A Stake To The Heart

Chapter 12

I'm so sorry I haven't updated recently! I was so busy and we had two snow days and the cable went out for a while and then it came back and I started to type and then I was invited to go outside and play in the snow and freeze to death, so yeah.

Thank you so much for reading and voting! And commenting! It makes me feel so amazing knowing I have people who enjoy my stories. ❤️💛💗💙💜

But i couldn't be writing this if the hunger games trilogy wasn't real. All credit and rights go to Suzanne Collins.

AppleDapple23

Enjoy!

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Chapter 12

Katniss' POV

District one was surprisingly easy.Same routine- speak,ignore the signs of an uprising,talk to the mayor and get back on the train. It's the capital that worries me....

Yet it's one step closer to getting home.

Home....with my mother and Prim and the life I know best.

District 12 is where I belong.

But now that I think about it, how am I supposed to tell my family about my....condition?

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"Up, up, up!-" Effie's voice starts but is muffled by a pillow to her face.

"Katniss!"

"Sorry, just defending myself. For all I know you could have came in to murder me." I say annoyed at her new way of awakening me, walking into my room.

She huffs. "Get up. You have fifteen minutes to get ready." I start to get up as I here her heels click as she walks out into the hall.

God, Effie can be so annoying.

I throw another simple outfit on my bed and head into the bathroom to shower. Since I have 'fifteen minutes' I quickly scrub my body until it is clean....or at least when I say it is. I shut the water off and wrap the silky towel around me.

I slip on my clothes and brush my hair until it is free of tangles. Honestly my hair has never looked so healthy before and I'm too afraid to ask what chemicals my stylists put in my hair. Making my bed and slipping on some flats, I slowly creep out of my room and to the dining car. Surprisingly, no one else is there. I smile and enjoy the unusual silence while sitting down carefully on the sofa in the corner of the room.

Ugh! Even after 9 hours of sleep, I'm still exhausted. I stare at my stomach and wonder what it's like to be inside there....just laying there for 9 months and causing the carrier pain and misery. Thank you, I feel so honored to carry, not one but two, babies.

"Hey Katniss." Peeta says in a weak voice. My head snaps up as I hear his voice.

"H-hi Peeta." Peeta looks like he was up all night. Purple outlines his eyes and bags are visible. "What's wrong with you?" I ask instantly surprised I actually said that out loud.

He smirks at my shocked expression. "Oh nothing....just didn't get too much sleep."

"Well don't act too tired, you might be in for a lecture." He smiles and nods.

"I'll try."

"Okay! Tonight is the capital party for the victors!" Effie squeals as she walks in. Haymitch trails slowly and sloppily behind.

"Woohoo. Parties." He says sarcastically as he sits at his usual spot at the table.

"Now, come sit so we can go over the schedule for today." Effie says gesturing to the table. Me and Peeta exchange glances before walking to the table.

Effie explains the day's plans and we begin to eat the delicious food that has been prepared for breakfast today.

We don't have to begin getting ready for another 4 hours so after I'm finished hopefully I can get some downtime before I have to be stripped of my comfy outfit and into a formal outfit of sorts.

"So Katniss, the famous capital party. Are you excited?" Peeta asks even though he knows the same answer, because he shares it.

"Oh yes, I can't wait to see what the luxurious capital has to offer this time." I say with a fake smile. Haymitch senses my lie and begins laughing. Effie, however, just smiles and then glares at Haymitch. We continue to chat about how excited we are about the capital, but in reality me and Peeta are just happy to be almost home.

Afterwards, I sneak back into my room to enjoy an hour or two of silence. I pace slowly back and forth pondering over everything that has happened. The hunger games really do change your life, that is if you live. I take a deep breath and sit down on my bed like I usually do. I switch on the TV just to provide sound so the room isn't an eery silence. I gently lay my head on the plushy pillows as I realize how tired I am.

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"Katniss! Get up sleepyhead!" Octavia squeals with a giggle.

I hesitantly open my eyes to see all three of my stylists sitting in front of me holding makeup bags.

"I was asleep for 4 hours?!" I ask siting up quickly.

"Yep! Don't worry dear, you didn't miss too much." Venia says helping me up. She leads me into the bathroom and strips me of my clothing and prepares a bath with many different chemicals mixed in. I makes me shudder thinking what they actually are putting in there.

"It might be a little hot but you'll get used to it." She says practically pushing me in. What she really means is "it's really hot because it will burn off your unwanted skin cells and then you won't feel a thing." But sure enough, the water is extremely hot, steam already fills the bathroom. I yelp in pain as I sit down. Venia calls the rest of the crew in to get everything set up. I watch as they gossip and giggle together as they set out creams, powders, and other chemicals.

The steam starts to float up and through an air vent but it stills looks cloudy in the large room. I stare at the water which is a yellow-greenish color. I can still feel the water burning my skin but I bite my tongue to keep from yelping again. I look up at my stylists to ask how long I have to sit here but before I open my mouth to speak I feel an immense amount of pain course through me. I scream and try and find the source but it just feels like it's everywhere. I look down at the water which is now turning blood red. Octavia drops what she's doing and runs over. She gasps and looks to my pale face. "Katniss! It's okay. Let's get you out."

I can barely hear anything and my head is spinning. My eyes flutter and threaten to close. I feel cold hands pull me out just as the world goes black.

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