A/N: Sorry I didn't get this up last night, I went to see the new Avenger's movie! It was awesome, but we got back so late I forgot about posting this chapter. So I hope it was worth the wait and that you all enjoy!:) I read this over about three or four times, so I don't think there are any errors, but if there is, a message would be appreciated so I can fix it. Thanks!:)

Special thanks to those who favorite and reviewed. My wonderful reviewers: Pinklove21, Lorelei Eve, IronFeyFreak, Tara, ana001d, Opaque Vision, literarylesbian37, iris129, crytearofsilver, & GottaLoveThis.


[9.] Upon returning to the Weaponry room with Gale, I am glad to see Beetee and Johanna are both still in the room, and are comparing arrows. That's a good sign. Johanna informs me Beetee is willing to help. We fill in Beetee and Gale with all the details we went over last night. Gale has a few suggestions, and Beetee will have to work on the arrows all night, but it's really looking like we might actually pull this off.

After discussing the plan with Johanna, Gale, and Beetee for hours, I go to the library to look at the1985-2029 History book. I want to find out the answers to the questions I've been thinking about all day. I open to the book to the page I marked and start reading eagerly. It was the rebels, like us, who set off the bombs, and hid away, those who were warned in time. Before I can read more, and believe me I want to, I hear footsteps approaching. Not just one, many. I have a feeling this is bad. I mark the page again, and quickly shut it and put it back. I grab a random book off a different shelf and sit down at the table again, opening it to the middle as though I've been reading it for a while. Not a moment later, four soldiers in Coin's gray uniforms march in the library and inform me I am wanted by Coin for instructions on Snow's execution ceremony. I didn't realize there was going to be a whole ceremony for this. I should have expected it, we are in the Capitol.

I am led by two of the soldiers out of the mansion, while the other two soldiers disappear. Our destination is the City Circle, which is where the execution will take place in two days. Coin, Plutarch, Fulvia, and some others from District 13 I can't remember the names of, are deep in discussion pointing this way and that way probably planning who will sit where to have the best view of Snow's death. They don't notice we've entered the Circle until one of the soldiers who escorted me clears his throat and the group stop talking and look over.

"Katniss, there you are," Coin says with a forced smile. She's not an overly friendly person normally, but it's no secret that Coin doesn't really like me. "We wanted you to hear the plans for Saturday so that you can prepare a few words to say before exterminating Snow."

What? Since when does an executioner give a speech to a criminal? Isn't all the talking supposed to be done with by now? If anything, Snow should be the one who gets to say a few last words, not me. "I have to speak?" I don't try to hide the nerves in my voice. Everyone knows I'm not good at speaking in front of crowds of people. Coin wants to make a fool of me.

"Well you don't have to, but if you have anything to say, then there's your chance. You won't get another one." Coin reminds me. Something about the look in her eyes makes me wonder if she means that in more than one way. Is she as good at sending cryptic messages to me as Snow is? I don't like this at all.

"Alma, I have to get going, but please, one more time, tell me again where I will be sitting?" A man from 13 with a grumpy looking face and hard blue eyes asks, and Coin points in an impatient way to the balconies above. She repeats with annoyance the seating arrangements for herself and the group, and I pretend not to be listening, while I'm actually ecstatic on the inside. If that idiot hadn't asked that question, I wouldn't have just been given the exact location of Coin's position on execution day. I wasn't expecting her to be sitting up there, but knowing helps with planning, and I feel like we've just gotten our first bit of luck finding this out.

After half of the group disperses, I am left with Coin, Plutarch and Fulvia. They bore me to pieces with details on where the cameras will be located for the people who can't make it inside the City Circle or who aren't in the Capitol at this time, on how someone will be making a welcoming introduction to the audience before I am asked to join them and Snow is brought to the center of the Circle, where he'll be read his crimes and why he is sentenced to death. Then I will kill him. It all sounds easy enough, but with my plan added in there it's a lot more complicated.

"I think before Snow is executed, you should make the announcement about the Hunger Games," Plutarch says to Coin in an over-excited fashion.

I try to keep my gaze from snapping to Coin accusingly. Did she really decide in favor of the Games anyways? I wish I could be the one to pull back the quiver and snap the arrow into her head myself. I'd leave Snow to someone else, because right now the only person I want to kill is Coin. But if the plan is going to work, I have to go through with Snow's execution and follow Coin's directions until the moment she's dead. Just two more days. Only two more days and we'll be free of Snow and Coin forever.

Coin frowns at Plutarch, like he just said something he shouldn't have, but replies, "I was thinking about it. I haven't made up my mind." Oh she's definitely being coy with her words to keep me on my toes. No doubt about it.

Hey, that's fine if she wants to make an announcement, because then she'd have to be in the center of the Circle right by my side, and an easier target for Gale's arrow. "Well," I start softly, strengthening my voice as I continue because I want Coin to hear me, even though I'm unsure I should be saying this at all, "If you are going to have one last Game, you should tell Snow. It will probably anger him to know he won't be around to stop or control it." I shrug like it's no big deal. I hope that was believable, since I know as well as everyone else that I'm an awful actress.

"I thought you were against the idea of another Game?" Coin questions, reminding me of my vote at the meeting two days before.

"I am…against it." I stick to my guns. "But it's not my decision to make." I make my tone nonchalant. As If I know I'm only a seventeen year old girl, and I have no control over decisions like these. I have no say in important resolutions. Those should be left to someone of a higher power. Like Coin. I don't really believe that, but I know that's what Coin thinks of me. And I don't want her to think I'm capable of more. The fact that she thinks of me simply as another pawn on her chessboard is something that will work to my advantage. "And I just think it would make more of an impact, announcing that at Snow's execution."

"Exactly!" Plutarch agrees. "It will work to your advantage to announce this in a public manner, and it won't get any more public that Snow's execution. People are coming from every corner of Panem to see this event take place. All announcements for further punishment of the traitors who've been living in the Capitol should be made at Snow's execution. Then after the execution ceremony comes the real celebration: the feast, the party, the dancing, the music, the people, and the laughter. Ah, it will be the biggest celebration the Capitol has ever seen!" Now Plutarch is getting very carried away. He is nearly bouncing up and down with excitement over Saturday's plans.

"Yes, yes," Coin says, waving him away like she were swatting a fly. "I suppose you're right. I will make the announcement. Now I have to find something to wear…" She stares off, deep in thought. I never would have guessed Alma Coin would be concerned of what she will wear to address the country. All I've seen her wear are the dark-gray uniforms that represent District Thirteen. I guess stepping into a Presidency changed her point of view in a few ways. Absentmindedly, she excuses me, and warns me to be expecting an early wake-up call from my old prep team, because there is much to do to fix me up for the execution.

On my walk back to the mansion, unescorted by the soldiers who came to collect me before, I go over Coin's words at the City Circle. If I was unsure before, every moment I spend with her only helps to strengthen my decision that Coin must be stopped. I had almost forgotten about the way my prep team was handled in Thirteen. They were treated like traitors, locked up and tortured over bread! It was sick. I know it was war, and that the Capitol punished their hostages much worse than Thirteen treated theirs, but I still can't help but feel like they were tortured because of their link to me. They held no actual power in the Capitol, they were ignorant to the horrors of the Capitol, and they were just puppets in Snow's show. My chest feels tight with anger, but I let it go. I don't have to feel that way anymore. I don't have to feel helpless, because I'm not. I'm doing something about it. Soon I won't have Snow or Coin to worry about. Reminding myself of that every time I get discouraged is what keeps me going.

I return to the library with the intent to research more of this country's old political structure, and the result of their rebellion, but when I try the door, it's locked. I frown, turning the handle back and forth. It won't budge. I think back to when the soldiers came for me, and only two of the four showed me the way to the City Circle. Could the other two have been ordered to clear out the library and lock it up? Could Coin know that I'm up to something? Does she know what? All of these thoughts swirl in my head and I panic. I have to find Gale.

I don't know where Gale is, so I head down to the Weaponry room to see if he's with Beetee. Also, since Betee is the one working on the high-tech arrow designated for Coin's brain, it's a smart idea for me to give him a heads up. Maybe we need to relocate our little special-op group to a more secret location. I doubt that is a possibility we have, though.

Beetee is alone in the Weaponry room when I arrive, but after explaining what happened with the library and the book, Beetee agrees Gale should be informed. He tells me not to worry, for he can contact Gale via his communicuff, which is mandatory for him to wear now that he's an official Soldier of Panem. Beetee sends him a message, and we wait. Five minutes pass, then ten, and then twenty. I am getting anxious, so I tell Beetee I'm going to find Johanna and to pass the message along to Gale for me. I also tell him to stop working on the arrow for now, until we're sure we haven't been figured out.

"Don't worry about a thing," Beetee reassures me. "Even if they came in to check, they'd see nothing but bows and arrows. This arrow will look like nothing more than a regular arrow. Not even you will be able to tell the difference. But I will stop working until later tonight, when everyone is asleep. Then I'll come back and keep working."

"Do you think you'll get it done?" I ask hopefully.

"Oh yes," Beetee nods. "Have no fear, Katniss, I won't fail you."

"Thank you Beetee," I smile gratefully. He is risking his life for me, but he doesn't seem to mind. He did say he had his own misgivings about Coin, so maybe I shouldn't feel like I've forced this on him. Maybe I simply gave him the opportunity he's been waiting for.

Johanna is much easier to find than Gale, since she doesn't have soldier duties to attend to. It's around lunchtime, so I try the dining hall first, and there she is. I catch her attention as I walk by, and signal with my eyes that we need to talk. I walk to the end of the dining hall, grab a sandwich, and walk back out of the room. I linger in the hallway, giving Johanna time to finish up her food and meet me there.

"What's going on?" Johanna asks casually as we walk in the direction of the Weaponry room.

"Remember that book I was reading?" I keep my voice low, so that anyone passing can't hear my words. I don't trust any of these soldiers anymore. They could all have been given orders to watch my every move. I've been careless.

"The history book?"

"Yeah," I nod. "Well the room is locked now." I hold Johanna's gaze, and I know she's thinking what I'm thinking. How did they know what I was reading? What made them lock the library if they didn't think I was up to something? How much do they know?

"Do they know?" Johanna questions, and it's funny how little we have to say recently for me to know what she's talking about. Did I already inform Beetee and Gale?

"Beetee knows." I take extra care to say his name softly. "We need to be more discreet. We should avoid Betee and Gale, if possible."

"No shit, really?" Johanna teases. "We still should get a message to Gale."

"Beetee sent a message to his communicuff, so he should be in the Weaponry room." I reply. "Maybe we should go down, just for a minute? We can make sure Beetee got a hold of him. If not, I'm going to go find him."

There were a lot of soldiers eating in the dining hall, I noticed when I went in looking for Johanna, so I think now would be the best time for us to all talk one last time together before keeping our distance. Johanna and I think it should be okay for us to still be seen together, since we were roommates back in Thirteen, and Johanna wasn't a part of the Star Squad. But as for Gale and I? We can't be too careful. I think part of Gale being assigned to Two was to keep him away from me.

When we check in with Beetee, he says Gale never showed. Johanna is suspicious, but I am worried. Something had to have kept him or he'd be here. Something doesn't feel right about this…

"I'm going to go for a walk and try to find him," I announce, not wanting to wait around any longer.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Beetee warns.

Johanna agrees with him. "No, don't do that. Use your head, Everdeen!" Her tone isn't mean, just annoyed that I'd say something so stupid. "You are contradicting what you just said to me on our way here: We need to stop being seen altogether. You can't be seen with Gale until after the execution."

"I know," I reply, "I know. I just don't know what to do with myself. I can't just sit and wait."

Johanna suggests I visit Prim, and I'm surprised she knew that would be the one thing to keep me occupied in this situation. I guess I didn't realize it until just now that she and I have become close friends. Johanna knows me, and I might not know much about her personal life, besides her secret love for Finnick, but I know her habits. We grew together, and now I'm really glad to have her on my side. That is something I would never have said during the Quarter Quell. I decide to take her advice and visit Prim, after receiving a communicuff Beetee programmed to only alert one that he has, so he can send me a message if Gale comes along after I leave. I thank him, and put it in my pants pocket before saying goodbye to both him and Johanna.

When I arrive at Prim's window, she is distracted by the small TV on the wall. I knock quietly before sitting down on my usual chair. She looks over and smiles when she sees who it is. She presses the button and greets, "Katniss! This show is so funny, have you seen it?" I haven't watched any TV while in the Capitol. I was scared the only thing playing would be re-runs of the Hunger Games. I didn't know they played anything else. I shake my head in response. Prim explains to me that the show is about a pet stylist that gives makeovers to animals who have no style. It sounds ridiculous, but Prim is an animal lover so I can see why it would amuse her. She must notice I'm distracted, because she turns the volume of the TV down and focuses her attention on me. "Is something wrong?"

"No," I shake my head, clearing my face of worry and trying to smile in a carefree way.

Prim's not buying it, though, and rolls her eyes at me. "Yeah right, Katniss. Did you forget we're sisters? I know when you're worried about something. Tell me what it is."

I half-smile, knowing she's right. She's very intuitive, and has always been keen on my feelings. Sometimes she knows how I'm feeling about something, or someone, even before I do. I share with Prim how my 'relationship' with Peeta, as real or not real as it was, is officially over. I tell her about his feelings for Annie. Prim is very sympathetic, both for me and for Peeta. When she tells me why, I realize she's right.

"You both have been through so much," Prim says, her small face is very serious. Her eyes are filled with sadness. "If he were still Peeta, if the Capitol didn't change him, then he would still love you, Katniss. You know how much he loved you. He would have died for you. In another life, you would've been perfect for each other, but…not now."

Prim is right that we've been through too much to be together. Peeta Mellark, the boy with the bread, was changed by the Capitol, by Snow, into someone else, someone who hates me enough to want to kill me. It would be cruel of me to make him love me again. He would be fighting the thoughts Snow implanted in his mind forever, always fighting to be with me, just like in the Games. We can't do that to each other. He is better with Annie. He does deserve a new start, just like I told him. I always meant it, I just didn't know why until now. I didn't accept that my Peeta was really gone, but in the same way that Finnick is dead to Annie, Peeta is dead to me. He will always have a special place in my heart, but that part of him is dead, so my only choice is to let him go.

There's only one thing I don't agree with Prim about. In another life, I would have run away the day of the reaping with Gale and never known about Peeta's love for me. Gale and I would have realized our love for each other without complications. We wouldn't have the broken friendship we have now. But, if I had run with Gale that day, Prim would have had no one to take her place. She would have been dead. So I can't mention the other life I was picturing when she said that. Maybe she is right, because in the other life she's talking about, our dad could've still been alive, and maybe I wouldn't have ever met Gale, and Peeta and I would have met and fallen in love the right way. The thought gives me mixed emotions, and I realize why Johanna said it was stupid to imagine something that can never happen. It hurts too much to think that way.

I nod to Prim in acknowledgement. "I want him to be happy. I want him to find peace with everything."

"You should tell him. When you're ready," Prim suggests gently.

"Maybe…" I say, unsure. I stare fondly at my little sister, who is becoming so grown up and insightful.

"Is that all that's on your mind?" Prim questions, almost as if she knows the answer already. She doesn't tend to keep secrets from me, so she also adds, "Mom kind of mentioned that you were drinking a couple nights ago, and the next night she heard you crying from her room. She's worried about you."

I am slightly shocked our mother would tell Prim about my problems when Prim is in the hospital, about to go in for a surgery in the morning. What is more important? My drinking one night in my seventeen years of life isn't going to tarnish my gleaming reputation. Oh, wait, I don't have one of those anyways! Obviously it's more important that Prim is clear-minded and stress-free for her surgery tomorrow. I try not to be mad at my mom though, since she's carrying a lot on her shoulders right now.

I explain how Gale left, and the way that I found out. I also tell her about the argument we had the day before last. I don't tell her word for word what he said because I don't ever want to repeat that, and I'm not fully convinced he meant it anyways. Instead, I sum it up that Gale's feelings for me have also changed and he needs to focus on his new job. I can't tell her we've sort of made up until after the execution. I don't want to risk anyone overhearing.

"How do you feel about that?" Prim asks, for once, not knowing my true thoughts.

"I don't want him to go. I want him to give us a chance now that we've got one. I can't make him change his mind though, Prim."

Prim mentions, "He probably doesn't know how you feel. He watched you and Peeta together for a long time, and that must have hurt him a lot. He's probably waiting for you to say something to him."

"I don't know. He's not waiting around long. He's leaving after Snow's execution." I don't feel like talking about this anymore. So far, Gale hasn't mentioned he'll be staying longer than the execution. I'm not going to assume anything has changed. I redirect the subject to something a little less depressing.

A while later, I leave the hospital. I have a headache. I haven't received a message from Betee on the communicuff. The library door, which I checked on my way down the hall, is still locked. I give up. It's just barely dinner time, but I'm not hungry, so I retire to my room and lay down in my bed. I don't intend to fall asleep, but I do.

When I wake up, the sun has gone down and the room is dark. I roll over, facing the doorway, and rub my eyes. There's a darker shadow in front of the door, and it appears to be moving. I lean up, straining my eyes to adapt to the darkness. It isn't until it speaks that I realize the shadow is a person.

"Katniss, you awake?"

At first, I recoil in fear, but instantaneously I recognize the voice as Gale's. I reach out to the nightstand and flick on the small lamp, which fills the room in a soft golden light. I sit up and rub my eyes again, hoping to wake up a bit more.

"What are you doing?" I ask. "You scared me."

"Sorry, but what's going on?" Gale returns my question with a question. "I got Beetee's message, but I was busy all afternoon preparing for Saturday. I just got done."

"Coin is going to make the announcement Saturday for the final Hunger Game. She'll be an easy target, center stage, if she stays up there for the executing. If she goes to her seat, she'll be on the third floor balcony in the center." I tell Gale first.

"I thought this was going to be bad news?"

"Well, it might be," I reply. "I was in the library when four soldiers came for me and escorted me to the City Circle. Only thing is, not all of them made it to the City Circle, and when I went back to the library after the door was locked. I don't see why else it would be locked unless Coin thinks there are things in there I shouldn't see. Or unless she's warning me that she knows I'm up to something. I don't know what to make of it, Gale." I notice the headache I fell asleep with is still an unwelcome guest at this moment.

Gale sits down on the edge of the bed, on the corner furthest away from where I'm sitting. He thinks for a few minutes. Then he shares his thoughts. "I don't know if you should be too worried. She could be showing her power over you still, just making sure you're going to follow her directions for this execution. I think it's smart to stay apart until after the deed is done, though." He shrugs, "Then again, she could have locked the door because she knew what book you were looking at and she doesn't want you to get any ideas."

"Well I already have," I say cleverly. "I know we can't be seen together. We were seen publicly fighting the other day, so it's not going to be too hard to buy that we're not speaking. We have to find a way to all meet up tomorrow night, though. We can't go blindly into this, Saturday. We have to know exactly what we're doing."

"I'll find a way we can meet up. I'll take a night watch, if I can." Gale assures. "Don't worry, I'll figure something out."

"Gale…" I'm hesitant to ask the question I've been thinking about since leaving the hospital. I look down at the bedspread, and then back up to Gale. I crawl out from under the blankets and over to Gale's side, closing some of the distance he put between us. I want him to look me in the eyes when he responds so I know his honest answer. I want him to see that I'm trying to open up when I ask him, "Are you really going to leave right after?"

He blinks a few times but his eyes don't leave mine. "I don't know anymore. Before, yes, but what we're doing is going to change everything. It will be chaos for a few days. I probably won't be able to leave."

"That's not what I mean," I say, part of me sure he knows that. I slide even closer to Gale, slowly, like I am stalking a prey in the woods back in District 12. If I move too fast, I might scare him off, but if I'm slow, he might stick around long enough for me to catch him.

"What do you mean, Katniss?" Gale is either playing stupid right now, or he really doesn't have feelings for me anymore.

I push that last thought from my mind and blurt out, "I don't want you to leave." There, I was honest.

"Why?" Gale pushes, and I know now that he is playing games. He wants a better answer than that.

"Because." I don't have words for how I feel. "I don't want you to leave me again, Gale. I want you with me, wherever I am. I need you around."

His face shows that he's still expecting more. I shake my head and smile, a genuine Gale-induced smile. I completely close the gap between our bodies, wrapping an arm around his waist and pressing my side against his. I lean in, close my eyes, and kiss his lips, soft and slow. I feel my body tingle with warmth and I hold him tighter. I never want to let him go. When I pull away my body is trembling, but seeing the relief in Gale's eyes makes me sure that was what he wanted.

"Please don't leave me, Gale." I repeat.

He hugs me to his chest and kisses my forehead. "I won't."


A/N: So what do you think? Let me know, I love your reviews:)


Description of New Story: Panem is a city surrounded by water, the only mass of land left in a world of ocean, and the Capitol is the tallest building that can be seen from every corner of the city. The Capitol building runs Panem, and is home to the most powerful citizens. It is a secret, what goes on there, to most of Panem's lower-class citizens that live in the outer circle of the city, called the Seam. Not everyone believes that Panem is all that is left of the world, and some try to find their way off. The Everdeens and the Hawthornes are two families, who try to escape off Panem in boats, but they are caught and the men of the family are killed as punishment. The families are forced apart, and the wives have to try and raise their children widowed from their husbands. Aurora Everdeen, mother to Katniss and Primrose, was so in love with her husband that she can't go on living without him. She leaves Katniss to try and find a way to survive, but warns her to stay away from the Capitol. Only the Capitol doesn't stay away from Katniss, or her little sister.

Just a teaser;) I will probably put up a prologue in about a week and then wait until I finish this story to put up the first chapter. The characters will be the same, and some of the places and names and situations will be the same. I am going to keep some characters alive who died before (I'll take suggestions, if you had a favorite character who died that you want to live send me a message) and some of the relationships will be different (again, I'm taking suggestions if you send me a private message). It's going to be dark (but so is the original Hunger Games) and violent, and there will be more sex than in the book, so it will be rated M. Okay, that's all the info. for now, but I want to finish this story first so I don't get distracted or behind.