A plate crashes. Peeta screams.
And the only reaction I had was to sprint to his doorstep.
I swing open the door, run into the kitchen, and am met with Peeta who is circling the table, banging walls with his fist, glass from broken plates and cups scatter the floor, tears streaming down his cheeks, and gritting his teeth in pure anger while holding a crumpled piece of thin paper in his other hand.
I am terrified. This is not Peeta. I am instantly transported months back, when he returned from the Capital a mutt.
This is not the Peeta I love. And I'm too frozen in fear to even move. I'm paralyzed.
As he circles the table one last time, his once blue eyes, now a deep gray, find mine.
"Do you love him?" He screams, and grabs another plate and throws it on the floor. And continues to sob while also maintaining a face of hatred.
It happened again. I thought he was better. What we had was real! He was so much better! How did this happen? All these questions run through my head and Peeta-no not Peeta, a return of a Capital mutt- just stands there waiting for an answer.
What if it was me? What if I was in his position? Would Peeta run? No. I need to do what he would. Not run.
I slowly walk toward him, "Peeta, this is not you. This is not who you are..."
He slams his fist on the table so hard the leg snaps. And screaming he repeats, "DO YOU LOVE HIM KATNISS!!?"
I step back, afraid his next move is going to be wrapping his fingers around my throat again.
No, please. I start to panic and tears begin to fall.
"...love who?" I choke out.
He then unfolds the ball of old, yellowed paper in his hands and shows it to me, pointing to the scribbled words at the end of the letter that reads, "Forever, Gale."
Gales letter, he read Gales letter. The one his mother brought over to me that one day when she cooked for us. The one that was only meant to be re read if I did die in the first games.
I put it in my drawer and closed it, never wanting to read it again. Gale has destroyed so much and now he is creeping back and creating another bomb that is exploding right in front of me.
I hate Gale. He killed my sister and now is killing the only person I love. "No, Peeta, I love you. That...," his body tenses, "..that was from a long time ago." But this explanation did nothing. He continues to throw plates and even breaks a chair. He grabs his head and bangs walls more.
I only stand there, sobbing and paralyzed in fear, then fall to my knees and cradle them with my arms. Trying to get out the words out, I plead, "Peeta...stop...this isn't you. ...you are going to... Hurt yourself."
"Where you with him last night!?" He snarls.
"No! I was with.." Sobbing.
"WHO?" Yelling.
"..with.." Peeta begins to move towards me.
"WHO!"
And then right at that moment, the front door is thrown open and Haymitch runs in, "what the hell!?," sees Peetas intensions walking towards me, and tackles him to the ground.
"Get off me you bastard!"Peeta screams.
They wrestle but Haymitch finally pins him down, then punches him straight in the jaw. And after the impact, Peetas body goes limp and rolls over to his side, and wails in sorrow.
I sit, crouched down, witnessing this horror. Horror of everything Peeta worked for, we worked for, vanish in an instant. We are transported back to when Peeta was handcuffed and tried to kill me multiple times. I'm not safe here anymore.
His eyes slowly ease back into the familiar blue.
"Katniss, I'm so sorry. Katniss, please." He cradles his face into his hands and does nothing but sobs and rocks back and forth in a ball.
I still don't move, I sit there watching.
Haymitch finally stands, shakes the pain from his hand and looks back at me, "are you okay?"
I only watch Peeta, breaking down in front of me. Slowly I stutter to my feet, and leave with his cries echoing behind me.
My body is shaking, in Peetas house I felt safe, I felt free from the pain and destruction. Now I have nothing.
I stumble into my home, close the door behind me, fall to my knees, and cry as though I have lost Peeta forever.
Because, in the back of my mind, I know he will forever continue to sometimes transform into the capital mutt. And there is nothing I can do to help.
My love will forever be broken.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Authors note:
I have written a lot of chapters and was just wondering, what do you guys think so far?
What are some things you want to happen or see more of?
Thank you to all of those reading and responding! I love feedback
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
YOU ARE READING
The Hunger Games: Extended Epilogue
FanfictionAn extended epilogue to Mockingjay. Katniss has finally admitted her true love for Peeta and has sealed this confession by moving in with him. At first, the transition is smooth and effortless. Though, as the memories slowly return, how will Katniss...
