I know that the very last thing I need is another story, but the idea was in my head and I didn't want to lose it. So, without further ado, I present my second Hunger Games story.
Flight of the Mockingjay
I was currently puking up my guts. Not that there's much to puke. I haven't eaten much since I came back to Twelve, and if I did, it's already gone. Haymitch is holding up my hair, and I hear Greasy Sae and Peeta talking in the living room. "Make them go," I groan between each constriction of my stomach. "No can do, Sweetheart. We've got some important business to attend to," Haymitch counters. I groaned again.
A few minutes later and I haven't puked anymore, so I shove Haymitch out of the bathroom and brush my teeth, trying to get the nasty taste out of my mouth. I scrubbed until my gums bled, but I think I was trying to get rid of more than just the taste.
*Flashback*
"Open up, Katniss, I know you're in there. Come on," Haymitch called from the other side of the door.
"They're not going to leave, you know," Greasy Sae said as she put my breakfast in front of me.
I just nodded and stared at the eggs and bacon on the plate in front of me. "I'm letting them in," she said, heading towards the door. "No!" I jumped out of my chair.
" Its 'bout time you said something. They're not gonna leave," she said, turning to look at me and crossing her arms in front of her.
It wasn't really Haymitch I was avoiding so much as who was inevitably with him. Peeta. I hadn't spoken to him since he planted the Primroses; in fact I only muttered a thank you then ran back into hiding.
I find myself walking over to the door anyway. I open it to see Haymitch's surprised face. "I thought you weren't going to answer. Huh, nice to see you, Sweetheart," he said, surprisingly sober. I considered slamming the door in his face, but he shoved his way in before I could. Peeta stood outside, seemingly unsure if he could come in too. I stepped aside and opened the door wider. He looked up and tentatively smiled at me, but I couldn't return that smile. Instead I just nodded.
"So, we didn't come to have a reunion-"Haymitch begins. "Why did you come?" I snap.
"Well, well, it lives and talks!" he laughs. So maybe he's a little drunk… but when is he not? I do my best not to slap him and when he realizes I have no clever comeback he continues. "There's some sort of important announcement today. Paylor wanted us to watch it,' said it's important. I figured you didn't know because you don't check your mail, and I'm sure you haven't even looked at a television," he says.
Haymitch looks at his watch then walks into the TV room. Sae goes back to the kitchen to put up the leftovers, leaving Peeta and I alone. "Hey, Katniss," he says quietly. "Um, hi," I reply, almost in a whisper. "You've never been the shy type. This is different," he says a little louder now that I've acknowledged him. "Things change, people change," I reply and walk towards the TV room. Peeta and Haymitch make small talk until the announcement comes on. The seal of New Panem appears on the screen, along with the new anthem. The seal stays there for a while and I get my first good look at it. It's a mockingjay, with a shield on its chest that has a big 'NP' on it. The Mockingjay is rising from a flame, with its wings spread wide, like its taking flight.
Paylor's face soon covers the screen and she thanks everyone for tuning in. "Today is the anniversary of the formation of New Panem. One year ago we were freed from the oppression of the Capitol. We would like to take this moment to reveal our tribute to those lost," she announces.
The screen zooms out to a full screen shot of Paylor standing next to the said thing covered in a large sheet.
The sheet is pulled off revealing a large mockingjay with its wings spread, similar to the one on the new seal. There are flames engulfing this one though, not stone flames, but fake flames like the ones I wore. The mockingjay is looking up and on its chest reads all the names of fallen rebels and innocents.
On the bottom, the big block of stone holding up the bird reads the names of influential rebels, killed in the line of duty. It zooms in to give us a good view, and I make out Finnick's name along with one that strikes a pain in my heart. Primrose Everdeen. The tears form before I think better of it.
I sniffle a little and turn my head away. I don't look back until I hear Paylor's voice again. This time it's zoomed in on her. "Never forget these names, people of New Panem. We owe them our freedom. There are few who did not die for our cause, and I am lucky enough to be one of the living. At the same time I would like to thank all the people who fought for our cause and the living members of the head team. Plutarch Heavensbee, Haymitch Abernathy, Gale Hawthorne, Johanna Mason, Peeta Mellark, and Katniss Everdeen, our Mockingjay."
I want to scream. I want to tell her I did nothing; that I wanted nothing to do with any of this. I want to tell them that I didn't want their thanks, I only want my sister.
The crowd goes wild at the mention of our names and I see Haymitch grimace out of the corner of my eye. He doesn't like unneeded attention, but he's been getting a lot of it between falling off the stage drunk and having a leading role in a rebellion.
I look back to the screen just in time to wish I hadn't. Time slows down as the arrow emerges from the crowd and lodges itself in Paylor's chest, right where her heart is. She stumbles a little then falls over, surely dead.
I gasp and hear that everyone else did too. Suddenly the image changes on the screen and I want to scream. Looking back at me are too faces, vaguely familiar.
"Hello Panem, we would like to thank you for tuning in. No doubt, you have witnessed the fate of your dear president, and now you want to know why," says the boy, with snaky green eyes and jet black hair.
"I am Allia Snow and this is my brother Alro. It is true, we are the grandchildren of your old president, Coriolanus Snow," says the girl, a mirror image of the boy. I can feel the bile rising as the terror builds. Peeta is shaking and Haymitch is as still as a stone, while Greasy Sae is simply surprised.
"Dear Rebels, we hope you have enjoyed your rein, because your time is up. The end is near for you, we will rule this country once more and there's nothing you can do but count down the moments until it is over," the boy, Alro, says in a menacing voice. I say 'boy' because they can't be older than my age, if that.
"Yes, and don't think for a moment you can stop us, little Mockingjay. No, you will be crushed upon first sight," says Allia, and my head jumps up at the mention of my alias. "Katniss Everdeen, you may as well count your seconds, because you will be one of the first to die," Allia says as the screen goes black.
I wonder if this is what the Capitol citizens felt like when we took over their televisions. I wonder if they were this terrified. I don't have time to think about much else, because my stomach lurches and I dash to the bathroom and begin puking up everything in my system and then some.
*End Flashback*
Just as I give up on brushing my teeth, I hear the phone ring. "Katniss! It's for you! Plutarch needs to talk to you," calls Haymitch. I sigh and open the bathroom. Peeta is standing awkwardly right outside and quickly sidesteps out of my way. I snatch the phone from Haymitch and say, "Hello."
"Katniss, I'm sure you just saw the twins' announcement?" he questions.
My patience is wearing thin and I snap a yes.
"I know you're tired Katniss, and still healing, but I need to ask a huge favor of you," he says shakily.
I mentally groan and I can almost hear an "oh God…" escape from my lips.
"Would you be the Mockingjay again?"
Oh hell.
So, what do you guys think for a first chapter? Just so you know, the twins' names are pronounced Al-e-uh and Al-row. Just in case you were confused. So basically this is right after Mockingjay, minus the epilogue. What do you guys think? Will Katniss say yes? Will she make it through another rebellion? Reviews = LOVE! Questions and advice always welcome! Thanks for reading!
