CHAPTER THIRTY TWO!

REUNIONS OF THE WORST KIND.

ROSALIE HAS BEEN waiting for Finnick to return home since the moment he left, anxiously staring at the door to the bedroom every now and again. She knows he's more than capable of taking care of himself, but it's almost as if they're fourteen years old again and he's out fighting for his life whilst she sits at home twiddling her thumbs.

She'd never felt more useless than that, having to watch on their living room projector, as her best friend was forced to fight to the death. It was horrifying, and she hardly ever slept, her eyes always on the screen so that she could make sure he was okay. At least then she had the coverage to watch, she knew he was okay, now she doesn't have a clue. Finnick could already have been taken down, he could be dead, and she doesn't even know.

The brunette hasn't had a moment of peace since he left, and she won't have one until he gets back. Hopefully that is sooner rather than later.

Rosalie pushes herself up off the tattered couch, discarding her book to the side. She has no idea what it's about, unable to actually focus on and take the words in. She had read the same paragraph at least ten times, and even then none of it seemed to stick with her.

"Maybe you should find something else to do, they're supposed to be home soon," Carter points out as he sits in the chair across from her.

"I'm just worried is all. They've been gone for a while and we haven't heard anything. Surely they could've sent some type of message," Rosalie bites her lip rather harshly, the physical effects of her worry beginning to take shape.

She knows that her brother believes she's being a bit overdramatic, but she greatly appreciates the fact that he doesn't share it verbally. The last thing she needs right now is his judgmental stare that he loves to give out. In fact, that very look seems to be a Barton thing because Finnick has commented on the expression that she pulls sometimes.

A knock on the door causes the siblings to startle, the younger getting up and letting whoever is on the other side in. Rosalie recognises the long blonde hair instantly and she practically scrambled to her feet to greet Prim. The girl doesn't look upset, nor does she look happy, so it's hard to tell what she's feeling. Rosalie imagines she'd be visibly upset if anything had happened.

"They're home,"

Rosalie exhales suddenly, a shuddered breath leaving her lips. Prim doesn't say anything further, simply gesturing to outside of the room and the brunette doesn't need any further instruction. She wraps her arms around herself and rushes away, eyes searching from the moment she enters the communal area.

She spots Katniss first, the girl talking with Gale. The girl doesn't allow her eyes to stop moving after that, and within moments they gravitate towards the man she'd been looking for initially. Finnick is in a very animated conversation with Haymitch, the latter nodding his head in agreement.

It may be rude, but she doesn't care, carefully pushing her way through the gathered crowd to wrap her arms around him. He stumbles back slightly from the force, but the chuckle he emits shows it had no actual impact on him. Finnick returns the hug, his chin resting on the top of her head as she enjoys the embrace having deeply missed him.

Rosalie stands beside Finnick in the viewing room, watching as Peeta struggles against the restraints on his hands. It's a horrid sight, one that brings her great pain. She remembers what he was like only weeks ago, vibrant and happy even in the worst of times.

The Capitol hadn't been kind to him, nor had it been to Johanna and Annie. However, there is a part of her that feels as if they boy may have been at the end of the worst of the torment. His skin is tattered with bruises, cuts etched into his arms, just like the other two but Peeta seems to have deeper psychological scars. Annie and Johanna have been able to be around other people without being hostile, Peeta has not.

"We're going to send Katniss in there," Haymitch says from beside the two District Four victors.

Rosalie frowns. "Are you sure that's the best idea?"

"We don't have many other options,"

Peeta has his restraints removed, perhaps to lower his paranoia, and his gaze now remains directly at the wall. It's almost as if any ounce of light had been sucked out from within, leaving a shell of a boy in its wake. When the door opens up, he does allow his eyes to travel to the familiar brunette girl in the door.

Every gaze towards Katniss had always been one filled with devotion and affection, the blonde boy so deeply in love. Rosalie had never even seen aggression within him, so watching the storming expression appear on his face is odd.

Katniss is apprehensive as she moves forward, almost as if she's unsure whether or not he's truly here. He doesn't react as she gets closer, watching her closely through narrowed eyes. And then he lunges.

Yells erupt around her as the boy wraps his hands around Katniss' neck, strangling her with every ounce of strength he has. The guards move in quickly, a doctor joining them and injecting Peeta with something to sedate him. He collapses onto the bed, unconscious, as Katniss lays there struggling to breathe.

Rosalie gulps slightly knowing not only do they have to Capitol to deal with, but the destruction they leave in their wake. 

END OF PART THREE.