Katniss rubbed her bare arms, trying to ignore the cool bite of the nightly wind against her skin as she gazed into the distance. She was on the rooftop again, and all she could think about was the other Victors, having a private meeting several floors down, without her. For the first time, she actually felt rejected, and the least she could say was that it wasn't pleasant.

Is that how the others had felt when she'd arrived at Victory Hall, throwing their offers of friendship back in their faces? Is that how Peeta had felt when she'd refused to even say hello in the morning?

The door to the rooftop opened and she frowned into the distance. Whoever it was, now was not the time. The humiliation still made her cheeks burn.

She heard calm, collected steps, and someone pulled up beside her. She'd planned on ignoring them, but something- a scent- made her eyes widen and her heart beat in fear. Her head snapped to the side as she inhaled a whiff of roses.

President Snow was smiling down at her, eyes twinkling but face cold.

She took a step back, glancing around. What was he doing here, on the Hall rooftop, when her fellow Victors were having a private meeting in the Arena Room? She saw him sometimes at the parties she was forced to attend, but this was entirely different.

"Miss Everdeen," he said gracefully. "Fine evening, wouldn't you say? Although maybe a bit too chilly to be spending the evening outdoors in such clothing."

His eyes lurked briefly over her bare arms as she stared at him.

"Now, Miss Everdeen," he tutted after a short silence. "I believe your seclusion within Victory Hall has not made you forget about elementary politeness."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Good evening, President Snow," she answered carefully. He smiled.

"There you go," he said, bringing a silk handkerchief to his mouth. She caught another whiff of roses, and it sickened her to the core. "I don't think I've ever had the opportunity to congratulate you, Miss Everdeen. Your clients are most content with your services. And that, in turn, makes me most content."

She didn't know what to say, so she kept her mouth shut.

"Now," Snow straightened himself, turning to look at her. "You and I are old friends, are we not, Miss Everdeen?"

She shivered at that. There was no mistaking the threat in his cold blue eyes.

"Friends," she replied in a clipped tone. "Is that what this is called these days?"

He chuckled, wiping his mouth again.

"So much better than enemies, wouldn't you agree?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I like to consider us friends, indeed. Because friends have nothing to hide from each other, do they, my dear?"

She shivered again. The stench of roses was overwhelming.

"What are you doing here?" she asked bluntly, ignoring his appraising glance.

"I don't believe that I have to answer to you," he smiled. "I am the President of Panem, dear girl. My comings and goings are as I please. And, after all, I like to think of politics as business. Isn't it natural for a businessman to make certain that his personal interests are cared for?"

She squared her shoulders.

"I would have thought that the bugs within the Hall told you all you need to know about your personal interests, sir," she replied coldly. "I fail to see the necessity of your visit."

"Actually, I was seeing dear Miss Mason back home," he corrected with a sharp grin. "It seems that her arrest was a...mistake. I am quite unhappy with my Chief Peacekeeper at this time."

Fully aware that she was treading dangerous waters, Katniss bit her lip.

"Whatever your information was, sir, I trust that her arrest was indeed a mistake."

"Ah, Miss Everdeen...quite the cautious creature, aren't you?" He chuckled again, bringing his handkerchief to his lips once more. "But you do know why she was arrested in the first place, don't you, my dear?"

Katniss shook her head truthfully.

"I don't."

"Now, Miss Everdeen...remember when I visited your lovely home before your Victory Tour? I recall rather clearly that we'd both agreed to never lie to each other."

The threat hung in the air, thick and poisonous, and Katniss swallowed with great difficulty. They were touching onto the reason for his visit, she knew as much, and just like four years ago, she felt her stomach twist in fear. She refused to let it show, however, and kept her face carefully neutral.

"We did indeed."

"Good," Snow clapped his hands together, visibly delighted with her answer, and she flinched. "Now, my dear girl...Johanna Mason refused to give up anything. I had no choice but to release her to Victory Hall. She is, after all, one of my best employees...her clients were asking after her. Would be a shame to deprive myself of her earnings whilst I know...we both know, you and I...that deep down, she is not responsible for any of this, don't we?"

Katniss frowned.

"I don't understand, sir-"

"Do not lie to me!" he screamed, and she jumped in her skin, eyes wide. As fast as his anger had appeared, it evaporated, leaving him as cool and collected as usual. "The districts, Miss Everdeen, the districts. Tell me what you know."

"I haven't stepped foot out of the Capitol in four years," she replied, confused.

"Do not play me for a fool, girl," he sneered, all pretense at playing nice gone. "You've been plotting with the rebels, haven't you?"

"The...the rebels? Sir, I-"

"Miss Everdeen," he interrupted, his green, snake-like eyes raking over her face agressively. "Do you remember, last time we had a little chat?"

"In Victory Village," she deadpanned, trying to quell the rising anger and fear in her chest. "Before the Tour."

"Yes, Miss Everdeen. And what did I ask you at the time?"

"To pretend to be in love with Peeta, sir..."

"No, girl," he snapped, eyes narrowing. "I asked you to convince the entire country that you were in love with the boy. I asked you to quell the uprisings in the districts, which was only fair given that your actions had led to said uprisings in the first place. And yet, four years later, Miss Everdeen, the districts haven't stopped opposing the Capitol...and I find that as time goes by, more and more of the districts are willing to join the movement."

Her heart missed a beat.

"Do not act surprised," Snow commanded, voice harsh. "I know that you're a better actress than you pretend to be, Miss Everdeen, and that you've got your fellow Victors fooled into believing that you're nothing but obedient to the Capitol. You and I know different, however..." He dabbed at the corner of his mouth again, and when he spoke, his breath had a sharp iron tang to it. "Now, the uprisings that you failed to nip in the bud four years ago are worsening. And this is not only your fault, my dear, but I also believe that you have had your part to play. Haven't you?"

"I don't under-"

"You've been participating in the rebel's efforts, haven't you girl? You've been coaxing the districts into rebellion through your admirers out there. How many direct orders have you given? What are those orders, exactly, and, before you dare try to lie, Miss Everdeen, how many people will have to die before you give me the information I want?"

She exploded then.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she hissed. "I had no idea the districts were still trying to rebel. I've done everything you said. I joined Victory Hall to protect my family, not to incite rebellion! You have me on tape and camera all day, every day. You know that I don't even talk to anyone on the outside, much less drive them to-"

"Ah, Miss Everdeen," he interrupted, mouth tight. "You'd do well to watch your tongue. I am not one of the many fools prepared to be bullied by the Mockingjay. And we both know that the prettiest roses can hide the most prickly thorns."

She stared at him, taking in his malevolent expression.

"I haven't done anything," she repeated, eyes narrow.

"Ah, my dear girl, how I hoped it wouldn't come to this," President Snow sighed, his threatening smirk showing that he had hoped the exact opposite. He took a step back and raised his voice. "Please bring Miss Everdeen to the Mansion's cells. She is to be interrogated to the extent of our capacity in such matters."

Katniss turned swiftly as several Peacekeepers emerged from the darkness near the elevator. Suddenly, she realized why Snow was here- to taunt her. To make the Mockingjay pay for inciting a rebellion. And she knew what interrogation meant, especially when it happened in the Mansion.

"Remind them that I am the Girl on Fire and that I will not hesitate to kill them," she spat.

"Miss Everdeen," Snow shook his head tiredly. "You are in no position to threaten anyone. For each Peacekeeper that you attack, ten children from District 12 will be executed. I'd hate to have to keep you in line in such a fashion. Do not let innocent babe's lives go to waste."

Katniss felt her blood run cold and bit her lip to remain calm, even as the Peacekeepers advanced on her. Two of them grabbed her arms, twisting them painfully in her back, and she flinched as her wrists were suddenly kissed by cold metal as they were handcuffed behind her. She pulled on her restraints to no avail, and President Snow stepped in front of her, fingering a white rose in the pocket of his smartly-tailored black suit jacket.

"Miss Mason didn't break," he smiled demurely, "but I am most certain you will. And when you do, I promise you this, Miss Everdeen- as a reward for your cooperation, your death will be most quick and painless."

Then he was gone, disappearing into the elevator with four Peacekeepers as she felt her chest rise and fall way too fast, staring after him. Eight Peacekeepers remained with her, and as soon as the elevator doors opened again, they bundled her in, surrounding her to the point she felt she wouldn't be able to breathe anymore.

She was surprised when the doors opened on the 10th floor, and realized why when she saw Enobaria emerge from her bedroom down the long corridor, frowning at the sudden noise. Enobaria's eyes widened in panic, and Katniss knew that this was a display of power, meant to remind the other Victors of what happened when Snow believed that they were opposing the Capitol. Enobaria vanished into the District Room, and Katniss heard her shout as she was dragged down the corridor. Then Finnick, Peeta and Johanna were suddenly in the corridor, faces deadly serious.

"What is the meaning of this?" Finnick growled, eyeing the Peacekeepers with barely concealed hatred.

"Move, boy," one of the Peacekeepers barked, fingers curling around his gun. "Orders of President Snow."

"Is she being arrested?"

"Course not, boy," the Peacekeeper lied with a chuckle. "The President requires Miss Everdeen's charms for the night."

Johanna's hand landed on Peeta's shoulder as he visibly tensed, and she was muttering something in his ear, staring into Katniss' face. Peeta seemed frozen, listening intently, but his gaze was flickering over the group. Despite the situation, Katniss felt her belly lurch at the idea of Johanna's proximity with her co-Victor. Then Gloss appeared from the District Room all of a sudden, and his strong, large hands were on Peeta's arms as he dragged him back into the room and away from Katniss. She wanted to scream at Peeta to come back, to help her, but that would only land him in trouble.

She had no right to do so.

Finnick glanced over his shoulder as the same Peacekeeper ordered him to move again, his ocean-coloured eyes following Peeta, and then he turned to look at Katniss, lips pursed. He wasn't laughing now, as he usually was. For the first time, Katniss realized that she was looking at the fourteen-year-old who had won his Games by killing countless others. She was looking at a skilled assassin. And right now, his lethal intentions seemed directed at the Peacekeepers. Something was about to go terribly wrong, she felt it deep in her gut- and despite that, she was touched at the idea of Finnick Odair, prankster extraordinaire, willing to put his safety on the line for a girl who had showed him nothing but cool contempt for four years. Respect and a touch of awe bloomed through her chest, and she managed to stand straighter, if only for a moment.

"Finnick," she murmured, and his eyes caught her gaze. "Please."

It sounded like begging, and it was. Finnick's eyes narrowed at her slightly, as though he was wondering if she really knew what she was asking, and she nodded faintly. With a defeated sigh, and a last hateful glance at the Peacekeepers, he moved aside. She tried to smile reassuringly at him but her mouth refused to obey, and she let the Peacekeepers march her to the elevator at the other end of the corridor. She turned around as they shoved her into the elevator once again, and stared ahead. Finnick was still there, fists clenched, and Annie had joined him, her hand on his arm as she whispered something. Before the doors closed, she noticed Cashmere and Enobaria joining them as well, eyes haunted.

They all knew as well as she did what was going to happen to her now. She knew she wouldn't see them again, although they probably thought that, just like Johanna, she'd return in a couple of days. But she wasn't going to sell her body to President Snow, though. She was going to be tortured and killed.

The doors closed and she felt the elevator plummet downwards to her death.