Catching Fire: The New Story

Up in Flames

Katniss's POV

I felt horrible for letting Peeta go once we arrived at Twelve, but Effie and Haymitch had to rip us apart. We have to get ready apart, as always. After last night, being apart for even a couple of hours seems like years. The last party would be small, held at the Justice Building and hosted by Mayor Underseen. Once this is over, we'll be home and left alone again.

I can't keep my mind off of last night. It left me a bit confused. First was Peeta's nightmares. I have never witnessed him screaming for me, begging for someone to leave me alone. It brought so much fear, seeing him tossing and turning. Tears fell down his cheeks as he moaned and yelled. Waking him was difficult enough with him being much larger and stronger than me, with his arms flailing about he was bound to hit me. He hit my leg before I could stop him. My upper thigh is a tad bit sore, but I rub it away before the color blooms. Holding each other all night calmed the storm of nightmares, but a short while later, once they returned, came the crying. The nightmares will never leave us and we had both given up. We barely got in an hour of sleep before we had to get up to change. We entered Twelve with warm welcomes and were driven to the Justice Building a bit too quickly for my liking. 

When my giggly prep team is finished with me, I walk out of the small room for some air. I look around in wonder of where to go. I don't know where Peeta is being prepped and I don't know if Madge is here or at home getting ready. I wander around the halls, thinking of one of my only friends who tried to teach me piano once, whose father loves strawberries and who gave me my token that is now famous everywhere. 

I find the mayor's office and decide to stop and thank him for the party. I know I can do it later, but I'll probably be surrounded by people wanting attention from the Star-Crossed Lovers. I knock on the door and no answer comes. I wait and knock again, calling out to the mayor. I can't help the wait so I try the knob. Surprisingly it's open and I walk in feeling miss placed in my sparkly attire, alone in an office that does not belong to me. 

He isn't anywhere. I scan the room in disappointment, now having nothing to do but be alone. I guess I'll have to find him later. 

I begin to walk out, my hand still on the handle, when I hear the television set up in the corner static up and a news anchor comes on. She speaks in a serious tone, pleading for the attention of all her listeners. I turn back to the television to see the flashing words:

UPDATE FROM DISTRICT EIGHT

The woman continues spuing details about the uproar. Behind her appears a video of what seems to be Eight in ruins. The citizens run around in black clothing, clothes conceal their faces. Everyone looks ballistic throwing things around, pushing crates over and liting them on fire. The main square buildings were all up in flames, burning brightly in the night sky. Peacekeepers fight back, their guns flaring off, but they don't stop. Even injured, they continued destroying anything they can get their hands on. 

I can't breath watching this. My hands shake while I finally listen to the woman speaking

"Many have been injured at what seems like an uprising from District Eight. More Peacekeepers have been sent to the district in order to calm the uproar," the woman said in a serious tone. Then they showed footage of Eight again. I gasp. One man, his face covered in a black cloth and in a black jacket surrounded by many others dressed the same and Peacekeepers marching toward them, holds up a thin poster with a red printing of my Mockingjay pin.

I leave right after that, shutting the door as gently as I can. No one can know I saw that; it was not for my eyes to see. He probably knows I did though, he probably has cameras set up here too. 

Heavy footsteps come from the stairs descending to the first floor. I quickly turn to the door, pretending to barely be knocking on the door and calling to the mayor. 

"Katniss?" I look to see the mayor. I keep my smile small and simple enough for him to believe it.

"Hello, mayor," I say, sweetly.

"Hello, Katniss. Looking for Madge? She's downstairs in the piano room."

"Oh, yes! But, first I was going to say thank you for the dinner and the party," I say with false jubilation. He smiles, his gray hair shining in the hallway light.

"Why, your welcome sweetie! Now, go run along while I get some work done before dinner. I have a very important job you know," he says, I nod, still smiling. He opens the door to his office and stares at the television. My eyes trail back to it, the warnings were popping up again. My hands felt damp from my nervousness.

"Excuse me, dearie," he says quietly, entering his office and closing the doors behind him. I nod, walking down the stairs to Madge, hoping no one finds out what I saw. Wishing I had never even entered the damn room in the first place.

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A/N

I honestly just want to restart this whole book.

~Jez xo