The Quarter Quell

Gale awakens

Katniss's POV:

As I watch more blood come from Gale's back and he screams in pain even though he's unconscious, I see Posy struggles even more to free herself from the 2 men that hold her back. Tears stream down her cheeks and one of the men force her to her knees. The man with the whip, throws the whip back to hit him again and I spring forward to cover Gale from getting hit.

"NO!" I scream, and I get hit. I fall to my knees with one hand covering my wound and the other keeping me from falling forward. People that watch gasp.

"Katniss!" Posy yells. I look up and my vision in the eye that starts to swell up is blurry. Posy is on her knees. I feel my blood fall down my cheek. I would scream of the pain but I keep my mouth shut. I look up, and with my good eye, I see the man with the whip is about to hit again. I hear Haymitch and Peeta coming my way.

"Hold everything!" yells Haymitch. Haymitch walks forward up to the man with the whip.

"What business is it of you slashing her cheek?! She's suppose to model wedding dresses in a week!" says Haymitch to the man. Peeta walks up to me and checks my cut by lifting my chin up. Nobody has told me I was going to model wedding dresses. Now I know.

"She has interrupted the punishment of a confessed criminal." says the man coldly. He still keeps he's hood on; an unknown man that may work for the Capitol.

"Do you really think I care?! Even if she set the blasted Justice Building on fire, with that cheek of hers now, the camera wont be able to come until it heals and do you know how long that will take?!" yells Haymitch.

"Not really my problem." says the man coldly.

"It's about to be, my friend. Just wait until I contact the Capitol." says Haymitch.

"The guy was poaching and what business of hers is it to interrupt he's punishment?" the man says coldly.

"He's her cousin and my fiancé." Peeta says staring at the man. Peeta helps me up and we walk up to Haymitch. "If you would like to get to him, then you will have to go through us first." It's official that we are the only 3 in the District that can stand up like this while others just stand there and watch. A group of Peacekeepers approach the scene with there Head-Peacekeeper in front. A woman that's in the group with the Peacekeepers glances out front and walks forward to the Head-Peacekeeper and speaks. In her uniform I see her name tag. Her name is Purnia. When they are done talking they turn around and speak to me, Peeta and Haymitch.

"Very well, then. Why don't you get your cousin out of here, girl, and remind him that I'll assemble that firing squad if he poaches off Capitol's land." says the Head-Peacekeeper and I nod. The Peacekeepers leave in a weird form behind the Head one. People also start to leave.

"And why don't you let that little girl go, huh?" says Haymitch at the man. I turn around and remember Posy, who is still crying.

"Let the girl go." says the man coldly and they do. Posy gets up slowly and the 3 men leave. I kneel besides Gale and cut the rope that holds him to the pole. He falls to the ground and a woman from the Hob sells us her board that she uses as a counter top.

"Is he going to be okay?!" Posy asks terrified.

"He's going to be if we get him to my house in time." I say drying some of her tears carefully without opening her wound that the men left in her face.

"You have to get him to your mother fast, Katniss" says Haymitch. We all carry Gale to the board and laid him face-down. Some miners that are in the same crew as Gale help carry him. I grab hold of Posy's hand and we all, quickly, make our way to my house; where I find my mother and Prim in the kitchen.