Bekah marched into the apex just outside the stage entrance, flustered, a touch angry, and, most of all, worried. She kept her head down, trying to ignore the murmurings of those gossiping about her. She approached the small huddle made up of Cinna, her prep team, Effie, and Chaff.
"Really?" she snapped at the hulking man, "I cannot believe you told that story!"
Chaff mumbled something unintelligible.
Haymitch suddenly sprinted toward the group, grasped Chaff's collar and shoved him into the wall, "Are you out of your mind, Chaff, you idiot?!"
Effie, the prep team and Cinna backed out of the way. Bekah had never seen Haymitch so angry; his jaw was clenched and he spoke through gritted teeth, "We could both be arrested. Didn't think of that, did you?"
Bekah cleared her throat loudly, and Haymitch released his friend, then stood at Bekah's side. She could feel him shaking with anger next to her.
The hall began to fill with whispers and mutterings, and the crowd parted. Two Capitol officials advanced on the small group, and without warning, without a word uttered, each grabbed one of Haymitch's arms and forced him down the hall.
"What is this?" Haymitch asked, "What are you doing?"
Neither uniformed officer acknowledged him.
"Excuse me!" Bekah shouted; the men stopped and one of them walked swiftly back to Bekah; the other kept a firm hold on Haymitch's elbow. The official strode toward Bekah, his eyes were cold and empty; Bekah wondered if he even had a soul.
"Is there a problem?" Bekah demanded once he had come to a halt in front of her.
"It has come to our attention that this man, Mr. Haymitch Abernathy, has been engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a tribute; he is, as of now, in the custody of the Capitol, pending review. His sentence will be determined by a panel within 3 days," the soulless man said, as though rehearsing a script, then strode quickly back to seize Haymitch's arm.
The official hauled Haymitch through the apex and out the steel double doors.
Throwing herself face-down on her bed, Bekah grabbed a pillow and covered her head to muffle the sounds of her sobbing. Haymitch had been arrested! Because he was with her. No, because of her. Bekah wept for an hour before Chaff knocked on her door.
"Go away," Bekah said, "Whoever you are, go away."
Though she had demanded to be left alone, Bekah heard her door open, then felt a weight at her feet, indicating someone had sat on the end of her bed.
"I thought they all knew," Chaff said apologetically.
Bekah growled and sat bolt upright, "Well, you were obviously wrong!"
"I apologize for this happening," he said, "I'll let you be."
Bekah watched through swollen eyes as he left and closed the door behind himself.
Haymitch was thrown into a chair located in a small, dark room, his hands tied together at the wrists, resting in his lap. After 5 minutes' time, the door opened loudly, and a dozen bright lights were turned on; Haymitch squeezed his eyes closed; they had adjusted to the dark and were now screaming in protest to the sudden change.
"So," a voice said, "I hear you've been playing a game or two of your own."
Daring to crack his eyes, Haymitch saw a tall, well-muscled man in a suit standing in the corner.
"I haven't," Haymitch said.
"That's not what your pal Chaff said."
"Chaff is a drunken fool."
The man laughed ironically, "Some would say the same of you."
Haymitch was now able to open his eyes fully, "What is this really about? Surely all this," he held up his wrists, which were bound tightly with thick rope, "isn't just over an intoxicated Victor's speculation."
"Speculation? You mean to say his…assumptions…were wrong? Have you, a tribute mentor, not been engaging in a relationship that is questionable, with a tribute?"
Haymitch remained silent.
The interrogator caught Haymitch's cheekbone with a solid punch, dazing him.
Refusing to leave her room, Bekah cried for two days. On the evening of the third day of Haymitch's arrest, Chaff and Effie requested that Bekah join them in the living area.
She sat down wearily on the couch, "Have you heard yet?" she whispered.
Chaff and Effie exchanged a look.
"Bekah, yes," Chaff said slowly.
"And? Are they releasing him?"
"No, Bekah, they're not," Effie refused to look at Bekah.
"What? What do you mean? They're not going to keep him in jail forever."
Chaff cleared his throat, then Effie spoke, "Bekah, dear, I'm so sorry."
Bekah blinked.
"They decided he 'engaged in relations not becoming of a mentor'. That's what they said; their words," Chaff reached out and took Bekah's hand, "They determined his actions were inexcusably severe, and have sentenced him to be eliminated."
Bekah's hand fell out of Chaff's, "What? No. You mean…he's going to be executed?" She swallowed. This could not be happening. This couldn't be real. Haymitch will be gone. His eyes would never sparkle in laughter, never smolder in the dark when he made love to her. His arms would never again hold her. He would not be waiting for her when she returned home. If I hadn't ever come along, Haymitch never would've gotten into this mess. This was all her fault. Bekah began to hyperventilate. Haymitch had become her future, and without him, the shining element in her life would cease to exist. She may as well have died in the arena; at least Haymitch would have continued on.
"Yes, Bekah," Effie said softly, "Haymitch has been sentenced to death."
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