The Hunger Games - Extended Epilogue -- ON HOLD

Chapter 3 - Not Again

Katniss' POV

I see it immediately. I walk over to a face that I recognise, but can't place anywhere. The face is round, the eyes bloodshot and bulging, any trace of happiness gone. Dark skin. On her chest it says "Commander of District " I can't read what District it says. Someone has crossed it out. I try to focus on it, but the body is shaking too much. Suddenly it stops shaking and I can tell that it says the number 8. Paylor, of course! I look to her neck, which is just above the label. Someone has a firm grip on her. I look up, and see Peeta. I freak. His eyes have gone darker than usual. His hair seems greyer than normal. His hands are moving in an unnatural fashion. His body is jerking. Oh gods, I think, he's having another flashback. I pry his arms from Paylor's neck. It doesn't work. Paylor is almost dead. I feel terrible that I have to do this, but I grab a piece of metal junk from the floor and put all my power into it. I hear the clanging of metal hitting bone and I feel safe that Peeta is knocked out. I look over at him, and I see his dark eyes staring into nothingness. Gale and I lift Paylor's unconscious body up, and place her on the couch of the nearest home. I have never been any good at healing, and my mum is in the Capitol. It would take her at least two days to get here. Gale is no use, Hazelle is with the kids, Peeta is knocked out, and Haymitch is drunk. Great, I guess it's just me. I ask Gale to go to our house and get all the medicine he can find. He comes back two minutes later with his arms loaded. I look through everything and find a bottle of greeny-blue jelly-like liquid. On the label it says "Use only as directed. Apply small amounts. Use only for unconsciousness created by strangling. Apply a thumb-full onto neck where the fingers met, and a finger-full on the temple." I thank the packers for making everything so clear, and then do as it says. I feel my sister's presence over me. Once I have applied the mixture, her presence tells me to insert a needle of morphling in Paylor's right arm. I do so, and pray that what I did was right. I ask Gale to look after Paylor for a bit, so I can go to my home in the Victor's Village and call my mum.
My mum picks up on the third ring.
"Hello, Dr Everdeen from the Capitol Emergency Aid speaking. How can I help?"
"Mum?"
"Katniss?"
"Yes, hi. Ok, I really need your help. Peeta had a flashback and strangled Paylor unconscious. Then I knocked him out with some metal. I have laid Paylor down on a couch, and I have applied some..." I looked at the bottle of jelly-like liquid. A sticker on the back said "The finest Capitol Experiment... Grendel!" "I have applied some Grendel. Then, I inserted a needle of morphling in her right arm. What should I do now for her and what should I do for Peeta?"
"Wow, okay. When did you become so handy in healing? Applying Grendel was really smart, and the morphling was a really good idea. Lay Peeta down somewhere else, and apply a mixture of spices on the place where you hit him. If you look in the medicine cabinet you should find a small jar of mixed spices called "MixWondex." Use that on him. Once done, put the BlackLah cream on top of it, and on the opposite side of it. Then, insert morphling into his right arm, too. If I were you, stay with him until he wakes. Oh, and for both of them, change the needles every four hours until they are awake. Once they are awake, pull them out immediately and leave them out. Make sure they get rest. They need rest. I've got to go now. Bye! Love you!"
"Thanks mum." I whisper into the phone as the line goes dead.

I go back to where Paylor and Gale are, and see that a bruise is trying to overtake Paylor's neck. It looks as though it can't decide whether or not it actually wants to be there. So far, Grendel seems to be doing it's magic. I tell Gale that I need to bring Peeta home, and stay with him. He seems a little disappointed at first, but then just nods his head curtly. I can read his expression, it says "okay, go. I'll stay here with Paylor, but I'll need you as soon as she wakes." I try to get him to read my mind. I'm trying to telepathically tell him that I'll be here every four or so hours. He seems to understand.

I find Peeta still outside, lying on the cold, hard ground. With Haymitch's help, I manage to get Peeta into my home. I lay him on the couch, and look for MixWondex. I find it in one of the smaller cabinets. I then find the BlackLah cream that I know so well. My mum's favourite cream. Even I know how to use it. I apply some MixWondex onto Peeta's forehead, and put the cream on top of it. I also rub some into the back of his head. I grab a hold of him and insert morphling into his arm. I then let go of him, and sit by a chair near the couch.

Three and a half hours later, Gale comes by with Hazelle.
"How's he doing?" Hazelle asks. "I heard what happened. I'm so sorry. I wish that I could've helped you. Although, I must say, it looks like you handled it pretty well. I don't have long, I've got to get back to the kids. But I've wanted to give you this. I was waiting for the right time." She hands me a bulky envelope. It had "Katniss Everdeen" written in curly handwriting. I recognised it. I put it down on the table. I wanted to read it privately.
"Look, I'd love to stay, but I need to get back to the kids. I'm sorry. If you need me for anything," she nods towards the envelope "just call." Hazelle had received her own phone as soon as Haymitch got his liquor back. I watch her leave through the open door. Then, I look at Gale for the first time.
"I had to leave. I'm sorry. Can I talk to you?"
"Not now, Gale. I'm sorry, I need my space. How about I talk to you once they're both awake?"
"Ok." Gale said, disappointed. He went back to Paylor. I joined him, and changed her needles.
I walked back to where Peeta and the envelope were. I changed Peeta's needles, and then I looked towards the letter. I reached towards it. I took it off the table and opened it.

AN: Sorry! I know dedications suck unless they're you. But anyways, this chapter is dedicated to Amazinglotrlover you wanted me to update!