The Hanging Tree

Chapter 7

"She's getting stronger," Snow looks at the screen. A girl with dark hair, olive skin, and gray eyes sat near a dead body.
"There are more riots in eleven and eight."
Snow shook his head.
"What else can we do? She's been in the games twice. We've already broken her." Snow chuckled .
"Oh, Mr. Mellark," Snow held a white rose.
"We have to extinguish The Girl on Fire."

• • •

I sat in the living room with my mom and Prim. Mom was knitting and Prim was brushing Buttercup. I still don't understand why we keep that thing, it only comes here for the food. I get up from the couch to check on Gale. He's still asleep, his dark eyes closed.
I pull up a chair and sit next to him. I brush the hair out of his face, which isn't as bruised. Prim must've iced it.
I sit back in my chair when Gale opens his eyes.
"Hey, Catnip." he says in a weak voice.
"Hey." I smile. Gale tries to sit up. Pain is all over his face, I touch his chest and push him gently back down.
"No," I try to sound as strict as possible, you never know when Gale listens or not.
"You need to lie down, you're not strong enough yet."
Gale laughs. "Since when were you a doctor?"
I roll my eyes.
"Katniss!" Prim screams, her voice is full of terror. Not the kind of terror I'm familiar with, but a different kind of terror.
"Stay here." I command Gale. I kiss the top of his head and walk into the living room. Prim and my mom both look at me. Terror in their eyes. Then I notice the projector is running.
Snow.
It shows Snow at his desk, he's dressed in all white and he holds a white rose between his thumb and index finger.
"People of Panem, I know we've just finished our seventy fifth Hunger Games. Your favorite victors are dead, expect for five. Why is that? There are rules that specify for only one victor. I have decided that the five that survived the last games shall fight to the death once again. This time, there will be no occasion. One victor must top all the rest in the seventy sixth Hunger Games,"
Snow smiled devilishly and looked right into the camera.
Right in my eyes.
"May the odds be ever in your favor."
The projector went black.