Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Peeta's POV

After the news of Snow becoming President and watching Paylor be executed live, Katniss and I didn't make it to our bedroom. We didn't even move off the floor to go to bed. I left Katniss and Willow only long enough to grab some of the pillows off the couch and the blanket that was thrown over the back of the couch. We slept on the floor, curled up together. My arms were wrapped around both of my girls.

I didn't sleep much. I spent most of the night praying. I prayed that this was all just some sick joke. That Snow didn't escape from prison, that she didn't somehow break into the Presidential mansion, that she didn't execute Paylor live on TV. I prayed and prayed until I cried, and then I prayed some more. This can't be happening, none of this is real. Why is this happening to us? After all we've been through, this happens to us? Why? What did Katniss and I ever do to deserve any of this?

It wasn't until the sun started shining brightly through our living room windows that I left the floor again. I trudged into the kitchen to make something for breakfast. I can't think of much other than to make bread. It's always worked before on controlling my stress and that's exactly what I need right now.

I immersed myself in my work so much that I didn't even notice when Katniss walked into the kitchen with Willow in her arms. She has tired looking shadows underneath her eyes, and I'm guessing her sleep was probably just about as good as mine. Even Willow seems to sense that something's up, she's unusually quiet this morning. It makes my heart break to think that at such a young age, at any age, she has to go through any of this. When Paylor became President I had hoped that we could live with whatever future children Katniss and I would have in a peacefully, rebuilt Panem, untainted by the likes of Snow. It was my only wish, and I couldn't even get it.

"Peeta, I think you can stop baking bread now. This is more than we can eat," Katniss says, putting Willow in her highchair.

I look around me, and there are ten loaves of bread. I didn't even realize I had made that much. "We'll bring some to Haymitch and Effie, and some to Gale and Madge," I say, cutting the nearest loaf to me. I cut it into even slices before bringing it over to the table for Katniss and Willow.

"Okay, I'm sure they would appreciate that. Besides I think we should talk to them about all this," she says quietly, referencing everything that happened in the last twelve hours.

"We'll get ready to go after breakfast," I say, simply. I go back over to the counter and start wrapping the loaves.

"I love you, Peeta," Katniss says as I start to leave the room to go shower.

"I love you, too," I say going back to her and giving her a gentle kiss.

~FIRO~

"Well, we know he should be up since Effie moved in,"I say trying to lighten the mood. I know it's a fruitless effort, but I have to at least try.

"Yeah, as much as she annoys me, I'm glad her and Haymitch are together. He's been a happier person since," Katniss says as we approach the door.

I barely knock on the door before it swings open to reveal Effie. She immediately engulfs us in a hug. I hug her back tightly.

"I'm so glad you came over," she says, breaking away. "Here come inside, Haymitch is in the kitchen."

"I made you guys some bread," I say, holding the two loaves in my hands.

"Thank you. Here I'll take them and put them on the counter," she says reaching for the loaves. I let her take them and follow her into the kitchen. "As for you, Willow, I got you some crayons and some paper."

Willow perks up and claps excitedly. Effie sets the stuff down on the floor, and Katniss puts Willow down. She runs over to the crayons and plops down before scribbling all over the paper.

"She's going to be a little artist, just like her dad," Effie says, adoringly. "Now, why don't we go talk in the kitchen. We have a lot to discuss about all this."

Both Katniss and I know what she's talking about, Snow. I nod and we follow her to the table. Haymitch is already seated and you can tell he's pissed off by the look on his face.

"Well, where should we start," he says as soon as we sit down.

"I can't believe they didn't say anything to us about her escaping. They must have noticed she was gone before she broke into Paylor's house," Katniss says.

"I --" I begin to say, but am stopped by a loud tone. That same tone that played last night before Snow came on screen.

We all turn toward the TV situated up in the corner of the room. The Capitol seal appears on the screen before Snow sitting behind the desk appears. She's smiling evilly at the camera, proud of her 'handywork' no doubt.

"People of Panem," she begins in the same voice that her grandfather always used before her. "I have a very special announcement I am very excited to be making. I am here to announce that The Hunger Games are being reinstated. This will be the seventy-sixth Hunger Games, and I'm changing the rules a little bit. Instead of there being an age limit like before that cut the ages off at eighteen, there will now be no age limit. We of course will keep the age minimum, there will just be no age limit. I'm sorry this is all short notice but the reapings will be held this Saturday, so three days times. Everyone be prepared because you never know who will be picked."

~FIRO~

Gale's POV

It's been three days since the announcement. Four days since Snow took power. After the announcement from Snow, Katniss, Peeta, and Willow came over. We talked for hours about what we should do. We can't do anything to stop Snow. Everyone is too scared of what she'll do. Our only hope at this point is that everyone's name is only entered once.

"Gale, are you ready to go," Madge asks me quietly.

I nod not being able to speak. I had hoped I never had to do this again. I had hoped all this was over forever.

We arrive at the Town Hall all too quickly. Everyone in District Twelve is here. There are more tables than normal to take our attendance. I barely notice the prick as they take a drop of my blood. I stop Madge before we go our separate ways, males to one side females to the other.

"I love you. No matter what happens, know that I love you," I say holding Madge's face between my hands.

"I love you, too, Gale. But don't talk like that. We'll be fine."

I lean down to kiss her, savoring the kiss. I let go of her hand slowly backing towards my section. I watch as she leaves to go hers.

"If I could have your attention," Effie's familiar voice says into the microphone. Everyone glances at Effie expectantly. We all know she was forced against her life to do this job, to do the job she always had before, the deliver of bad news. "We'll begin with the ladies." She walks over to the glass bowl and rummages around. There are more papers than normal in the bowl due to almost everyone in Twelve being eligible. Effie grasps onto one paper and slowly draws it out. She walks back to the microphone hesitant as ever. She pulls the paper apart to read the name. I see her choke back her sobs before reading the name. "Madge Undersee," she chokes out before turning away from the audience.

My knees buckle beneath me and I don't hear anything else until I hear my name.

"The male tribute will be . . . Gale Hawthorne." 

I finished Chapter 14 now. I'm doing better with writing more now, even if I'm only going to be writing on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays at least for the duration of the school year. But I end school on May 25th. 

Let me know what you think of the story so far. It gives me motivation to write more. I'm going to try and get another chapter written this weekend, but I also need to finish my book for English class and I've hardly started. I also am being forced to go to my sister stupid first communion tomorrow. So we'll see about that. 

Keep the fire under control until we can let it rage on. ~ Alexis