Mocking Jay TRAPPED

Chapter 10- Early Surprise

Moans....Screams....Pain. I heard all of it as I sat outside the hospital room. Katniss...she was in pain.   I had caused her that pain. Not physical pain, but emotional pain. My story had troubled her and I didn't understand why.  

I decided to go to training without her for today. It was selfish, I know, not to wait for her. But I was giving up each time I tried to talk to her, each time I saw her and Finnick, each time I even saw her....what the Capital had done to her.

At the training site, no one was there except one other boy shooting some arrows. He missed the target every time he shot, but he kept trying. I realized I should do the same thing, and I walked to the circle around 13's perimeter. "10 laps around...Go!" Jason's voice rang in my ears. I was going to run 10 laps....for Katniss.

I started jogging. I will finish this.  I will...for Katniss.

That's all that ran through my head for the first 2 laps. I was determined. My breathing was getting heavy so I  slowed down, not stopping my feet.

I glanced down at my watch. I had been running non-stop for 30 minutes. I was currently on my 5th lap....halfway done. I took a big breath. My legs felt like jelly and my throat burned. I started to feel light headed.

I looked up and Haymitch was yelling for me, he was climbing out of the trapdoor. I turned again and tripped, my vision becoming blurry. I heaved and gasped for air, but I kept running. I had lost track on how many laps I had done but I didn't care.

Tripping again, my breakfast came up and out. I felt the ground shake and people scrambled to try to drag me back underground. I yelled and pushed them away. Then I was blown back by an incredible force, The last thing I saw was a hovercraft before I was blinded by the smoke.

>>>>>>><>><>><>><<><<><><><><><>><<><><><><><>>>><><><><><><><><><><><><>>><><><><

My head throbbed. I turned my head and saw a pool of blood. My blood. I was about to faint when something slipped into my mouth. It tasted horrible and I tried to spit it out but a gentle hand covering my mouth told me to swallow it. I did and almost instantly I felt better.

Katniss!!!  I opened my mouth but no words came out. She wrapped a thick bandage around my head. I finally came to my senses. "K...Katniss...w..wh...what happened?  Where are we?"  I said frantically.

She looked up at me, tears in her beautiful eyes. "Remember what Snow said?  You have two days to hand Finnick and I over, or....."  She burst out crying, loud, painful sobs. "It was all my fault. I did this" She looked to the ruins. "I should have came forward"  More sobs.

I didn't know what to do. Should I hold her?  Say something?  Yes...I could say something. Words seemed to come to me at the right moments.

"Katniss....it isn't your fault. Plutarch was expecting the attack. Why, everyone is probably safe underground right now. It will be okay"  I tried to believe each word as it escaped my mouth. Tried to hope that everyone was safe. That Beetee had something planned, or Plutarch, or someone.

She leaned her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her and sighed. This is all I ever wanted, excluding the bombs, the Capital.....just Katniss.

She sat up after what seemed like forever. "Well one thing is for sure, Snow doesn't know what he just did....or who he just did it to." 

I swear I saw her smile. I nodded. "Nope, and he's gonna pay for it"  I stood up and helped her stand. We both took a minute to regain our balance, and we started walking back to the ruins, hoping that we wouldn't find any more bad news.

When we finally got to the trapdoor, I grabbed Katniss's hand and held it tight. She didn't let go. I lifted the door and we descended down the endless stairs.

"We should probably go to the hospital room first, huh?" 

Dazed, she nodded.

As I kept descending down the stairs, I thought about how I didn't notice the hovercraft while running. How did I now see it?  Haymitch tried to warn me.....Haymitch.  Haymitch!!!!  "Haymitch!!!!"  I cried out.

"What Peeta?...What about him?"  She grabbed my arm as I turned around.

"He tried to warn me....he was above ground, when the bombs....I ignored him. Wanted to keep running!"  I gasped.

I ran up the stairs. I had to see...had to know.  

Wait....why was he so surprised?  Why did no one stop me when I went above ground. Why didn't anyone warn me.

You have 2 days.   2 days. But yesterday was only one day!  I should have known!  Why had I been so stupid. I should have expected them to do that.

I punched the wall and I felt my face getting hot. It was my fault this happened. Now Haymitch might be....No. I refused to think about it.

I got to the top and opened the trapdoor. "Haymitch???"    "HAYMITCH!!!!""  I frantically ran around, looking for him. I kicked stuff out of the way and then I saw something....a dirty grey shirt. Haymitch wore that. I cautiously reached out to touch it....and looked farther....."No!" 

Haymitch's body lie lifeless in the ruins. I felt hot tears. Haymitch was my friend, almost like family. He had protected me.....even the day he....died.

I suddenly felt a soft cloth on my face, wiping my eyes. Katniss. She looked at me. There was nothing to say. Nothing. We both were thinking it. No one else would die protecting us...we would make sure of it.