A Stake To The Heart

Chapter 22 (finally!)

Chapter 22
Katniss' POV

I decided to head down to the woods, I haven't been there in a while.

As soon as I got home I had a quick lunch with Prim and then headed out. I sigh as I passed the square, touching my stomach lightly. I crawled through the fence and walked to the familiar tree were I hid my bow. I smiled as I breathed in the comforting smell of pine and other earthy elements. I felt almost...safe. But no one was ever safe.

I grab my bow and the quiver of arrows and run towards the area where most animals were, which happened to be a small meadow. The meadow's grass was high, up to my knees, and dandelions and other weeds scattered the ground. As I reached the meadow I noticed another figure. I couldn't make out any details, I wasn't even sure if it was human. I freeze, thinking about who or what it could be. There was only one way to find out though.

I inched closer to the figure until I stopped as I heard a deep voice.

"Catnip?"

Gale.

What was I going to do? He was about to find out I was pregnant...with Peeta's children.

"Gale." I call back. I was relieved to see him. He began to jog over as I slowly inched over. He had a huge smile on his face as he slowed down to meet me. I watched as his whole face drop lower. He looked back up to my face with an unreadable expression.

"K-K-Katniss?" I shuddered as he stuttered out my real name, which he never did.

"Gale...listen-"

"How? Why? Who?!" His face changed colors as he continued to stare right into my eyes. I take a deep, shaky breath. This wasn't going to turn out good.

"It wasn't exactly planned."

"No duh, you hate children." He snaps.

"I never said that. It wasn't an accident though..."

"Get to the point. Who, Katniss?"

"Peeta." I say as I keep my eyes locked on the ground, on a bright yellow dandelion.

He takes a deep breath and then speaks again;

"Of course! You and lover boy. Do you know what he's done?! Where is he?! When I get my hands on him-"

"Gale stop." I say in a shaky voice.

"No! Katniss, why?!?! Why would you do this?! What's next? Are you and lover boy going to run away and have a family in the mountains?! I'm sure this won't be the last child and who knows if it's the first!"

"Gale." I say in a soft voice as tears begin to trail down my face.

"Just wait until the capital finds out, Katniss. You all will be dead. Peeta, you, and the baby."

"Babies." I whisper. I look up and almost fall back from fear. Gale's face was so rage filled. His eyes glowed and his whole face was red.

He must have heard me because he punches the nearest tree and slams his head Into.

"Why Katniss?" He whispers.

I shake my head and hold back the sobs.

"I'm done. I never saw this coming so soon, why don't you and Peeta get married and just run away. The district doesn't need you. The capital hates you anyway. Why don't you just kill each other?" He says before storming off.

It takes me a minute to comprehend what just happened. After I do, all I can do is fall to the ground sobbing. I felt so weak and so stupid. Gale was right...I should just die.

But you can't.

What would Peeta say?

Prim?

And what about the babies?

I don't care anymore, I've upset too many people. It's a wonder why I'm not dead.

Katniss stop. Calm down...

I obey the voice in my head and take a deep breath and start to get up. I decide to walk to the lake, I always felt relaxed there. I walk slowly and carefully to the lake. I smile a tiny bit and wipe my eyes as I see the cottage. I frown as I suddenly trip and go crashing to the ground. I instantly feel the pain in my ankle and know I sprained it. My whole arm feels numb and I gasp as I lift it up, it's covering in scratches and cuts oozing rich blood. I try to get up and look where I fell. I tripped over a root in the ground and fell into a pile of sticks. I brush it off and start to stand up only to fall back as a sharp pain runs through my body. I scream in pain and feel my eyes begin to droop as more pain flows through my stomach.

••••••••

"Katniss!"

"Katniss!!"

Prim?

Peeta?

I try to shout back but I suddenly feel like I'm in a different state. I feel numb and everything is fuzzy and dark.

Maybe I was dead...

I suddenly feel arms wrap around me and feel as if I'm lifted off the ground and into a new world.

________

Sorry it's kinda short and stuff. But hey, an update!!

FINALLY!!!!!!

I have had so much school stuff! Ugh...mostly math and then there's the fact I'm failing subjects :/ and then there's all the drama of being an eighth grader. I'm just so done with everything and I also wish that a certain friend would give me a chance to explain that it isn't them and I appreciate their help and care 😓 and that I'm NOT mad at them...at all. I
I'm just mad at the world. God damn it America lol. I wish there was a cure to all this... But all I can do is distract myself by writing and music. So that's me. ;D how's everyone else's life?

Okay so I'm back, more updates!

Thanks for reading!!

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