Mockingjay-An Alternate Ending

Chapter 25

“I am very sorry, she is very badly burnt…She also suffered a bad heart attack. I’m afraid she won’t make it. Nothing in the hospital is strong enough to treat the burns and her heart is really, really weak now.” says a sympathetic doctor. I stare at the wall, trying to pull myself together emotionally, I have been waiting hours in the waiting room. “Would you like to see her?” I nod slightly, not letting my tears escape.

He opens the door, the room is big, bright and white, but I take no notice of the room. The only thing I can see is my weak, little sister. Only two years ago, Prim was the 12 year old girl who was scared of a spider creeping up the wall. Now she is a brave, young woman who gave her life to try and save a child from the Capitol.

I sit at the edge of the bed, stroking her long, blonde, golden hair. What was the point? What was the point in going through all that suffering in replacing her in the Hunger Games… the point of saving her at the reaping so she could live her life, if she dies and doesn’t live it anyway?

I look at her face, what used to be a peachy bundle of joy, is now replaced and ruined by scars, scabs and redness. I wish I could save her.

Her eyes flicker open. “Katniss?” “Hey little Duck” I whisper. A tear escapes my eye. Great. So much for being strong. The thing I never am. She gives me a small smile. “Where’s mother?” That’s when we hear a knock at the door. Our mum comes in with saggy red bags under her eyes. “Here she is” My voice cracks in mid-sentence. She nods and comes in, I can’t read any emotion on her face but I bet she’s falling apart inside.

I go and sit in the chair next to the bed, so my mother can sit on the bed next to Prim. “Prim…” My mum says apologetically. “I’m so sorry” You can see Prim is getting upset now, but she just shakes her head and puts her finger against my mother’s lips.

The doctors, must have, thankfully, put Prim on very strong painkillers, because she doesn’t seem to be in any pain. She is very terrifyingly burnt. She is covered in some special burn bandages, so you can’t see the worst burns, but if you did you would probably be able to see the bone and the smell would be unbearable.

The horrific thought reminds me of the first Hunger Games I was in. The game makers set off the fake fire in the forest. I got badly burnt on my calf. It was agonizingly painful and to me getting burnt is the worst pain anybody can face. And losing your sister.

We sit there in silence, for a good ten minutes. Prim quietly says something. “What was that?”  I reply. She asks again louder but weaker. “Where’s Buttercup?” Well, the last time I saw Buttercup, I was training to attack the Capitol. I haven’t seen him since. Coin has probably killed or gotten rid of him. He is undoubtedly wondering round on his own somewhere in the wilderness. But I daren’t tell her this. “President Coin has sent him here to the Capitol. Don’t worry we wouldn’t leave him behind, to miss the celebration of freedom! He is in some Pet Pampering Salon somewhere, getting all the attention.”

My mum gives me a look, but Prim smiles from cheek to cheek. I can feel my heart sinking. Then she suddenly looks confused. “Freedom? What’s happened to President Snow?” She whispers. This time mum says “He’s under arrest, sweetie. We’re free now! District 13 attacked the Capitol and got control last night. No more whippings, Hunger Games or starving people!” Shame she won’t be here to enjoy it. I’m filling up with rage, I can’t wait to sink one of my arrows into President Snow’s temple. But I cannot show my anger. Not now.

Every time Prim closes her eyes for a long time, my heart pumps so loud I can hear it and all the blood rushes to my head. This all happened so fast. My little duck, my little friend, my little sister. Not going to be here to live. No children, No future, No life.

The machine starts beeping and a handful of doctors run in. They are so loud and rush around so much that Prim starts to look worried and upset. She is breathing really heavily. My Mother and I stand there not knowing what to do. Doctors run around us, shouting at each other. “Prim! Prim!” I shout. Prim mouths “Katniss, Sing”

 “Sing?” I reply. What do I sing, there is nothing that comes to mind, that’s when I think of Rue and how I sung Deep in the Meadow when she died.

I sit down at the edge of her bed, and start to sing the lullaby.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when they open, the sun will rise.

When I sing I try to do it slowly, but the doctors are being so noisy. Checking data here, adjusting the water there, rushing around and shouting. It’s all too distracting. I can see the tears in Prim’s eyes. I’m almost about to carry on, but instead I yell at the doctors “Shut up! Shut up! Can you please be quiet for Prim’s sake?” I hear gasps, but I’m too angry to take any notice. Then they go back to their work, though in a quiet manner. Prim can now die in peace, that’s the very least she deserves. My mum starts to sing now.

 

Here it's safe, and here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

 

Now I join in and we all hold hands. My tears are now streaming down my face, I can see my mother is being much stronger than me.

 

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray

Forget your woes and let your troubles lay

And when it's morning, they'll wash away.

 

 

Here it's safe, and here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

Prim’s hand loosens on the last line and she turns cold. I sit there staring at her, her face, it looks so peaceful. She will be in peace now and will never be disturbed. I wait for cannon to fire, because that’s what happened to signal somebody had died in the Hunger Games. Then I remember, I’m not in it anymore. How could this happen? Why, do I have to be the one to survive, I have nothing to live for. Why can’t I be taken and Prim stay alive? Why her? Why her?

I kiss her on the forehead, “Bye Prim, I love you”. I put her hands together on her chest and take the duvet off the bed. A doctor picks it up and walks out with it. There’s no more doctors in here now.

I look at my mother and all she is doing is sitting there, staring into space. She can’t fall into depression again, like when my father died. Then I’ll be left on my own. “Mum?” She doesn’t answer, still staring into space. “Mum!” I get up and am about to fall over, because my legs are like jelly, but I manage to shake her. She looks up and stares at me for a while, and then she bursts into tears. I put my arms around her, feeling her coldness, but I don’t want to let her go.

We hug each other until we are all cried out. Taking in what has just happened. She is gone, she is not coming back, she has left us behind. She has left me behind.

“Prim!” I scream.