Warriors ("Allies" Sequel)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Today they're finally removing the neck brace and letting me out of the hospital. It has been hard being here, especially when I'm alone since all I can think of is Peeta. Finnick tries to be here most of the time but he's not allowed to stay at night, so that leaves a lot of time for me to have nightmares and wake up to another nightmare.

Plutarch stops by as well to keep me updated about Peeta. He says stuff like, "he was able to eat by himself without losing control, isn't that great?'. What I really want to tell him is that I don't care if he doesn't have to be fed anymore, and that they should be trying more effective methods and stop wasting everybody's time because Peeta will never be my Peeta again. But all I can do is nod.

The nurse touches my neck carefully after she removes the neck brace, and I wince at her touch.

"I'm sorry," she says. "It's still a bit swollen. Can you try to speak for me, please?"

I take a deep breath and look at Plutarch, who wanted to see how I'd be after a few weeks of resting and then look at Finnick, who is, thankfully, always there. "My..." My voice sounds very raspy and I try to clear it. "My name is Katniss Everdeen," You can barely hear my voice but the nurse says it's normal.

I turn to Plutarch again, "I want to see him."

"We can't do that," he says. "It's too dangerous but we're trying something new, we'll have someone he knows, and trusts, talk to him."

"Who?"

Plutarch smiles and turns to the door and I see a girl with blonde hair walk in. Delly Cartwright. A girl from Twelve who survived the bombs with her brother; her parents weren't so lucky. We went to school together and the few times we spoke she was always very nice.

"Katniss!" she says, giving me smile as if we're best friends.

"Hey Delly. How are you?"

"Good, lots of new things to get used to but people here are very nice," she says with a smile.

"She and Peeta have known each other for a while," Plutarch says.

"Yeah, we used to play together when we were kids," she says.

"All right, let's go," Plutarch says.

Finnick helps me up and we walk together behind Plutarch and Delly.

"You think it'll work?" he asks me.

"I'm not even sure what they're trying to do. I just hope he doesn't go ballistic on her. She always sees the good in people, I don't know if she can handle something so aggressive."

I don't even notices that we're holding hands until Delly turns around sees it before giving us a small smile. I let go of Finnick quickly and go catch up with Plutarch.

"So what exactly are you looking for, sending Delly in there?" I ask.

"We're hoping Peeta will have a normal conversation that does not involve you and hope nothing triggers a reaction and see how he does. Then slowly incorporate you to the scene, but that will be some other time," he says. "Here we are, after you, Delly."

Delly smiles at him and we walk inside a room with a big window through which I see Peeta strapped to a hospital bed looking confused as ever; he's full of bruises and his eyes are bloodshot and I feel the need to look away.

Delly goes inside but they tell her not to stand to close.

"Delly?" Peeta asks. "Delly, it's you."

"Yes!" She says clearly relieved. "Hi Peeta."

Delly cleverly dodges anything that could trigger him by smoothly asking him if he remembers things they used to do when they were little. Peeta seems to buy it for a bit but then he asks the inevitable.