So, I lied and didn't message the lovely reviews last time around. Why? Exams, that's why. So thanks to Savysnape7, Amber77 (Who isn't been super girly, I'm glad you like that!), Shikabane-Mai (I'm glad you like the family feel of it, I was working on that because my mind as its own section dedicated to head cannons and this is one of them and I wanted to get it right.), Gentlefurable, JulialovesLovato and vampirefairy09 for reviewing chapter 12.
Moving on to Chapter 13 now (and the people who reviewed previous chapters alongside this chapter) so a big thanks to erasmuse's three reviews (I approve that you are rooting for Hayffie. I always say this, but I'm glad you like the characterization because I work hard on it), Shikabane-Mai, hutcherwife and vampirefairy09.
Now, Chapter 14. I enjoyed writing this, and I'm sorry for how long it has taken to get up. Exams are nearly over and I have a week of so I saw the window of opportunity and chose to get this chapter written and up! Also, I'm trying to do another chapter for later in the week to make up for how long this has taken. Enjoy!
I've become an avox. Suddenly mute, only able to choke on my grief. I wish I could let my cries out; it would be so much easier. But I can't. I don't know if it is a blessing or a curse. I want to cry, but with Coin in the room it wouldn't be a clever move. Maybe I should be grateful that my emotion is currently jammed in my throat, unable to move.
I hear talking all around me. Fast, furious talking. Confusion evident in their words. I want it to stop, but I can't say anything. I listen as they debate over Peeta, if he is telling the truth, how he found out…
"Shut up!" Haymitch yells and all eyes fall on him. Silence. "It's not some big mystery! The boy's telling us we are about to be attacked. Here in Thirteen"
Outbursts of questions flare up. I ignore them, choosing to stare over to Haymitch instead. He isn't interested in what is going on around him. He is too busy caring for Effie. I can't see her face. Haymitch is holding her in a way which has allowed her to hide in his chest. From the way her body is rocking back and forth I can tell she is still crying. I see his lips move, I don't know what words they form but I assume it is something reassuring for her. She looks up, her hair the liveliest thing about her as it bounces around at the movement. I think she is telling Haymitch something. She must be, because Haymitch suddenly goes from showing the caring side I didn't know he possessed to the Haymitch I am used to seeing.
"There beating him bloody as we speak! What more do you need?" Haymitch says, cutting through the buzz of words and making me jump. Effie winces at these words, and Haymitch runs a hand through her hair before staring directly at me "Katniss help me out here"
I need to give myself a shake, but I manage to get the words out. Whilst I couldn't let out the sobs I can form a sentence. Just. "Haymitch is right. I don't know where Peeta got the information. Or if it's true. But he believes it is. And they're-" I can't finish the sentence. I can't say how he is getting brutally beaten whilst we speak like Haymitch did. But I manage to do what he asked me to.
"You don't know him. We do. Get your people ready"
And they do. Lockdown, a level five drill. I've been around for two drills. One happened whilst I was in the hospital but patients didn't have to go down so I paid no attention. The second I was only vaguely aware of, remembering about the different zones and not much else. But nothing, even if I had paid more attention to the drills, would be able to prepare me for the ear splitting rings as the drill is set in place.
"Katniss!"
I find myself standing suddenly, the yell coming from behind me. I turn around and see Haymitch protectively holding on to a terrified Effie. "What?" I ask, a little blunter than expected. Louder than I thought it would be.
"I'm not coming with you, but Effie is" He says. Both Effie's and mine mouths open at the same time to protest but the hand Haymitch isn't using to hold Effie's with does a motion that makes us both fall silent. "I want you to stay together down there, okay?"
"Okay" I say. Finnick is stood behind me telling us we need to go, "We will, come on Effie" I say, holding out my hand to her. She takes it, and shoots a nervous look towards Haymitch as we are lead from the room.
"Katniss!" I hear my name yelled once more just as we near the exit of the room. I turn around and look at a grim faced Haymitch once more. "Look after her" He says. I can't reply, I am been led from the room by the stream of exiting bodies. But surely he knows I will look after her. Even if he hadn't asked I would have. I'm still holding to Effie's hand as promised, even while the tide of people tightens and more join us. Finnick helps lead the way through the masses, and I follow him whilst leading Effie along. Despite the wails of the alarm she still looks out of it, looking at the floor and not in the direction I'm leading her.
"We're nearly there now Effie" I tell her, with barely any emotion behind it even though I tried. She doesn't react, her eyes still on the floor.
"How is she?" Finnick asks me over his shoulder.
"Same as usual" I tell him. His face looks more worried than it was before, and his eyes flit to Effie for a second before he looks forward to lead us to our designated area.
"Where's Prim?" I hear asked after minutes of silence. I turn around too look at Effie, who is finally looking up and at me.
"I don't know. She'll be coming down with us somewhere" I say, looking around for my younger sister. Trying to ignore the lifeless, empty look inhabiting Effie's once lively eyes. We go further downward, and I continue to look for Prim and my mother. I think Effie is too, but it is hard to tell. Her face once so easy to read is now void of any hints to what she is thinking.
It appears we have finally reached the end of our journey, and I am grateful as the numerous flights of stairs descending down only remind me of the mines back home. I go to walk straight in to what I assume will be our living area during the drill but get stopped by Boggs. I have to flash my schedule in front of a scanner. With a shaking arm Effie follows my lead. I hadn't noticed she had one imprinted, but the schedule isn't what I'm staring at. It is the scars of her arm. The ones fading, the ones healing, the ones still deep… Effie quickly spins around and looks upward at me. For the first time her eyes aren't empty. They are filled with a slightly mad terror, tears beginning to form. I look away quickly, slightly ashamed and also sick. The sudden nausea brought on by the state Effie is currently in. Quickly she pulls her sleeve down and hides the beaten limb. I tighten my hand around hers, and breathe a sigh of relief when her own fingers tighten around mine.
Boggs is talking to Effie, Finnick and me now – telling us to report to the area which matches our assigned compartments. I open my mouth, I promised Haymitch I wouldn't let Effie out of my sight. But Boggs raises a hand to quieten me before I can even begin. "Soldier Abernathy informed us of what he told you, and permission has been granted to keep you together" He says. When he does tell us this, he smiles a little at Effie. None of us expected this, and I don't know what brought it on. I think she tries to return the smile but her bottom lip is shaking too much to pick up on it.
"Come on Effie" I say, removing my hand from hers and wrapping my arm around her hunched over shoulders instead. I lead her to our assigned area, sensing Boggs' eyes on our back as we walk. When we escape the gaze of Boggs I turn to Effie to say something, only to be jumped upon by a Plutarch still brimming with happiness.
"Katniss! Effie!" He says, launching into speech. I want to shut him up, not wanting to listen to him say things about setting an example not to panic. I suggest pretending to be on camera and he is ecstatic over that suggestion. I think I've done it, shut him up, when he says how excellent that idea is. And then I want to slap him for talking about the courage Peeta just displayed.
"Should…Shouldn't you be with Haymitch and C-coin?" Effie says. Despite the circumstances she is under, the question comes out strong. I understand what she is doing, she understands me. That is what happens when you are thrown together with someone all of a sudden. You get to know each over, read each over… tortured, terrified, tormented Effie is the strongest person in the room at the moment. The only person stopping me from hitting Plutarch who is unfazed and seemingly untroubled about events.
He does need to go, and off he runs. Not before yelling over his shoulder about telling Haymitch we said hello. If there was something close to hand, I would aim it at the back of his retreating head. "B-but we didn't say hello…" Effie says, the strength she managed to muster previously gone.
"Ignore him Effie" I tell her, leading her into the 'room'. Carved into the wall are two bunks, and both me and Effie turn to the floor in unison.
"I'll take the floor…" She whispers, her eyes not leaving where she will be sleeping.
"We both will my mother and Prim can have the beds" I add. Effie nods goes to lean against the wall. I walk over to check the Bunker Protocol. I check them all, go through them. Step one, check for members. Finnick, Effie and me were amongst the first to reach the bunker so I'm not worried about my mother or Prim not been here. It's far down, plunging deep into thirteen. They'll be here soon. The second step is to get the packs from the supply station, one for each member. "Effie, we need to get our packs, come on" I say, and slowly she pushes herself from the wall and follows me to the supply station.
I get my families packs first, and Effie follows. As we leave we have to squeeze through the crowd now working its way towards the station. "Plutarch is right, they're following you" Effie tells me weakly as we get back to our compartment and sit on the floor, opening our packs and examining the contents. Mine and Effie's are identical whilst my mother and Prim's have the slight difference of containing clothes fit for any medical duties they may be called to.
"Are there any more steps?" Effie asks. I look to the paper and sigh.
"Await further instruction" I say, reading from the card simply. Effie nods and begins to put the contents from the pack she had just emptied back inside the casing. "When do you think we will get these 'further instructions'?" I ask Effie. She shrugs and stares up at me.
"When do you think this will be over?" She asks. It is my turn to shrug. I have no idea. I just hope it is soon. A while after the exchange my mother arrives. Whilst we were amongst the first she is one of the last.
"Where's Prim?" I ask, echoing Effie's words from earlier. The answer I get isn't one that I want. If she left before my mother she should be here by now… where would Prim be?
"The cat!" I yell jumping up. "She's gone for the cat!"
The three of us react the same, and do so together. Jumping up and begin to run through the tide of people flooding the compartment. I can see them preparing the shut the heavy metal doors that will lock us all in ahead. And will lock Prim out if we don't hurry up. The three of us have to push our way through the crowd, and it's quite the struggle.
"Wait! Don't shut the door!" I yell towards the men, feeling a burning feeling in the back of my throat. They continue to shut it though, and I charge. With only a few centimetres left before they shut the door I stick my hand in the tiny gap and yell my sister's name over and over again.
I hope you like it! And would really appreciate if you reviewed this!
Megan