Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games and am making no money from this.
This story, like most Hunger Games stories I've read will be told from various points of view. As normal, I'll note when they change.
Katniss
The explosions start all around the edges of the banquet. Huge bright, glowing fireballs shooting into the sky, seemingly out of nowhere. It reminds me of the fire in my Games. The same sort of artificial flame, but this time instead of an empty forest, it's in a hall full of people, and rather than targeting me, it seems almost like random explosions.
Glimmer and I are on our feet instantly and surprisingly so is Haymitch; I guess Victor's reflexes never really die. All around us people are running and screaming. They're running aimlessly, some seem to be trying to leave, others just running for the sake of doing something. Basically, it's panic.
"We've got to get the fuck out of here." Haymitch states the painfully obvious.
"Yeah, but where to?" Glimmer asks.
Haymitch looks around, obviously trying to formulate a plan. It's only a few seconds later when new explosions rip across the area. It seems like the entire buffet in the middle of the banquet was rigged with explosives and it all goes up at once. The massive blast knocks us all off our feet.
I try to get up, but I'm surprisingly shaky and there's a ringing in my ears. I look over at Glimmer and Haymitch, and they seem to be in the same sort of state. Haymitch's mouth moves, as if he's trying to talk but I can't hear a thing. He seems to realize we can't hear him (maybe because he can't hear himself either?)
Whatever he's trying to say, it's obvious I can't hear it right this minute so I give up listening and try to get on my feet instead. It takes a little work and quite a bit of holding on to the back of my chair for support, but I make it. Looking around, it's bad.
We got food already, but a lot of the Capitolites seemed more interested in talking first (I think Cashmere called it 'mingling') and were only now getting to the buffet, which means they were right on top of the explosions.
There's a crater where the buffet used to stand, surrounded by blood and body parts. People are on the ground all around, in various states, mostly already dead or just moments away. Everyone seems to be covered in blood, with wounds like I've never seen. Even in all the Games I've seen, I've never seen something like this. Gashes, huge chunks of flash missing, and severed limbs; there's body parts absolutely everywhere. Severed arms, legs, and random unidentifiable chunks of… meat, for lack of a better word.
"Good god." someone gasps. I realize it must have been me.
"We've got to get the fuck out of here." With the ringing in my ears gone I can hear Haymitch saying really obvious things again. "Train station. Now."
"No!" yells an uninjured (damn!) Cashmere, running over to us. "Back to the Training Center."
"Bullshit; we're out of here." Haymitch glares.
"No! You don't get to just up and leave!" Cashmere grabs Glimmer's left wrist and starts trying to physically drag her off. "You have appointments to keep, now get back to the Training Center!"
Glimmer looks from Cashmere to me, and for the first time today I see something in her green eyes. They've been dead, just like mine ever since we got to the Capitol, but now there's anger in them again. No, that's not right; Glimmer's angry a lot. This is more than that. It's rage.
Glimmer turns back and stares Cashmere down. "I'm done putting up with your psychotic crap, Cashmere."
"Done? Little girl, we haven't even started." Cashmere isn't shying away from the staring contest.
Cashmere gasps, breaking eye contact with Glimmer to look down at the handle jutting out of her chest. "No, we're finished." Glimmer announces, pulling out the knife I didn't even realize she was holding. I was so busy watching the staring contest (just like Cashmere, obviously) that I didn't bother to look what Glimmer was doing with her free hand: finding a steak knife.
"Son of a bitch!" Haymitch exclaims as Cashmere falls to the ground at Glimmer's feet. Haymitch snatches the knife out of Glimmer's hand, wrapping it in one of the fancy cloth napkins they have here and dropping it into a jacket pocket. "Come on, it's time to move those asses!"
Glimmer and I run after Haymitch. Well, I try to run. In these heels that's no easy feat for me. Normally I might take them off, but with all the metal and blood and worse on the ground, I don't dare. Glimmer, of course has a far easier time moving in heels than me. I swear, that girl drives me nuts sometimes.
Haymitch runs onto a waiting train. It's in the same place as ours was, but I honestly have no idea if it really is or not. Just inside is a Capitol employee (I think I heard someone call this sort of person a steward?) "Get this fucking train moving!" Haymitch yells.
"What? We aren't scheduled for departure! And besides, you shouldn't be here!"
"Yeah, well shit shouldn't be blowing up either! Now shut the fuck up and get this damned train moving!"
"You're Victors! You need to be at the Training Center!"
"You stupid shit! They just blew the fucking Victor's Day celebration up! You really think the fucking Training Center is safe? Stop fucking arguing and get us the fuck back to 12! Now!" Haymitch roars. Wow, I've never seen him like this.
The steward is apparently convinced and heads off in the direction of the train's engine. A few moments later, I hear it come to life and the train starts on the long trip back to District 12.
Glimmer
Haymitch is banging on my door? God, what time is it? I look over at the clock. Ugh, 5 am? I haven't been up this early since my Academy days. Maybe a few times I'm up this late if there's a really good video game, but this just isn't right. Is the sun even up at this hour?
I look out the window. Yeah, it's light out, well, kind of light at least. Wait, why aren't the trees outside moving? Is the train stopped?
"Come on, princess!" Ugh, it's Haymitch yelling through the door again. "Get your ass out of bed and meet me outside the train. Now!"
Yeah, fine whatever; a girl just can't get some sleep apparently. I get out bed, throwing on the first at least semi fashionable clothes I find and head for the door off the train. This really better be good.
The train's pulled up to a small platform; apparently we're at a fuel stop. Katniss and Haymitch are always waiting for me outside. Katniss doesn't look so bad; stupid hunter up with the sun. "Yeah, I'm here, what's so damned important?" I ask. It's way too early to be polite.
Haymitch doesn't respond, he simply tilts his head towards the front of the train and starts walking in that direction. Katniss shrugs at me and follows. I follow; it's not like Haymitch is going to leave me alone until whatever this is gets over and done with.
We walk past the front of the train, several hundred yards down the track, finally stopping at the foot of a bridge over some nameless ravine. Haymitch turns to me and takes the bloody knife from last night out of his pocket and glares. "All right, we should be far enough from any bugs now. So, want to tell me what the fuck this is?"
"It's a steak knife." I'm willing to go head to head with Haymitch to see which of us can be more of a rude jerk. Haymitch glares at me; as if that's going to work. "You know, you really shouldn't steal the Capitol's silverware; you could get in trouble."
"Real fucking cute. You think this is a god damned joke?"
"You see me laughing, Haymitch? It's way too early for this."
"You think later in the day is better?" Haymitch explodes at me. "I didn't sign up to cover up your fucking murders!"
"Really? I thought that's what mentors do. That's certainly what they've taught me for years. I kill people; mentors help me out with it."
"All right, that's it. You've got about five seconds to convince me not to turn your ass over to the Peacekeepers the moment we hit 12."
"Oh don't bullshit me, Haymitch, we both know you're not going to do that."
"And why is that, princess?"
"We've all done enough illegal shit to fuck each other from here to the Capitol. So save the threats, it's too god damned early in the morning. Oh, and as for Cashmere? Yeah, I killed her. She deserved it. You looking for me to apologize or something?"
"Just what the hell were you thinking?"
"Maintain eye contact, keep her focus on me and off what my hand was reaching for; come in fast and hard; keep the blade horizontal to slide cleanly between the ribs."
"All right, that's it. I'm through. You're on your fucking own."
Haymitch turns and starts walking back to the train. "Haymitch! Wait!" Katniss calls out to him. He stops, but doesn't look back at us. "She was our first appointment, Haymitch."
That got his attention. Now he's looking back at us. "What the fuck did you just say? What do you mean she was your appointment? She's a Victor; Victors are sent on appointments, they don't make them."
"She did Haymitch. Snow told us. She called from 2, spent a fortune to be our very first one. She bought the entire night with both of us together."
"Son of a bitch." Haymitch shakes his head. "I knew she didn't like you two, but holy fuck; I've never heard of a Victor doing something like that."
"Snow said it was the first time." I offer.
Haymitch sighs and walks back to us. "All right look, as far as anyone knows she died from shrapnel in the explosions. If anyone asks that's what happened; flying metal and shit hit her, got it?" We both nod. "No more killing though. I'm serious now."
"Haymitch, we're going back to the Games; killing is going to be our job." I interject.
"Yeah, well, we'll figure something out and talk about that later. In the meantime, can you at least try and behave?"
"I promise; I'll try." Haymitch rolls his eyes and throws the knife into the gorge. I guess now that I promised to behave it's ok to destroy evidence to cover up my murder.
"The train leaves in fifteen minutes, try not to be left behind." Haymitch walks back to the train, not waiting to hear anything more from us.
After a bit, Katniss looks at me. "Wow, he was mad."
"I know. It's weird; usually when I kill people it makes a highlight reel and mobs of people cheer." Katniss just rolls her eyes at me. "Katniss, what was I supposed to do? She wasn't going to take no for an answer, and both know what was waiting for us at the Training Center."
"I know, Glimmer, I know. I just can't make jokes about it the same way you can."
"Well personally I hadn't planned to bring it up at all."
"You must have known Haymitch would."
"Honestly Katniss, I didn't really think about it. We'd been threatened all day, pushed around, sentenced to death and then Cashmere was literally dragging me off to rape me and I just finally had enough. I figured in all the stuff blowing up with all the chaos and bodies around, no one would notice one more."
"I get it Glimmer, I really do." I nod to Katniss. Good, I don't want to keep trying to justify myself. The bitch had it coming, it's that simple. "So what'll you do now? Go back to 1?"
"Yeah, they're going to love me there. Their dear precious idol dead and I come home safe and sound."
Katniss nods and stares into the ravine a while. It's deep, maybe a hundred feet; maybe more. I wonder if anyone's ever been to the bottom? Maybe when they were building this bridge, but other than that who knows. Certainly that knife Haymitch threw down there won't be found.
"You could just… not go back." Katniss suggests.
"Not go back? And just where would I go instead?"
"The train's going to 12; just get off the train there with me. My house is plenty big enough. And like you've said, we have enough money, so it's not like it'd be a problem putting you up. I had all the bedrooms soundproofed, so you wouldn't bother Prim or my mom even."
"What, just live at your place until the Games?"
"Sure, why not?"
"You don't think the Capitol will mind?"
"Glimmer, you killed someone. If they're going to get mad at you I don't think this will be what does it."
"Well, you have a point there." I chuckle. "Are you really serious though? About staying with you in 12 I mean."
"Well yeah. You've said you hate it in 1, so why not?"
Hmm, why not indeed. "All right, sure, sounds fun."
"Great." Katniss smiles at me.
Prim
The TV's been going on nonstop coverage of the Victor's Day attack. Bloody Victor's Day. Or Victor's Day Terror. Another goes with Victor's Day Horror. Every station has a different name for it, but no matter what they call it, it's all they can talk about.
No one has a death toll yet, they're calling it 'dozens, maybe hundreds'. The shots of it they've shown make it obvious why. The carnage is unbelievable. Even as a healer (what passes for a doctor in 12, sometimes even surgeon) I'm in shock at what I see. There's just so much blood and so many severed people parts (I wish I had a better word for them than that) that I wouldn't even know where to start assessing the damage.
While they haven't gotten official counts in or released a list of the dead, word of one of them leaked out really early: Cashmere: Glimmer's mentor. They haven't said if Katniss or Glimmer were hurt or killed, but they should have been with Cashmere, and if she was killed…
Gale has been watching TV with me, hoping for some sort of news. Honestly, he's healthy enough to leave, but I'm in no rush to tell him so. The mines are still closed so it's not like he's missing work. I imagine he wants to go hunting, but he's still not moving quite right, so I think that's out for a few more days at least. It's pretty late tonight already, so he may as well stay one more night; I'll tell him he can go home tomorrow.
Suddenly the front door opens and Katniss walks in, followed by of all people Glimmer. "Katniss!" I yell, hopping off the couch and running to hug my sister.
"Hi, little duck." she hugs me tightly. I'm getting close to her height, but I still love the nickname.
"I heard about the attack on TV; they said Cashmere's dead and I was so worried about you!" I think I might be crying a bit now.
"It's ok, Prim, I'm fine." She looks over at Gale, who's gotten up and is walking over.
"Welcome home, catnip."
"Thanks, Gale." She looks at Gale, her happy look turning suspicious. "Wait, why are you here this late? And are you limping?" Well that didn't take her long at all.
"Um, me? Limping?" Gale laughs nervously. I told him he needed a good plan; all that time and this is the best he could come up with?
Katniss narrows her eyes. She looks tired. "Yes, Gale, your walk is off. What happened? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, catnip, it's no big deal. A few bruises, that's it."
"It doesn't look like nothing, Gale." She takes a step back from me and looks me in the eye. "Prim, what did he do?"
Uh oh. I figured she's focus on Gale rather than asking me. I need something, fast. "Um, doctor patient privilege?"
"What?" Katniss blinks. "What is that?"
"I dunno." I shrug. "I heard it on TV."
"Prim." Katniss warns, giving me a firm look. Uh oh, this isn't good.
"Relax Katniss. I'll tell you, you don't need to interrogate her." Oh thank goodness, there's Gale to save me. "I got a little banged up, that's all. It's no big deal."
"Where? What happened, Gale?"
There's a long pause. I know what's coming next, so does Gale, but he doesn't want to say it. I don't blame him. I think next to something happening to me, Gale being hurt or killed in the mines is Katniss' top fear. "In the mines, Katniss; I was hurt in the mines."
I see that fear in Katniss' eyes now, mixed with a bit of anger, but she's still holding it back. "The mines? Gale, what were you doing there?"
"I work there, Katniss." Gale's keeping calm. Personally, I don't think this is a good plan either; I'd recommend running.
"What?" Katniss explodes. Well, we all knew it was coming. "How can you work there, Gale? You know how dangerous it is! What were you thinking?"
"It's my job, Katniss; my family needs the money. Quotas have been going up so they moved people from school to the mines ahead of schedule."
"But Gale, you shouldn't be working there!"
"I have no choice, Katniss! I need the money! Besides, this was always going to happen, we both knew it. It just happened a bit earlier than expected, that's all."
"So what happened that you're limping around?" Katniss is trying to get a bit of calm, but that won't last; I give it about two more seconds, in fact.
"Well, see there was a bit of an accident?"
"An accident? What kind of accident, Gale?"
Gale takes a deep breath. This is where things are going to go horribly wrong for him. "It was a cave in, Katniss." A cave in is what killed our dads.
"A cave in? Are you serious, Gale? You know how dangerous those are!"
"I know, Katniss; I was there."
"Well you're not going back there."
"Yes, I am, Katniss. I have to; I need the money."
"You could get the money from me! You don't need to work in that place!"
"Damn it, Katniss! We've been over this! I'm not taking money from you!"
"So you'd rather throw your life away? Die in some mine just for a few coins?"
"I don't have a choice, Katniss! This is how it is in 12! Yeah, you got lucky; you got a big mansion, the money, all that good stuff. Me? I have to work in the mines like all the real people. It's time you faced facts, Katniss."
"No, Gale! The fact is you don't have to be in that place at all!"
"Oh grow up Katniss! This is 12! There aren't always happy endings for us! This is how it is! Get used to it!"
"Get out, Gale. Just… get out of my house."
"Fine." Gale walks out, slamming the front door behind him. Katniss goes upstairs without another word; I hear her bedroom door slam a moment later.
"Well that was fun." I jump in surprise. I completely forgot Glimmer was there.
"Um, hi. So uh, are you our guest for the night then?"
"No, I live here." She smiles at me.
"Uh, no, I think you have your own mansion over in 1."
"Oh yeah; I know I do. I live here now though."
"How'd that happen?"
"Katniss invited me." she grins. Well, I guess technically it is Katniss' house.
"Oh, um, ok then. Any idea how long you'll be here?"
"I dunno, half a year or so maybe."
"Um, all right then." How often do you have someone show just up and say they live here now? She's Katniss' friend though, who am I to say no? "All right then, so I guess let's go upstairs and pick out a room for you."
Glimmer
The beds in Katniss' place aren't bad at all. What's less good is the fact I came here with nothing. No clothes, no makeup, no supplies of any sort, literally just the clothes on my back; there's no way Katniss or Prim are going to have anything in my size, so looks like it's time to go shopping. I can't even do my usual workout; I've got the dress I was wearing and that's it.
I head downstairs and thankfully find Prim making breakfast. I can't cook, and since they do here, I doubt I'd have found much that a microwave could magically turn into food.
"Morning, Glimmer." Prim greets me. I guess she adapts fast; she's treating my living here like it's normal already.
"Morning, Prim." I sit down at the table. This isn't bad. I just show up and food appears. I totally can get used to this. "Katniss around? I could use a tour guide today."
"Sorry, I haven't seen her. It looks like she left early."
"Hmm, well that sort of sucks." I guess I can wander around and find things. It's not like District 12 is that big. Heck, it's so small they don't even bother with paved roads around here.
"Why, what did you need her to show you around for?"
"Well my staying here was sort of a last minute thing, so I didn't actually bring anything. Like no clothes or stuff like that at all."
"Oh, well I can help you with that!" Prim smiles at me.
"You don't have school or something?"
"Glimmer, it's Saturday."
"It is?" Wow, I feel dumb now. "Oh, didn't realize. Guess I had a blonde moment." Well actually, on the tour I lost track of days. What's it matter what days it is when you're on that train?
"Geez, Glimmer, talk like that is going to give us blondes a bad name." Hmm, girl has a sense of humor. Big change from Katniss. "So where do you need to go anyway?"
"Well a bank would be a good start. There is one in 12, right?"
"Uh yeah, 12's small but we're not totally backwards or anything."
"Prim, you don't have paved roads here."
"We have a paved road!"
I laugh. "Wow, a whole one road!" Prim gives me an annoyed look that's really kind of cute.
"So what do you need at 12's bank anyway?"
"Money. What else do you get from a bank?"
"But isn't your money all over in 1?"
"Yeah, but it's all the same bank; all run out of the Capitol. I can get at my money here, same as back in 1. Just I can't drive to this bank apparently." Prim rolls her eyes at me.
"Yeah, yeah, you're a laugh a minute, Glimmer. So where else do you need to go?"
"Well, a lot. I don't have anything to wear besides what I've got on now, so clothes, shoes, toiletries, all that sort of stuff."
"Oh, all right. That shouldn't take too long."
That poor deluded girl, she has no idea. Well, I suppose I can't blame her. The poor thing lives with Katniss, so she's never had a positive female role model to show her how to do the things that really matter to a girl. Like shop. Looks like it's up to be to step in and be the big sister Prim never had.
"Of course, Prim, not long at all." I give Prim my best innocent smile; she doesn't look convinced at all. I've really got to work harder on my innocent act.
Katniss
I can't believe that Gale. What's wrong with him? How can he just give up like that? He knows how I feel about the mines; I always thought he felt the same. What was all that? A lie?
What were all those years we spent hunting? Was that just a stopgap, a way to keep his family fed and all right until he could get a career in the mines? I never dreamed that could be the case, but now I'm not so sure. The way he talked last night made it sound exactly like that.
Telling me to grow up; telling me how the world works. Yeah, I'm plenty grown up. You can't go through the Games, wind up a piece on Snow's game board and not grow up in the process. It's ugly, it's rushed, but it's growing up. I know darned well how the world works. It works by beating you down and making you decide if you'll keep trying to get up or just stay on your knees.
I understand it's tempting to stay down. I certainly have wanted to, repeatedly in fact. I've had fantasies about running away, even fantasies about killing myself. Well, more than fantasies really, I started planning them out in detail in my head. Of course before I could do more than plan things always kept coming up that changed things.
Gale though, it sounds like his plan was always to give up; all our time in the woods was just a childhood game, some fantasy life he always knew he'd outgrow. And now he has the nerve to yell at me about calling him on it. All his speeches about the Capitol and how evil they are and now he's the head cheerleader for the suck it up brigade.
I don't think I could stand to see him right now. I'm sure I'd yell more. Maybe I'd even try to hit him (Glimmer's got to be rubbing off on me.) That's why I went all the way out to the house by the lake this morning. I got up before anyone else and went to a place in the woods I've never shown Gale.
It's actually the farthest place from the fence of 12 I've ever walked to. In my plans to run away I would have used this place as a storehouse for supplies; I'd bring survival equipment here and then when I took my sister and mother from 12 we'd rush here, pick them up and be able to go miles further in the first day.
When I planned that out, I envisioned Gale coming with me. After all, why wouldn't I? He'd come up with plans like this before and tried to sell me on them. This time I'd have been in from the start, and with all the supplies my Victor's money could buy, we'd have had a great chance.
I just can't believe Gale's given up. Of all the people in 12, he was the one who'd never give up; the strong one. I was the one who'd lean on him for support. I never told him he was the stronger one (Even I have my pride after all) but I think he knew.
I think that's why I'm so upset really; it's not just that this is a betrayal, it's that someone so strong, stronger than me can just give up like that. If Gale can wind up like this what kind of chance do I have? Gale just had a system of poverty and servitude against him; I have a man with the power of an entire nation and the willpower to use it against me specifically.
Maybe hiding out here isn't much of an answer, but I don't see anyone with any better ideas around. Glimmer decided to put a steak knife in someone's heart then live at my house; I think sulking in the woods is just as good and a bit less destructive. I know hiding out here won't solve anything any more than Glimmer stabbing people will (but I won't tell her that, just in case she decides to try and prove me wrong) but at least out here, I can be alone.
It's not often I'm alone, and maybe it isn't good for me, but today I just couldn't take facing Gale. Another shouting match won't help; I don't know what will. Something has to change, but I don't know what, and I don't know how to change it.
I also don't know how Glimmer fits into all of this. She didn't say anything last night, which I appreciate, but Glimmer isn't the sort to stay in the background for long. Honestly, I'm sort of nervous about what she'll do, that's why I didn't bring her out here today.
This place has always been my own little refuge and hiding place, ever since I first came here with my dad it was special to me. Out here I could play house as little girl, then later on it was a place to get fish, gather plants and reminisce; something about it just always seems to calm me down and give me whatever sort of help I need. I can't even say what it is I need today; if a day along in the woods isn't enough to help then I'm out of ideas.
Author's Notes:
Katniss really does get led around by Glimmer, doesn't she? Well, she's got a new house guest now. And Poor Gale, he really should have Prim teach him when to run.
As always, thanks to my friend JB for help with grammar edits. (Grammar in spoken material that by definition is bad grammar is interesting stuff.)
Just like I say in every other chapter, I love getting reviews, comments and critiques (seriously, all authors do) so if you have anything to say don't fight the urge; I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for reading.