I must have blacked out, because the next thing I know its pitch black and I’m covered by blankets, my face bandaged. My right eye won’t open, its swelled shut. I’m starving, every bit of me hurts, and I just want to cry. I yank the bandage from my face, feeling the pain wash over me, and fall back to sleep, too upset to do anything else.

“Here? He’s in here?”

I awake to the sound a familiar voice, in the hall outside my room. I open my eyes – well, eye, because the right one still won’t open – and try to sit up. Ouch, ouch. No, that’s not happening any time soon. I pull my covers around me, wondering what’s going on in the corridor outside. It’s still dark, so it must be early morning. Just then my door bursts open and a man runs in. I see Rita, rushing to the doorway behind him. Almost immediately, another man pushes his way into the room.

“Quick! Someone’s coming!” The other man shouts and I recognise his voice. It’s Gale!

“What’s going on?” I ask helplessly, my voice hoarse and sore. “Gale? Rita?”

“Get up.” Gale orders. “Quickly!”

I try but it’s almost impossible. I just about manage to drag myself into a sitting position. I struggle to my feet, pulling myself up using the bedside table. The floor shifts and I stagger, banging my hip on the corner of my bedside table. I catch a look of myself in the mirror on the wall. I look….dreadful. My eye is swollen shut, my face is bruised and I look so pale it’s like I’ve been covered in white paint. The other man grabs my arm, stopping me from falling.

“I’m Boggs, now try and stand straight if you can, Peeta.”

“Where am I going?” I ask blearily

“District 13. You’re being rescued.” He tells me.

District 13. Where Katniss is. Ready to be taken by surprise.

“Let’s go.” I say, through gritted teeth and I stagger to the door.

Rita leans over and squeezes my shoulder as I leave, and I turn to her, giving her a weak smile.

“Thank you.” I whisper and she nods.

As I emerge into the corridor, I finally see Annie and Johanna for the first time since we arrived in the Capitol. I thought they might have been rescued, since I hadn’t seen them at all. But, I guess, I haven’t seen many people, other than Snow and Caesar, my stylists and Rita. Annie is leaning against the wall, as if she doesn’t have a care in the world, or a clue what’s going on. Johanna is next to her, her head whipping back and forth. She heaves a sigh of relief when she sees us.

An avox darts out into the corridor ahead of us, he’s blonde and he taps a device in his hand.

“WARNING! WARNING! INTRUDER! INTRUDER!” An electronic voice warns.

Annie claps her hands over her ears, whilst Johanna puts her hands on Annie’s shoulders, forcing her to keep moving. I fight the urge to cover my own ears as the loud warning thumps through my aching head. Boggs shoots the avox in the chest and the boy slumps to the ground.

We run to the stairs, racing down them. Gale is in front, taking the steps two at a time. Then Boggs, Annie and Johanna. Then me. As I get to the last flight of stairs, and see the front door, now battered in, I feel the room start to spin. I stumble down a few more steps before I feel so sick it’s ridiculous. I fall, clutching for the banister. My back hits every single stair as I fall and I lay, in agony, at the bottom. In a heap, I grit my teeth, fighting not to cry or yell.

Gale stares at me in shock and even Annie looks stunned.

“Peeta!” Johanna exclaims, and Boggs slides an arm around my waist, hoisting me to my feet.

“Okay, Peeta. Just a little bit further. Alright?”

I nod, my fists clenching. I limp along, Boggs taking most of my weight. I stagger out of the splintered front door and gasp as a hovercraft greets me. I can hear gunshots as I climb into the hovercraft, shouts and yells ringing through the air. I think the peacekeepers and guards have caught onto what’s happening and have come to try and stop us. Except, they’re too late. We’re in the hovercraft and it’s lifting off the ground, swaying slightly as it ascends.

“You should lie down.” Boggs says to Annie, Johanna and I.

I don’t protest. I lay down in a pile of burlap sacks, exhausted, nauseous and in excruciating pain. But, at the same time, I’ve never felt happier. I’m free, I’ve been rescued, and best of all, I’m on my way to see Katniss…