Chapter 9: Three of us

Xxx

PLUTARCH

"No…no no no no no!"

"Sir? What do we do?"

"Ah, nothing. Wait, she can't have broken through, just wait. It's a glitch, just a glitch I'll be right back"

But I wouldn't be back I took out my cell and hit 'send'

'Plan B. Now.'

I was sweating. People were running. I had to stay calm, act normal, act like this was just a small hindrance to the games when In fact I knew, this was the end of them. That was it. It was beginning.

I had exactly 30 seconds to be on that hovercraft and get the hell out of here.

Xxx

HAYMITCH

'Plan B. Now'

Message received. I'd already made my way to the craft as soon as the arrow had struck. God dammit Katniss. Why was she so unpredictable! Coin would be furious. Plan B was never meant to be.

Plan B was to fuck everything and risk death to all of us JUST to get her the hell out of there.

Suddenly it hit me.

Effie.

She should have been here by now. Where was she? I couldn't leave without her.

"Haymitch? What's stalling us? we should be in the air by now" Gale Hawthorne stepped into the pilot bay "The dome! It's crumbling we have another way in, straight through the top, COME ON!" He pushed me aside and started to hit the controls

"No!" I pulled his hands away "not without Effie!"

"Effie?!"

Gales face twisted in disbelief "are you fucking crazy Haymitch? There's no time!" He gripped at my shirt in anger. I knew he was right but I couldn't do it. I couldn't leave her.

His cell rang and I heard Plutarch voice spitting down the line

"Why is your craft still stationed!? There coming! Move!" I heard him yell

"Haymitch won't go with out Effie! He's gonna kill us all!" Gale spat and I was shaking. I was ruining everything but I couldn't do it.

"Effie's here, with me. We had no time so I took her with me, were on our way to 13 right now! Get your asses moving we're already out I time!" I heard him say and then he hung up

"You heard him Haymitch, she's safe! Move!" Gale yelled and pushed me towards the controls

"She's there? With Plutarch?"

"Yes! I could hear her shouting for you in the background" he said calmly and kept his eyes on mine. I studied them. For all I knew this boy could lie to me easily but Plutarch wouldn't, I know he wouldn't. Not after knowing what she meant to me

"Ok. Let's do this"

Xxxx

EFFIE

The screen was still black I was so confused. What was going on? Was this part of the plan? Was it a new plan? What if it wasnt? How would they get her out? What would happen to the other victors?

I kissed the top of Cinnas head.

His breathing had shallowed and he still wasn't fully concious. A squint now and again but his chest was soft and his breath was gargled. Broken ribs, pierced lungs, a broken spine? He was limp and he was dying but I wouldn't let go. There was nothing I could do to ease his pain but if I could do anything at all I could hold him close and whisper in his ear that everything was going to be ok.

As the tears spilled down my cheeks and as I rocked us both back and forth on the cold cement floor I thought of Haymitch. Would they get her out in time? Would he be safe? But, would he be looking for me?

It broke my heart to think so. To think that he might put them all in jeopardy just to sit and wait for something that was never going to happen. I was never going to be coming. I was never going to see him again and he would never know just how much I loved him right now. In this moment. As I sat and waited for my death. The only thing that kept me focused was remembering his kiss, his affection towards me. As cruel and as cold as I had always been, he still found the goodness in me enough to love me back. If indeed he did.

I would pretend that he really did.

It made me brave enough to die, knowing that someone would miss me when I was gone.

I heard the sound of hard boots heading towards the door.

I held Cinna closer, knowing what was about to come. I didn't realise it until they had snatched us apart and dragged me out once more by the hair that he in fact was already dead.

"Goodbye my friend" I cried but it was barely a whisper. It was then that a sharp strike to the back of my neck sent me into a comfortable painless darkness for a much needed moment.