Katnip

Chapter Five

I'm standing before a crowd. Again. But this time there's no calm, smiling Cinna in the sidelines, no profusely colourful Effie ushering me from A to B. My vision lurches slightly. I need to find Finnick, to talk to or Prim to calm me down. I need to- But I can't. Because Snow killed them. I square my shoulders, and tighten my jaw. I raise my bow, arrow in line with Snow's throat...

Suddenly, gun shots are echoing through the crowd. Screams follow. I'm sinking, sinking to the floor. Weak. Feeble. Broken.

A hand slips towards me, to help me up, to comfort me- No. To strangle me. Coin is trying to kill me. All eye are on us, and the firing has stopped. "Not so brave now, are you? Weaklings! You aren't leaders. I am your ruler!" She sneers, a gleam in her eyes, a gleam that's a little too bright, a little too crazy. "I will kill your Mockingjay. Maybe then people will finally stop questioning my authority!"

Coin rants on and on as my lips turn purple. Then I see him. Gale. In a last ditch effort, I raisw my hands to form an 'X' over hers. Same old tricks. I see a light flash in his eyes, and suddenly Coin is screamig, cradling her hand to her chest. Chaos erupts as I scramble away. More shots. More screaming. She begins to ramble loudly. She's dangerous. Unhinged. I turn away. Then, two seconds later, I hear it. A bang, and one last gurgle. The end of our reign of tyrants. Before me Snow lies limp, long dead with three holes in his chest. I see Prim. Finnick. Rue. Mags. Cressida. I smile, and I'm still reciting names when I black out. Again.