An Unfinished Battle (The Hunger Games FanFiction)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I sit in the seat by the window on the train. Peeta sits in the aisle seat to my left. My brain pulses within my skull, creating a dull ache from all the crying I did last night. My bones feel weak from exhaustion and I can feel the weight of sleepiness in my muscles.

I lean against the cool glass. I feel the skin on my forehead absorb the coolness from the window, and the pounding in my head subsides. I just want to be home. Luckily, the ride from 4-12 isn't too long, and we should be home around noon.

My eyelids slowly slide shut, leaving the world around me dark. I think about everything that happened last night: The party, my encounter with Gale, the wine glass, my nightmare. The only good thing was that the nightmare was only a dream.

Wait a minute. A dream- A dream! Was everything that happened last night all just a dream?! Perhaps Gale isn't out to get Peeta after all!

My eyes shoot open, and I frantically sit up, making everything around me spin. "Peeta!" I gasp breathlessly.

Peeta, who was dosing off to sleep himself, suddenly jolts up, a look of terror masking his blue eyes. "Huh?! What is it?"

"Was last night real?!" I blurt out, hoping with all my heart and soul it was just another bad dream.

Peeta raises a blonde eyebrow, "What?"

"I asked if last night was real, like did it actually happen?" adrenilane pumps through my body, as I hope with all my might it wasn't real.

"What part of it?"

"Gale," I say "Was he really there?! Is he really trying to kill you?!"

The feelings of confusion and terror fade away from Peeta's face and are soon replaced with sadness, and uncertainty. His pink cheeks turn white and his crystal eyes soften to a desolate grey.

My heart drops down into my stomach and the weight of my head suddenly feels too heavy for my neck to support it.

Peeta blinks a few times and slowly nods his head. I purse my lips and take a deep breath through my nose. I slowly shake my head, "What are we gonna do?" I whisper.

Peeta tenderly rubs my forearm, and plants a kiss on top of my head. "Don't worry about it, it'll all be okay," he murmers, "Just wait until we get home, and we will see if Haymitch knows anything."

I lean my head back against the window, and don't say a word. Angst and anger towards Gale swirl inside of me like a whirlpool.

I think about what Peeta said, 'It will be okay'. I scoff to myself. Okay. Is that what we are, okay? Peeta was thrown into a game to kill the girl he loved all his life. Okay. My dad died, and left our family all alone. Okay. Against all odds my little sister was chosen her first year for the games. Okay. I had to go in for her. Okay. Peeta and I both survived the games. Okay. Our love was all an act. Okay. Peeta feels our love is real. Okay. We think we are finally actually okay. Is it okay? No, we go back to the games. Okay. Only one of us will come out this time. Okay. The Capitol kidnaps Peeta. Okay. I realize I need him and love him, but he's programmed to kill me. Okay. Peeta's whole family dies. Okay. Prim dies. Okay. Our whole town, our whole entire country is ruined. Okay. Our lives are finally good, and now Gale is out to get the only thing that makes me happy. Okay.

The reality is, our lives have never been okay, and a part of me feels as if it never will be. Gale can't kill Peeta, I won't let that happen. I will do whatever it takes to keep my hope alive. I will do whatever it takes to keep us alive. I don't know what it is that I'll have to do, but I'll do it. Gale can't overcome us now.