The Hanging Tree. *ON HOLD*

Chapter Five ~ Our Arrival

Chapter Five ~ Our Arrival 

Why did I let myself have fun? Why did I smile and laugh and dance? Now it makes is ten times harder to die. But I know I must. I have to die for my brother’s sake. He has so much more to live for. I’ve already accepted my fate but I will do everything in my power to keep him alive.

We were arriving in the Capitol today. We were going to get a first glimpse of the people who were happy to watch 25 children die on television. It was sick. But then Mum told me that it used to be much worse. Apparently they had one every year for 75 years, and then a final one just for Capitol children. And how did that final one work out? Well, the Capitol brushed it off, got right back up, and Pamela Snow won the games. I have a theory that her grandfather knew this was going to happen and that he paid of the gamemakers just so his granddaughter could win and finish of what he started. But of course everyone says that’s a stupid theory. Snow couldn’t have known what was going to happen. So I just didn’t mention it anymore.

Sunlight was streaming through the small cracks in my curtains and I groaned, dragging myself out of bed. There was a full length mirror on the other side of the room which I was sure wasn’t there before. I grimaced at how I looked. My brown hair had puffed out all over my head so that I looked like some manic lion. I had huge bags under my eyes because even though I was tired I couldn’t go to sleep. Neither could anyone else. I know because I heard multiple footsteps roaming the corridors and they were light trodden so I knew it couldn’t possibly be peacekeepers whom walked around making as much noise as possible.

 My face was pale and I hadn’t bothered to change so my clothes were rumpled and creased from all the turning. I walked over to the window not wanting to see my reflection any longer. I pulled the curtains back a bit and was shocked with what I saw. There in front of me was the Capitol in all its grandeur. Huge and impressive, and daunting, ever so daunting. I quickly let the curtain fall through my fingertips and let out a breath I had been holding in. It scared me so much. I was going to die in a week and there was nothing I could do about it. Out of nowhere a huge surge of anger bubbled in the pit of my stomach and I screamed in anguish. I stared to kick the wall screaming obscenities at the Capitol. Once my toe was throbbing I moved onto the rest of the room. I smashed glasses and lamps; I pulled all the clothes out of the drawers trying to rip them. My screams and shouts attracted a crowd. 3 peacekeepers who looked like they didn’t want to interfere, Finnick whose expression was pained. He knew what I was doing and why but he didn’t want to stop me, and Althea who just stared at me with an open mouth. I looked at the doorway and shrieked,

‘WHAT ARE YOU ALL GAPING AT? CAN YOU NOT WAIT TO SEE MY CORPSE LYING ON THE GROUND? MUST YOU WATCH ME NOW, TO SEE ALL THE BLOOD AND TEARS IN PERSON?’

Althea walked away with tears in her eyes, she was probably just disgusted at my manners, and all 3 peacekeepers left me to it. I don’t know why but I was glad. Now the only person left was Finnick. I continued kicking, screaming, shouting, swearing, breaking until my throat was hoarse and my foot felt like it had been snapped in two and my hands were bloody and throbbing. I sank to the ground my pure hot anger being replaced by grief. My sobs filled my body and came out in loud hiccupping sounds. Hot tears cascaded down my cheeks and I buried my face in my hands, which I realize wasn’t a good idea because of the blood but I couldn’t let Finnick see the tears. But of course he had. You couldn’t miss them could you?

‘Primmy.’ Finnick said. I looked up and was startled by how he approached me with such stealth.

‘I’m fine. I’m fine.’ I said brushing my hand under my eyes.

‘No. You’re not.’ He said kindness reflecting in his eyes. He looks just like Dad.

‘I am.’ I insisted. He just shook his head and gathered me in his arms.