Chapter 41

Katniss

After Peeta and Ruth are both asleep, I decide to get up and wander around. I can't stay in that stuffy hospital room anymore.

There is a muffled sound coming from a speaker above me. I stare at it, waiting for someone to talk, bracing myself for another attack warning. "Attention, attention," a man's voice I can't quite place says. "Fiona Snow is no longer the president of Panem." My lips part and I take a massive breath of relief. We are safe, at least for now. But if she's anything like her grandfather, she will not give up. I hear whoops and cheers coming from rooms near me.

But the muffled voice starts in the speaker again. "Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Haymitch Abernathy, Beetee Latier, and Johanna Mason please report to the lobby." Victors. A nervous feeling creeps over me. What could they possibly want? Us to make another speech in the Capitol?

I turn down the hall and try not to get lost in the maze of doors and hallways. I eventually find the lobby. Peeta is sitting in a wheelchair on the opposite side of the room, a worried look on his face. "There you are," Peeta says, pushing himself in the wheelchair towards me. I walk over to him and kneel down beside the wheelchair.

"What's going on?" I whisper to Peeta. He shrugs, wincing. He brings his left hand to his side and shifts uncomfortably.

Then, Johanna and Haymitch storm through two double doors that lead to somewhere I've never been. "So why are we here?" Johanna asks, flipping her short hair over her shoulder. It amazes me how fast it grew. I shrug and so does Peeta. Haymitch takes a long swig of something from a bottle and plops down into a chair.

Peeta squeezes my hand the minute Plutarch walks in, followed by Beetee. "Hello, victors," Plutarch says, faking a smile. I clench my jaw. I'm tired of being known as a victor, although I know it will never go away. That's why I am terrified to have children of my own. They will learn about everything that happened to Peeta and I. About the war, and all of the people their parents lost. I shudder and bring my attention back to Plutarch.

"Now that we know Snow is not going to be president, the Capitol Games are back on," he says, leaning against the wall. He scans our emotionless faces. "Unless. . .you say no this time."  We glance at one another.

"Well, I'm almost sure of which vote will win," Johanna says. She shoots Peeta a look. I think he'd be the only one to ever vote no. He did vote no. My mind begins to wander to Enobaria. I tense up thinking about her heavy, cold body flopping over onto me.

"Katniss," Peeta whispers. I let go of his hand, realizing I'm squeezing it way to hard. I mumble an apology and stand up.

"I vote yes. Can I leave now?" Johanna says obnoxiously. Plutarch sighs and looks at Haymitch, waiting for an answer from him. Will this be a good thing to have? A Capitol Games. I would have to mentor, and watch innocent, clueless children die. What about the kind hearts like Ruth? I know Prim would have been upset about this. She was too gentle and soft, not realizing that these people caused all of this. Caused her death.

Haymitch mumbles a yes. Plutarch looks at me. My mouth opens to speak but now words come. Johanna looks at me surprised. I bet she thought my answer would be yes, no doubt. I know I should vote yes. For Prim and Rue and Finnick. But what would they say? Would Finnick say absolutely not? No doubt, Prim and Rue would have. "Sometime today," Johanna spits. I feel all eyes on me.

"Yes," I whisper so quietly I'm surprised that anyone heard me.

This time, Beetee speaks up, "Unfortunately, I am unable to participate in this vote due to my recent involvement in a new science experiment here in District 13. But, I wish all the best of luck to you four." 

"Well, then it's definite. We better get started on the 76th Hunger Games, then," Plutarch says, smiling.

"You did that on purpose. So I couldn't vote," Peeta says, gaining a dramatic sigh from Plutarch. 

"It wouldn't have mattered anyway. Three against one. Your vote wouldn't have made a difference," Plutarch says, stepping out of the room. Peeta rolls his shoulders back and sighs.

"I thought you wanted the Games," I say, after Johanna practically runs out of the room.

"I did for a little while. But I had this dream of Capitol children. Their faces, just as innocent as we were. Of course, they were spoiled and their parents were horrible but it's not their fault they grew up in the Capitol. They don't know how to survive without food and water. They'll die right away anyway," Peeta says. He does have a good point, but the Capitol citizens have to pay for the hell they put us through in the Games.

"It's going to happen, Peeta," I say.

"Maybe. But I'm not watching. And I'm going to do whatever I can to help those kids," Peeta retorts, pushing himself through the doors. I shut my eyes and lean against the wall. Haymitch staggers out of the room, spilling alcohol onto the tiles as he walks.