12 doesn’t exist

His voice was deep as he said it, head hung low.

District 12 doesn’t exist

District 12 doesn’t exist

The words were rolling around my head, what does that even mean. Of course it exists, of course it does,

“Of course it exists, it has to, it has to!” My voice felt hoarse, but only a whisper escaped. I was lost in that moment, time slowed, I could sense every small flutter of wind, the sound of footsteps far away.

Gail just stared at me, shaking his head slowly,

“I’m sorry Katniss, they bomb it, there was nothing we could do, we just had to run, theres nothing left anymore”

“When, how?” I didn’t want the answers, but i needed them.

He swallowed slowly, “after the tv cut - when the lightening hit in the arena, everything cut out.” He couldn’t look at me, “the peacekeepers, they started shouting accusing people of all sorts, the market was emptied they tried to clear all out and then we could hear this, this noise like a hum”

His eyes glanced up to meet mine,

“Then there was screams for by the old mines and this heat, this unbearable heat... i don’t know, but we had to run”

Nodding slowly i took his hand, “Thank you”

He didn’t need to ask what for, we both knew he’d saved her, he’d saved my little duckling.