The moment Boggs had reported to Coin that she had no interest in becoming the Mockingjay, she was furious. Every time they had meetings, Coin would glare at her the whole time. She would make snide comments about Katniss whenever the opportunity came up, much to the enjoyment of Gale. To be perfectly honest, Katniss felt like she was a little kid being spanked for not brushing her teeth.
One day, Beetee pulled Katniss aside after dinner and whispered, "Katniss, I need to show you something."
Katniss allowed him to pull her along and Enobaria followed along because she was curious and had nothing else better to do.
"You remember when I told you Cinna's creations are here?" Beetee said, "Every single chariot race costume, interview dress and even some more gowns he created for you that you never saw?"
"Yes?" Katniss asked, unsure.
"Well I found a notebook and you might wanna take a look at it," Beetee said, "Fuck Coin, do it for him."
She had no idea what the hell he was talking about and Enobaria voiced her thoughts by saying, "What the fucking hell are you talking about?"
"You'll see," Beetee tugged them to Katniss's room. A suitcase had been placed by her nightstand.
"Open it, Katniss," Enobaria gestured her.
Katniss undid the latch and a notebook sprung out. When she opened it, she saw drawings of dresses, gowns, clothing and even armor on a female model whose body shape was unique to Katniss herself. He drew her in the most jaw-dropping gowns she ever saw. All her chariot costumes, interview dresses, Victory Tour gowns were drawn here. But what struck her was the Mockingjay suit he drew with her in mind. When she met the last page of the book, she looked at the bottom of the page which said one simple line.
I'm betting on you, Girl on Fire.
That was the last sentence he said to her before he was beaten up. Oh Cinna. Her tears fell rapidly and she had to shut the notebook before her ugly tears ruined the drawings or his handwriting. She reached into the suitcase and hung each dress and costume. Then she reached a long, white dress which was down to her ankles, which was a simple sweetheart neckline with long sleeves and a lower dress that was skin-hugging at waist but billowed out into a waterfall.
A note was attached, which read, this is the gown I wanted you to wear when you get married to Finnick Odair.
Enobaria looked at the dress in awe but her facial expression was sad when she saw the note. Cinna would never see Katniss wear his creation and get married to Finnick.
Katniss had gathered enough courage to hang the dress neatly in her bare closet and went for the rest of the clothes. Then she reached the Mockingjay outfit. She touched the fabric of the armor and she bet it would feel like he was giving her a hug; it was just how Cinna created his masterpieces. They always felt custom made just for you.
When she hung the couple of Mockingjay outfits he made for her, she remembered his last words in her head. He's betting on her. And not like she's a piece in the Games or Coin's pawn. He's betting on her to do what's right, for fighting in what she believes in and bringing change into the world according to how she sees fit.
He understood that in a Panem under the control Snow or Coin, you could never truly be free. You would always be a tool, puppet or some measly pawn to knock off the chessboard. But he knew she had the power to rise above their scrutiny and make amends on her own.
"I'll do it… for Cinna," Katniss decided, "And I have a couple of demands I wish to ask her."
"We'll go with you," Enobaria promised, "For moral support."
They walked down the corridors and on the way ran into Boggs. After telling Boggs that she wishes to talk to Coin about being the Mockingjay, he led them to her. She was on a swivel chair, and twirled around when the trio walked in her office.
"Well, well, well, Everdeen, what is the pleasure of seeing your face here?" Coin asked.
"I have decided to be the mockingjay…with some conditions," Katniss said carefully.
Coin sighed and nodded, knowing Katniss wasn't stupid enough to readily do something for nothing in return. Rubbing her temple, she asked, "State them and I can see if I can accommodate them."
"When I become Mockingjay, you are to grant immunity to all living Victors for the lives of the tributes we took in each of our Hunger Games," Katniss said.
Coin frowned and almost wanted to say no but she knew Katniss is a Victor too. Punishing the rest and not her could ruin her reputation and make her look like a hypocrite. So, she nodded and asked, "And?"
"I get to go to my house in 12 and retrieve my belongings, as well as my sister's cat, Buttercup. She gets to keep him," Katniss demanded.
"If that animal causes any distractions, it will be freed or taken by animal control," Coin said begrudgingly.
"Until Johanna and Finnick get back from the Capitol, I will hunt with Gale for two hours every week," Katniss stated, "Once they come back and recover, Johanna will be my hunting partner, not Gale."
"That depends on their mental condition, but if they do not try to stab the doctors with syringes like you did, then she may," Coin nodded, "And the food you catch will go towards feeding District 13's people."
Katniss nodded; she only wanted to hunt because of the freedom. Besides she could immediately cook and eat any meat she wants to eat after hunting.
"Finnick and I will be married once he comes back and recovers," Katniss said.
"We will organize your wedding, you can do any ceremonies native to your districts, however we will record it for propos for the rebellion and Snow," Coin said.
"You will not organize my wedding; I only trust my fellow victors. However, you may record it if it helps the Rebellion," Katniss said sharply.
"Very well," Coin nodded, a little miffed she couldn't control the wedding planning, "Anything else?"
"You will announce this to the natives of District 13 and the refugees from other districts so you can't go back on your word," Katniss said.
"I will do so. Also, when you go back to your district tomorrow, we will shoot a propo to show Snow," Coin said, "Haymitch told me you aren't the most natural actress so having you say lines in front of a dramatic set up won't work. Spontaneous moments is where you have most effect."
"That seems like a good compromise," Katniss nodded, "Then you have a deal. Announce it at breakfast tomorrow. If you don't I will back out and you will have to find another Mockingjay that everyone can agree on."
Coin gave her a terse nod and Katniss walked out the door with Enobaria and Beetee following her closely. After she closed the door behind her, Enobaria said, "I was so happy when you made her agree to grant immunity to all of us Victors. Who knows how we might serve our death sentences?"
"And now that she has to announce it in front of everyone, she can't go back on it!" Beetee exclaimed.
"Yeah," Katniss smiled at her friends, "I just don't like her at all."
"She's just like Snow," Enobaria agreed, "If she gets the power, then who knows what kind of sick, twisted Games she will make?"
"I hope she will not continue the same Games," Beetee said worriedly.
"Of course, not because if she did there would be an uprising again," Enobaria reassured him, "We wouldn't have elected that bitch just for her to fuck up."
"But I don't even want to see her as president of Panem at all," Katniss said sadly, "I always thought Plutarch Heavensbee would make a good leader."
"True, he does talk about equality and about eradicating hunger, starvation, rape, abuse, and violence in districts," Beetee agreed.
Enobaria shrugged, "Who knows. I know I want to fight for a Panem in which Hunger Games doesn't make us reap our own people for the sick enjoyment of Capitol citizens."
The very next day, Coin had announced Katniss's acceptance of becoming the Mockingjay. And she listed each and every one of her demands. Katniss stood on the right side of Coin as she saw Prim's face tear up happily at the mention of Buttercup but then downcast in shame when she realized Katniss requested it. She also saw how Gale's face was annoyed that he had to hunt with her but became happy when he found out it was temporary.
It's not like we're gonna be chatting on our hunting trips anyways, Katniss thought, you go one way and I go the other.
Haymitch was surely happy when she had announced that Victors gain immunity for the crimes they committed in their Games, under the pretense that they were forced to do so against their will.
Coin had announced that the very next day, Katniss would be flying to 12 to shoot a propo for the rebellion as she walked around in the ruins and gather the things she wishes to salvage from her old home and her Victor's house. Katniss went to her room and ignored the reactions they had after that. If she were to go to her home, she may as well choose an outfit that Cinna had created. She wouldn't want to go dressed up in the normal garb of 13.
Enobaria chose out a nice outfit from the extensive casual wear Cinna had created for her. It was a forest green V-neck long sleeved t-shirt, kitten-soft leggings she wore in 12, knee high laced leather boots and a fur scarf. It would be starting to get cold over there, but not snowing. Katniss loved her selection and laid it out on her bed.
The next day, she had showered, done her hair, dressed, ate breakfast with Enobaria and Beetee and hugged the two before setting off in a hovercraft that would lead her to 12, or what remained of her former home. And her heart dropped at the sight that used to be busy with the normal day-to-day bustle of everyday life.
She looked at piles of rubble that used to be the houses of the Seam. Luckily her old home wasn't hurt. The Hob was demolished and some houses in the Town side were obliterated. But the Victor's village was untouched for some reason. Piles of bodies of men, women and children were heaped everywhere. Some were bones but some had hair, skin and flesh clinging to the bones and flies buzzing around the rotting meat.
Katniss decided for her propo, she would walk around and sing 'The Hanging Tree' that she wrote when she first won her games. It was about Snow's oppression and how he would kill people for resisting him in the slightest.
As she looked around, she sung in a clear, low yet haunted voice, "Are you, are you? Coming to the tree. They strung up a man, they say who murdered three. Strange things did happen here no stranger would it be. If we met at midnight in the hanging tree."
Slowly she sang the whole song she had written and every moment was recorded. Coin nodded, clearly happy and satisfied with her song which would be the anthem of the Rebellion. She said, "We have stopped filming. Propo is finished. You have five hours to salvage your old home and your Victor's house."
She nodded before taking off to her house in Seam. She stuffed her family pictures into her duffel bag. She spotted Buttercup who was waiting around for Prim to feed him food scraps. Buttercup hissed when he spotted Katniss instead.
"You wanna see Prim?" Katniss asked.
Buttercup's ears perked and he took tentative steps towards Katniss, who caught him and stuffed him in the duffel bag with all the family photos. She zipped it closed and decided it was full. If she tried to stuff anything else, Buttercup might escape her. Good thing she had her game bag. In her game bag she placed her two bows and two quivers of arrows her father had made for her. One of which Gale used. She stuffed in her father's leather hunting jacket.
Bursting into her room at the Victor's village, she was hit with the overwhelming smell of white roses. Snow was here. And he bombed her district because of the stunt she pulled in the Arena. He did so because there was no way he could twist her stunt into some kind of romance, mental illness or stupidity. It was clear she was rebelling. And he had kept her house untouched because he wanted to warn her.
Katniss burned the roses and gradually the smell went away, though it was faintly lingered in the air. She would have to find a way to get rid of the stench after the war. She searched for any memorabilia she might want to take but she knew all of Cinna's designs and clothes are in 13. Her mother and sister hogged all the photos to the old house in the Seam, which she has.
The hovercraft took off the moment she got on. And a couple of hours later, she landed in 13. She found Madge and waved at her, and said, "Take these to Mom and Prim. It has our family pictures and her cat in there.
"He's not dead, is he?" Madge asked, gently unzipping the bag to find that Buttercup was perfectly fine.
"He's okay, he was being a butthead this whole flight," Katniss snorted, "Take it to them. They won't wanna see my face."
Madge's face fell but she nodded and took her duffle bag and walked down the hallway to Prim's room she shared with her mother.
Coin was ordering Beetee to broadcast her propo to the Capitol as soon as possible. It was also rumored that Finnick, Johanna and Peeta were going to have their interviews soon. And if all went well, they would see her propo that she shot.
She placed away her father's hunting jacket and the game bag in her closet, underneath the clothes that were hung. Then she decided to go for dinner. As usual, she joined Beetee and Enobaria for dinner.
"Coin is happy with that song you sang," Enobaria commented, "The Hanging Tree. You wrote it yourself?"
"Yeah," Katniss nodded.
"Well Snow definitely got the message," Beetee added.
Suddenly a shush settled over the crowd. The interviews were being held. First off, was Johanna.
She was obviously thin, beaten up, and shaven bald. But she didn't say much except saying how she wished Panem could be peaceful. Neither did she support nor oppose Snow. Snow probably would profit off of her words and twist towards his gains. But Katniss knew she wants the Rebellion to win so the Hunger Games will end and the districts will coexist together in true peace and harmony, without the fear of their children being reaped.
Next off, was Finnick. He obviously was playing the playboy image of the Capitol. He spoke in favor of Snow, but Katniss knew he was hesitating in his actions. She knew he wasn't hijacked. He was playing the part in order to stay alive. But obviously the residents of District 13 were calling him a traitor while the Victors tried to defend him.
And finally, Peeta. He was truly hijacked. From his menacing glare, crazed eyes, and violent jerk of movements, Snow had truly broken him. Peeta watched her propo and insulted Katniss for the next five minutes, calling her a bird that Snow will skin alive for his dinner.
"Out of the three, Peeta has been hijacked," Beetee said.
"It doesn't sound like he changed much anyways," Enobaria scoffed, "He always was rude to her."
"He may have been rude-" Katniss started.
"He didn't care that Mags died," Beetee argued.
"-But he never seemed to agree with Snow," Katniss finished.
Beetee sighed, took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead, "It may be so. We will see when we rescue them."
"Rescue?" Katniss asked.
"You didn't hear? Gale and some others are going to rescue them from Snow," Enobaria said.
Katniss was suddenly hurt that Coin didn't feel obligated to tell her about this mission. She's the mockingjay, she would at least expect her to inform her. And why wasn't she on the rescue mission team?
"You're the mockingjay," Beetee answered her unspoken question, "You're too precious for her to send on such risky rescue missions. She needs you to do propos for her to provoke Snow with."
"When are they leaving?" Katniss asked.
"In three days," Enobaria said.
"Well good for me, I won't have to hunt with Gale, then," Katniss said, making Enobaria snort.
-o-
Katniss's next few days were bland and boring. Her days went back to getting up, getting her schedule printed on her arm, breakfast, killing time, lunch, killing time, dinner and just mindlessly chatting until she was sleepy. But then when she saw Gale and the others, her heart sped up. By the smiles of him and his team members as they reported their 'complete success' to Coin, they must have rescued all three of them from the capitol safely.
"KATNISS!" A panicked voice screamed her name. Finnick.
Her heart sped up and she walked down the hallway to the hospital of 13's double-door entrance. She saw Finnick thrashing on his hospital bed, screaming and demanding to see his fiancé. When his eyes locked on hers, he ripped the IV out of his arm, threw off the blood pressure cuff, tore off his heart rate monitor and swung his feet on the side of the bed. He ran towards Katniss, all the while ignoring doctors' and nurses' panicked screams when they heard the heart monitor signify a flat line, but calmed down when they saw the monitor dangling on the side of the bed.
He thrust the doors open and ran towards Katniss, who stood about 30 feet from the entrance in shock. Scooping her up in a hug, he crushed her form against his and kissed her hard as he swung her around in the air. While kissing her, she felt wetness on her cheeks and knew he was crying. She felt her own tears mix in with his. She spent months either praying he would be alive, or crying her eyes out at the possibility of being killed.
"Oh god, oh my god, I missed you so much," Finnick said between kisses he peppered on her face and neck, "I watched your propo in 12 along with Peeta and I was so worried Snow would kill you for that bold move. I cried myself to sleep that night!"
"I'm okay, you're okay," Katniss murmured, looping her arms around his neck and hid her face in his neck, "We're okay. And you have something to look forward to."
"I can't forget," Finnick murmured into her hair, breathing in her hair and instantly calming down. His arms tightened a little bit more around her waist.
"You can let go now," Katniss giggled.
"No," Finnick shook his head, "This is my first time hugging you in months. Fuck the doctors and nurses. I didn't even want to wait for them to take all my vital signs. I was screaming your name ever since they said I arrived in 13 and mentioned that you were here too."
"We could share rooms," Katniss smiled, "After we get married."
"When should we get married?" Finnick asked, "I sure am not going to wait a month."
"Yeah but I said you, me, Johanna, Beetee, Haymitch and even Enobaria could plan my wedding," Katniss said.
"Wait, hold up, Enobaria?" Finnick asked in confusion.
"That's right, fishboy, she meant me," Enobaria announced, holding up her camera, "I'm going to be the photographer. And I will use the pictures to make a scrapbook for your wedding."
"Finnick, she was forced to have a fierce façade," Katniss explained briefly, "But she's as damaged, broken as the rest of us. And she is not anything like she was portrayed on television."
Finnick nodded, remembering he was forced to portray a playboy and sex god for the women of the Capitol. It could be that she was also forced to be someone she isn't.
"Very well," Finnick said.
"Coin wanted to plan it but I don't trust that woman," Katniss said, "She did force me to allow her to film our ceremony but we can do our own special ceremonies."
Finnick was furious that Coin wished to breach their most treasured moment for her own profit and use it as a wild card against Snow. But she's as horrible as Snow, so who knows what she would do if they said no? He sighed but nodded.
"It makes sense," Finnick agreed.
Their moment of happiness was broken when a doctor came to them and said, "Miss Everdeen? Peeta Mellark wishes to see you."
With a lot of reassurances, Katniss left Finnick and followed the doctor who led her to Peeta's bed. He stilled the moment Katniss approached his bed. Then in a fluid movement, he sprung out of bed, and wrapped his arms around her throat. He led her back into a wall and tightened his fingers.
Katniss could hear the panicked yells of doctors and nurses as they tried to physically move him off of her. But when she could see black dots in her field of vision, she knew it was moments before she lost consciousness and possibly died due to asphyxiation. A doctor stabbed his forearm with a tiny syringe sleep syrup and he let her go and passed out just moments before she hit the floor and passed out as well.
She was submerged into a field of darkness.
TBC
