How did Effie become a escort? What was it like to work with Haymitch, and have been left behind? Here's prologue to her story...
I love talking to people, but now Katniss and Peeta are depending on me. And Haymitch can never win a sponsor, so it's all on my shoulders. I know I'm rambling, but I need to get this man to commit to keeping the money coming. I just can't bear to look at the screens, not now, perhaps not ever.
I'm actually terrified of what Johanna just did to Katniss, but hoping that this man will give me money to fix the damage that brat caused. But time is so short, and this guy's eyes keeps floating to the screens. Please, I'm begging, please just focus on what I'm saying.
"Katniss and Peeta are strong," I smile, "Just a bit of medicine will fix whatever Johanna Mason did to her."
The man nods absently, while I mentally curse that stupid screen. "Well, I like them too you know, but I really don't know about putting down that much money right now." He shrugs and waves his hand, loaded with a wine glass, spilling little red drops on the tips of my gold shoes. I do my best not to scowl.
"Of course, but if anyone is going to win these games," I can't finish my sentence because this woman starts screaming. And not just one woman, but a lot of ladies in the room. Turning, I finally glance at the screens, just as they flash black. Around me, the sponsor center dissolves into chaos.
"That was Katniss Everdeen! Did you see that! Impossible, it's all wrong," The voices blend, and I begin to search for Haymitch. The man beside me drops his wine glass, he saw whatever just happened. He's my only connection to the screens, I need to find out what's going on.
I grab his arm before he can leave my side, "What just happened up there?" I motion to the screen.
"Miss Trinket, I have no idea, I think it was your victor." Now I really do scowl, Katniss obviously couldn't have made the screens go black. And I don't think Haymitch is down here helping me out, so I decide to go check out the mentor's lounge. They should have some answers.
I elbow my way through the crowd of sponsors, smiling graciously, apologizing, but I don't think anyone notices me. I easily block out the bits and pieces I pick up, they're saying terrible things about Katniss. But it's so simple to ignore stuff like that, after all I've been doing it all my life.
I decide to take the stairs up to the lounge, the elevators are crammed with sponsors, and viewers, apparently everyone needs to be somewhere when the screens go black. The stairwell is lit up, as well as being empty, and I easily navigate to the fourth floor, two stories up. Throwing open the door into the hall, I know something is definitely wrong. It's eerily quiet.
"Haymitch?" I call, attempting a sprint in my heels, "Haymitch?" I round the corner into the mentoring room. The screens are black here too, but the place is empty. Completely. Where is everyone? Haymitch wouldn't go to a bar till after our tributes were dead, right? They can't be dead, people would be celebrating a victor, not breaking into pandemonium.
The only other place he might be are our quarters. It's down the skywalk, and as I pass between the two buildings, I see a huge crowd below me. The screens are still dark, and it looks very confusing down there. It's been at least 30 minutes, and my heart starts to race as worry for my children takes over. Anything could have happened in that arena by now.
This hallway is full of reporters, and I resist the urge to cover my ears as they shout questions at me. I don't know anything. And when I find Haymitch I'm going to kill him for not being here, helping me out. We are Katniss's and Peeta's team, we should have been together!
I rush towards the elevators, jamming buttons. I feel panic, but I push it down. If he was up to something, well if Katniss and Peeta were, they would all have told me. This one place is also creepily empty, I feel goose bumps forming, and I am eternally thankful when the elevator finally dings.
It's full of escorts wanting to go upstairs, but they all seem to have more knowledge than me. The moment they spot me, they assault me with questions. And I don't have any answers. But I soon grasp the utter nonsense of their ideas. Like Katniss could really blow out the force field with an arrow? Come on, sometimes I am even astounded by my fellow citizens ignorance. So it appears we are all in the dark about what is really going on.
One by one they get out, leaving me all alone as I reach our floor. I don't know what I expected when I reached our quarters, but it wasn't them.
Peacekeeper, five of them are standing around as I step out. "Hello Miss Trinket, how good of you to come." One of them steps towards me, a strange smile on his face. Why is he even smiling? A peacekeeper has never spoken to me, I've never broken any law.
I frown, and fidget with my glove, "I'm looking for Mr. Abernathy. I was not expecting you." I try to peer past them, but they are doing a very good job of blocking my view.
"It appears, Miss Trinket that we are both looking for M Abernathy." He stares at me, and I feel a sudden chill.
"I don't understand," I can't seem to keep the slight trace of fear from my voice, all I really want to know is whether my sweet team is safe. I don't want to be talking to these peacekeepers.
"Miss Trinket, your victors are involved in a rebellion," his eyes narrow, and I feel very cold inside, "Either you were betrayed, or you are involved."
I answer without thinking, "Haymitch, Peeta, they would never betray me. Not even Katniss." I try to take a step back, but he grabs me arm, making me yelp. "Why are you touching me?"
His eyebrows raise, "If you were not betrayed," his voice trails off, and I feel overwhelmed. A rebellion, Haymitch would have told me right?
"Where is everyone? Where are my friends?" I demand, trying to free myself from this iron grasp. The stupidity of the question doesn't hit me till much later.
"Miss Trinket, you don't know?" The man smiles down at me, making me realize that I've slipped out of my heels, becoming embarrassingly short, "They left you, and we have just a few questions." My free hand grasps my gold bangle, as desperation runs through me. What is really happening?
I shake my head, my voice is caught in my throat. Only one thought repeats itself, I thought we were a team.
Sound good? I'm writing a SYOT, so that's my top priority, but I'll try to keep up with this as well. Looking forward to your thoughts!