We Remain

Chapter 2

*Katniss POV*

I walk home alone with the bird still in my bag. Peeta had to work later, so I guess that just leaves me to plucking the feathers off this turkey. How fun.

I walk through the house and close the door. So empty. So quiet. So alone. I take my father's brown leather jacket that I save from my old house and put it on a hook. I hear nothing but silence. I hate this feeling. I hate it because then the voices in my head start talking. But they're not any random voices. They're voices of everyone that I've loved died. I hold my head and cover my ears. But that doesn't seem to help. Now they're all screaming at me to help them. I start screaming. Hot tears stream down my face when I feel arms wrapped around me. I first think it's Peeta. But then I hear his voice.

"Shh...sweetheart. Everything's okay," Haymitch whispers to me as I release my head. He hugs me tightly and I hug him back. I calm down and he releases me. I can smell the alcohol in his breath. But that's not anything I'm concerned about.

"What happened?" He asks me.

"I just heard voices in my head. Of all the people I lost. They were screaming at me to help them, and I couldn't..." I say in a whisper as I blink away a tear.

"We all lose people, sweetheart, it's just life," he says as he kisses the top of my head. He's been nicer to me lately. It's kind of good that he is.

****

Peeta gets home a little later. But I've finally got the whole turkey plucked and in the oven. My hair is out of its braid and is in chocolate waves as it hangs past my chest.

I feel a strong pair if arms wrapped around me and I smile. Peeta chuckles and turns me around to face him. He holds up a piece of cheesy bread and I take it from him.

"Katniss, let me ask you something," he says as he picks me up and sets me in a chair at the kitchen table. "What are your thoughts on kids?"

(Sorry, another short chapter. But I thought that would be a good page turner. I don't know. Make sure to vote! May the odds be ever in your favor!)