Catching Fire: The New Story

Peeta Gets Pissed

Katniss's POV

Dead silence to my echoing word. All of Panem sitting in silence as they wait for my next move. I watch myself on the large screen, terrified but ready. What am I doing now?

"Wait," I breathe. "I need to same something." I step back down the platform, Peeta at my heel, hand in mine. He is behind all I have to say, even though I haven't thought what I am going to say through. I keep myself composed and steady for the cameras. "I am deeply sorry for your loss. Rue and Thresh, they were two amazing children who fought hard for their districts with pride. They will forever be in my heart. They made it further than the Capitol intended for them to go." My voice is cracking. My eyes are watering and sting and my vision is blurring. Flavius is going to kill me if I ruin my makeup now. "Rue, she just a small girl, so innocent and pure. She was too young, too gentle, to have gone so early in her life. She could have done such amazing things if she was still here. I couldn't save her, and I'm sorry." I pause to look at Rue's youngest sister, so much like Rue in her five year old stance. Her mother is sobbing, holding her now oldest child. "Thresh, he saved me, for nothing. I couldn't save him in return, I couldn't give him back anything in time. But I will forever give him gratitude for sparking my life when he had no need to. I thank all of you for what he did, what Rue did. You have all lost two great fighters, but the memory of them will always be with us, especially with me. I am so sorry I couldn't save them.

The crowd is lulled, along with the rest of Panem. Were those the words I intended to say? What did I say exactly?

Peeta's hand tugs on mine. He is whispering in my ear, but I am waiting for something, anything, from my audience. I want a reaction, it tugs at me until I know I've waited too long. I give up and start to turn back to Peeta when one man, much too far into the crowd to see his face clearly, holds up three fingers to his lips then into the air. It is the sign from Twelve I held after Rue died. He blows out my four note tune, and everyone follows along. It is enough for me, perfect even. Applause isn't what I wanted, I wanted them to know that I stand beside them. I guess I did just that.

Now I have to do that to every other district, make them believe too.

Peeta and I smile, wave once last time before we go inside to change for dinner. Their hands are still in the air. Peacekeepers begin to descend into the crowd and my smile fades. They head for the middle of the crowd, where the man stands. The crowd goes into a frenzy, moving from the Peacekeepers and the man.

"No," I say, only loud enough for Peeta to hear. The Peacekeepers pull the man to the first steps of the Justice Building.

"Katniss." Peeta begs. Both his hands are on my arm, dragging me into the building where Haymitch is calling for us to get inside. But he doesn't get me inside fast enough. I saw it, I wish I didn't.

I fight for release to help the poor man, but Peeta's arms secure around my waist, lifting me up off my feet. Peacekeepers grab Peeta's arms while I squirm. More Peacekeepers hold back the crowd, everyone screams in horror. They push us inside the Justice Building and close the large doors. That's when the gun goes off.

I don't see the man fall to his face, but I know that's what happened. I know where the bullet hit, I know he didn't see a second after it went through his skull. A scream erupts from the back of my throat and I fall from Peeta's grip. Peacekeepers come to help me up but I push them away and stand, running to the door. Haymitch grabs me from behind, pulling me into the air just like Peeta did, but with more force. I cry and scratch Haymitch's arms until he puts me down. Peeta takes me into his chest, I cling to him in fear. I want to hide away in his sweet scent of flour and sugar, the strength that pushes away the nightmares, the warmth that melts my cold heart. I want him to hide me away from everyone, all this evil I have been dropped in, I only ever want him to see me this broken.