Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

We get to breakfast okay in the end, with the believable lie that I had only just gone into Peeta’s room to awake him for breakfast. The guards cannot argue because they have no proof this time, but now I realise they will be keeping a closer eye on us two at night. They don’t really think that Peeta and I can be separated do they? I can’t even imagine the long, lonely, terrifying nights I would have to face without Peeta’s company and reassurance. Nobody knows me the way Peeta does.

“Hey Gale” Peeta says politely as we sit down. Gale smiles at us two. The pain in his eyes is blindingly visible. I know I need to stop worrying about this because there is nothing I can do to change it and however much I try to be the old best friend I was to Gale he just won’t let me in.

***

“Why do you think they want us going into the hall?” Peeta says confused. “Probably something important they want to tell us” I say to Peeta, “my mum said they have done it before, everyone staying here fits into the hall and they make an announcement.” “Oh” Peeta says realising as we walk into a very claustrophobic room filled with the whole population of District 12 survivors, alongside the people of District 13.

“We are here, in this hall today, with very good news” A man says, he has a long beard with a firm standing position, his legs are about 5 centre meters apart and he is wearing black with plain shoes that looked very old fashioned. He stands silently for a moment as if trying to kill everyone with the tension. “The people of District 12” he says slowly, I notice people surrounding me, biting their nails, fidgeting about just waiting for what this mysterious man might say next. “Are able to go home” he finally says.

The hall is stunned into complete silence. “We have had people working on it for a while, although you may be putting yourself at danger by going back” he pauses, thinking of the right words to use “as there is a higher risk of President Snow invading” “and of course, if some of you do not wish to return for this reason, you are welcome to stay here, in District 13.” “For those who go back, will have a high security system guarding it from Snow, we will be in contact 24/7 and if anything suspicious comes up we will be there for you straight away” he adds.

He stops for a minute, catching people’s eyes from the audience. A petit, solemn lady wearing a black smart top walks onto his stage and whispers something to him. The audience stare tensely as he nods his head several times. “As you all may gather, we are working towards killing off President Snow” he says “He will not be a problem we have for much longer” and then the man puts the microphone down and just like that walks out of the hall.

The audience stay stunned into silence for a few minutes longer before bursting into conversation. I suddenly feel like I can breathe again and with the weight off my shoulders, I whisper to Peeta “We’re going home” a smile stretching across my face as I embrace Peeta, mother, Gale, and of course my little Prim.

My mum is shifting about awkwardly as if sifting decisions “Katniss I want to stay here, I’ve got a really good job here, in District 13.” Mother says.  I smile at her “that’s okay, I understand, just you have to visit us a lot” I whisper. I then look at Prim, my little sister. She looks nervous “so is this little duck staying here too?” I say lifting her up while laughing. I genuinely feel happy. Prim breaks into a smile when she sees that I don’t mind.

“I am really sorry Katniss” Prim says as we are walking up to our room. “It’s okay, you have got your own responsibilities here, helping mum with nursing, anyway, you’ll be safer here, and that will make things easier for me” I say giving Prim’s shoulder a squeeze.  “You must be careful Katniss” Prim says in a serious tone “I will have Peeta for that” I say giggling.