Katniss
As soon as the magnificent silvery buildings seem to begin rising up out of the ground in the distance, I know we've reached the Capitol. "Peeta, what do you think they'll do?" I ask, barely achieving a whisper. He eyes me warily from across the train car, as if he's deciding whether or not it's okay for him to speak to me. Then, in a matter of seconds his expression washes away, being replaced by a look of an uncertainty and fear.
"I'm not sure," he says, his eyes trained on mine. I savour the moment that I spend with him, not knowing how long it will be until he shuts me out again. I want to apologize, for what I don't know. I feel like there is something I have to say to him, something to make both of us feel less guilty. But I can't manage to form the words in my mind, let alone speak them.
"Katniss! Peeta!" Effie sashays into the room, clapping her hands together. "We'll be arriving in just a few moments. Now, when we get there, there will be cameras." My ears perk up at her last words. Cameras? How did the Capitol people even know we'd be here? I feel a surge of anger towards Effie. By the look on her face, I know she's told people.
"Katniss, come. We must get you looking more. . ." she trails off, waving her delicate gloved hands in the air, but never finishing her sentence.
I follow Effie into the car next door, where I'm greeted by a cluster of Capitol people I don't recognize. I know these people aren't my regular prep team, and I can't help but wonder where my old crew is.
There is a tall woman with bright pink heels taller than the length of my forearm, a stubby man with a green gotee and matching hair that's slicked back with a shiny substance. The other woman has eyelashes with faux birds glued in them and permanant jewels that scatter her face. I cringe away at the tall woman's touch when she roughly pulls my hair away from my face. The man, who's name I learn is Abraxas, powders and lines my face with different assortments of make up.
"Why do I have to wear makeup for an appointment?" I say harshly when Effie moves back into the room.
"Because, dear, there will be cameras."
"Who exactly invited them, Effie? Because I can assure you that it wasnt me," I retort.
"Manners!" she chirps, pursing her lips and folding down her dress. "We can't have you sporting a black eye now can we? It would mean trouble for Peeta and you both!" I roll my eyes while Effie fans herself and exits the room once more.
"Finished!" Eudora, the shorter woman, who I decide to call bird woman says. When I see myself in the mirror, my breath gets caught in my throat. The girl--the woman--I see in the mirror is not me, Katniss Mellark. She has no bruises, no scars, no swelling. She is Katniss Everdeen; the girl who was on fire.
***
Peeta and I are standing behind Effie, waiting to be let off the train. I catch a quick glimpse out of the window a few feet away from us. People dressed in ridiculous outfits and wigs stand outside, chanting our names. Panic ensues my body and my breathing begins to be rugged and hoarse. Without thinking, my hand moves to Peeta's. He hesitates at first, pulling away slightly, but I don't let go. My eyes meet his, and he tightens his grasp. "It's alright," he whispers. Just the slightest gesture from him makes me feel ten times safer.
The heavy door opens slowly and the chanting gets louder. My grip on Peeta tightens even more, if that's possible. I can't get my legs to move, so I just stand before the crowd, a blank expression on my face. I look to Peeta for reassurance. He takes a deep breath and nods unsurely. I follow Effie, desperately avoiding every hand that reaches out to touch us. Peeta puts a protective arm around me and we hurry into the building before us, heads down, mouths shut.
"Welcome Katniss and Peeta; to the Capitol." Dr. Aurelius greets us at the door, his thick glasses hanging from his coat. Peeta's arm is no longer on my shoulder, his hand no longer entwined with mine. "Follow me, if you will."
I reluctantly follow his orders and we step into a tiny room with a wooden desk and two chairs. There's a window behind the desk that faces the train station. The group of people seems to have multiplied. I'm thankful when Peeta asks the doctor to close the blinds.
"Now, Katniss, can you tell me the thoughts you were having the night you attempted suicide?" he asks.
"I don't know," I reply bluntly. "I just didn't see a point to living." Peeta shifts uncomfortably in the seat beside me.
"Alright. Peeta told me you were frequently getting," he pauses for a few seconds, as though he was trying to figure out the correct word to use. "Flashbacks."
"Yes. Mostly about the people I love dying; my sister."
"What exactly do you think causes these flashbacks?'
"I can't explain it," I mumble. "I just think about everything and they just. . .happen."
"Well, my guess is that the flashbacks are the cause of the attemptend suicide," Dr. Aurelius says, biting softly at the tip of the eraser on his pencil. "All we can do is give you medication. I'm not sure if there's much of a chocie."
"Okay," I say. Im greatful that there's not much of a choice. I'd rather have to swallow a pill everyday than to be locked up here. "What about Peeta? How can you help his flashbacks?"
"You said that they've started up again?"
"They're worse," Peeta whispers. He's been so quiet that I've almost forgotten that he's there. Almost.
"How do you mean?"
"I mean that I almost killed Katniss. And if she wasn't wearing all of that makeup, you could see for yourself what I did." I focus my eyes on a certain spot on the wall, knowing that all eyes are on me.
"Can you describe it for me? Your flashback, I mean?"
"It isn't even a flashback. I just go back into hijack-mode and hate her again. I see her as a threat. But there's times when. . .When I'm back in my cell, being tortured," he says quietly, his eyes shut. "I can feel all of the pain again." Peeta places his face in his hands and hunches over.
"Something's happening," I whisper. My stomach sinks when I realize that he's having a flashback; a real one this time.
"Katniss, get out of here," Dr. Aurelius says, standind from his chair. I ignore his orders and sink slowly to my knees. I place my hands on his back, moving them in slow circles.
"It's alright Peeta. You're okay, you're with me." When he begins to sob I kiss his forehead and entwine my arms around his body. "Shh. . .It's alright." I feel his body relax and soon he's breathing normal again. Peeta whispers my name, his voice filled with fear and returns my embrace.
"See, you're fine. I'm here," I say, attempting to put on a brave smile for him. He nods and takes a deep breath. I stand up and walk to Dr. Aurelius, who's standing awkwardly near the door. "You have to help him," I mumble so Peeta won't hear. He nods slowly and sits back down at his desk.
"I think what we're going to have to do is keep you here tonight," he says to Peeta. I spin around on my heel, my fear becoming reality.
"No, you can't," I beg.
"It's the only way I can help. We have to trigger a flashback in you to moniter your brain. That way, we can figure out what's going on. And while we're at it, we may as well test you as well, Katniss."
Peeta glances at me unsurely. He knows I was terrified of being tested on, and now it's going to happen. And we'll be seperated. "What if something goes wrong?" I ask.
"I can assure you that it won't."
Peeta and I stare at each other, deciding. It's his smile that gives me the strength to agree. "Fine. But I need to make a call. "
_______
Not the best ending, but if I didn't end it there this chapter would have been way to long. Anyways, I realized that I forgot to mention something in my last chapter.
@BookLoverHBWriter and I are co-writing a THG fanfiction together :D It's on her account and we would both love it if you could check it out sometime! We basically switch off every chapter and we're on like Ch. 6 right now.
Anyways, hope you liked this chapter. Make sure to vote :)
-booklover2019