Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins and Lionsgate. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Sequel to A Far Worse Games To Play. Emberly survived the Games, but at what cost? She has distanced herself from the family that loves her and the people who need her causing Katniss and Peeta hold onto hope that their daughter is more then a Capitol Puppet, but all signs point to their daughter being the destruction of Panem.

CHAPTER 1

EMBERLY POV

A little over two months have passed since I returned to District 12 from the Hunger Games and I have effectively been able to isolate myself completely from my family. The first few weeks were hard, and my mother in particular was persistent in seeing me. It came down to her one night showing up and nearly breaking her shoulder trying to force the door down. It didn't work and I had two Peacekeeper's force her off the property at the threat of her life as well as my father and brothers. I would never hurt my family, but I need to keep them safe, and the only effective way to do that was to threaten them.

Since then, no one from my family has tried to see me. I know they don't understand why I am keeping my distance; I know they think I murdered my best friend in the Hunger Games. I know they think I have changed.

I have changed, but not in the ways they think. I didn't kill Damir, or at least, as far as I know I didn't. We haven't heard from any potential survivors of the Game, but then again, that was the plan all along. To get them out, keep them safe, and maybe, someday, get rid of the new President Snow.

But I have changed. I am alone. Mason has not been able to see me, as the President insists our reunion be long awaited and televised, so those in the Capitol that loved our love story can see it. Mason was my one connection to the world. He knows what I am going through, what we have done. He is part of the plan, and I can't communicate with him. And so, I am alone. I can't talk to my family, I can't talk to Mason. The only people I communicate with are the three Peacekeepers who keep an eye on me; they are all right, sometimes they are even tolerable. One of them, named Myers, is actually pretty easy to get along with; he is only a little older then me. That could be why we get along. The other two, Samuels and Ike, are older then him and I enjoy their company far less.

Still, with no one else to talk to, they do connect me to the outside world. They let me hunt in the woods but stay close. I have asked them to do this because I can't risk running into my mother, but they do scare off the game.

Of course, even they can't guard me from my nightmares, and they have grown significantly over the last few months. First, they were just of the Game, but now they have morphed into images of my parents Game, which I have watched a few times since I returned, now that I have access to the video, as well as twisted images of my family being tortured, of Galen being killed, of Damir dying at my hand. Sometimes, I can't figure out what is real and what is just in my head.

And so I have taken a significant liking to the liquor cabinet downstairs. It keeps the nightmare at bay and it keeps me numb. I am grateful that the Capitol keeps it stocked with good liquor so I don't have to worry about looking yellow like Haymitch, or at least, I can prevent that longer. Sometimes, on hard nights, I mix the liquor with the Capitol drugs that are sent to help me sleep.

That can knock me out for days at a time and I am fine with that. I have nothing but time anyway. I am waiting, but I don't know what for.

Its only now that I realize our plan was foolish. We are out of the arena, and we know what we want, to remove Snow from office, to not start the Hunger Games over, but we have no idea where to star. Mason and I haven't even been able to discuss it because we haven't seen each other, and I am certain neither of us have had contact with anyone who could have survived the Games, if they are even alive.

Plus, now there is the chance that Enobaria knows what is going on, and if she does, we need to be extra careful. She could kill us all if she wanted to.

I glance out the window. The sky is grey and I am certain it's only a matter of time before the snow moves in. The summer air is gone, and I am counting down the days now that I can leave District 12. Even though we have no plan, I would rather be in Mason's company with no plan. Soon enough, Effie will show up to whisk me away to the Capitol for our Victor Tour, I just can't remember when.

I turn and take the bottle of Whisky off the table and bring it to my lips. I have long abandoned glasses. It doesn't make sense to dirty them, not when I am the only one drinking.

A knock on the door startles me from my thoughts. I lift the bottle to my lips and finish it off before wiping my mouth.

"Come in," I hear myself say. The voice is horse, and I realize I don't really remember the last time I have spoke out loud. It was probably a few days ago when I went hunting, or maybe that was a week ago. It's hard to remember.

Myers, the Peacekeeper who I do not mind, steps into the room. He gives me a small smile until he sees the empty bottle in my hand, then he frowns. I think part of him is worried about me.

"You should probably lay off that stuff. You saw what it did to Haymitch…" Myers motions to the bottle.

I shrug and place the empty glass on the desk next to me and then sit down on it. This is supposed to be a study, but I only use it to drink out of the liquor cabinet.

"Did you need something?" I ask after a moment of silence.

"Yeah. Ike sent me to remind you that Effie is going to be here tomorrow to check in…get you ready for the tour in a few weeks…" Myers says.

"That's tomorrow?" I knew it would be soon, but I didn't realize that soon.

"Well, it's the start of a few visits I think," Myers tells me.

"Great," I roll my eyes. I know Effie means well and I am eager to get out of District 12, but I know Effie will give me a hard time about my parents. She may tolerate me, but I know she cares deeply for them.

"Just…try and sober up," Myers says with a small nod.

I know he is trying to save me from some of Effie's wrath but its inevitable that tomorrow will be a long day. When Myers leave, I move to the liquor cabinet and grab the bottle labeled vodka before heading out of the office and up to my room. I think I have two sleeping pills left up there, and between those and the alcohol; I should be able to sleep the night through.


KATNISS POV

I look at myself in the mirror. The black rings under my eyes have become permanent. Sleep does not come easy in our home anymore. Not for me, not for Peeta, and not even for Galen.

It's been over two months since Emberly has returned from the Games, and to say she is damaged it putting it lightly. She has cut us off, bared any communication we have attempted to have with her. She even had Peacekeepers threaten my family, her own flesh and blood, if we did not stay away.

To say the new President Snow has effectively ruined my family is an understatement. We are destroyed.

Peeta has been having attacks again, more frequent and, recently, much longer. There are some days where I have to lock him in the spare room to keep him away from Galen and I. Galen has seen his father at his worse, and I can do nothing to keep him safe from it.

There are days when Peeta and I don't talk at all, days where we hardly acknowledge each other. Those are usually days after bad attacks. I want to comfort him, but I don't know where to even begin. I am not used to being the strong one, and even with that statement, I know I can be doing a better job. I am trying, but I have never had a way with words.

Galen has retreated as well and I realize now, in many ways, he is exactly like me, exactly like my mother. He has effectively shut the world out, and again, I don't know how to help him. Peeta was the one who saved me from myself when I was that depressed, and I don't know where to begin to help Galen.

I guess I am truly weak because I have done nothing to save my son or husband from themselves. I want to, but the burden is too much. Every attempt I have made in the past few months has failed.

I rub my face and turn the light off in the bathroom, noticing how thin my wrists are. Its true, that none of us have eaten well the past few weeks. Peeta stopped baking and I haven't been hunting too much. I tried at first, because the woods have always been my sanctuary, but the Peacekeepers made it too hard because Emberly was out there a lot.

I move into our bedroom and to the window. The sky is turning grey and I know soon the flowers will die and the snow will come. I move my eyes up the street, to Emberly's house. There are hardly any lights on inside, but I do see two Peacekeepers guarding her door. Guarding her from me.

I stare out the window a little longer before I hear the door behind me creak open. I know it is Peeta by the loud steps that fill the room.

He doesn't speak to me though and I don't push him to. I don't have to pretend to be strong in front of him and I don't expect him to pretend in front of me. I hear him climb into bed and I wait a few minutes to join him. When I do, his back is to me. He does not hold me like he used to in the Games. In fact, I am the one to wrap my arm around his shoulder, and I do feel him relax a little at my touch.


EMBERLY POV

I wake up to cold air hitting my face and a bright light. I struggle to open my eyes and immediately regret it as the sunlight streams through the window I accidently left open last night. I stretch out, finding I am still in my clothes from last night and on top of the comforter on my bed. I must have passed out.

I glance at my nightstand to see that I no longer have any sleeping pills left and the bottle of vodka is half empty.

I sigh, trying to sit up but my head is pounding from the concoction I made last night. I stumble to my feet and move to close my window, only realizing that it is nowhere near as bright as it could be. It's actually overcast outside; my eyes are just sensitive to any light at all.

I manage to get to the bathroom and into the shower. I leave the water on cold, trying to wake myself up, trying to sober myself up.

I am struggling to remember why, but I do know it was important for me to be sober today. It takes me my entire shower and a strong knock on the bathroom door to remind me.

"What?" I growl, assuming it is one of the Peacekeepers.

"Young lady! Manners!" Effie's voice comes through the door.

I quickly remember that Effie was coming to visit. That was why I needed to sober up. I sigh. I am not ready for her visit.

"Give me a minute," I say, wiping water from my face.

"I'll be out here!" Effie calls through the door.

I rolls my eyes and get out of the shower, throwing some clean clothes on and examining myself in the mirror. I hardly look at myself anymore; I am ashamed to, but today I do and I realize how awful I really look. No amount of makeup is going to fix the vacant stare or the circles under my eyes, or the fact that I have lost at least fifteen pounds. I know Effie is going to have a field day when she sees me.

I decide to get it over with and move out into my bedroom to find Effie by the window, looking around in disgust. She turns when she hears the bathroom door opened and her expression says it all.

"Emberly! Good god! You look just terrible! The room is a sight in itself, but you! What has happened to you?" Effie is now in front of my, placing her hands on my frail shoulders. I know she can easily feel my collarbone.

I shrug; I don't know what to say to her.

"Have you been eating? " Effie asks, seriously concerned.

"A little," I decide not to lie to her.

Effie sighs and looks around the room, her eyes landing on the bottle next to my bed. She looks disappointed.

"Drink does not fix anything. Haven't you learned that from Haymitch?" Effie scolds.

"It doesn't matter," I say shrugging Effie's hand off of my shoulder.

"Emberly, I am deeply concerned. This place is a disaster; you look like the walking dead…what has been going on? Have you seen your parents? What does your mother think of all of this? I can't imagine Katniss is very pleased—" Effie rambles.

"She hasn't seen this place. I haven't seen them since I got home," I tell Effie the truth, trying to gather my senses enough to act collected and cool. I know it's important to keep Effie at a distance.

Effie seems completely appalled by this revelation. "Emberly, why would you do that? Surely that is devastating for them."

I shrug, knowing the room is more then likely bugged and that this is important to sell my story on. "Because I didn't feel like it. I am just not interested in seeing them."

"Well, young lady, you better get interested because the Capitol is dying for an interview with all of you!" Effie snaps.

I nearly panic at this information because this is not something I thought of. Of course the Capitol wants an interview. How did I think I would really be able to keep my parents away from me?

I decide to change the subject. "I want to see Mason."

Effie seems to dismiss this request. "And you will in a few weeks for the Victory Tour. Right now though, we need to sort out you. You look terrible and you need to get on good terms with your parents and immediately do so."

"I don't need to be on good terms with them to do an interview," I shoot back. The truth is, I want to make this difficult for Effie. I want to keep my parents away. I want to keep my family safe.

Effie roles her eyes at me and shakes her head. "You need to clean yourself up. Pull yourself together, I will worry about getting your parents here…"

"I don't want my parents. I want Mason—" I start again.

"And you will see him soon enough. The Capitol wants to broadcast that reunion as well, so be patient. I need you to focus on your parents—" Effie says.

"I don't want anything to do with them!" I cut Effie off.

"And I don't care! And neither does the Capitol. They want to see you together, and quite frankly, you could use them more then you think!" Effie motions around my room and points to the bottle on my side table. "Whatever you are going through, your parents can help you. They have been there and I don't see cutting them off as helping you—"

"I don't care what you think. It's not your place to tell me what to do. I am pretty sure you are just my escort and you worry about the schedule, right? Anything else, unless I ask for your opinion, you don't get to give," I step toward Effie as I snap. My voice is low and dark and I can see in her eyes it scares her.

I have never really seen someone cower like this at me. It feels empowering, but also dangerous. I feel bad scaring her, but I know it's for the best. If the Capitol is listening they will know I have abandoned my judgment and my family. I want them to believe that.

It takes Effie a minute to recover but once she does she clears her throat and holds her head high. "That's correct, and so since that is my job, I will expect you to clean up, sober up, and be ready to interview along side your parents in two days time!"

Before I can retort Effie has moved out of my room leaving me blinking at an empty doorframe. I realize there is no way to get out of the interview with my parents, but there is a way to make sure they stay away for good. I need to make the interview miserable and make them stay away until I can figure out a way to get out of District 12 for good, at least until we can get a plan in place.