Let The Games Begin

Chapter 4

Peeta and I decide to take a break at a small cottage surrounded by bush. There's a field and a barn in the distance, we decide to take a chance. Maybe if we can explain it well enough, the owners will understand our problem. Even our faces should be enough to know something's wrong, even if they don't have a television, they will have heard of us. People send letters from District 2, informing ever District of our home. Where we are, what we're doing. I never understood why, all we got told was that they didn't want people to worry we were dead.

We get off our horse and stretch for a moment. The sun is starting to rise over the horizon, creating a beautiful light pink-orange sky. We've at least being riding for 5 hours.

Peeta takes my hand as we walk up the steps to the cottage. I hold on tight, slightly nervous. You never know what you can find on the border or districts, there are some wanderers who hunt in the woods for people or animals. Cannibalism. I shiver at the thought, and Peeta gives me a wary look.

He knocks on the door, holding his breath and my hand tightly. There is a pause for a minute, then the door swings open and a man wearing overalls and long pants stands before us. He has a mustache and pointy nose, his eyes are half open and his hair is blonde and parted neatly. He is putting on dark black boots as he studies us.

"I know you two." He speaks, his accent very heavy, a Southern one. Much different than I've heard before.

"Yes, sir, I'm Peeta Mellark and this is Katniss Everdeen," Peeta gestures to me, "you might get monthly letters about us?" Peeta informs him patiently.

"Yes, yes you're the ones. Won the 'Unger Games? I suppose tis my pleasure. What do youse need?" The man straightens, giving us a curious look. This situation is nothing but curious, why would be here? So far away from 12? Us, the star-crossed lovers who won The Hunger Games and settled down in a place where nothing could harm us, the ones who won the war and died down but everyone still prayed for us everyday. All he could be thinking is why they are in the border of districts, at his front door, about to ask one risky favour.

"Well, you see, I don't know if you've heard the news of Violet Snow. I expect you'd at least recognise the last name," Peeta hints, and that's when it sinks in for the man, he stares into space, his eyes showing doubtful fear, and a frown used for pleading for what I know; hearing these words from Peeta hit me hard also for some reason, maybe its just watching the man, or maybe hearing someone I know saying it makes it more true and real than ever, still, Peeta continues, "she's just like him, sir. She's planning against the rebels. Against the Districts freedom. I know they don't exist anymore, but they will. They'll come for you, take you to your home District."

There is a pause, and the man sinks, holding onto the wall to keep his balance.

"It's all going to start again. Every moment. We need help. Desperately. We need some accomodation and we've ran out of food. We're trying to rebel again, but we're going to make our way to District 2, then the Capitol. We're fighting. But we can't do anything unless we've got a helping hand." Peeta finishes, letting the cold silence fill the air.

He tightens his grip on my hand, and I try to keep my sanity.

"Why is this happening?" Is all the man can ask.

"Because it runs in her family, I suppose." Peeta jokes, but none of us laugh. All I can think of is destroying Violet's plan as I did to her grandfather, only to find out there was more to come.

The man looks as if he'll break down into tears, his eyes taking on a strange reflective quality, crystal green, full of tears. Now I'm thinking of Finnick after Mags died, so I shake away the thought.

"Okay, I'll help yers. Just- Katniss," He's now looking directly at me, and my throat feels dry, I never got better at empathizing through the years, "you won't be letting us down now, will yer?"