Hey guys! Sorry for the delay on this chapter, AP studying sorta became my life for the past two weeks :P Anyway, I hope you like this chapter as we get deeper into the mystery of Hortensia Snow. Also, I want to thank ActionLovingChristian, NCISismylife, and Guest for reviewing!

I know it's her. I don't know how, as I've never seen her in my life, or what makes me so sure, it was just a guess that she was the one who left the threat, but standing here, with her standing right across from me, I knew I was staring at Hortensia.

By the looks of my group, they share my thought. Although, unlike me, none of them look excited. They all have expressions of worry and fear, looking from one person to the next. Finnick squeezes my hand and I'm about to tell him that I'm not afraid when I notice he's using my hand as an anchor for himself. Not from fear but rather, if I'm translating the sparks in his green eyes correctly, from anger. His eyes are on fire and his face is contorted so weirdly that it's definitely a strain to uphold. I wonder why he is suddenly full of anger but then I think of who is standing in front of us. To Finnick I'm sure the young woman is not Hortensia but rather Hortensia Snow, descendent of the man who murdered his father, made his mother loose her mind, and much much more.

We all stand waiting, gripped with worry, fear, anger, and excitement not knowing what to do. I so badly want to run out to Hortensia and figure out what is going on. But I know I know I can't, so I wait.

After what feels like hours but could have possibly just been minutes, Flux tells us all to gather in. "There's no way we should just stomp right up there." he began in a stubborn tone, "She may have asked for us but we have no idea if we want her. We all need to go in groups of four in different directions and scope ou-" He stopped so short that even I am surprised. What caused Flux to stop talking? What was he going to say? When I manage to stop my brain from rambling I notice Flux's eyes are bulging and staring directly behind me and the other delegates. What could be so bad that it would make his eyes bulge? Great, I am rambling thoughts again. My heart begins to jump a little faster but I ignore it and slightly turn my head around. Standing a very short distance behind me was a three hundred pound, muscular guy dressed in all black with his hair buzzed except for a single, long braid down his back.

The man stood there until all twenty of us were silently staring at him. "I believe you are here to see Hortensia." He says it as a statement not a question. "She will see five of you, the rest will stay here. She will give you five minutes to decide who will come and who will stay." And then, just as suddenly as he came, he left.

All authority gone from his stance and voice, Flux tried to start talking again. "Um... Well..." This is not going too well. "I guess we need to abandon my plan. And send five people..." Flux wasn't continuing but a lot more needed to be said. We all were scared now but when you're supposed to be in charge you can't back down to fear. At least we had someone willing to step up.

After sensing that Flux's silence wasn't leaving Finnick decided to speak. "We need to decide whose going. We're running out of time."

Finally, Flux started talking again. "Finnick's right. I think the five who go should be those who did best at shooting practice. That's me, Finnick, Valoria, and Kier." Valoria turns out to be the woman that was next to me in the Training Center who could hit the target on her first go with the caramel eyes. Kier looks around seventeen and has sandy blond hair that almost falls onto his water blue eyes. I'm too busy looking at the people who were picked to realize Flux only chose four people. It was Finnick who pointed it out. "That's four, Flux," he said "and I think Willow is a good choice as she was one of the first to hit the center of the target."

Almost as soon as Finnick finishes Flux says "No. Not Willow." in a very harsh tone.

What's with his objection to me? I was one of the best shooters but I don't think it's helping my case to just stand here quietly and let Finnick defend me. "What's your problem with me going, Flux?" I try to sound strong and hope it comes across that way.

"Just no." He says, losing some of his voice's dominance.

"Why are you so against taking Willow? Is it because she's young or because she's a girl?" Finnick accuses, "Because whatever it is, you are making a biased decision as Willow was better with a gun than most of us all."

"I don't care how good at shooting she is, Willow Everdeen is not coming."

That got me. "My last name is not Everdeen, its Mellark. My mother's last name was Everdeen before she married my father." I said pointedly.

"Doesn't make a difference. Once an Everdeen, always an Everdeen." Flux grumbles at me.

"What do you have against Everdeens?" Kier interjects.

"No matter relevant to our current situation." Flux responds.

"Well actually it does. See, you just made a biased judgment and insulted me, my mother, and all her family."

This time Flux's response is barely audible but I hear a faint "Good". However, he doesn't leave it at that. After silence and stares he starts talking, this time aloud. "The Everdeens always get the attention for what they do and the others in the same group get forgotten. It's time the Everdeens step down and give someone else the limelight."

"Let's say, for arguments sake, your right about the Everdeen's, why does it matter to you?" Finnick asks. I am a little upset he is playing with the idea that my mother and I are attention seekers but I understand that it may be the only way to get Flux to talk.

"Ever hear of a man named Beetee from district 3, Odair?" Flux asks.

"I think I've heard of him, why?"

"He's my uncle and was one of the rescued 75th Hunger Games tributes. He also played a major role in inventing weapons, developing attack strategies, and screening propaganda video for the rebellion but he wasn't remembered for any of it. Just the mockingjay who wouldn't copy the song she was given. That's who we memorialize."

From everyone's shocked faces I could tell that for once I wasn't the only one in the dark on who this guy Beetee is. And, from Flux's point of view, that was the problem. If he was telling the truth then I could see why he wouldn't want me being one of the chosen few but, really? Now?

Finnick seemed to have the same problem. "I'm sorry you're resentful that Katniss became the hero and your behind the scenes big guy uncle got left out but we really can't deal with that right now. Like you were saying when it was all of us going, we have no idea what she wants and we need to be prepared. We still need to and Willow is one our best chances of getting out of a bad situation."

With one last grumble Flux says "Fine. Let's just go." and the five of us are off.

We are only crossing the front lawn to the mansion's front gates but it feels like a much longer journey. Fifteen of our squad are behind us just standing there awkwardly. Flux had told them to wait and if we disappeared for seven hours to come look for us. So now they were all nervously anticipating the likely rescue they would have to perform. But their nerves were nothing compared to the five of ours. All anger and excitement is replaced by fear we are each trying so desperately to hide. But it's impossible not to realize the facts. There is a stronger chance of survival in a group of twenty than a group of five. Now, as we are walking around a patch of rose bushes, my mind chooses to remind me of my dream. With one thought of those bombs my heart beat skyrockets up. Great. I need to calm down. Deep breaths. I will not be any help if I can't even keep myself together. With each breath my head clears and my heart slows as I walk closer and closer to Hortensia.

By the time we are a few feet away I can see her exuberant features in full detail. Each lock of hair is an elaborate spiral, every single one a bit different. The curls bounce everywhere, none staying still, and they all are a deep, fiery red. Her face's complexion is fair with a few freckles riding her cheekbones and her green eyes shine like emeralds. Anyone who looks at her would say she's gorgeous. And not the provocative type, just genuinely beautiful. What I don't get is how such a pretty, young girl ended up having such an opposite personality. Well, I guess I don't actually know Hortensia's personality but I know enough to have a gut feeling that I'm probably right.

Hortensia is pretending not to hear that we are a yard away from her, staring off into the other side of the lawn. After more pulling ourselves together Flux is the one to finally speak up. With a small cough Flux mumbles "Um, Hortensia..." I guess he didn't pull himself together as much as he thought. But his mumble works. Hortensia swings her gaze around towards us.

"Everdeen!" she snaps, her tone ugly. I jump. I know Everdeen is not my name but as under an hour ago it was used for me I am worried that it again has taken Mellark's place. I may have wanted to understand my mother but having her past dumped on me as if I'm becoming her is not what I wanted especially now with this possibly dangerous woman.

"I'm not Katniss." I say, my voice struggling not to crack.

"Oh I know, but you do look exceedingly like her, don't you, Willow? I want you to come with me. Everyone else can stay here."

I'm dumbstruck, not saying anything. It is Finnick who replies. "No. If she's going we all are."

"Oh I'm sorry Mr. Odair, I don't think I made myself clear. Willow will come with me and the rest of you will stay here. Willow, I will be waiting just inside those gates," she points behind her, "for you." With that, she turns and walks strait through the gates.

"Willow, you're not going." Finnick says as if I was five.

"I think she should go," says Valoria, "Hortesia might talk to her about what's going on!"

"Fat chance. It would be safer if she stayed." says Kier.

"Exactly!" Finnick exclaims

"She is not doing anything we all don't do." Flux says.

"She is standing right here and is perfectly capable of making her own decisions!" I shout at them all.

"And what would that decision be Miss Independent Willow?" Kier asks.

I give half a laugh at his joke and give my answer. It hadn't taken much thought, I just knew it was the best option so it was my resolution. "I'm going to go."

Everyone except Valoria looks shocked or scared but I walk away before any of them can say a word although, as I open the gates, I hear Flux mutter "Everdeen."

The gates lead into a courtyard that is full of marble statues, more fountains, and an abundance of daisies and tulips with twisting stone paths intertwining though it all. I am too busy taking it all in to notice Hortensia come up next to me.

"Beautiful isn't it?" she says smiling at me. I don't answer so she continues. "I'm so glad you came inside."

Now that gets me. "You didn't give me much of a choice, did you?"

She laughs. "Well, you're here so let's ignore that. Just follow me."

I follow her through the winding hallways of the mansion's ground floor and the only thing I notice is that, just like its exterior, the interior is completely marble. I don't notice anything else because my brain won't shut up. Why is Hortensia suddenly acting nice to me? And why me to begin with? Does it have something to do with my mother or was that just me putting two unrelated things together? I only came back out of my own head when I hear Hortensia ask "Well, are you coming?" She was holding a door open for me, waiting for who knows how long.

"Oh, sorry." I say and step inside. Unlike the halls, this room's walls are wood. There is an antique lamp in the back corner, I'm sure it isn't actually antique, and that is the room's only light source. There is a mahogany side table and two big leather armchairs with the little gold buttons that are good to pick at when you nervous, bored, or just plain fidgety. Hortensia sits down so I copy her.

"How much do you know about my grandfather and your mother's relationship?" she asks.

"Not much" I answer, even though the honest answer would be not at all. The fact that my mother had any relationship at all with the famed Snow other than him sending her to her death twice was news to me.

"They were privileged enough to have many discussions together and I was privileged enough to be told what they each said. I believe a lot of my grandfather's ideas that he used in their discussions but there is one I like best. That is that every situation can be made a lot simpler by both parties agreeing not to lie to each other. Do you agree?"

I am surprised by what she said about my mother and Snow but I do agree that honesty can simplify a situation and this may be my ticket to answers on what she's going to do so I nod.

Hortensia smiles. "Excellent," she says. "Now that we are both giving complete honesty I will tell you my views on our country's current position. In my opinion there is way too much peace in Panem. For twenty five years there has been no fighting, war, starvation, or poverty. People are so unafraid that they would never see anything bad coming until it was right in front of them and that's not how people are supposed to be. As a species, we are supposed to have fear and troubles, it is not scientifically normal for us not to. I'm not saying Paylor is a bad president, I'm saying that she is doing her job too well. The people want peace and prosperity? Give it to them. The people only want to think about bad times every ten years? That's fine too. The people think the president should be peaceful and composed? Why do you think so few people know Paylor was the district 8 rebel commander? Paylor gave the people nothing short of what they wanted but it isn't what they should have. My goal is to return a little of the very necessary fear to Panem. To bring back a little of my grandfather's presence that was removed from this country when he was so wrongly murdered by Katniss Everdeen."

Did my mother kill Snow? I have never heard this accusation before, so maybe she didn't, but then again, there is so much about my mother I don't know.

Hortensia went on, still smiling. "What better way to accomplish them both than to use you?"

I was shocked. "Me?" I asked.

She smiled. "Why yes, you. I think keeping you in this mansion, which is currently completely in my control, will definitely raise fear and as you are Miss Everdeen's daughter it all will go back to her. So, come along."

With that she gets up and I see no other option but to follow silently. Again, we are going through the winding hallways, this time my mind is silent and the sound I'm hearing is from my pounding heart.

Thanks for reading and if you get a chance I'd love if you could leave a review!