Chapter 16|Slowly dying

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I now know how Peeta and Prim felt when I was in the Capitol. I feel pretty safe here, considering most of Panem has fled to here , and no uprisings have occurred. Finnick, Gale, and I are no longer in the hospital, but a local bomb shelter.

It is right on the ocean, so the view is beautiful. Finnick knows this place like the back of his hand.

We are eating in the cafeteria, which of course is serving sea food. It reminds me of the quell when we sat on the beach eating oysters and fish. It reminds me of Peeta when he gave me that pearl.

I miss him.

I miss Prim.

I want them back.

The televisions on the wall flash on, and the screen says "mandatory viewing." Then it says "Capitol Tv."

Oh no.

President snows face comes onto the screen.

"Good evening Panem. As you all know, there have been uprisings in most districts, all caused by the one Katniss Everdeen."

I perk up at the mention of my name.

"We have captured some of her loved ones, Peeta Mellark and Primrose Everdeen. Katniss Everdeen will pay by letting her loved ones be torchered to death. We will be speaking with them shortly. Any of those who defy the Capitol in any shape, form, or fashion, shall pay the ultimate price."

I then see men, women, and children being shot right before my eyes.

This is all my fault.

That's when Peeta's beaten-up face flashes up on the screen.

I get shivers from just looking at it. They are beating him.

Caesar Flickerman starts talking. "Peeta, do you have any special words for your loved ones?"

Peeta nods and takes a deep breath before speaking. "Katniss, you know I love you. And I am not going to make it out of here alive. None of us are. Whatever you do, do not kill yourself. Do not lose hope. I believe in you, Katniss. Please say alive, for me. Please." He begs. Everyone in the cafeteria turns to me. I didn't even realize I was crying.
"Now let's talk about the uprisings. What do you think?" Caesar asks.

Peeta pauses for a long time, trying to find the right words to say. I have never seen him struggle so much with speaking.

"I think the uprisings need to stop. They are killing off our people. What will be left? Who can survive this? We are just lowering our numbers. In the end, we will no longer have any one to fight."

Caesar nods, taking in what Peeta says.

He probably just started more uprisings. Oh, how many people will despise him for what he said. Because people want to fight. They want to kill. Their hearts are cold, brains violent, blood-thirsty.

"I believe we are done here. Anything else you would like to say?" Caesar asks.

"No, I think that's all." Peeta says.

"Thank you, Peeta Mellark. Now we shall speak with Primrose Everdeen."

Prim.

She walks over to the chair, and I can see her small, fragile face is worse than Peeta's. They didn't even bother to try and cover it up.

"Primrose, do you have any special words to share?"

She nods, and a tear escapes her eye. I just want to wipe it away, sing to her, but I know I can't.

"I-" she looks at the camera. Vanes pop out of her head. Her eyes turn black. Her face turns purple.

I know one thing.

This is not Prim. This is not her.

She starts screaming. "I will kill her! I never loved her! She tried to kill me! Why did I ever trust Katniss! She is a mutt! She's a stinking mutt! You can't trust her! She's a monster! She's a monster! Don't go near her! She will destroy you!"

Sweat is dripping from her forehead. Tears coming from her eyes. Now more vanes have popped out. Her eyes bloodshot and dark. Her mouth has drool emerging from it.

I run. I run up to the roof and look down at the salt water.
I'm about to jump. But I remember something. I remember Peeta's words.

Don't kill yourself. Stay alive.

There's no need to kill myself when I'm slowly dying.

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