The Hunger Games: Book Four - How it Might Have Been ... Gale.

Page Ten

Gale 

Katniss is beginning to become more comfortable in my home; as comfortable as she can be, that is. The kids have taken to calling me 'Uncle Gale', which leaves a bittersweet feeling in my mouth. I have told Katniss about the plan at the Nut we have to track Peeta's kidnapper. I've only told her that, not that I plan to save him as well. There's no point in building her hopes up, no matter how strong she may seem. Peeta Mellark could already be dead.

She has visited the Nut for the past week, answering questions asked to her by the team about any suspicious activity she may have noticed leading up to the kidnapping. According to Meld, Katniss is being 'entirely unco-operative'. That's my girl.

One night at dinner as Katniss and I are preparing the meal, I hear a name being mentioned at the table as the kids have an animated conversation. Maybe it is just a common name, the name of one of their old District 12 school mates. But no. I hear another one, then another one, and now I am certain they are talking about the most recent Hunger Games video they have watched. It was the one I kept hidden, the one that used to help me on lonely nights but then locked away because it caused too much pain.

The 74th Annual Hunger Games.

Silence descends on the table as Katniss and I sit to eat, and I know she has heard them talking too. The kids are quiet, and Kuwai shifts uncomfortably in his chair. He's itching to ask a question, but knows it's wrong. I may have only known these kids for a few days but I've already grown accustomed to their characters.

"Ask," Katniss says dully, and that's all the permission he needs. Kuwai opens his mouth to ask his burning question, but stops when I give him a harsh look. Katniss has made progress - she's recovered as much as one humanly can. This question could set her back years of progress. More. He asks anyway.

"Who's Rue?" Silence. He asks again. "Rue, from the Hunger Games? I know that's Oenothera's name, too..... but... she turned off the video before I could watch the whole games. I saw you, Mommy. And Daddy, too. But if you won, then did Rue..."

Katniss is silent.

Before she can answer, a frantic knock on the door causes us all to whip our heads around. I answer it, checking the peephole first - no one visits me.

It's Meld.

"Sir!" he says, breathless, looking around him to make sure no one is listening. "Sir! Urgent news!" It is dark out. Meld should not be working so late. Something is wrong. He steps inside hurriedly, holding a piece of parchment paper with a red wax seal I have not seen in years. He hands the sheet to me wordlessly, suddenly noticing Katniss and her shocked children sitting at the table. The glass look in her eyes tell me that she has seen the seal too. 

It is the seal of the old Capitol.

The letter says almost nothing, but it is enough.

"The Capitol is now back in power; we have some unfinished business."

The words put ice into my veins. But that is not the worst part of it all. The letter is addressed to Katniss Everdeen, not Mellark. They know where she is.

They're coming for her.

The Capitol is back.