**Disclaimer; Don't own the Hunger Games Series nor, it's characters.**
**Heads up it's not the happy story you think it is.**
*Warning rated M for a reason*
***Setting is after the Rebellion. After the first Mocking Jay.***
Return of the Mocking Jay;
*Song Suggestion: Mother by Pink Floyd*
Coin is worst than Snow ever was, Katniss thought. Coin decided ever since she became President she continued the games. This time with the children of the Capitol. She had told the Victors that the one after the Rebellion was the last one. She even told that to the Capitalist. Ha!
Not that it matters anymore. She lost it all in the Rebellion as the Mocking Jay. She lost it all. Her family, pride, the love of her life, all of it gone. Her name is Katniss Everdeen. This is her story of uniting Panem.
My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am the Co-Victor of the 74th & 75th Hunger Games with Peeta Mellark. Or I should say the late Peeta Mellark. That will come later.
We fought the Rebellion together to end the oppression in the districts from the Capitol Under then President Snow. To free the District born children from being reaped for slaughter.
Now we find out that Coin is worse than Snow ever was. But against the capitol born, against the Victors who didn't want the games any more. That's how I lost Peeta. He voted no. I voted yes for Prim. Those who voted no met with 'accidents'. Peeta was the first for he was that out spoken against the games. God I wished I had listened to him. This was Coin's way of teaching me a lesson. I could've told her it was too late. After my Prim was killed by the bombs she used to end the rebellion, when I voted for the games, I lost Peeta. Coin just did to break me even further. She thought she did. I gave that impression has the dumb bitch told me it was my fault for Peeta's death.
Like Haymitch & the remaining Victor's, we bided our time. When she killed Peeta during the rebuilding of 12 with that explosion, she killed my humanity or, what was left of it. Now I sit & wait. I give Coin five years on the outside...Tops.
Two almost Three Years Later:
Haymitch walks in:
"Sweetheart it's time" as I look out the window remembering what the boy from Two said on top of the horn during our final battle. That he didn't realize he was already dead until then. When he was on top of that horn with Peeta in that head lock choking the life out of him. Now she is going back in "for them"." To make their deaths, their sacrifice count.
The Victors moved their 'party' under the guise of 'arena' survival training to 12. Coin didn't even bother to even keep track of any of the training or the 'progress' reports that we sent her. But Paylor did. She's been biding her time too. To take over. She knew Coin was going insane with power & what Coin was planning next would have secure another rebellion for certain. Paylor would intercept the reports & edit to suit Coin's need for 'compliance' with her Victors. So she thought.
Katniss was in the cemetery. Asking Peeta for forgiveness again. To forgive her for being wrong. To forgive her for what she is about to do. To forgive her for not dying in the 74th arena so he would be the Victor. Haymitch always loved him best & he was right. Peeta was the better person, the better Victor. Unlike most days where there was no answer, today there finally was. It was from Peeta;
"There is nothing to forgive Katniss. You didn't do me wrong. She did. Don't look for me here. Now go kick Coin's ass to stop the games forever as it was meant to be. That's what we fought for. After that look for me where it all began for your salvation. You'll know what to do."
With that his voice was gone. Gone again is what was left of her humanity.
It sadden her for what she is about to do but not to the person that she was going to do it to.
For where Coin thought the Mocking Jay was the voice of the rebellion. There was a more covert role for this hybrid. The Mocking Jay was the voice of Justice in an unjust world. For two years now the Victors trained for this night. On the third anniversary of the rebellion, they send in 24 more children to fight for their lives. Yet on the night of this one Coin wanted the 'Mocking Jay' to light the rings of fire. After all she was known as the 'Girl on Fire'. The plan was when Paylor goes to the Victors & nods that is the signal. Paylor will make sure the guards will stand down. After all she trained them. Since Coin will be under the rings on a platform above everybody, she will be in the cross hairs. When Coin gets on 'her' platform, it will be armed with enough electricity to keep her there. When Katniss's arrow hits the rings any of the rings, is when Coin dies in an 'accidental' explosion like many of the Victors that had accidents because of her.
Katniss returns home packs for the trip to the Capitol. She was ordered to escort the Tributes to the Capitol after they were reaped for this games season. Yet this year she is taking something that has a little more meaning with her to the Capitol. She's taking her father's Walnut bow & Mocking Jay feathered arrows. She gets ready for bed & goes to sleep. Again the dreams are not peaceful as she is in the 74th arena. On top of the cornucopia, hearing Two's words again & again.
During the tour she learned that his name was Cato Hadley. Like her he was 16 years old & that had siblings. His parents were proud of him that he was a "Volunteer". We knew them as "Careers". Katniss learned later at the banquet from Brutus that a "Volunteer" was actually a student who trained for the games so that a younger child wouldn't have gone into the arena. She also learned that is why in District Two, their victors are treated like heroes almost like gods. In Cato's reaping he 'volunteered' for a 12 year old boy by the name of Mason. A sweet freckled faced red headed kid. Like Prim, he wouldn't have lasted ten seconds after the buzzer went off. I guess that was District Two's way of telling the government f-you.
After the third round of nightmares she gave up on sleep. Katniss got up took her stuff to the door, went to the window seat sat there & waited for the dawn to get the Tributes to the train. It was where Haymitch, Finnick & Johanna found her. In her fathers Jacket, holding onto his bow asleep.
Two Days Later, Tribute Parade, Capitol;
The crowds are clamoring in to take their seats after the Peace Keepers swepted the area for bombs. Yet they did not sweep the President's platform area after Paylor ordered them not to. Paylor informed them that 'her' team already did & they would get false readings from the flammable material of the rings above.
The Tributes are being prepped by their stylist while their Mentors & Trainers are getting ready for the parade. During all this there is one who takes it all in. Has she is getting prepped, Paylor gives her instructions on the shot;
"Just hit any one of the rings. Even skimming the ring & it will light. That's all you need to do."
Katniss will be riding the 13th chariot this year. She just nods to Paylor knowing what will happen after its over. She hopes she is just brave enough to do what she has to do.
However what Katniss didn't know if she misses, there is another in the President's box who will light it. It's his way to atone for the parachute bombs he designed that was used in the Capitol all those years ago by President Alma Coin. The ones that caused the death of the children who were used as a human shield & the medic Primrose Everdeen.
Later that evening;
The chariots move out. With each one that crosses that threshold, Katniss remembers how Coin admitted to her that she ordered Peeta & all the other Victor's deaths.
"I liked Peeta. Too bad I had to get rid of him & the others. Yes Girl on Fire I ordered his & the others 'accidents'. they were getting 'too' vocal & were about to start another rebellion. Who the hell did he think he was anyways? Telling me the games were wrong. I hated to do it. I really liked him. I wanted him to be part of my government but noooo he had to be this self righteous ass." (end of flashback)
Soon enough it was her turn has she pulled out her fathers Bow & noched her arrow has she went through the double doors.
In the stands Haymitch mutters;
"Come on Sweetheart. Just shoot straight & land that thing."
Finnick & Johanna look to Katniss as if to give her the extra strength she needed. To remind her what Coin did to Peeta, Enobaria, the others who opposed her but most of all to Annie.
Even for Coin, what she did to Annie was extremely cruel. After Annie gave birth to Lil Finnick, Coin arranged for her to be a victim of a break-in while Finnick was at meeting at the Capitol. Annie was repeatedly raped & her throat was slashed by Coin own guards. It was Johanna who found them Lil Fin screaming his lungs off & what was left of Annie. Finnick never fully recovered from it. It was also the other reason why she became the Mocking Jay again. Katniss overheard two of the guards bragged about it & who ordered it. She decided then & there to hunt each of the rapist down for her form of justice before she gets Coin. So she hunted them down one by one. Katniss would kidnapped them, have them repeatedly raped like Annie was before killing them. The first one was found on Coin's doorstep with a message;
'I know what you did to Annie, bitch. Picking them off one by one. One by one before I come for you.-hugs.'
With each one she would tortured them even worse just to send a message to Coin. Has they confessed including who ordered it, Coin got more nervous according to Paylor.
Even to this day when Katniss goes to District Four, she goes to pay her respects to Annie, first. Also to beg for her forgiveness for her lack of courage. Tonight though it about justice for them, for the children she used those parachute bombs for & for her little duck, Prim. Tonight she will be Alma Coin's executioner
Underneath Coin, Gale Hawthorne has a torch ready & is waiting to light the fuse for the rings and blow the platform. He also knows its a suicide mission. Once this blows, he'll be free of Panem & what he did to Prim. Katniss knows nothing is left to chance as she sees Gale underneath. She touches the tip of the arrow to the small heat source in the front part of the chariot lighting the tip until it crackles with fire. The crowd roars as she pulls back... And lets loose her arrow as Coin's platform rises.
The arrow hits center right above Coin who narrows her eyes to snake like slits at Katniss. Katniss gives her a snide look back has she gives Coin a message;
"You don't own me anymore, bitch."
Has the ring lights to set off the fuse;
"Goodbye Catnip. Forgive me."
BOOM! Has the parade route rumbles & the people panic to get out of there.
Flaming pieces of Coin land in front of the chariots & along the parade route. The back blow from the explosion was so hot, it cremated Gale instantly. Katniss with the older tributes grab the younger tributes & get them to the safety of the stable. During the 'investigation' under the newly elected President Paylor is was found that a faulty electrical circuit around & in her platform Coins caused her to be electrocuted to the point when at the time the rings were lit her body exploded. Thus explaining the 'tragic' death of President Alma Coin. At Coin's funeral it took almost everything Paylor had not to bust out laughing as people spoke highly of Coin. Thus with this is the end of Alma Coin. One of the shortest administrations in the country's history. Paylor smiled has she reflected the plan to avoid another rebellion worked perfectly.
Upon taking the oath of office Paylor release this years Tributes to the custody of their very grateful parents. Paylor then & there disbanded the games never to happen again. Later she would look for the Mocking Jay but it will be too late. During the time Paylor was taking the oath to become the President, Katniss was seen walking out of the Capitol into the woods. She had her father's bow & arrows with her pack. Katniss was going to find where it all began for her.
Five Days Later, District Two;
As news broadcasts the search to find Victor Katniss Everdeen, Katniss wonders into the district at night & goes to the district's cemetery. She goes to the Tribute's area & stops at a grave of a fellow pair of Tributes. The pair from the 74th Hunger Games, Cato Hadley & Clove Green. Nobody disturbs the Victor. They knew who she was yet they left her alone. She is a Victor has they later tell the Peace Keepers. When the Peace Keepers ask how did they know they told them,
"Her mandatory tattoo."
All Victor's after the rebellion under President Coin orders was tattooed on their upper arm. It was mandatory that the mark was bared at all times. To show that she was a Victor in the arena. It was on her upper bicep as dicatated by law. In Katniss's case hers was a green Celtic ring with the 'V', underneath the number 12 with a slash mark & the numbers 74 & 75. This was to let the country know that she was the Victor of the 74th & 75th Hunger Games. When the Peace Keeper asked the witness did she say anything. The witnesses said just one sentence;
"Forgive me."
The two Peace Keepers radioed in that they have a Victor sighting as they look onto the Tributes graves & see Evening Primrose & Katniss flowers on the grave of Cato Hadley & Clove Green in the starry night. However it was too late by then. Katniss had already walked out of the Village of District Two & back into the forest toward the mountains.
Back at the Capitol:
Paylor thought where in the hell is the Mocking Jay going & why? Back at the suite Johanna, Finnick & Haymitch see the news & the latest sighting of Katniss in District Two. The news crews show the two graves that she paid her respects to. Johanna looks into the screen;
"What the fuck is up with Brainless Mitch?"
"Don't know Jo-Jo, I just don't know."
Yet Finnick ever so the thinker went into Katniss's room that she stayed in for the games. He went into the computer records to see what she was researching. What he found was pay dirt when he sees a map & the arena records. Finnick goes into the living room where Haymitch has his head in his hands & drops the papers down onto the table.
"She's facing her demons Mitch. She's going back in."
Outside of District Two:
Katniss looks back at the lights. She looks forward into the darkness, the unknown & keeps going. Yet she didn't know that she was being followed. In this case she wasn't running from something. No, she was running toward it, fast.
One Week Later. District 16; The 74th Arena of the Hunger Games;
It was dawn when she arrived there. Nobody knew why. Katniss didn't even know why she was there. She just knew she had to be there. Back where it all began. Her life as a Victor with Peeta. A time where she didn't even know if she would make it out of here alive. Let alone get Peeta out here alive with her too. However ever since the Hunger Games she questioned everything she did. Lived in fear that all she loved would be taken away from her & in the end she lost it all anyways. Everybody & everything she ever loved is dead. Haymitch, Johanna & Finnick see her arrive & tried to intercept her only to have an arrow in a warning shot land at their feet.
"NO! LEAVE ME! I have to face this on my own."
Haymitch pulls the arrow out of the ground & hands it to her.
"What do you want me to tell Paylor, Sweetheart?"
"The truth. What I have to do, I have to do alone."
The three leave as she continued on to the cornucopia. Again she doesn't know why. She feels that this place is a massive series of scenes of crimes. Walking on she comes to a spot she thought she would never see again. It was where she sang a 12 year old girl to sleep & covered her with flowers before going on alone. It also marked where she took a human life for a second time in her life. This was the spot where Rue the young tribute from district 11 died in her arms. This is also where she killed Marvel for that crime. Even then she hadn't lost her humanity in fact she remembered her humanity cried out for the death of that young girl who reminded her so much of her sister, Prim. When she was screaming at the to of her lungs that day.
Back on the hovercraft:
Haymitch talked to the President about what had happened. Paylor gave the order to observe but leave her alone for now. Only if it becomes life threatening do they step in. Paylor knows she there for a reason & the Mocking Jay has to find it for herself.
"Brainless finally flipped her lid."
Finnick replied to Johanna;
"Jo! The kid is not even 21 & before she was 19 she lost her whole family because of Snow & Coin. Most of her friends hell all of her childhood friends are gone when snow flatten Twelve. She even saw Gale instantly cremated when Coin died at the parade. The only good thing she saw come out of it were those 24 kids being returned to their parents. Being a Victor has done Katniss no favors Jo so lay the fuck off!"
"Then for fuck's sake WHY IS BRAINLESS OUT HERE FOR?! It sure wasn't for a 'stroll' that's for sure."
Haymitch replied;
"The one thing we never attempted even tried for, redemption."
Katniss made to the horn dropped her packs & climbed to the top, just sat at the edge & waited. She didn't eat, sleep nor move for more than three days. On the hovercraft the three kept watch in shifts hoping she wouldn't drop dead. It happened on Johanna's watch on the fifth night when they heard it. Cato's voice in the arena.
"I didn't know then that I was already dead, until now."
It was heard by all including a father & son who followed Katniss from district two at the insistence of the President.
"YO! GUYS! Brainless hasn't flipped but something IS going down."
The three Victors watch has Katniss still sitting at the edge with her legs dangling over the edge as she sees the 23 Wolf Mutts. The newest two additions have ice & warm blue eyes with districts 2 & 12 on their collars. With the exception their glowing eyes, you could see through all of them. It is then that a dark haired young man came from behind & grabbed her around her waist keeping from falling over has she finally passes out from exhaustion. An older version of the raven haired man climbed up as he barked orders to his son.
"GRAB HER BEFORE SHE FALLS OVER ARIES!"
"GOT HER (as Aries drags her from the edge toward the center of the roof of the horn). Why would she survive two arenas & a rebellion just to do this Dad?"
"I don't know son. I do know that she hasn't eaten & drank anything for nearly six days. You would think a Victor should know better. If she keeps this up, your brother's sacrifice would've been in vain."
"Dad, she's burning up."
President Paylor comes on the screen as the three Victors come up with a med kit.
"Mr. Hadley, Aries now do you see what I'm talking about. She's riddled with guilt. Whatever has been happening to her, has haunted her for over two years now."
"Leave her with us. We got her President Paylor."
With that the President ends her transmission. Mr. Hadley looked at Katniss in Aries arms.
"Aries I got her sleeping bag rolled out below. Lets get her down there, then we'll talk to the Victors."
Eight Hours Later,,,
Katniss was still under the watchful eye of Aries sleeping has his father talk to the three Victors that the President sent.
"Okay spill Victor Aberthany. Why is she here?"
"I told her that she could live a thousand lifetimes & she would still never deserve him. At the end of the Rebellion there were seven Victors called to a meeting. Coin wanted one more hunger game using the capitol's children. Enobaria was on the fence so she wouldn't vote. Peeta & Annie were against it. Finnick was still in the medical unit recovering so he didn't vote. Johanna & Katniss went ahead and said yes. Katniss wanted it for Prim who died while rescuing the capitol kids at the age of 14. She was the only one of us who had a justifiable reason for that final game. Upon notification of Prim, her mother died that night of a brain aneurism, leaving Katniss all alone in this world. Anyways I was the tie breaker & said 'I'm with the Mocking Jay.' Peeta was so vocal about it, Coin killed him in an 'accident'. She rigged the new bakery to explode with him trapped in it. Coin later told Katniss it was her fault for loosing him. For not having him tow the line, for the break up. Everyday since Peeta died she would go the cemetery beg for his forgiveness. I guess Peeta answered.
For the record after they returned to twelve it was Peeta who broke up with her. It was because of the games, the rebellion & Coin. Coin was the final straw for Peeta. He was going to marry a girl from seven who relocated there the following week. Has I said before Mr. Hadley being a Victor of the hunger games did Katniss Everdeen no favors. Even when Katniss caught the eye of your son Cato. He even told me that she is pure that she has no clue the power that she has over men."
"You mean to tell me she blames herself for all of this?"
"Yes. Snow forced her hand to stay with Peeta or, kill both their families. Katniss never planned on marrying or, having kids. She raised & care for Prim since she was 11 after her father died & her mother tuned out. The other Victors thought they were invincible so Snow changed the 75th hunger games to kill Katniss for giving the districts too much hope. It started the rebellion. So yes Mr. Hadley she feels responsible for all this."
Her dreams take on a different form. For Katniss, in her dreams she sees all the Tributes, her family but no Peeta. The tribute from two grabs her by the shoulders;
"He's moved on Fire Girl. He was called home."
"Why is everybody else is still here?" (Has her little duck runs to her for a final hug as her mother waves & waits for Prim at the light at the other end.)
"To let you know it's not your time yet. You have to live on, for the ones that didn't make it home. Do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Tell my brother there I'm okay & to get some sleep. He's been watching you for almost a week with my dad. Tell him Ollie. He'll know what it means."
"Okay I will but why?"
"After all this twelve, you were the one that still was going to lay it on the line to do what was right. We're stuck here until we are called. Prim let her go, its your turn, go. (Prim walks into the light with her mother) Peeta said Haymitch has it all wrong about you. You deserve to be happy with whom 'you' choose. He said have some hot chocolate & a cookie. Loverboy said you knew what it meant."
Has he & the others fade way. Katniss was then surrounded by bright light in the mists only to open her eyes in darkness of the horn. Where she sees a raven haired version of Two was sitting right there. His icy blue eyes show concern has he looks at her.
"DAD! She's up. Keep them open Victor Everdeen. You're safe. You're okay. DAD!"
Just outside the horn around the campfire, four adults hear:
"DAD! She's up. Keep them open Victor Everdeen. You're safe. You're okay. DAD!"
The four look at each other then rush in to see Katniss Everdeen awake looking around. Johanna looks at her;
"Brainless, nice to see you again."
"Where's his brother?"
"Who's brother, Brainless?"
"Cato's."
Aries comes forward. Katniss has him lean in to give a message;
"Cato told me to tell you, he's okay, to get some sleep & Ollie. (Aries eyes got big) Whatever the hell that means."
With that Katniss closes her eyes as, she falls back asleep. Mr. Hadley takes vitals & has Finnick brings in the stretcher to get her to the hospital in two in the morning. Has they get the camp set up for the night, Mr. Hadley hears;
"Dad?"
The senior Hadley turns to see the 16 year old blond haired boy who died in this arena so long ago, in front of him smiling that cocky toothy grin of his.
"Cato?"
"It's okay. She righted a wrong. Who would've thought that of twelve? Get her out of here Dad. Get her home. Bye Dad."
With that & a final bear hug his son was known for, he fades away. Haymitch goes;
"Holy shit (as he looks to the sleeping form of Katniss on the stretcher) Sweetheart, what can of worms did you open now?"
The senior Hadley looks at everybody puzzled. Finnick looks at Aries;
"What did she tell you in there?"
"My twin is okay, get some sleep & our code word."
"Code word?"
"Yes, if we wanted to know after something bad has happened, Cato & I would use our code word for it. From a game we played has kids. Not even Dad knew our word."
Then everybody gathered the stuff up including what was Katniss's. They wheeled her into the hovercraft to get her to the hospital in Two. For Mr. Hadley rather Doctor Hadley got the message from his son. Get her home.
***It's my take on the road to redemption. Now do I put the ending here & make this a one shot or, continue on with a few chapters in this story?***
Your reviews decide.