Chapter 2

"Mommy?" I heard Willow whimper. I pulled myself up from the ground and crawled over to her.

"It's alright baby." I murmured into her hair. "We're safe here." Where here was exactly, I had no idea. The hovercraft was still whizzing through the air and the blacked out windows meant it was impossible to see where we were going.

"Peeta?" He came over to me almost immediately, carrying Rye in his arms. We huddled up in the corner while I tried to adjust my eyes to the dim orange lighting. I could see Haymitch sitting on the other side of the hovercraft, staring at me, but I refused to make eye contact. He knew who they were, and had people on hand to rescue us from them, so why hadn't he told me about it? If he had told me we could have left earlier, and prevented my children from having to experience that. He knows how much I hate being left out of things.

I turned my attention to the weapons hung on the wall of the hovercraft. I stood up and walked over to them, in awe of the perfectly crafted blades and the intricately designed handles. Like the weapons in the cornucopia. I almost jumped at the memory. I hadn't thought about that for years. I'd pushed all memories from both hunger games and the war with President Snow to the back of my mind and have kept it there ever since. Well until now.

I felt the bubble of panic that I regularly feel since becoming a mother rise in my chest. I started struggling to breathe as the blacked out windows refused to let me see anything.

"Where are we going?" I asked quietly.

"To the arena." A voice inside my head said.

"Where are we going!" I asked louder.

"To your death." It replied.

"Where are we going!" I screamed. I turned my back on the wall of weapons and looked at Haymitch. "Where are we going! Who are these people?" I could feel tears prickling at the back of my eyes. The hovercraft seemed to do nothing but remind me of what I wanted to forget.

"Katniss." I turned to the woman who had appeared at the end of the hovercraft. I knew this woman. Her bedraggled dark hair hung down to her waist and her green eyes shone under the orange lights.

"Annie?" I questioned. A friendly smile appeared on her face and she rushed forward to embrace me, keeping her arms wrapped around me for longer than necessary. She released me but kept her hands on my shoulders.

"We were expecting you all a month ago." She said, serious now. I heard Haymitch standing awkwardly behind us.

"That may be my fault." He said.

"Haymitch, you stupid, drunken old man!" I sneered.

"Hey, I did what I thought was best."

"And look how that turned out!"

"Katniss, calm down" Peeta interrupted, "We're all fine now." He turned to Annie, "Hey Annie." They hugged and grinned at each other.

"Are these your children?" She exclaimed. Willow and Rye stared open mouthed at the beautiful woman in front of them.

"Yeah, Willow, Rye, come and meet Annie!" Peeta beckoned at them to come over. They stood and Willow took her younger brothers hand. Annie knelt down and greeted both of them.

"How old are you two?" she questioned

"I'm ten," Willow replied, "And Rye's 7." Annie stood up and looked at me.

"She looks like Prim." She stated. Peeta slipped his hand into mine.

"I know."

"Who's Prim?" Willow asked. I could sense Peeta trying to think of a reply.

"Nobody." I said, turning back to Annie. "Would you like to explain to me why President Snow's granddaughter is trying to kill us?"

Annie let out a long sigh and gestured that we all sit back down on the hard floor.

"Jasper, please bring the letter." A young man strode in, a piece of crisp white paper in his hand. "Everyone," Annie continued, "This is my son Jasper." I heard Peeta gasp next to me as the man looked around. He had the same bronze coloured hair as Finnick and stood with the same almost arrogant stance. He handed Annie the letter and sat down next to her, crossing his long legs.

"Okay, here we go." She started.

"To those whom it may concern,

I am writing on behalf of Coraline Snow, granddaughter of the late President Snow, and leader of Contra Avis."

"Contra Avis?" I interrupted

"It's basically the 'Anti Mockingjay' group." Jasper said. Even his voice sounded like Finnick, I observed.

"Yes," Annie said, "Now let me continue,

We would like to inform those who were involved with the second uprising, or who were/are involved with Miss Katniss Everdeen, that we are coming. We will restore order to Panem, and Coraline Snow will take position as head of state. We will bring back The Hunger Games, as a reminder that we will never be beaten. Prepare yourself, for we are coming." Everyone was silent as they digested what they'd just heard. Haymitch was the first to break the silence.

"Looks like the Mockingjay will have to fly once more."