to them. Nor me. I lower the card and continue from my own opinion. "Both were so young. But lives aren't judged in years, they're judged in the lives they touch around them. For myself, for Katniss, we know that without Rue, without Thresh, we wouldn't be standing here today." Each word I breath is sincere to the deepest part of me. These people saved our lives as much as we did ourselves. "And in recognition of this, knowing in no way it can make up for your loss..." I have to do this. They deserve this and much more. "We'd like to donate one month of our winnings, every year, to the families of the tributes. For the rest of our lives." I don't know if I'm even allowed to do this, but if Snow disallows this, then it will only confirm my suspicions that he has a black heart.

I say thank you and return to the doors of the justice building. However, Katniss stays put, simply looking out at the crowd before her. "I just wanted to say that..." She clears her throat. "I didn't know Thresh. He could've killed me. But instead he showed me mercy." With all the horrific things Katniss never told me of her experiences in the arena, this was included. Thresh saved her life at the expense of his own.

She continues, "that's a debt that I'll never be able to repay." She chokes up slightly, "but I did know Rue. She wasn't just an ally, she was a friend. I see her in the meadow by my house. I see hear her in the Mockingjay song." Katniss pauses, looks to the floor, wipes a tear from under her eye, and continues. "I see her in my sister Prim. She was too young." I think she's getting out of hand. "Too gentle," she continues, tranced in a cloud of grief. "And I couldn't save her. I'm sorry."

The crowd sing their chorus of silence as one man's arm slowly rises above them. His ring, middle and index finger out together with his pinky tucked in with his thumb.

The Three Finger Salute.

I still remember the last time I saw that gesture. Katniss and I had just been selected at the Reaping, the entire market square was pointing that gesture at us. For a moment I picture how far my life has come since that date. The only thing that hasn't changed is my feelings towards the girl stood before me.

When I return to my senses the entire crowd are holding up three fingers before me. It's strange to think these people are commending Katniss and I for being here in place of their two Tributes.

Seconds later, a herd of Peacekeepers hurry from the grand doors behind me. Two grab both of my arms and two others do the same to Katniss while the rest descend he stairs to the people of District 11. Equip their riot sticks and press against the crowd in one flat line. Two push through the crowd and retrieve the man who initiated the salute. Grab him violently, and bring him to the front of the Justice Building in front of me. Katniss is kicking and screaming, gagging and choking on her words in uncontrollable grief as we're dragged by the Peacekeepers into the Justice Building. The man is pushed down to his knees in front of the raging crowd. And just as the doors close I catch a glimpse of the last seconds of the mans life as he is shot in the back of the head.d