(Mayor Undersee)

There seemed to be some sort of silent disagreement that didn't look as though it were going to remain silent for long when Madge left to walk the children home. I intended to ask what it was about when she returned home, but I never got the chance. By the time she arrived, I was settled in a vigil with her mother. It took our daughter less than a minute to access the situation. The shallowness of her mother's breathing and the somewhat lost looks being displayed by the staff from their places hovering in the doorway were enough to tell her that the moment had come. Then, we became vigil keepers together as her mother sank further and further away from us.

I panicked when the seizures hit. They were more violent than anything I had seen before, and it felt as if they were going on forever. The moments between when the first one ended and the second one began were few, but they were enough for me to realize the reality of the situation. We were losing her, and it wasn't going to be the quiet affair that we had hoped. The four of us were standing and sitting around staring with nothing to do that could help. That was when I remembered my promise. I had to get Madge out of there.

I palmed the packet from Ari Everdeen that had rested on the bedside table and gave my daughter no time to question my sudden assertion that we were out of the herbs that had been helping her mother and she had to go and see about getting more. It was a sign that I wasn't alone in my panic that she went without comment about my sudden change of heart about trips through the District in the middle of the night.

A sad sort of understanding nod from our housekeeper reassured me that I was right to fulfill my wife's request. Then, I stopped registering the fact that my wife and I were not alone. I couldn't do anything to stop the seizures that were coursing through her body. I couldn't do anything to head off the inevitable. I could only try to hold her hand, talk to her, and hope that it still meant something to her to know that I was with her.

"I love you so very, very much," I told her. "You and our daughter are the best things that have ever happened to me, and I am so grateful to have you. I'll take care of our girl; I promise. I'll do my best to keep her safe without stifling her. That's a big job that you've given me. It won't be easy to do both, but I'm going to try because that's what you want. I love you as much as we love her."

Another small pause was occurring at the end of yet another seizure when two things happened in quick succession. First, the power went out. It didn't flicker. It didn't surge. It just disappeared. Second, came a pounding on our front door that would have been out of place on any day - let alone the middle of the night.

I heard muttering and rustling and what may have been the sound of someone missing one of the stairs, but I was too focused to do much in the way of processing what I was hearing. I was too busy waiting for the sound that I was now expecting - Peacekeepers. I could only think that it couldn't be now. They couldn't come to take me away now - not when she still needed me. It turned out that there weren't any Peacekeepers.

Mrs. Cartwright appeared in the doorway with the flickering of candles held by the housekeeper and herself lighting her way. It was so not what I expected to be seeing that I had difficulty recognizing the image for what it was. Another seizure began and I decided to worry about the woman's presence later. I started in on my attempts at comforting reassurance again - not able to care who overheard any longer.

When things were quieter, she offered an explanation for her presence.

"Madge tripped and fell in front of our place," she told me as she did her best not to stare at the disheveled state in which she found us. I made a mental note that I would need to thank her for that attempt at kindness at some point. "We were up watching the Games," she continued. "And we heard her. I think her ankle might be turned, but I'm not sure. She told us where she was headed, and Delly offered to go for her. She and her brother are on their way to the Everdeens' house now." She lowered her voice a bit and whispered in my direction. "I thought you might be wanting her out for a bit," she said with a look of parental understanding visible in the shadows that played across her face in the light from the candle.

"She was in a right state, so I told her I would come along and tell you what was happening while my husband wrapped up her ankle for her. Would you like us to try to keep her with us for a bit? I told Hiram to flub around with the wrapping some; I don't think she'll want to stay put for long once it's done."

I was opening my mouth to answer her when all of us who were cognizant of the world around us instinctively turned toward the window in response to the strange sound that we were hearing. In the time that it took to process what it was that was making the noise, the hovercrafts were close enough to start carrying out their mission.

The bombs are falling, and my District is burning. And I can only give my wife's hand one final squeeze as I understand that I won't have to care for our daughter without her after all.


Author's Note - This is where this particular story comes to an end. I would like to offer a thank you to my very loyal reviewer who found this story early and stayed with it to the end (even though she doesn't want to read this chapter). It made my day on more than one occasion to know that you were enjoying this so much.