Life of the Mockingjays (Sequel to Panem High)

Saying goodbye

Ashton P.O.V

No more people came. Just us four. It doesn't matter anyway. I came here to say goodbye. I feel as if it's been holding me back. Like I can't fully open up to anyone. I never really understood what family was until I met Katniss and Peeta and Alex and everyone. Now I know and I know that what I had wasn't family. I practically raised myself because they didn't care. I sigh and look at the coffins. At the end of the service my dads cousin comes over. "Hi" he says. "Hey" I say. "You okay?" He asks and I nod. " I'm fine" I say and he nods. "Ashton why don't you go say goodbye" Katniss says. "Take this" she says and hands me the flower. I nod and walks towards the coffins.

Katniss P.O.V

"Sorry but who are you?" The man asks. "Oh I'm Katniss. Ashton's legal guardian" I say. "Legal guardian?" He asks and I nod. "Yeah me and my boyfriend took him in and adopted him after his family died" I say and he smiles. "Thank you so much. I was trying to get over but an eruption caused the airports where I live to be closed for a while. I couldn't even get in touch" he says. "You're an angel" I state. He just nods. "Yeah I am. I've heard lots about you" he says. "Me?" I ask. "Yeah, the mockingjays" he says and I nod while smiling slightly. "So how do you think he's taking it?" He asks. "Sorry if didn't get your name" I say. "Oh sorry. It's mark." He says and I nod. "Anyway I think he's bottling everything inside. Like he's not opening up to anyone. I'm afraid he'll explode"I start but get cut off by a shout. "At any moment" I finish and me and mark run down towards him along with his moms best friend. I reach him first and take him away from the coffins. "I HATE THEM!!" He screams angrily and falls to the ground crying. "I. Hate. Them" he says through clenched teeth and I sigh and pull him into a hug. "Ashton I know you're angry right now. They didn't care about you and I get that but please calm down." I whisper in his ear and he tightens his grip on me. A tear escapes my eye and I blink it away. I remember what it was like when my family died. The anger, the sadness, the guilt. I couldn't control it. He's just not handling it very well. "I'm sorry" he whispers. "What for?" I ask. "Coming into your life" he says back and I pull away. "Listen to me. I'm so thankful that you came into my life. I don't know how I would cope without you. We all love you and support you and I'm worried about you ash" I say and he looks down sadly. "I know I love you all too I just. I don't know how to feel" he says and I nod. "I understand, I went through the exact same thing not so long ago" I say and he nods. I hug him again and the sound of chains clashing makes me jump. I turn around to see the coffins being brought into the fire. Ashton pulls away and stares emotionlessly at the coffins. He almost looks empty. I sling an arm over his shoulder and he glances over at me. "Thanks" he mouths and I smile sadly. His moms best friend comes over and smiles slightly. "Sorry for your loss" she says and touched my arm. I get an image in my head of her in the jungle killing people who look exactly like Ashton. My eyes widen and mark nods at me. "Demon" I mouth and he nods. I glare at her until she falls to the ground screaming. Ashton looks at me in fear. I imagine breaking her neck and you hear a snap. The woman lays motionless on the ground and soon fades away into black dust. "Uh" ashton says. "Ashton she killed your parents" mark says and he nods. "Was she a demon?" He asks and I nod. I hear a strangled gasp for air and go super speed up to the priest. "You saw nothing. The last thing you remember is sending the body's into the fire" I say using mind compulsion. "I sent the bodies into the fire" he repeats and I nod. "You can go now" I say and he nods slowly while walking away. I turn around and go back to ashton. "You okay?" I ask and he nods. I sigh and pull him into a side hug. "Can we leave now?" He asks. "What about the ashes?" I ask. "I'll wait for them and drop them off later. What's the address?" He asks and I tel him. He nods and I smile. "Come on let's get you home" I say and he nods. "See you later" I say and mark nods. "Yeah, see you" he says smiling and I walk out with ashton. We walk to the car and I get in the drivers seat. I start driving , none of us saying a word and I head towards the edge of Panem. Ashton looks at me funny and I smile slightly. I drive up the hill and stop at the car park at the cliff. I walk to the edge and sit down. Ashton sits next to me and sighs. "Do you want to talk about it?" I ask and he shrugs. "Come on. Talk to me" I say and he glances over at me. "I just hated them. I always have. They never cared. I saw them on my 7th birthday and they were around for 1 christmas" he says. "And now that they're dead you feel guilty" I say and he nods while looking down. "You shouldn't. You raised yourself and they were never there. You have every right to hate them. And sometimes we just need to try and move on. I know it's hard but you have to try" I say and he nods. I pull him into a hug and he closes his eyes. "Thanks Kat" he says and I nod. "You're welcome" I say. "I really mean it" he says and opens his eyes and they are glassy. "You took me in and adopted me and take care of me and I don't even deserve it" he says and tears roll down his cheek. "Shh that's not true" I say pulling him into a hug. "You deserve everything you have and I love you. You're like a little brother to me. I wouldn't have it any other way" I say and I start crying. "I love you too" he says holding me tightly. I kiss his cheek and he pulls away. "Thanks" he mumbles and I smile slightly. "Come on. Let's go" I say and pull him up onto his feet. I wrap an arm around his shoulder and we walk to the car. We both sit down and I start driving.