Always: A Hunger Games Fanfiction

Chapter 115

Katniss

The ground beneath me rumbles softly, first. That's how I know something isn't right. I know that I'm asleep. I know that Peeta is next to me; I can hear his hushed breathing. I know something is wrong. But still, I can't seem to open my eyes to face what I know is there. I'm not even sure what exactly it is. Until the house shakes again and I am surround by a noise that sounds like thunder. But I know it isn't thunder. Coming from District 12, I've been familiarized with it. The terror and fear only takes a few seconds to come rushing to my brain, clouding my thoughts. I shoot straight up in my bed.The mine has exploded.

***

I'm in my home in the Seam. The air is cold and frigid. My skin, white as a ghost. Prim stirs beside me, on our cot. We got the extra sheet last night, although it hardly did anything to keep us warm. My bare feet touch the cool floor. I'm careful not to wake my sleeping sister. She's only seven years old, but sometimes she acts older than me. I already know that she'll become just as kind and intelligent as our mother. She'll become a healer, just like her. I don't know what I'll do. I know at the age of 18, I'll have to work in the mines, like my dad. Besides the things we learn in school, we Prim and I don't know much. Our parents hardly tell us anything. I know they always to shield us from things. Except for the Games.

There's no point in hiding the truth from us about The Hunger Games. We're forced to watch children just a few years older than us brutally kill each other, for the mere chance of escaping the arena and being crowned victor. In a few months, it will be my 12th birthday. I will have no choice but to participate in The Reaping next year. There's a chance that I'll be chosen. And I'll have to go into the Games, just like the others, and take peoples' lives away. The thought sends chills down my spine.

I slip away from Prim and down the stairs. My parents are sitting at the circular wooden table at the center of the room. They talk quietly under their breath. "Why do you have to go in? You haven't even been assigned for today!" my mother says sharply. My heart sinks. My father has, once again, chosen to go into work on a day that he doesn't have to.

"Look at Katniss and Prim. They are starving. We won't be able to survive. We need money. I have to go," he says. "For them."

***

"Katniss? Katniss!" Peeta says. His hands are gripped tight to my shoulders. I can vaguely hear the sound of screaming and crying from outside of the window beside my bed. "Katniss, what's wrong? What's going on?"

I hardly manage to get the words out through my constant gasps for air, "The mine. . ."I say. I push open the window to find people running down the street. I should warn them. They're all embarking towards the sight of the explosion; towards the opening of the underground mine.

I don't think before I act. I sprint down the stairs and out the door, not even bothering to grab a jacket. The temperature has been dropping rapidly within the past few nights. I can hardly feel the crisp air stinging against my skin. All I feel is pure adrenaline.

I try not to pay attention to Peeta's voice behind me, calling for me to stop. I keep running, but I am noticeably slower than I normally am. Still, I run, not sure what would happen if I stopped. Peeta isn't that far away from me anymore. If he speeds up anymore, he'll catch me. Suddenly, I feel as though I'm back in the Games, running for my life. I can't let myself think like that. I'm running to save other people this time. Not myself.