Chapter 20
Word travels fast inside the mountain. After only a couple of hours it seemed like everyone discovered that Lyme was alive. The reaction was instantaneous. Countless men and women came forward volunteering to help rescue their lost commander. And before long we had an army ready to fight its way through District 2.
Alongside Peeta, I head back for the cobalt mine leading hundreds of men and women, who have emptied from the mountain. About halfway there a group of sixty or so diverges from the rest to make their way to the old Mayor's house. I had told the commanding officers back in the mountain how the underground prison is within a tunnel that connects both the mine and the house. It was their idea to attack from both sides, cutting off Tiberius and his men from all exits.
A short distance ahead I recognize the spot where Peeta attacked Madge and threw her to the ground. We're here. Peering out a little further into the woods I see it. The very place where Peeta and I fled for our lives just earlier today. From the outside it looks so deceptively innocent and unprotected. But I know better. I know what lies beneath the surface of that mine.
The first group of soldiers sweeps through the area before disappearing into the cavern like entrance. Peeta and I are to lead the second group. But first we must wait for the signal. Five minutes go by surrounded by the tranquil silence of the woods. However, every so often I think I hear echoes of gunfire coming from that mine. Still we wait. Another ten minutes go by, and finally one of our men returns to let us know that the coast is clear. It's time to make our move.
Without delay we race ahead leading the second group of soldiers through the darkness and into the underground tunnels. Pausing slightly I try to find my bearings. We ran so quickly down here the first time. I hadn't realized just how many prisoners there were. Passing by cell after cell I think back to when I had fallen. But where had I fallen?
Carefully I scan the ground searching for the earpiece that I lost when I fell. That's when I hear her voice.
"Katniss."
Trapped behind the bars of the nearest cell is a barely recognizable Commander Lyme. Her face covered in dirt and bruises. Her left eye is practically swollen shut and she has a deep gash along the right side of her face.
I call out to the others. "She's here! I found her!"
Rebels swarm all around me. A couple of them blast a hole through the lock on Lyme's cell. Lyme stands, steadying herself before emerging from her former confines. As she does so I hear a voice of one of the soldiers. "Alright, we have the package and the tunnels are secure. Let's get her out of here."
"What about the others?" I ask pointing to the women in the surrounding cells.
The man looks to me and then to Lyme.
"We are getting every last one of them out of this hell and back to the mountain," Lyme responds defiantly.
The man nods. "Yes commander."
Instantaneously every cell around me is blasted open. Then the rebel soldiers scatter moving up and down the hallway to release each and every prisoner.
That's when I realize. Livia and Henley. Are they here?
I bolt down through the tunnel calling their names, scanning all the faces of the fleeing prisoners. A couple of times I nearly trip over the bodies of dead peacekeepers. Undoubtedly the prison guards.
Finally I reach the end of the tunnel. No more cells. No more prisoners. And no Henley or Livia.
Just ahead of me I find the steel door. The very one that Peeta and I used to escape from the Mayor's house into the tunnels. Tightly I grip the handle, clinging to the hope of finding Henley and Livia. If they are here, then they may still be in the house.
Carefully I open the door and enter the room where Tiberius tried to drug us. It looks untouched. No trace left that any of us were here. Even the place where Faust bled out has been scrubbed clean. Exiting the room I begin my search through the rest of the house. Tiberius must have had men stationed here waiting for us. Their bodies are now scattered throughout, thanks to our soldiers who have now secured the mansion.
I check the basement, then the first and second floors. There's no one left. "They're gone," I say to myself quietly.
"Who's gone?"
It's Commander Lyme. She must have followed me through the tunnels.
"Livia Thorne and Henley Townsend," I answer. "Tiberius took them."
"What were you all doing with him to begin with?" Lyme questions.
"It was a set up. We were led here by a man named Faust along with Commander Paylor," I begin to explain.
Somewhat surprised, Lyme cuts me off. "Commander Paylor is here? In District 2?"
"Yes," I clarify. "We didn't realize that it was Tiberius who betrayed you all the first time. He told everyone that you were the traitor."
Lyme nods quickly in acknowledgement. "Do you know where Paylor is now?"
"Last time I spoke with Haymitch they were all held up in an old steel refinery on the other side of town," I answer.
I can tell Lyme is thinking it over carefully. "I know the place. C'mon let's go. Follow me."
Commander Lyme leads the way back down into the tunnels. About halfway to the cell block we run into Peeta. He seems a little agitated that I took off, but still relieved that I'm alright. As we near the first few cells I notice a large group of our soldiers waiting for us.
"What are our orders Commander?"
Lyme does not hesitate. "We will make certain that all of Tiberius' prisoners safely arrive to the mountain. Then I want every soldier armed and ready to fight. Tonight we take back the District."
This catches the soldier off guard. "Tonight? Are you sure-"
"Yes I'm sure," Lyme interjects firmly. "We already let down Commander Paylor's people once before. We will not do it again. Understood?"
"Yes Commander."
By nightfall we get everyone back to the mountain. Commander Lyme waits with Peeta and I just outside the stone slab passage while the armed rebel forces appear to multiply every ten minutes.
"You really think the rebels can take District 2 back?" I ask Lyme.
"We wouldn't be standing here right now if I didn't believe that was possible," Lyme answers swiftly. "Besides, Tiberius won't see it coming if we strike now. He'll be vulnerable."
I can't help thinking what will happen to Henley and Livia during all of this. Has he taken them prisoner like he did with Lyme? Or has he killed them already?
Concerned with my own haunting questions I turn to Lyme. "Do you think they could still be alive?"
Though I don't specify, Lyme realizes who I'm referring to right away. "Livia will be fine," Lyme reassures. "If you know her like I do, then you'll know she's tough to break. Henley on the other hand… He's the one we should be worried about."
"What do mean?" I ask; a tinge of panic straining through my words.
Lyme takes a deep breath as if trying to keep her emotions from surfacing. "I've learned a lot about Tiberius over the years. His tactics. His habits. His nature." Lyme chooses her words very cautiously, which only makes me worry more. "Tiberius likes to have fun with his women before he locks them away. The men… Well one way or another he doesn't let live very long. At most maybe a couple of days if they have information or are wanted by the Capitol."
My heart sinks deep into my chest. I'm disgusted, now that I realize why the underground prison was filled with only women. But at the same time I'm terrified at the suggestion that Tiberius could have killed Henley already.
Before I have any more time to dwell on the horrific possibilities the last squadron of rebel infantry exits the mountain. Glancing around there is definitely upwards of a thousand soldiers occupying the forest. I don't know if it's enough to take the whole district, but it's definitely enough to take the central village.
Lyme takes the lead. Dividing her forces she sends them out in every possible direction in order to surround the entire village. I stick with Lyme; Peeta following right behind me. Finally we stop at the edge of the woods staying hidden in the tree line. On Lyme's signal we move forward into the town preparing to strike.
No one is here. The streets are vacant like they were the first time we entered this town with Commander Paylor. The only difference now is that I can hear people cheering. And the commotion is coming from the square.
As we venture in further towards the center of town our troops divvy up again. I stick close to Lyme, Peeta and a group of six other soldiers. Together we sneak into a tall building at the end of the street, nearest to all the excitement. Thankfully it's deserted; the original occupants most likely crowding the District 2 square along with the rest of the town. Once inside we take the stairs all the way up to the rooftop, giving us the perfect vantage point of what's happening.
I peer over the edge of the roof. There's no more construction. The stage is finished. And in the center of it all is Tiberius, who is rousing and electrifying the audience before him.
Attached to the side of the stage is an additional platform built alongside a wooden pillar, which is fastened with rope. Horrified I realize the stage was never created for Snow. It was created for executions. In fact at this very moment Tiberius already has someone fashioned with the noose ready to be put to death.
In the square a giant mob of people nearly explodes, applauding for the man on stage to be hung. I can feel there disgusting shouts of approval echo through the air and fall into the pit of my stomach.
Then there's the man on stage. The one awaiting his execution. It's Henley.
End of Chapter 20
M. Cooper Jinks