Ashes Blow Away

Chapter Three

~~~~Chapter Three: The Capitol and Johanna Mason~~~~

Plutarch Heavensbee summons us to the Capitol. Us being Peeta and I. I am totally afraid of what may be awaiting us, but Peeta puts my fears to rest with a kiss on the tip of my nose. However, I can't help but still be slightly afraid. Although I have been assured many times over that I am not in trouble for killing President Coin, I can never be sure.

The train we travel there on is not nearly as fancy as the one we went on to the Games. I find myself missing Effie Trinket, which is absurd, yet extremely appropriate. Peeta and I share a bed at night and the nightmares are worse, though I haven't dreamt of Prim in long enough, for which I am glad.

The first person to greet us at the Capitol is, surprisingly, Johanna Mason. She hugs me tight, showcasing a rare spurt of emotion, but of course that all changes when she pulls back to look at me.

" Wow, brainless, you look terr-ib-le. Nice hair."

I self-consciously touch my hair, which has grown back in unevenly after it was singed in the Capitol. Some pieces are only at my ears, while others at my shoulders.

" I think it suits her," Peeta retorts, and I swear my heart doubles in size.

Johanna snorts. " Yeah, whatever, lover boy. You'll do just about anything to get lucky later, won't you?" She spits out a horrid laugh and I sigh. Johanna leads us to a huge car, and we follow inside.

" Soooo," she says, " if you're looking for some information or warning about what's going to happen, don't look at me for answers. I hardly know anything myself. They flew me up here earlier today and stuck me as a babysitter for you two. Not that you guys need one really. You'll be having babies of you're own soon," she looks at Peeta. " You knocked her up yet, bread boy?"

He looks at me with a mixture of humour and worry, obviously trying to make out if I'm offended or not. I just give a minuscule shake of the head.

In truth, I do not ever want children. I mean, what if I had a son or daughter only to have it ripped cruelly away from me. No, as long as my name is Katniss Everdeen, I shall not have children.

I am knocked out of my thoughts when we pull into some sort of garage. Johanna makes an extremely un-ladylike sound as she leaves the car, complaining of a sore head. The only part still affected by Snow apparently.

Wrapping my arms around myself for protection, we enter an elevator and shoot up a few hundred levels. When we exit, we are in a poorly furnished corridor, and down at the end, is a similarly furnished room.

At the far end of the room, there is a long, glass table. Johanna takes a seat at the end of it. I sit next to her, Peeta on my left. He traces patterns on my hand with his thumb with her holds it. My heart still pounds.

The door opens, and first to enter is Annie. She gives me a long, shaky hug and takes a seat opposite me. Then is Beetee, who embraces me rather quickly and sits next to Abbie. Enobaria enters thirdly. I give her a curt nod. She nods back, before sitting.

It dawns on me that this scene is reminiscent of a few months ago, when we sat round a table with Coin and voted on whether we should have a Hunger Games with various Capitol Officials children and grandchildren; punishment.

I voted yes. This thought sickens me. I look across at Peeta, who seems to be realising the same thing.

The door opens again, revealing Paylor and Plutarch. I shoot Plutarch an apologetic glance for the last phone call. He smiles at me uneasily, always about the business.

" I'm sure you've all figured out what is happening. I mean, you're not stupid," says Paylor. " We are here to discuss the possibility of the next and final Hunger Games, which would entail the descendants of Snow and anyone who made decisions with him being entered."