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Chapter 15

-Peeta's POV-
Here I am, in the square, getting whipped to my death. But nothing makes me stronger than to save Katniss, my beautiful wife. She's out there somewhere. I know she is. I just have to find out where. Probably in the Capitol because Snow is too lazy to find another hiding spot. I just can't see Katniss in pain anymore. I have to get her out. I will do anything for her. I love her to the point where I will risk my own life for her. I'm going to the Capitol whether Katniss likes it or not. She's more important to me than anyone. I'm going to save her on my own. I'm going alone, and I'm going right now. Well, as soon as I get out of the square. I try and squirm free but nothing works. Once the peacekeepers think I deserved what I deserved, they will stop. But for now, I'll have to keep inducing the pains skewering towards my back, wishing I was with Katniss, cuddling with her. I miss her.

-Katniss' POV-
Here I am in this white hovercraft. I'm sitting on this white couch. Hands tied behind my back, feet bounded together and my mouth gagged. I look down and see I'm still in my wedding dress. I start to shed tears down my face until my head is being forced to look up at the face of the devil himself, Snow. "Where is your lover boy?" he asks. I just sit there with my hands behind my back trying to squirm free from the strangulation coming from the ropes, but I don't have the strength to. I start to muffle out a few screams before Snow pulls down my gag. I start to cough but I manage to get out a few words. "What did you do to him?" I ask in an angry tone. "He is in the square, suffering his consequence." He replies. I start making faces, looking like I'm about to slap the son of a bitch out of Snow, and frankly, I want to slap him to the point where his whole face falls off. But I can't do that, not with my hands tied at least. So I decide to stall him. "What the hell did he do to deserve this kind of punishment?" I ask. "Don't use that tone of language towards me," he says. "I don't want to put that gag back on your mouth do I?" I shake my head. "Good," he says. "That's what I wanted to hear. Now let me talk." I stare at my wedding dress and start licking my lips. They tasted like cherries, just like Peeta's lips would taste. I miss those beautiful, soft pink lips on my red lips. I wish those lips never left me. I start to cry again, but before I produce anymore waterworks, Snow begins to talk. "What you and Peeta did to me was something I will never forget. Your names always appear in my mind." I look up at him and start to talk.

"I love Peeta more than anything in the world and you know that. Do you know anything about love? No. You don't. You always ruin everyone's lives. You and your stupid, dumbfounded peacekeepers. Let me guess, you hijacked them just like you did to my baker boy? Do you ever have compassion for anyone? Do you know that other people have feelings?" I start to yell. "I LOVED PEETA SO MUCH AND YOU DECIDE TO HURT ME AGAIN?! GOD I WISH YOU WERE DEAD AGAIN! THESE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN THE BEST TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE UNTIL YOU DECIDED TO COME BACK! WHAT THE HELL SNOW?!" "ENOUGH," he replies and wraps the white cloth around my mouth again. I start to muffle but I can't get any words out. "Mrs. Mellark," Snow whispers. "It's the things we love most that destroy us." I start to cry. I just want to be in Peeta's arms forever. We were supposed to stay with each other. Always. But I guess we can't do that. We are never allowed to be affectionate to each other. We are becoming star-crossed lovers again and I hate it. I hate it so much. I hate thinking about it too. I continue to cry until I cry myself to sleep, blacking out, not knowing when I'll wake up again.

-Peeta's POV-
Finally, they are done with all of the whips. I lay down on the gravel floor, motionless, but I have to get up. I can't continue on this road of life without one person beside me, which is Katniss. I start to grieve in pain until Haymitch comes up to me and picks me up. I'm hunched over his shoulder looking like a dead slug, but I have the power to move my mouth. I'm still wearing my wedding pants and shoes, but I'm completely shirtless, moaning in pain. "We are going to a hospital Peeta," he explains. "To heal you. Then I am going with you to save Katniss." I start wheezing in pain but start speaking. "No Haymitch. You can't do that. It's my job to save Katniss, not you. You don't need to risk your life for her. I do. I love her and I will do anything to save her. You don't deserve the punishment. I do." Haymitch then starts to raise his voice. "Peeta, you never deserved this punishment. You were reaped, you volunteered, you were Hijacked. You went through pure hell and did you deserve that? No. You didn't. You deserve so much better, as well as Katniss. So I don't want to hear your complaints, saying that you should go alone to risk your life because you are the bad guy. You aren't. It's Snow who's the bad guy. So shut the hell up and let's go get a drink." "Haymitch," I start to talk. "Can we go rescue Katniss first? I don't want to go to the hospital or get a drink. Katniss is more important." "Yeah. Why the hell not?" Haymitch asks. Same old Haymitch. Always the jokester. But right now isn't the time to joke around.

Haymitch carries me all the way to the Capitol train. I had no idea he had that much strength in him. The only thing that he ever picks up is an alcohol bottle, not a live human. We take the last two tickets that travel to the Capitol. Haymitch and I board, while Haymitch carries me to the sleeper car. He sets me down on the bed while he goes next door. I quickly tug on his arm, making him turn. "Now what?" He asks. "I just wanted to say thank you." I say. "Glad you stayed alive kid." He says. He then pats my back twice, sending urging pain through my body. I let out a few screeches. "Oh sorry," he says. "I forgot." Oh yeah sure he forgot, but that doesn't matter. The capitol is about a three hour ride from District Twelve, and since it's already 7:00 PM, I decide to take a three hour nap. Haymitch then leaves the room and before I shut my eyes, I mumble, "I'm coming for you Katniss." Then I black out, not knowing when I'll wake up again.