Masked Enemies

Chapter Four

Katniss

Katniss left Finnick's room, tears welling up in her eyes. She trudged back to her own room, where Prim and her mother were sleeping.

Prim looked up, a shadow of concern crossing her face. "What happened?"

"Nothing." She melted when Prim glared at her. "Okay, Finnick. He just said sorry. Now I feel bad for leaving the wedding so early."

"Okay. Well, come sleep. You must be tired." Primrose said as she patted to the vacant space next to her.

Katniss settled into the bed. "Goodnight, you Little Duck."

Katniss's dreams were peaceful that night. She savored it, as this virtually never happened. She dreamed of the wedding, and what would have happened if Annie had never come back.

"Katniss, wake up." Katniss groaned and rolled over as Prim woke her. She hastily changes and followed Prim to the dining hall.

"Breakfast?" The serving lady asked as though it was an option.

"Yes, please." Katniss said. Like she had a choice. The lady dumped vegetables and grain onto her tray.

Katniss sat next to Gale at their table. "Hey, Catnip." He said.

Katniss ignored him and ate in silence. Gale frowned. Katniss tensed. Gale could sense there was something bugging her, so she fixed her eyes on the next table over. Unfortunately, that was where Finnick was seated. He caught her eye and gave her a sad smile. She returned his smile. This only made Gale more suspicious. Katniss sighed. Sometimes Gale cared a little bit too much. She knew Gale only did it because he Katniss was like his sister, but Katniss didn't need Gale protecting her. She was plenty strong on her own.

Katniss finished her breakfast quickly. She walked over to where Finnick and Annie sat. Putting on her happiest face, she smiled and said, "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you two!" she lied through her teeth. She walked away, silently fuming.

Katniss sat in the hospital, getting painkiller for her neck. Bored, she took a piece of rope from the bedside table, and began knotting it in various and elaborate loops, like Finnick had taught her so long ago.

She looked up when the doctor came in. He was a short, stout man with a clean-shaven face. He looked at her and nodded, taking in her condition.

"Katniss Everdeen?" he asked, looking at his clipboard and back up at her.

Katniss nodded. "That's me. Um-painkiller, I think?" she asked uncertainty.

"No... you've been switched over to sedative when necessary. The painkiller's been given to Mr....Hawthorne. For that wound in his shoulder." the man told her.

"Well, surely you have more painkiller! I won't take the sedative again! It's painkiller or nothing!" Katniss said, her voice rising. Why was she getting so mad?

The doctor looked nervous. He nodded and left in a hurry, jotting something down as he left. As soon as the doctor had left, Katniss leaned down in her hospital bed and sighed. They're probably going to make me go to therapy or something. There's no way they'll give me painkiller for just a throb in my stomach. Gale needs it more, she thought. She knew she probably shouldn't be, but she closed her eyes and lay down in her bed, groaning.

"Ms. Everdeen?" a voice called. Katniss opened her eyes and moaned.

"Ms. Everdeen? Your presence is required in the rehab room." the same doctor that had visited her earlier said.

Hauling herself out of bed, Katniss stepped into her slippers and trudged out of the room, her stomach throbbing with every step. She passed Gale, who was sitting in his bed quietly, staring into space.

"Hey, Catnip." he waved to her.

"Hey, Gale. I'll come visit you later. Right now I have to be in the therapy room." she responded.

I called it, she thought, they probably think I'm some sort of mental weirdo with anger issues now. I'll probably be stuck in the rehab room for the next five years. I'm not supposed to go to the Capitol anyway, so what does it matter? Katniss asked herself spitefully.

The door to the rehab room creaked open. It was nearly empty, except for Johanna Mason, who was lifting weights with her weak arm. She moaned in agony is she picked up a 5 pound dumbell. She heaved it above her head one-handedly, crying out. Her eyes locked with Katniss's and she put the dumbell down.

"What brings you here, Katniss?" Johanna asked in her usual rude tone.

"Doctor." Katniss muttered. She went into one of the smaller rooms, frowning. She loved Johanna, but she was pretty rude when she wanted to be.

She sat and waited in the tiny room. The door opened and a dark figure with a big stick came in.