After Mockingjay

Captive

I wake up to my body screaming in agony. I am lying in Peetas bed again, without Peeta. My nose throbs as well as my left arm. I reach my hand up to touch my nose. The minute my finger makes contact the pain amplifies. I yelp. My mom walks in.

"How are you feeling?" She's trying to be casual.

"I hurt," even talking provokes a headache.

"Honey, I know," she tucks me in and walks out.

Haymitch walks in next. He stands awkwardly next to me.

"Where is he?" I croak wincing because of the pain.

"He ran off after he came to," Haymitch mumbles.

"Find him," I manage to say before I go under again.

***

I awake again in pain. Somebody's crying. It's Peeta.

"Peeta." I try to reach for him but the pain is too much.

"Don't strain yourself," he says coming closer.

"It's. Ok." I try to speak.

"Katniss, I hurt you. Really bad. I could have killed you. You don't deserve this. I put you in danger." He crys again.

"No Peeta, it's. Not. Your fault." I struggle.

"Your going to hurt yourself." He comes closer.

This is the normal Peeta. Always worrying about me.

"Please katniss just understand that I can't do this to you. I love you. And I'm hurting you." He's barley audible through the tears and my headache.

"Stay with me," I'm drifting off.

"Always," he whispers as I fall into a dreamless sleep.

***

I wake up next to Peeta. It's the middle of the night. I yawn.

"Your up?" Peeta whispers.

Not that there's anyone to hear us.

"Yeah," I turn over it face him.

"Go back to bed." He says.

"I'm going to hunt," I say going to get out of bed.

"No, your still hurt and it's dark," he counters grabbing my arm.

I sigh and pretend to sleep for 5 hours that I could have been hunting.

***

In the morning Peeta slips out of bed. He probably thinks I'm asleep. Well, I'm not. So, I get out of bed. I tip-toe downstairs. Peetas not there.

"Peeta?" I yell.

Silence. I go outside. Nope. I sigh and walk to haymitchs. This is deja vu. I knock and Effie opens the door.

"Have you seen Peeta?" I muster a small smile.

"Yes dear he's in here," she beams.

She ushers me into her home. Peetas at the breakfast table with Haymitch.

"I thought you were asleep," he gets up to come and hug me. I except the hug. I was worried.

"Break it up lovebirds," Haymitch frowns.

"Why?" I ask trying to sound annoying.

"I have bad news," his face is grave.

Peeta raises his eyebrows.

"The Capitol." He looks away.

"What about the Capitol?" I ask. The memories of that blurred night flood into my memory.

"They've got Gale and your mother," he stares into my eyes.