**Disclaimer**
This is not real. I do not own the Hunger Games Universe or any of Suzanne Collins' characters. This is Part 3 of my sequel to Mockingjay, so it begins with chapter 17. You can find the first 16 chapters under 'Inferno – Part I: The Awakening' & 'Inferno – Part II: The Mockingjays.'
** If you have not read the first 3 books, then there will be spoilers so please take that into consideration. **
Inferno
Part III: The Mountain
Chapter 17
The forest here is overflowing with unusually large pine. Between the massive trunks and thick sturdy branches that reach toward the heavens, each one is made perfect for climbing. What's even better is the height of them. These trees are so tall that ascending to the top of any given one provides a complete view of District 2.
So far there's nothing out of the ordinary. Or at least nothing that should raise concern. I half expected an army of peackeepers and hovercrafts to be waiting for us. That's what makes this all so strange. It's been over two years since I was last here when the avalanche buried the mountain. Hasn't anyone tried to go back and retrieve what was lost? Surely someone must have figured that a fleet of hovercrafts would be worth the effort. But there's nothing. No evidence that anyone has even tried. Instead the only major activity that I can make out is the construction of a new stage in the center of District 2. A stage that is undoubtedly for him.
In two days he will be here. In two days I will put an arrow through his heart, ending this war along with him. For now, all I can do is remain hidden and wait until the precise moment he arrives. And when Snow does arrive, I will be the one to kill him.
Scaling back down the pine, I make my way to the rest of the group to report my findings. A few trees away I see Johanna doing the same. There were a total of four of us who volunteered to climb up and find a good vantage point. The other two were among the faceless, well camouflaged District 8 soldiers. Secretly I know that one of these soldiers is Peeta. However, even I have had a difficult time keeping track of which one he is among the other faceless men.
When I reach the forest floor immediately I group together with Paylor, Johanna and one of the two soldiers who volunteered. Thatch has gone after the second one, who apparently got stuck somewhere about halfway up one of the pines.
"You three find anything?" Paylor inquires.
"Just a whole lot of nothing," Johanna answers.
Noticing Paylor's frustration the soldier tries to be a little more helpful with his response. "It didn't look too heavily guarded. Not much movement either. Most of the activity was happening in the center of the main village near the District 2 Justice building."
"Could you make out what was going on?" Paylor presses.
"They built some sort of stage," I jump in. "Whatever additional peacekeepers and camera crews that Faust was talking about. They don't seem to be here yet."
Looking somewhat pleased with my answer Paylor smiles. "This may be our best opportunity then. We'll head out tonight."
The rest of the day is spent mapping out which routes to take through the District at night. Thankfully Faust, the analyst from 2, already has a pretty good idea of which paths will safely lead us to the old Mayor's House the fastest. Supposedly the house has been abandoned for years, which is why Paylor's contact, Commander Tiberius, wants us to meet him there. According to Faust the Mayor's old mansion is where Tiberius goes whenever he wants to send any information out to the other districts.
Overall Faust has mapped out a very precise path for us to take. He probably would have finished sooner if it weren't for Livia questioning him at every turn. Being the only other person from 2, Livia knows every checkpoint that Faust mentions. "Instead of entering the village at this access point here, why don't we take the route that goes past the old cobalt mines and minimize the amount of time we spend out in the open?" Livia examines.
"The mine is open again and it's heavily guarded," Faust replies. "It would not be wise to head in that direction. This access point is our safest bet."
Livia continues arguing with Faust about other alternative routes. However, after about twenty minutes of it Paylor cuts in and tells Livia to hold all her questions until Faust is finished. From that point forward Livia bites down on her tongue while Faust drones on. I, on the other hand, end up staring out into the woods. For a brief moment I even think that I see a hooded figure standing off in the distance.
At first I assume that it's one of ours. Then I realize that the hood of this person is dark blue. It's not the reflective camouflage material that our cloaks are made of. Plus everyone else seems to be accounted for. Gathered around listening to Faust are all ten District 8 soldiers, our stowaway Bonnie, and then the ten remaining mockingjays; now that Annie is safely back in District 4.
I look back to the woods, but the hooded figure is gone. Maybe I'm seeing things. It has been a few days since I've eaten anything substantial. I assume that it's probably just my mind playing tricks on me.
Ignoring the woods, I go back to listening to Faust's plan, carefully scanning every inch of the map laid out before us. This is it. We're finally here and there's no turning back. All that is left is for us to rendezvous with Commander Tiberius and wait for President Snow's arrival. Then we can end this war for good.
By nightfall everyone is ready to go. The plan is set and it's time to make our move. At first our group trails behind Paylor, but then it's Faust who takes the lead as we race together through the darkness. For a brief moment I feel as though I'm hunting back in 12. My pace is steady, but swift. And with each step my feet lightly brush along the dirt, careful not to make a sound. Although the path is unclear I maintain my speed, positioning myself towards the middle of the pack, watching as the silhouettes of soldiers blur together with the shadows of the forest.
It feels like we've been running about thirty minutes before we see the first traces of light. And already there's the outline of District 2's central village up ahead.
It's odd how quiet it is. I mean I'm grateful that there's nothing standing in our way, but at the same time I expected something. Peacekeepers. Soldiers. Hovercrafts even. Instead all that remains is a quiet town deep in slumber. Where are District 2's defenses? I anticipated this place to be crawling with peacekeepers. Especially if they're preparing for President Snow's arrival.
Cautiously our squadron creeps out into the open street. Still nothing. We're surrounded only by vacant buildings and icy air.
Leading the way Faust rounds the corner onto the next street. As he does his two feet run into one another, tangling themselves. And as he falls, his gun misfires sending a loud crack through someone's window. Instantaneously shouts are heard and District 2 soldiers emerge onto the streets. We've been found.
Several shots fire. Our District 8 soldiers are the first to take charge jumping to the front, shielding the rest of us from the growing opposition. The rest of us pull back, looking for cover as stray bullets fly from every direction. Off to the side I find an alleyway to position myself in. Just ahead Finnick and Johanna are taking refuge in a deserted blacksmith shop. While shooting across at the approaching peacekeepers, Johanna shifts her cloak revealing two axes strapped to her back. On the other side of the street Haymitch pushes Effie into another vacant alleyway just as Thatch rushes to safety with little Cassie thrown over his shoulder.
More peacekeepers arrive and a steady stream of bullets takes down our District 8 soldiers one by one. Finally Paylor orders everyone to retreat back to the woods. But Finnick and Johanna are still in the armory. I decide to make a run for it to get them out. But just as I reach out for Finnick I'm thrown backward and dragged into the alleyway. One of the few surviving District 8 soldiers now has my arm tightly locked within his fingers and is pulling me further down the darkened passage.
"We need to go back," I yell while trying to run toward Finnick and Johanna. "We can't just leave them there!"
Immediately the soldier yanks my arm with such force I feel as though my shoulder will pop out of its socket. I continue to struggle, but it's too late. The shots are getting too close for us to turn back now, so we keep going until the alley connects with another side street. Before we set foot on it though, the soldier I'm with pins me against a wall, while checking to see if the coast is clear.
I hear voices nearby, but can't make them out. They must not be a threat though because the soldier tows me out into the street anyway.
Glancing side to side I see that the street is empty for the most part. Just as I thought. No peacekeepers. But we do seem to be chasing after two others a little further down the road. By the looks of it, they're both ours. It's a fair assumption judging by their mesmerizing cloaks which float upward as they run. And as we gain more ground on them I can tell that it's Henley and Livia. However, now I see there is a third person with them.
Henley must hear us following because he turns ready to open fire, but then stands down. Quickly he gives a tug on Livia's arm who takes notice as she hauls Faust along with them.
By now we are so off course I don't even remember the original route that Faust mapped out. Not that it matters now. With Livia leading the way we could be going anywhere. I just hope that wherever she takes us we'll be safe and far away from any peacekeepers.
Finally we reach a road filled with run-down homes. We pass the first two, but then Livia waves us on inside the third house along the left hand side.
One by one we enter the house. Once we are all together inside Henley seals the door behind us, just as Livia slams Faust headfirst into the kitchen table. "What the hell was that!" she roars with so much anger I actually take a step back. "Are you working for Snow? You are, aren't you! That's why you fired that gun off for all your peacekeeper friends to hear."
Panicked Faust's eyes widen as he twitches uncontrollably. "No! No! It was an accident I swear."
Quickly Henley pulls Livia away from Faust while trying to keep quiet. "Livia stop. He's telling the truth. We all saw him fall," Henley reasons. "We need to keep calm right now. We can't have anyone finding out we're in here," he says in a hushed voice.
She relaxes only slightly. "We'll be fine," Livia assures. "No one ever comes down this way."
"How can you be so sure?" I question.
"The Capitol finished their work in this house a long time ago. Believe me. I would know better than anyone," Livia responds before turning an icy glare back to Faust.
Livia doesn't go into detail, but it's clear what she means. We're standing in what used to be her home. That much is certain now. Taking a better look at our surroundings I notice the walls coated with bullet holes along with several floorboards stained with blood. Something terrible happened here.
And now I understand. I understand why Livia is so much like Haymitch. Because of the games and how she won… Livia's family would have met the same fate as his.
Based on the concerned look in Henley's eyes I can tell he's put the pieces together as well. However, right now is not the time or place to talk about it. Not with everything that is happening.
Henley is the first to speak up. "So what do we do now? How are we going to find out where the others are? Or if they're even safe?"
No one has an answer. Between the five of us, we are all silent. Separated from the others, who may or may not be alive, and we have no plan.
Then it hits me. Frantically I begin rummaging through my pockets until I find it. "I've got it."
"Got what?" Livia asks curiously.
From my front pocket I pull out the earpiece that Haymitch gave me back in 8. Carefully I turn it on adjusting it on the right side of my head. "Haymitch… Haymitch, are you there?" I call out, but there's no response. "Haymitch…" My heart races. "Haymitch, can you hear me?" Please be okay. "Haymitch!"
I wait.
There's nothing.
Around me stands Henley, Livia, Faust and the District 8 soldier patiently keeping still as if any miniscule movement would interfere with the signal.
…
"Is that you sweetheart?"
I let out a sigh of relief. "You're okay."
"Still alive... For now anyway."
While I'm elated to hear the sound of Haymitch's voice, there isn't any time for pleasantries. I have too many unanswered questions swimming through my head. "What about the others? Did everyone make it out in time?"
"I'm not sure, but there are a good number of us over here."
"Over where? Where are you?" I prod.
According to Haymitch they're all hiding out in what seems to be an old steel refinery. He does his best to describe where he thinks they're located in relation to the original map that Faust drew up. Then one by one he names off all of who made it to safety with him. Among the first he reveals are Paylor, Thatch and Effie. Then he identifies a couple of soldiers whose names I don't recognize, followed by Bonnie and Cassie.
And that's it. The names stop there. Johanna and Finnick are missing.
Images of the pair of them back in the armory flood my mind. I was probably the last one to see them. Is it possible that they made it out by themselves? I tell myself yes, but it does nothing to subside the fear building inside of me. The fear that they may both be gone for good.
I can't help but think of Annie and the promise I made to her back in 4. The promise that I would look out for Finnick. That I'd keep him safe and bring him home to her. How could I have failed her already?
"…you hear me? Katniss are you still there?"
Haymitch's voice pulls me back. I hadn't even realized when I stopped listening to him. "Yes Haymitch, I'm here."
"Did anyone else make it out with you?"
"Yes," I speak up. "I'm here with Henley, Livia and Faust."
Now that Haymitch is caught up to speed I hear the same concern register in his voice. "So there's no sign of Finnick or Johanna?"
"No," I admit reluctantly.
"Hey what about him?" Henley calls out pointing to the District 8 soldier.
"Oh, sorry," I nod to the camouflaged man in the corner. "One of the soldiers escaped with us too," I tell Haymitch.
If not for Henley's reminder I would have completely forgotten that the soldier was even there. He stands so still he could be a statue. Plus I don't think he's uttered a single word since he pulled me away from the peacekeepers' gunfire.
"Did you get his name?" Haymitch questions.
Turning to the soldier I ask him, but there's no answer. Instead he removes his goggles and helmet.
Staring back at me through smeared camouflage and beads of sweat the man waits for me to react.
I should have realized it sooner. The way he pulled me from the shooting so quickly. The reason he's stood silent this entire time. The soldier is Peeta.
End of Chapter 17
M. Cooper Jinks