Gale: A Hunger Games Story

The Berries

It's because Cato is still alive. Those mutts are not killing, they are torturing him. I'm sure by now, the boy just wants out of his misery, all thoughts of winning gone from his mind. The District 12 tributes try to heal Peeta's leg, but the cut is too deep. Katniss ties a tourniquet around it, using her last arrow to hold it in place. Not much, but something. My new motto.

Katniss shivers, and Peeta unzips his jacket, wraps her up under it, and zips it up again. I remember doing that one winter day, when Katniss lost her coat hunting with me. Thankfully, it was her old one and not her father's good leather jacket. Unlike what Peeta is doing now, it was not romantic in any way, at least not to Katniss...

The onscreen Katniss leans against Peeta, and tears trickle down her cheeks. It's silent both in the forest and in my house, excepting the pitiful screams coming from the pack of mutts. Peeta looks at Katniss.

"Could you..."

She nods. "My last arrow is holding your bandage."

They stare at each other, and Katniss bends over to remove the arrow.

One well aimed shot is all it takes. Cato is dead, and I'm relieved. Relieved that he is no longer in pain, relieved that the mutts are moving away now, relieved that any second now the cannon will fire and they'll come home to me.

Any second now...

Where's the cannon?

Oh. No way. Could it be-

"Greetings to the final contestants of the 74th Annual Hunger Games. The earlier revision has been revoked. Closer examination of the rule book has disclosed that only one winner is allowed. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favour!"

It was all a scheme. To form alliances, to entice viewers, to allow the audience to watch two star-crossed lovers part to two different ways; one to fame and luxury, and the other to whatever death brings...

I hate this game a hundred times more now.

Peeta and Katniss argue over who should die to save the other.

Peeta pulls out his knife.

Katniss aims her bow.

Peeta drops his knife in the lake.

What?

Katniss is startled. She drops her bow too.

"No," Peeta says. "Do it."

"I can't. I won't."

Katniss gives her weapon to Peeta. "You shoot me. You shoot me and go home and live with it!"

They are both on the verge of tears. The Gamemakers are surely squealing in their seats.

"Fine, I'll go first anyway." Peeta rips off the bandage on his leg. Katniss drops to her knees and presses it back on.

"Katniss. This is what I want. We both know they have to have a victor."

I'm crying now with my eyes shut, and it takes a lot to make me cry. I don't want Katniss or Peeta to die. I don't want any more children to die, in the whole future of the stupid Hunger Games!

I stop musing and open my eyes. Katniss and Peeta are holding out berries. At first, I wonder why they are doing this, but then I see. The berries are nightlock. The most poisonous fruit in existence. What are they thinking? They'll both die within seconds!

Unless... that's what they want us to think. The Games aren't the Games without a victor. This is huge.

Katniss and Peeta have outsmarted the Capitol.

They raise the fruit to their mouths. No sign of the Capitol intervening. They put the berries in their mouth! Oh, please! Don't let them swallow! I'm nervous. What if it doesn't work and they both die in vain?

"Stop! Stop!" Good old Claudius...

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, and Peeta Mellark! I give you, the tributes of District 12!"

All over town, and out of my TV screen, people are clapping. I turn away from the television to see my mother crying, tears of joy now rather than worry. Posy squeals and hops around, though I doubt she knows what's going on. Rory actually hugs Vick in his dance of celebration. We exit the house and are swept up in a sea of people, all heading to the town square. Most people are happy because District 12 hasn't had a winner since Haymitch, but I am overjoyed that Katniss has made it out alive. I hear the cacophony of noise, and without thinking, let out a whoop to join in. As the crowd jostles by, I see Greasy Sae with Doe riding on her shoulders. Prim shouts and waves at me, hair flowing down her back, all tangled from moving about so much. I try to make my way over to see her, but as soon as I part from my family, I'm lost in the herd of people. I didn't know there were this many citizens in the district. It's as if I'm swimming, choking, drowning...

A hand reaches out and pulls me in between two houses. I look from the fingers, up the arm, the shoulder, the face. It's Madge.

"Gale," she bursts out, "I am so happy for you! You must be thrilled!"

I am, but before I can open my mouth to say thank you, she grabs my face. Gently, but quickly, she pecks my cheek with her soft lips. I look at her, startled. She blushes.

"I'm sorry. Sorry. I just— had to do that. At least once...?"

She looks at me sheepishly.

"You deserve Katniss, Gale, I respect that. Oh, and remember your promise!"

She winks at me, and disappears into the mob.

I try to clear my head. Katniss is coming home. Really coming home. It isn't a dream. Honestly, every dream I've had in the past weeks have been about her. Either good ones of her returning to me, or bad ones I don't even want to remember.

I don't have to think about the bad ones.

She's coming home.