Refer to Chapter 1 for disclaimer. Feel free to review or comment.
Chapter 2: Meeting with President Snow
The windows of the car were darkly tinted. I tried to keep myself calm so that no one would know that I am on edge.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
I tried to fight against my fears of what was coming. It did not help that I knew that I am dead. Snow would arrange for an accident to happen while I was en route to the games. Most likely, he would arrange for the gamemakers to kill me in the games. They do that every here and then to make everyone else remember that they can do it. The last time was about ten years ago. The next time the gamemakers strike is due.
"To the research lab," he answered.
Just knowing that I had President Snow's attention caused me to shake uncontrollably. Snow's petty vengefulness had no limits. Who else would suffer? He wouldn't be contempt with watching me suffer, but with me watching those, I cared for suffering the same fate.
The car stopped underneath the building. The official helped me out as President Snow stood there. He motioned for me to come forward.
"Miss Everdeen, if you would follow me," he said with a sly grin.
I reluctantly followed him as he led me to a large room several stories up in the building. No Peacekeepers followed us as we walked through the building. Snow opened a door leading into a private office. The walls were dark grey with silver lights mounted on the walls. There was one central window in the room with a desk, and several chairs were in front. There was a clinical feel despite the abundance of light.
He sat on one side of the table while he motioned for me to sit facing him. I couldn't take the silence anymore.
"Why am I here?" I asked as I took my seat.
"Miss Everdeen, about three weeks ago, our Peacekeepers captured a thing from another country."
"What country?" I asked. In school, the teachers never taught us about places outside of Panem because it has nothing to do with coal mining. However, I always felt like there were places outside of Panem that they did not want us to know about. Knowing there were places with no mines and no President Snow could give us the hope we needed to rise against him.
"It isn't important," he snapped, "They are elves, and that is all you need to know."
"Really? Do you need them to make shoes? Elves don't exist," I said.
"They told me you were literate, but I had high hopes that you had advanced farther than children's stories. Elves do exist; however, they far more dangerous than the ones in your fairy tales. You should be thanking them because if they didn't exist, you would not exist."
"What does any of this have to do with me?"
"The very way you carry yourself reminded me of our guest. Therefore, I had your maid take one of your hairs from your hairbrush so I could do a genetic test on the two of you. You understand where I am going with this," he said reading my features. "Our guest is your father."
"My father is dead!" I yelled in defiance. "He died in a mine explosion five years ago trying to help other people get out."
"I agree that the man who raised you died in a mine explosion five years ago. But I have solid proof that he was never your father," he said as he dropped a lab report on the table. "See for yourself. I do hope you can read more than fairy tales."
I glanced at it before throwing it back at him. "I may be his daughter, but he is not my father. Where was he when Prim and I were starving in Twelve? Where was he when they pulled Prim's name in the reaping? Where was he when we were fatherless?" I instantly regretted saying this much watching Snow take pleasure in my pain. I changed the subject. "What about Prim?"
"Oh yes, your sister," he said. "You will be happy to know that she is your sister because I had her tested as well. She will be joining us shortly; she was taken into custody earlier this morning."
"You cannot do that," I yelled.
"The people of Twelve disagree. While the peacekeepers took her, they stood by and watched."
"Because they are afraid of you," I interrupted.
"That is a lesson you would be wise to learn as well. It is rude to interrupt, Miss Everdeen. Be assured; I intend to teach you that lesson so that even you will not be able to forget it," he said turning to the Peacekeepers. "Please escort her to Professor Wrinkleton now."
The peacekeepers took me down to another office. It was similar to Snow's office, only smaller. A man in a white lab coat sat behind a desk pouring over reports. He appeared like most Capitol citizens, perfected by plastic surgery and vibrantly dyed hair. He looked up as a Peacekeeper closed the door. When he saw me, he was enthusiastic.
"She seems very healthy for living in a backwater district," he said. I tried to speak up, but he would not let me get a word in edgewise. "Let me see her more closely. Oh yes, her shoulders are wide. There is more muscle than fat. I think we should take her to our guest. Don't put her in there until I have talked to her about a few things."
"Yes sir," said the guard.
An officer opened a door down the hallway, and with a hard push, they threw me inside. I turned as they relocked the door. The room was bare except for a bench against one wall. On top of it lay a green cloak, a quiver, a bow, a sword, a pair of knives, and an over-shirt that was green. My hand rubbed the material of the cloak. It was softer than anything I have touched and reminded me of a blanket. I saw the quiver and bow. I couldn't determine the wood that was used to craft them. Since the knives were identical, I uncovered one of them. The hilt was too large for my hand. I sheathed it as I moved on to the sword. I expected it to be heavy, but the blade was lighter than the ones in the training center. The over-shirt felt more like a light jacket than a shirt.
"I see that you are admiring your father's things," said the scientist as he entered the room. I did not bother to look up or talk to him. "Interesting. Interesting. It appears arrogance is genetic."
"I don't know about him, but mine comes from pure stubbornness," I answered.
He typed several numbers into a keypad, and the door opened. The main room had the same feel as the District Twelve floor in the Training Center. As the scientist followed me into the apartment-like-prison, I saw multiple cameras in the living room. He opened another door after he undid the handcuffs that bound me.
The bedroom had a lighter color on the walls than Snow's office. The only piece of furniture was a bed. There were two windows on the opposite wall. I spied 'Father' laying on top of something. Silently, I crept closer to him. His body was slender, and his arms crossed each other over his chest. He had blonde hair that went to about his chest. His eyes were open revealing clouded blue eyes. I recognized those eyes. They looked like Prim's. He wore an elegant white shirt over dark tights. He appeared to be about no more than twenty, so Snow must have lied about him being my 'Father.'
His arms slid off his chest as he closed his eyes. He was awake. Before I could react, he got off the bed. I could see something in his eyes that I did not understand as he looked me over. There were different emotions mingled in his eyes. I saw joy and love with regret and sorrow sprinkled in his eyes. He stiffened as the scientist walked through the door.
"I am sorry to disturb you, but my assistants were to alert me whenever you were awake. I will be brief. I need to see the training scores of the tributes. Your daughter is to return to the Tribute's center an hour before it starts. That will give you an hour talk with each other."
He left the room, and 'Father' relaxed. He took a deep breath as he strolled over to the windows. There was a long moment of silence before I spoke to him.
"So it is true. You are my father. Who are you? More importantly, what are you?"
"I know you despise me," he said, "and you have every right to feel this way. As your father, I have failed you too many times."
"What do you know about failure?" I spat at him.
"Elves have ways of knowing things. I remember when you were eleven, you lost your foster father. Your adoptive mother stepped out of this world emotionally for months leaving you in charge of keeping her, your sister, and you alive."
"How did you know that?" I asked clenching my fists by my side. The way he said the information felt different. Snow revelled in my pain while 'Father' seemed to share the pain. I stopped myself. Snow is lying, and this person is trying to lull me into a false sense of security to get inside my head. He is part of Snow's plan to kill me. Placidity decorated the facade he chose to wear. "Why are you so indifferent about all of this?" I yelled at him.
What he did then was unexpected. Anger flushed through his body as he glided to within an inch of me. His eyes seemed to see a thousand memories before settling on me.
"You are not the only one who knows how to mask what they think; the only thing is that I have done it far longer than you have," he snarled as two peacekeepers came to take me. I swore he whispered something that sounded like, "Gi melin, iellig."
They took me back to the garage, and the car brought me back to the Tributes' Center. Nerves ran through me. I would have to face Effie, Haymitch, Peeta, and Cinna. The car stopped. Nerves came faster. The official opened the door for me, and I got out. I walked up to the elevator and pressed the twelve button as the official that chaperoned me entered the elevator.
"Your mentor and chaperone know that you were in the research laboratory," the official said
The doors slid open as I walked out. Effie rushed towards me overjoyed. I didn't want to know what she was thinking. Everyone except Haymitch sat in the living room. I didn't want to go there, but I had to try to talk to Haymitch about what to do.
"Come, you must tell us what happened," Effie ordered as I sat down.
"Where do you want to start?" I asked.
"Start when you were performing for the gamemakers," said Cinna.
"Well, I waited for Peeta to get done before I went. I shot two arrows, and they ignored me. I got mad and shot an arrow in their direction." I stopped to hear the lecture from Effie that I was due.
"What were you thinking?" she screamed.
"I was mad," I answered.
"Oh, Haymitch," she said as Haymitch gave me a thumb's up.
"Nice shooting sweetheart," he said as he sat down. "What were their reactions when you shot the arrow?"
"They looked pretty startled," I answered.
"Startled, I bet," he asked as he started laughing.
"You may not find it funny when the gamemakers decide to take it out on all of us," said Effie as she started slipping into her usual hysterics.
"On who?" Haymitch asked. "On her, on him," he pointed to us. "I think they already have. Loosen your corset, have a drink. I would have given anything to have seen it." I smiled at his comment.
"What happened next?" asked Portia.
"An official escorted me to the research laboratory for some reason."
"You don't know what happened?" asked Haymitch.
"I don't want to discuss it right now," I answered.
"Why?" asked Peeta. "I already feel betrayed that you and Haymitch did not consult me about Snow watching you. I want to know what happened in the laboratory."
"I don't want to talk about it right now," I repeated allowing some venom to creep into my words. "Peeta, it doesn't matter at this point. After what I did, Snow is not going to allow me to win the games. I will be surprised if I make it to the arena. I need to get some fresh air," I finished as I walked up to the roof garden.
I could see the other building I was in from here. 'Father' came to mind. How could he stand there and tell me that he knows most things about me that I wouldn't mention to anyone, and do it so calmly? How could 'Father' bring up the fact that I hate him without showing the slightest bit of emotion? I slammed my fists onto the railings of the garden. He was right though. He has failed me.
"Katniss," said Haymitch as he walked up which startled me.
"Yes," I said acknowledging him.
"What did Snow tell you?" he asked.
"Why?"
"It is my job to keep you alive in the games."
"I don't know what is going to happen now," I said.
"What?" Haymitch asked.
"I don't want to discuss it."
"Fine," said Haymitch.
"What?"
"I can't get you to talk about it if you don't want you, sweetheart," Haymitch said. "But I had to ask to keep Effie off my case."
"It is almost time," said Effie as she walked up to us. "Did you get out of her what happened?"
"No," Haymitch answered solemnly. Effie led us back to the living room. I sat down silently.
Ceaser went through and said the names of the tributes and their score from training. When he announced their name, their picture came up. So far, the careers were scoring the best. I was not surprised by it.
"Peeta Mallark," Ceaser said, "an eight. Katniss Everdeen, "he paused before speaking again, "an eleven." I looked up in shock.
I walked up to the roof garden after the TV went blank. I saw the research facility. Most likely I would be stuck with him for the rest of my life.
The gentle dawn of the sky slowly peaked its way over the horizon. I sat in the living room. The sun rose over the buildings in the Capital as I waited for everyone else to wake up. It no longer made a difference to me what happens. It doesn't matter.
I walked back to my room as an Avox servant brought me a stack of clothes with a note on top of them. I discarded the letter to look at the clothes. They were softer and more fitted to my body than what I donned in District Twelve. I set the clothes down to open the note.
"To the attention of Miss Everdeen," I read, "You are to meet your father in the training area early in the morning." I read to the bottom to see that Snow sent the note. I threw it away and set the clothes on the table. I moved my dark hair behind my ears. They were his which made me sneer. My ears came to a gentle point distinguishing me from anyone else, though they were a tad bit longer, they still resembled 'Father's.'
I decided to put the clothes on. I had to meet 'Father' in a few minutes with or without my consent. The sleeves, hood, and top shoulder part were an orange color. The bodice and skirt were a purplish color. Underneath the dress, I wore a pair of tights. The leather boots were hard and sturdy.
I was aware that I am the only one awake at this point. I went outside to the balcony where Avoxes were preparing breakfast. I barely ate the food on my plate. After five minutes, I pushed my plate aside and ran to the elevator to go to the training room. The sooner I go, the sooner I can come back. I brushed into Effie without realizing it.
"Manners," I heard her mutter. Haymitch and her will have all the peace to work with Peeta to prepare him for the interviews tomorrow.
The doors of the elevator opened, and no one was in the room. The weapons were still in place, so I walked over to the archery station and picked up one of the bows. I strung an arrow and aimed it at the target. I took a deep breath and released it. Bung! The impact echoed in the room. The arrow stuck in the bullseye of the goal. The sound echoed throughout the room. I took another one and fitted it to the bow. I brought it back to my cheek again. I heard footsteps behind me. I didn't bother turning around to see who it was. I took another deep breath, but something caught me off guard. The arrow split the last one I previously fired. I turned around to see who shot it.
Behind me, 'Father' stood with one of the training bows in his hand. I stiffened as he walked towards me. My eyes trailed him not letting him out of my sight. He turned to gaze at the bows.
"Why are you here?" I asked him walking back to where I picked up my bow fiddling with it before putting it up.
"I was brought here, for what purpose I do not know," he answered turning his head towards me then switching back to whatever he was doing. "As long as you and I are here together, I would like to help you."
"Why do you now come here to be a father after who knows how long?" Something in my voice caused him to turn around.
"Do not be so quick to deal judgment on me," he sneered as he looked me in the eye, "because you do not know what you speak. I know that I have failed you as I failed to find you before, but I will not fail you again."
"Leave me alone then," I shouted, "I don't want you in my life."
"At one point you did," he whispered. "I remember when I held you for the first time. You were innocent, and you would burrow yourself into my chest refusing to allow me to put you down."
"That is irrelevant," I snapped.
"I can help you in ways that you couldn't believe," he offered to me.
"I don't want your help!" I snapped.
"At some point, you might, and I will keep my promise to you."
