Gulliver POV
"This isn't going to work," I whispered to Casella. "We need some footage of the girl and the boy to tell the parents that they are here."
Casella stared at me, and then nodded.
She grabbed the camera from her backpack as I told the children what to do. The girl seemed terrified, but the boy seemed okay, almost comfortable.
Just like the parents, I thought.
I whipped out the phone and called Plutarch to broadcast the video live. He seemed reluctant, but agreed, as it would make for good television.
"In five, four, three, two, and one," Casella said, and then pointed to the girl and the boy.
Katniss POV
"Peeta, when do you think Timmy will come back?"
"Soon," he promised. Timmy had been gone for a little more than an hour. Suddenly, the TV flickered to life.
The screen read, MANDATORY VIEWING.
We had no choice but to plop down on the couch and stare at the screen. After those two words disappeared, on came the face of Claudius Templesmith.
"Today, live from the train heading towards the Capitol, we bring you a message brought to you from none other than former President Snow's nephew."
Peeta and I exchanged a glance.
The screen changed to show a man with slightly puffy lips, pale skin, and carrying, not a rose, but a tulip.
"We have two very important people here. We want to send a message to all of the people in 12."
I grasped Peeta's hand.
The camera changed to reveal none other than our two children, Glory and Timmy.
I ran over to the television and touched their faces, or rather the screen. As the reality sank in, I fell to my knees. Peeta joined me, silently weeping.
"Mother, Father," Glory began. "We need you to know that we are okay, um…"
"We're fine and we don't need you to worry," Timmy said, his small voice radiating confidence. I sobbed out loud.
In the background, we could hear someone saying "Cut!"
I looked to Peeta, my eyes searching his downcast ones. "Peeta," I choked out. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have sent Timmy out there. I'm sorry." My eyes started tearing up again.
"No! It's completely my fault. If only I hadn't had that stupid flashback!" he shouted.
"You can't control those," I said to him, tilting his chin up so he was looking into my eyes.
We took a few deep breaths and he pulled me into his arms. We could only hope for a miracle.
Glory POV
When we arrived at the Capitol, it was a magnificent site. 12 was getting better, but it was nowhere near the beauty of the Capitol.
Timmy started fidgeting around, bouncing and giggling. Perhaps he was just giddy at being able to see the Capitol for the first time. Or perhaps he was trying to get other people's attention. Everyone would have seen the video on television. I joined him, singing a few tunes I learned from Mother.
I could tell that our captors soon learned of our intentions, or at least mine, because they took out the cage again and shoved us inside.
"You better not make a sound," the man hissed. He reeked of roses. It was starting to make me sick.
He brought us to a fancy apartment. I couldn't help but giggle at the funny Capitol accents, and I saw Timmy do the same too.
When he finally took us out of the cage, we were mesmerized. There were chandeliers, beautiful tapestry, and soft, velvety carpet.
The man pushed us to a dull gray room with a stiff mattress.
"This," he gestured to the room, "is where you will stay for the next couple of days.
"You will eat bread and drink water, nothing else. We want you to look vulnerable."
We nodded.
"Wait," I called to the man as he started to leave. "The girl promised us rich food and delicious drinks," I lied.
"I'm sorry, my name is Gulliver and the girl's name is Casella." Gulliver said. "Did she really promise you food and drinks?"
I nodded and poked Timmy until he nodded too.
His eyes flashed. "We'll see about that."
"Um… Where's the bathroom?" I asked him.
Gulliver pointed to the room next to ours.
I nodded, and then proceeded to take Timmy to the bathroom with me.
"I'm sure that he doesn't need to go," Gulliver said, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"She gets scared in new places," Timmy said, gripping onto my hand.
Gulliver nodded. "Don't try anything."
"We won't," I promised.
I led Timmy into the bathroom. There I noticed a window. I fidgeted with the lock until I got it open.
"What are you doing?" Timmy asked.
I looked at him, my eyes shining. "Getting out of here."
"It's a four story fall. If we jump, we're going to die."
"Look at me, Timmy," I said. He looked into my eyes. "We're going to die anyways. If we don't make it, at least we tried to escape."
He nodded. We positioned ourselves so that if we took one more step, we would be flailing through the air.
Just as we were about to jump, the door swung open. "Going somewhere?" Gulliver asked.
He advanced towards us.
"Jump!" I urged Timmy. We held hands, and then leapt out the window. For a few seconds, we were airborne. We were flying, soaring through the sky.
And then we fell.