The Hunger Games: Death of the Mockingjay

Chapter 43

We return to District 12 the next day and as Alek touches down on victors green I practically run down the ramp and up to the front door to see Kyler and Rue. When I burst through the front door I see them both watching television with my Mother, it would appear that the Brotherhood have disappeared, everything seems normal. The kids rush over to greet us and I'm consumed by a warm feeling that seems to comfort my soul. It's a feeling I haven't had in a long time, that feeling you get when you know everything is right in the world.

"Katniss look at this" says my Mom pointing at the television.

Peeta and I gather round the screen and watch the news bulletin from the tribute centre in the Capitol. The reporter explains how Casper Wolfe was taken from his cell late last night by his own followers and took part in a mass suicide on the roof of the building. It would appear that his followers killed their leader then turned their weapons on themselves. I give Peeta a sideways glance and grin at him knowing that we're both in the clear. It would seem that we'd been invited to a Brotherhood suicide ritual where we'd been given the life of the Chairman as a gift of some sort. I can only think that it must of been Michael who contacted Haymitch to arrange it. Was he one of the Brotherhood members who died on the rooftop of the tribute centre? It's difficult to know when everyone other than Casper were masked.

For a few days nothing happens, I go back to hunting although Rue seems to be showing more interest in the forest and what I get up to rather than spending her time at the Bakery with her father. I'm not sure why this is but she has a new found interest in the Games and what went on with me and Peeta in the arena. Kyler's still fascinated by the forest and the wildlife but each night he suffers from nightmares from the attack on the museum and the attempt on our lives back at District 13, hopefully one day these will pass. Peeta and I have never spoken about that night on the roof of the tribute centre, about how he took the gun and killed Casper. I think it's got more to do about him protecting me more than anything else and the fact that Casper had this weird fantasy about me as well. It's one of those things I think we'll never speak of again.

*

We all head out through the forest to the lake, Peeta and I both armed with our bows to guard against any wild animals while the kids both have their backpacks with them. Neither of them have been to the lake where I first accepted my love for Peeta. Today we complete the last act of the rebellion and the war. Today we move on and live the rest of our lives. As we reach the lake the children rush down to the waters edge shocked at the huge body of water. To be honest I'm slightly in awe of it myself, it's been a long time since we last came here and although it hasn't really changed it still holds a mixture of good and bad memories for me. My mind wanders back to the days when my father taught me to swim but then I look across to the far shore where Peeta and I first saw the Man Mutt which started a chain of events that have controlled our lives for so long.

Peeta builds a fire while the kids both play in the shallows, and then at nightfall we say goodbye to the Mockingjay. The four of us kneel around the fire in silence, Peeta and I no doubt thinking of all the friends we lost during our fight. I sigh to myself, reach into my bag and take out my neatly folded Mockingjay suit.

Peeta and the kids watch on silently as I casually throw the outfit onto the fire and bring this chapter of my life to an end. I never wanted this, never wanted to be the Mockingjay and I can already feel the weight being lifted off my shoulders as the suit starts to smoulder then catch fire. We all sit in silence as we watch the end, the Death of the Mockingjay.