Chapter 9: A Promise

Everyone had carried a more serious tone since Coin announcement about the rebellion. Laughter and smiles were few and far between as the realality of the situation became apparent. No longer were they plotting to overcome the Capitol, but in a fully fledged war, on edge and ready to attack at the slightest threat. Gale had not seen Finnick since the night of Coin's announcement, as one of the most loved people in Panem, he had to keep up his appearance. Several of the people on the mission to District 7 had been proven to be working for the rebellion, including Johanna.

Which is why the Capitol bombed District 7, the betrayal of one of their victors was inexcusable in the eyes of the Capitol. Gale was thankful most of Panem thought he was dead, he couldn't imagine what he would be if it had been District 12. Almost two hundred people had been rescued by District 13 after the disaster, a relatively small number for one of Panem's biggest districts. Gale wondered how long it would take the Capitol to panic because they now had no way of getting any lumber. A small squad was on their way to District 7, included on that squad where the twins that were now referred to as Leeg 1, and Leeg 2, Johanna and Gale himself.

Johanna's normally bored, sarcastic exterior was all but gone. She was pacing the hovercraft, snapping harshly at anyone who had been brave enough to speak to her. Gale guessed that the attack on her home was hitting her harder then she was willing to let on. 'Even the strongest brake' Gale thought as he watched Johanna run her hand through he short hair for about the hundredth time. Also with them was a film crew, the decision had been made that whatever actions would be made on this mission, they would be filmed and broadcasted if possible.

"Landing in three minutes!" Boggs shouted, shocking Gale out of his thoughts "I want everyone armed, and ready. District 7 is a desaster zone, be cautious, be alert"

Gale was immediately assaulted by the strong scent of ash and smoke, the thick woods they had walked through only days ago had been reduced to nothing but ash and charred wood. Johanna took the lead as she had done when they had come to recruit family members of dying lumber workers. Gale guessed that she was hiding strong emotions and wished to remain in front so no one could see her face. But he could still hear her gasp as District 7 came into view.

He hadn't seen much of District 7 the last time they were there, but he knew it didn't look anything like this. What he assumed used to be buildings were now piles of ash and rubble. As far as he could see was nothing, but destruction. Only a few members of the squid were actively trying to find something worth salvaging, most of them where staring at the damage in shock. Leeg 1 screamed as soon as she stepped out of the woods, Johanna scoffed, clearly annoyed.

"Are you ready?" asked Cressida, the director of the film crew. Johanna nodded, straightened up and turn to face the camera.

"People of Panem, my name is Johanna Mason and I am the Victor of the 68th Hunger Games. Eight years ago I stood in this place as my name was drawn from the reaping bowl. Now because of the desire for freedom, the Capitol has destroyed my district. They have not only done this to prove there power, they have done this out of fear. Fear of losing their power because the districts of Panem finally have the guts to fight back. We are everything without the Capitol, the Capitol is nothing without us. Take a look Panem" Johanna turned to show the runed District 7 "this is what your Capitol did, what your so called leader President Snow did. Accept the truth, pick your side of this war, but if you fight with the Capitol, perpare to die. We will not stop, we will not give in, If we are destroyed, you will be taken down with us, this is a promise"

Hours later minimal relief work had been accomplished. There wasn't much to salvage in the destroyed district. Every so often Johanna's eyes would glaze over in hatred at the distruction, most people had learned the hard way that it was a bad idea to approach her. The only thing she seemed to hate more the the ruined remains of the district was the only part of it still standing; Victor Village. They were all empty now, but a few of them had been occupied not long ago. They had stayed in one for a night, the one that Gale assumed was Johanna's. She didn't seem to happy to be back amongst the fancy gadgets of the Capitol, not that any of them were.

The next morning Johanna was nowhere to be found. Boggs, annoyed because they were on a deadline and needed to return to District 13 in a few hours, insisted that they find her and drag her back to the hovercraft. After hours of searching Gale finally found her, in a field covered with not only ash, but chunks of what appered to be rock. She was sitting on the ground, staring at the plot of earth in front of her, he realized where they were, a cemetery.

"You want to talk about it?" Gale asked

"I can't imagine why it would matter to you" Johanna replied

"Maybe I'm not the one it should matter to" said Gale "It might help if you talk about it"

"It won't make any difference" said Johanna "he's dead either way nothing going to change that"

"Then why are you here?" asked Gale

Because I won't be coming back" Johanna said "even if I do make it out of this rebellion I'm not coming back. Nothing left for me here, nothing left for me anywhere actually. In the end it doesn't matter, we all end up dead at one point, if there is one thing Snow taught me its that" She got up and walked away, leaving Gale to realize that the rebellion was in the making for longer then he ever thought possible.

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