Peeta Mellark's POV (Catching Fire & Mockingjay)

Part 7

The laughs and joys of Johanna and Annie make captivity bearable. But even our serenity can't lighten the burden of my worsening nightmares. They begin peaceful, familiar at home in District 12.

The smell of fresh bread and cheese fills my nose. I stand in the bakery, wearing an apron dusted in a thin layer of plain flour. Sunlight shines in through the huge bay window and floods the kitchen in a golden glow. It is early, Sunday morning. The birds sing and I hear a low murmur of people hustling and bustling through the square. I sigh, kneading thick dough under my knuckles.

My ears hum with the crackle of wood roasting in the oven. I knead the dough, break off round chunks and sprinkle them with shredded cheese. With oven mitts, I retrieve a thick wooden plate from the inferno and spread the dough balls in neat little rows. I shuffle the burning wood with a metal prong and shove the tray in the oven and close the door.

Sighing, I clean the excess flour from the counter and wash my hands. A whistle pierces my ears. Peering over my shoulder, Katniss pokes her head around the corner. Smiling, she nods her head to the right, her fringe falling into her face. She blushes and tucks it behind her ear. Suddenly, I notice the bow strapped to her torso.

I smile, rinsing my hands in the sink and running them through my hair. Katniss vanishes from the doorway and skips across the square. Quickly, I untie the apron from around my waist, toss it on the table and sprint out of the bakery, locking the door behind me.

Glancing around, I sprint across the cobblestone square, through the houses and around the back alleys to the edge of the Seam. The wire of the narrow hole in the fence jiggles then freezes. Katniss usually inches through the opening into the woods but I prefer a different approach.

            Jogging a few metres down the fence, I arrive at an abandoned house. Jumping onto a pile of old wine barrels, I climb onto the rickety weather-worn roof. On the edge, I back up a few feet and take a deep breathe. After a moment, I break into a run and leap across the fence. Bracing myself, I fall into the trees when my hands suddenly clutch a thin branch. I swing in mid-air as the branch bends to my weight. Letting go, I plummet to the earth and land on my feet. Crouching in the thrush, I glance around, listening for movement. The ground is quiet, the leaves of the trees swaying in the breeze.

Sighing, I stand and sprint deeper into the woods. Katniss stashes her bow and sheath in a hollow log hidden in green moss. Mine is hidden deep in the abandoned nest of a squirrel. Quickly, I retrieve my weapon and my most prized possession: a hand carved knife with a six inch blade.

            Now armed our game begins, with Katniss the hunted and I the hunter. Quietly, I sprint through the woods with my bow raised and my knife tucked securely into my forearm. Minutes pass in silence. Katniss is anything but vulnerable prey. Taking a breath, I lean against a tree and peer down at the dense green valley below.

Without warning, I'm bombarded from above. Sheer weight buckles me to my knees but I turn, thrusting myself onto my attacker. Suddenly the blade of my knife is pointed at the base of Katniss' throat.

I freeze, smiling. Katniss inhales sharply, blood rushing under the blade. Her expression passive yet curious. I've seen the same expression on a wounded dear, both frightened and eager for a quick merciful death. I go to release her when Katniss clutches my blade in her hand. Before I can interject, she tosses her weight. Suddenly my back is thrust on the ground and Katniss sits atop me. With a flick of her wrist, the knife jumps from my grip into the air, flips and lands in Katniss' hand. Peering down at me, she runs her index finger along the long blade.

"You hesitated." Katniss scorns, her brow furrowing.

"How can I stab the girl I love?" I smile, rubbing my hands on her thighs. Her cheeks flush red at my touch.

"Hesitancy gets you killed." Katniss warns, worry flickering across her face. Eagerly, I snatch the spare knife from my pocket, thrust my weight against hers, and wrap her braid around my wrist. Once again my knife, smaller yet just as lethal, is pressed against her neck.

"You underestimate the element of surprise, Ms Everdeen." I whisper. My elbow is pressed against her chest and I feel her heart race.

"Seems I have Mr Mellark." Katniss chuckles. Arching my head, I inhale her scent, planting kisses on her neck, my nose brushing her skin.

"Peeta." A woman's voice calls. Releasing my knife, I gaze up at Katniss.

"Did you say something?" I ask, my hand trailing her back.

Katniss frowns, "No..." She whispers.

"You didn't say my name?" I ask, glancing around. Katniss shakes her head confused.

"Peeta." The voice calls again, louder, anxious. I recognise it suddenly. Johanna! Effortlessly, I lift Katniss' body off mine and place her on the ground. Standing, I wander around. "Peeta, Peeta. Peeta!" Johanna screams and suddenly a sharp pain shoots up my knee.

My eyes jolt open, my body bolts up. Johanna gazes down at me with a shocking expression on her face. I'm alive, I realise. I'm in the cage. I'm still a captive of the Capitol. My Katniss is gone.

"Johanna..." I croak, perching up on my elbows. She's speechless, gazing at me with a cloudy perplexity.

"It's it's..." She stutters, her voice a whisper. Her words register suddenly. Something is wrong. And if it's neither I nor Johanna... Annie. My head jerks to my left. Annie is sitting stock still, neither rocking nor shaking. Her eyes focused, face expressionless, hands clutched in fists.

"Annie?" Johanna whispers. Annie is paralysed, frozen. Not even the sound of her own name thaws her from the shock. "Annie?" Johanna calls again in a sweet soothing whisper. As if sudden warmth engulfs her body, Annie awakes. Her complexion paper white, as if she's seen a ghost. Her eyes dart to and from mine and Johanna's faces. "Annie, tell Peeta what you told me." Johanna ushers. Annie blinks several times then gulps in a lungful of air.

"Snow..." She stammers, licking her dry pale lips. "Snow's bombing the districts." Annie shudders in fear, burying her face in her knees. Shocked speechless, I turn to Johanna, wishing to ask the question on my lips. Johanna shakes her head in dismay. "And what of twelve?" I ask, my voice hollow yet defiant. I gaze at Annie who just sobs. As realisation sweeps over, a fire sparks a flame of fury inside me. "Annie what happened to twelve?" I ask again, anger emerging in my voice now.

Suddenly, something astonishing happens. A door opens in the white wall and two Peacekeepers storm through. Johanna's eyes grow wide as I sit in amazement. The Cage rotates, my cage, to the descendent segment. Johanna, in a frantic panic crawls over to me and reaches through the bars but before I can grab her hand, the bars open and the Peacekeepers burst in. Forcefully, they haul me to my feet. My knees buckle, numb with pain as I'm dragged out of the Cage. Heart racing, I thrust and thrash, fighting off their strength. Suddenly, I'm in handcuffs.

"Peeta!" Johanna screams in horror, clutching the bars separating our cages. My mouth dries and suddenly I'm lost for words, eager for a quick and merciful death. The last thing I see before I'm taken away is Johanna and Annie crawling to the centre and holding each other through the bars. Annie, sorrow stricken and weeping rests her head on Johanna's shoulder. And Johanna hushes her cries and rubbing her back. In that moment, they both mourn me.