The Other Mockingjay

Chapter 9

Chapter 9:

I take off from the classroom sprinting. Looking over my shoulder I barely get a glimpse of Knox being cuffed and dragged out of the building. All of my classmates are staring at me as I burst out of the building. They're being held back by Peacekeepers, but that doesn't stop there overflow of questions. Apparently someone was eavesdropping but immediately got the officials when they heard me scream.

I try to tune everyone out. All of their bombarding questions and eager faces.

Finally I can't take it anymore and I start running. I burst through the Seam getting confused looks by everyone I pass.

I've just reached the edge of 12 at the fence to the woods, when I hear the hum and am reminded that the electricity has come back on. Feeling defeated, I slump down at the foot of a tree, drifting to sleep.

*********************************

I wake up a few hours later, greeted by a dim sky. I stand up and then begin to run home, remembering that my mother will be having a panic attack right about now.

As I reach our front steps the door swings open, and I am greeted to my mother, who is crying hysterically. She pulls me into her arms and I sigh. I always feel awful when I make her worry this way.

Inside I see that she has prepared some lamb stu. The meal is filling and good since neither of us have been eating much lately.

Eating the lamb makes me think. "Um, Mom?" I ask. "You know, Gale hasn't brought game in a while?"

She sighs. " I know Prim. I've forgotten to tell you. His work shift has changed to 7 days a week, so neither of our families will be getting much fresh game for a while."

I sigh thinking about the Hawthorne's. I know what it's like to not have enough food to eat. But it's worse for them. We get income from Katniss' winnings, but there family is simply relying on the Tesserae and Hazel and Gale's small salary.

"I've already been helping Hazel, Prim," she assures me. "I'm giving them as much as I can."

*********************************

That night we curl up in front of the TV. Tonight is the interviews and all I know is that whatever she says, is going to get her killed.

I role my eyes when Caesar walks on stage with a glittery suit and shining purple hair. He laughs insanely and waves obnoxiously to the audience. The first interview starts and it's odd because both District 1's tributes are being interviewed at the same time, but then I remember that they are siblings.

Both are acting strangely emotional, compared to there normal bloodthirsty selves. But of course I realize, they're rebelling the Capitol too. This is their technique and its working, since most of the audience is in tears.

2 through 6 go, and then the girl from 7 comes on. She storms onto the stage, not even attempting to smile. Good. I like her so far. She screams all sorts of things to the Capitol and I can't help but laugh a little. Even my mother smiles.

The other districts go, and then it's Katniss' turn. She walks onto the stage looking absolutely stunning. She is wearing what would have been her wedding gown. This makes the audience go nuts, as they're very disssapointed they didn't get to have the wedding.

She sits in the seat next to Ceaser and most of the interview is talking about the usual things. The games, us, the wedding, mostly Peeta. In the end, she stands up and I know she's going to do the traditional twirl.

As she spins around, on the bottom of her dress the flames start. But it's not just flames this year. Her whole dress, it's transforming. As she stands still I can tell she's a bird! Then her arms come out to her side and I realize she's a mockingjay! Just like her pin! Just like the whistling. Cinna stands up to take a bow. Once again I'm amazed with his work, but what will Snow think?

Finally the crowd gets under control and Peeta comes onto the stage. He's smiling, and he looks so likeable, like he usually does. He's humorous at first, but then he lies that he and Katniss already had there wedding in secret. The audience is screaming and then Ceaser drops the question, "So Peeta any regrets?"

What Peeta says next hits the audience like a bomb. "Well there wouldn't be, if it weren't... if it... if it weren't for the...the... if it weren't for the baby"

With this the crowd goes nuts. They scream, they yell, they go crazy. Ceaser can't even finish the interview, he just dismisses him to go stand back with the other tributes.

Then, as if things couldn't get wilder, the tributes linked arms, and held them up. Showing their unity. The citizens got so uncontrollable, the lights had to be shut off and the TV broadcast ended.