Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

I’ve been going into the woods during the lonely hours when Peeta is at work in the bakery, it keeps me sane. But when the baby comes, well I will no longer be able to go into the woods often so I need to make the most of it. I like to bring home the food, it feels like I have my old role, back when I lived in the seam and needed to keep my family alive. I have to admit I miss my old life and I would do anything to have it back, yet if it never were to have turned out like this when there would still be 23 dead children every year for the capitols entertainment, so I know deep down when they called out Prim’s name, one out of hundreds in the reaping, it happened for a reason.

I have to go on an “uprising tour” as Plutarch Heavensbee calls it, to give the rebels more to uprise about. He planned it for a few weeks’ time, I think this will be when President Snow finally goes down once and for all. I hope that it is planned for me to personally kill him, I would enjoy every moment of it.

“Hey” I say to Peeta as he walks in the door, “Hey beautiful” he says back giving me a hug and placing down a fresh loaf of bread that he has brought home from his bakery. “You had a good day?” I ask, giving him a kiss. “Yes” he says wrapping his arms around my waist “and you?” “Mine was okay” I say “I’m worried about the uprising tour.” “Don’t be, Katniss I will be there with you. You will be safe” “I don’t care about being safe or not” I say “I care about the fact everyone will be looking to me, I don’t want everyone looking at me.”

***

“Today is the day” Peeta’s husky, tired voice booms into my ear, waking me. My eyes flutter open and I see his deep blue eyes staring back. I try to make myself presentable but with no longer the talent of my makeup artists and of course Cinna… oh god I miss him so much, I just can’t do a good job. I give up and get fastrated. “Katniss you look beautiful and the rebels aren’t going to care about your outfit and makeup, just to see you will give them hope.” I nod but I am dreading it.

At ten o clock on the dot, the hover craft that Plutarch sent for me appears, soaring above us. “Let’s do this” I say, taking hold of Peeta’s hand and never intending to let go.

“Katniss” mother and Prim hug me. “I didn’t know you two were coming!” “We’re right beside you” Prim reminds me. Plutarch interrupts the hugs with “Katniss!” he gives me a friendly handshake “no need to be nervous, we have your speeches written down here. Just follow these cards and you can’t go wrong” I nod but this reminds me too much of the victory tour after the games “make us proud mockingjay” he says before going out of the room again. Peeta wraps his arm around me and I chat to mother and Prim for the duration of the journey.

I can’t help but notice in each District how different it is and how much has changed since I last was standing on a stage in front of these people, now they are all rebels with no fear and wild looking eyes. Each crowd seems to uproar with hope with my ‘inspiring speeches’ which actually I’m reading from cards, but to motivate the rebels was always what Plutarch intended and then he informed me he wants me to personally kill President Snow at the end of the week.

It’s always lovely to feel Peeta’s embrace when I walk off stage, out of the spotlight and fall into the boy I love’s arms. I know that by the end of this week, I will be happy. Everyone will be safe all year round, with no games to threaten and scare us each year, with no President Snow to rule us and frighten us. And maybe just maybe a happy ever after for everyone.