The Hunger Games: Death of the Mockingjay

Chapter 39

That night we have a normal evening eating supper at the table in our Kitchen then watching the television in the lounge. The kids babble on about what they did at school while Peeta and I just listen in and savour the moment without talk of the rebellion or the Games.

That night I struggle to sleep. I can sense that Peeta knows that there's something wrong but I'm hoping that he's thinking that it's the whole 'waiting for the call from the Brotherhood' thing that's preoccupying my mind. I get out of bed,  go to the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror. My naked body is marked with so many scars to do with the fight first against Snow and then against Wolfe and the Brotherhood. Bullet holes in my leg and arm, knife wounds and broken bones. The war for freedom has taken its toll on my body and I'm still only in my late 20's, if this doesn't end soon then they'll be nothing left of the young girl that first entered the arena all those years ago.
I step back into the bedroom to see Peeta sitting up in bed looking at me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you" I say.

"Don't worry Kat I'm not sleeping that well either, I'm worried about you"

I walk round the bed slip under the covers and slide over to him and smile as he wraps his arm around me.
"You shouldn't worry, you know me I'll be fine"

"Yeah but this is different. What you decide to do as far as the Games are concerned will shape the future of this country. You've got a very big decision to make"

"Which is?"

"Do we return to the Hunger Games or not? It's all down to you Kat, whatever you decide you know I'll support you every step of the way"

"Maybe It's not just down to me, they could call us both and even then it's you and your government who'll make the final decision"

"Yeah maybe. But government's come and go and soon they'll be a new election and a new leader will take over from me, don't forget I'm only standing in"

"But what I mean is I'm just a girl who got caught up in a game playing to rules I didn't understand. I never wanted to be the Mockingjay, the same way as I never wanted to be in the Games. It's kinda the same thing, I don't want to make this decision, I shouldn't have to"

"You're right Kat, about everything. But, we've gotta play with the hand we've been dealt and if that means we return to the Games then so be it"

I sit up and turn to face him "What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying is don't be afraid to make the right choice even if you know deep down that it's morally wrong. A return to a new version of the Hunger Games could bring this country together, it'd give people something else to talk about and to root for other than worry about debt and famine. On the other side of the argument it might just be a short term fix to Panem's problems, once the excitement wore off the country could well return to how it's been for the last few years"

"Sounds to me like you've really thought this through" I say smiling at him.

"Well yeah, I'm the President it's my job" he says chuckling.

I snuggle into him, pull the covers over me and slowly drift off. What Peeta said makes sense as everything he says always seems to. He always has a way of putting things into perspective although I'm still not sure what way I should go with this. Do I back a new version of the Games or do we draw a line under that part of our history and move on?

Like Peeta said, I've got a difficult decision to make

*

I wake before dawn, get dressed in my hunting gear and head downstairs. I feel bad for not telling Peeta about my chat with Micheal yesterday but I know he wouldn't let me go alone if he knew. I flick on the light in the Kitchen and quickly fix a small breakfast then head down into the cellar to collect my Bow. I know Peeta would of most likely heard me get up to go and hunt which is why I dressed in my hunting gear, he'd go back to sleep safe in the knowledge that I'd be doing the same thing I do most mornings. For a moment I think to leave him a note letting him know of what is actually happening but I'd be worried that Rue might find it. The kids have been through enough recently and the last thing I need is to put them through more worry. I place my hand on my bow to pull it from the storage rack but then I have an idea, If I leave it here then Peeta will pick up on the fact that I went unarmed on a hunting trip, he'd know that something was up. For a moment I second guess myself, weighing up the risk of firstly going out into the forest unarmed and putting Peeta through more worry, or going into the forest for a 'friendly' meet with the Brotherhood with my Bow and Arrows. They might not take too kindly to that.

I'll take the chance I think to myself, I know the forest and like Micheal said the Brotherhood will find me, Hopefully I won't run into trouble and they'll keep their word and won't kill me. I head out through the back door and keep to the shadows to try and stay hidden. Peeta's security team will want to follow me into the forest, I've seen them before keeping their distance and making sure I'm safe but today I must lose them, I don't want to scare the Brotherhood off. I make my way clear of the house staying low, and walking as quietly as I can toward the old fence which borders the forest. Only now do I come up on a problem. Peet's guards obviously know about my movements, when I leave the house where I hunt etc. Two guards are stood chatting to each other by the fence obviously waiting for me. I could go round but that'd take too long and I'd be in a section of forest that I don't go to that often. I need to keep to my normal routine otherwise the Brotherhood might miss me.
I'll have to just go with it and try and lose them in the darkness.
I walk through the gloom and give my best smile
"Hello, are you my protection?" I say politely

"We are" One of them answers. It might be just me but they don't seem very talkative and I know Peeta's guards well. These two have been with him since he took over the presidency.
I nod as I walk past then sense them following me into the forest, something definitely doesn't seem right, they're much closer than normal so there's no way I can get away. I'm starting to feel that this is going to be a disaster and the Brotherhood will flee.

"Stop" says one of the guards

I stop and turn round now worried that they might of spotted something up ahead.

"If you'll follow us please" says the guard who spoke earlier.

I nod in confusion but do as I'm told with me now following the guard who appears to be in charge and his comrade following up behind. We walk on but I can't see anything that might of caused them concern. I know this part of the forest well, we're heading towards a clearing at the bottom of a valley outside the District boundary.

"Where are you taking me?" I say to them.

"The Chairman sends his regards" says the lead guard over his shoulder.

"We're to escort you to Michael who'll take you the rest of the way"

I can't speak. To find that even Peeta's guards are involved with the Brotherhood has come as a shock, I'm starting to think that no one was truly safe.
We reach the clearing to find a modern looking hovercraft sat at the centre, Micheal stands at the bottom of the steps which lead to the main cabin of the aircraft.

"Good morning Katniss, I'm pleased to see you came alone and unarmed" he says smiling at me. I don't reply, I just glare at him in anger.

"Anyway, let's get going shall we, it's a long flight to the Capitol" he says as he turns and makes his way up the steps. I follow him and glance back at the two Presidential guards who have turned away and started back through the forest. Two guards who are trusted to protect Peeta and my children, two members of the Brotherhood of Retribution. Peeta, Kyler and Rue are unwittingly being held hostage by the enemy and there's nothing I can do to protect them.