Catching Fire: The New Story

Chapter 61

Katniss's POV

I look back and see Head Peacekeeper Thread. Shit. I try to release his hand from my arm and walk on my own. He holds it tighter. I groan as his itchy gloves dig into my bare skin. I start to lose the circulation in my hand and my whole arm.

"What? I thought we could say goodbye?" I ask. He starts pulling me to the Justice Building door. Peacekeepers get Peeta and Haymitch by their arms and they start fighting back. I jerk my arm around to help Peeta and Haymitch. It's not like they wouldn't obey their orders. I just wouldn't.

"New rules. President Snow's orders, directly to me." he said, he is now fighting with all his power with me in his arms. His neck is strained and veins are visible. Effie try's to coax the Peacekeepers to allow us free, but they grab her too. I finally work my way out of his grasp, and run down the steps of the Justice Building. Peacekeepers block me, but I slip through them. I run for my family. I grab Prim and my mother in my arms. Gale comes from behind the wall of Twelve citizens and hugs us all.

"I love you all." That's all I get to say. They rip me from their arms. They pull me along to the Justice Building. Peacekeepers block Prim, who's screaming for me again. I look back to her and see the twelve year old on her first reaping. I blink back tears and see her normal self. She's grown so much. So much smarter. Taller. Mature. Nothing like I remember. She grew when I was in the games. Now, she's practically an adult. But barely a teenager. Like me.

They push Peeta and me away from Effie and Haymitch, releasing us. Now a light purple spot on my arm with the blood flowing up and down to my hand, it tingles. I move my fingers around and keep up with Peeta. He keeps me close, hovering behind me like a statue. His arm wraps around my waist lightly, not pushing my shirt to my stomach and relieving my bulging baby bump.

The car ride to the train was bumpy and silent. Peeta's hand never left my left thigh. I held to his wrist. I watched my district pass by me. The window tint making everything darker than it already was. I was still in Twelve, yet I missed it so much. This might be the last time I see it. No, it is the last time I see. I should soak up everything I love about it. How much it means to me. I must stand for my district.

I wanted to rub my stomach to calm me down from attacking the driver and telling him to take me home, or to open the door and jump out. But I couldn't. Even though it was possible they already knew. Practically everyone knew in Twelve. Just not most of the Peacekeepers. I still went to the Hob to shop for items necessary for my mother or Prim. Mostly everyone knew.

I felt a tug on my arm and saw Peeta helping me out of the car. We passed by flashing cameras. I squinted my eyes and tried to block all the shouts and questions people screeched at us. I looked through the corner of my eyes to a tv. Peeta and I look calm and ready. No tears, nothing. This time, we are ready and want to fight. My mind throws that thought and try to reach Prim and my mother who were getting trampled by photographers. I looked back to them and I was pushed inside the train. Once our feet, arms, everything was in, it was off.

Effie's voice echoed through the silent train moving a bit too fast for me at this moment. Portia stood on Peeta's right. Cinna and Haymitch stood to my left. Peeta to my right. Of course. His hand traveled to my waist, then my arm. Only Haymitch knew about the pregnancy. At this monent, that didn't matter. Everyone could know right now and I wouldn't give a shit.

Eiffe, once again, was explaining the ways of the train. How fast it went, how much energy it used. Which was a lot. More than they power us to use in Twelve. My head pounded with each word she said in her squeaky Capitol voice. I still think it's fake. Like everyone else's who live in the Capitol.

My fingers tapped the side of my ribs while my arms were crossed. Peeta's hand dropped to my waist again and he pulled me closer. My eyebrows moved together as my anger grew. My breathing became impatient. Like my mind. What was breathing at this point of anger? Nothing. Just movement. And words. Use words Katniss. Nothing lethal. Nothing. Lethal. I told myself. I didn't want to listen. My mind fought back all my thoughts of never seeing my family ever again. My district. Everything stressing me until this moment.