The Hunger Games: Death of the Mockingjay

Chapter 38

We all return home to 12. Plutarch feels that even if the Brotherhood were lying about our safety then they'd have little to gain from killing us now. It would appear that the danger has passed for now but I know as does Peeta that they'll contact us sooner rather then later. The Brotherhood need to seize this opportunity while the excitement of a new Games is still fresh in the memory of the population, to do nothing would mean all the lives lost in the arena would of been for nothing.

Returning back to our house felt strange. It's been many weeks since we were last here and the house felt cold and unloved. The kids were happy to be home and back in their own rooms, returning to school and seeing their friends again. Peeta went back to his job as caretaker President while I spent some time with Haymitch and my mother.
News and film crews still seem to follow Peeta and I around town and they keep asking the same questions about wether we'd give our blessing to the new Games, what they might be like and what our ideas for them might be. For now we don't answer, to be honest we've never really spoken about them between ourselves and when I think about it I'm kind of avoiding the subject. The Games are still a bit too recent for me, the deep scar to my leg and the healing knife wound to my chest are a very real reminder of what the Games are.

The news people are also here for another reason. Today Hazel and Megan will lay Gale to rest. His funeral is a huge affair attended by Peeta and I as well as Plutarch, and all of District 12. He's seen as a hero of the District, a soldier who fought in the rebellion and in the army after the fall of Snow. I'd never been to a military funeral before and I was shocked at all the traditions that are followed.
A horse drawn gun carriage carries his flag draped coffin through the town to the cemetery which isn't that far from our home. A group of soldiers from his platoon bring his coffin to the grave side while the rest of us all stand around and watch solemnly. I don't know why but I've a gut feeling that Gale wouldn't of wanted any of this. He'd of been happy for a paupers funeral with just family and friends attending but I think that Plutarch pressured Megan into something much grander. This media circus plays to the hands of the Brotherhood, it keeps the focus on the Games and I feel that Plutarch is trying to feed the frenzy, to use every opportunity to bring the Games back.

Peeta and I watch as his coffin is slowly lowered into the grave by four of his friends from the mines, I silently say goodbye to Gale and turn to Peeta.

"I need some time on my own, can you cover for me?"

"Yeah sure, you okay?" He says with concern in his voice.

"Yeah, I just need a few minutes away from all this"

I slowly back away while all the media is focused on Gale's coffin, the other mourners part silently to let me leave. Once I'm clear I head for the meadow, I need to find peace and solitude and there's very few places I can get that these days. I make my way through the long grass to a small clearing under a tree near the forest.
There under a tree is a handmade grave marker with Prim's name carved into it, to her right is a much smaller more recent grave where Buttercup was layed to rest a couple of years back.
I often come here and talk to Prim. I don't know why but it's almost as if she's listening and silently putting my thoughts into some sort of order. Many times over the years I've become confused about things or kinda lost my way a bit but when I've left her grave side I've come away with a new clarity about what I should do.

"What am I gonna do Prim?" I say to no one.

"I've gone and done it again, I triggered an Uprising against Snow and now I've started something much worse"

I stand and listen to the silence, the peacefulness. I know what Prim would say, she'd tell me to use my power and standing in the country to do what I want to do. But this is different, the Games are nothing to me but for most of the country they became a way of life and it would seem that they miss it in some twisted way. I'm still shocked at the short memory of these people but I guess they've never been in the Games, for them the Reaping was the only 'real' experience for them.

Can I really condone a new version of the Games?

"It's a lovely morning" I hear someone say from behind me, breaking me from my thoughts.

I turn around to see a thin set man stood off to one side, far enough away to give me my space with Prim. He's wearing a grey plaid suit with a hat pulled low over his face to hide his features. By the way he's dressed it's clear he's not from 12.

"Can I help you" I ask courteously

"Yes Katniss you can" he says removing his hat revealing a thin well trimmed beard over pale skin, a scar runs across his right cheek.

"We've met before back at the hospital in the Capitol"

"Michael?" I say frowning

"Yes, last time we spoke I told you that the Chairman wanted to meet you, to invite you to a meeting where all your questions would be answered"

"Well yes, I remember some of it. You also said he'd be paying for what he's done"

"Correct, It's almost time Katniss. At first light tomorrow head into the woods for your normal hunting trip. We'll find you and all your questions will be answered.

"And if I refuse"

"Then the retribution will be swift. But you want to know Katniss and this is your only opportunity to find out the full story. If you decide for whatever reason that this doesn't interest you or you refuse the invitation then the Brotherhood will fight the bloodiest battle ever until every Sparrow, Watchman and Director are dead. Were prepared to die Katniss, even if the war is already lost, and we'll take as many with us as we can, including those closest to you"

I step toward him, my anger at the threat to my family overpowering any logic that I might of been feeling.

"Careful Mockingjay, You're unarmed" he says as he pulls a gun out of his jacket pocket. I freeze and look down at the gun which is pointing right at me. We make eye contact and I can see from his cold hard green eyes that he'd have no hesitation in pulling the trigger.

"Whats it gonna be Mrs Mellark, are you gonna be there tomorrow or do you really want to put everyone you hold dear at risk?"

I step back from him and look over my shoulder at Prim's grave. I don't need to ask my sister for what my answer should be, if I want Peeta and the kids to be safe then there really is only one possible answer.

"I'll be there" I say quietly

Michael turns and walks away before saying over his shoulder, "Come alone Katniss and keep this secret, we don't want any complications from Peeta's security detail"