Fourteenth Chapter: The Beginning of the End

She was Katniss Everdeen. Determined. Not re-thinking this. She was saving this girl with blond, braided hair just like Prim. With hair like Daphne. With a gentleness like Poppy. These three girls were not meant to be in the games, and she would save Junia Flickerman. She had indeed volunteered to save that girl, who did not belong to this game. None of these kids did. She was one of the people responsible, she had to be in the Games. She was Effie Trinket, now Abernathy, who would go into the last ever Hunger Games.

Effie looked at the person on the podium. The government representative still had a smile on the face, but it looked numbed. The representative was bound to react and she had to de-escalate the situation. The grey outfit didn't catch the eye as well as the outfits Effie used to wear.

They were in reversed roles now. Effie hated the person on stage, and therefore she hated her former self. She belonged to be up on the stage with all the other tributes. Every other person was an insult. Effie embodied the Games. Games without her were no real games.

Then, suddenly, everything happened so fast, without much room to protest. First, Effie heard Katniss yelling, screaming for her to think rationally, letting out her disbelief. Then, the securities approached her, holding on to her arms. She fought back, tried to get to the stage where volunteers belonged. Then, the government representative's calm voice echoed over the place.

"I'm afraid, we don't allow volunteering." A smug smile was across her face. She, obviously, enjoyed turning Effie down and crashing every hope for Junia Flickerman.

Effie was about to fight back, argue back, but the securities gripped her so hard that talking with a decent voice was not possible. They pushed her back into the row of people where she came from. Effie disappeared into the crowd again, her moment to shine was over, her moment to make a difference was gone.

Instead, she held her arms tightly around her torso. She could already feel the bruises of the rough treatment of the securities. She was humiliated. She had tried and failed in public, with all Panem watching. Within seconds, her plan was destroyed. Within seconds, Junia Flickerman was dead for good.

The last male tribute was announced, but Effie had lost all interest in that. She didn't care who of her former colleagues or their kids had to be in these dreadful Games. All she could think of was how to get through this reaping and not fall apart in front of all Panem.

The following words of closure took an eternity to be said, at least to Effie it felt like an eternity. All she wanted was this Reaping to be over, so she could finally leave this square. She had embarrassed herself in front of all Panem and she wanted to hide. She wanted to cry about Junia Flickerman's destiny, which was supposed to be her destiny.

On the stage, the 24 tributes for the final Hunger Games were standing, some of them tall, some of them looking small. Traian looked the most determined, Octavia was still puzzled, and Junia Flickerman looked so lost up there. Effie couldn't look at them, she was supposed to stand up with them there. She looked to the ground, waiting for the Reaping to be final over. It was the last ever Reaping Panem would ever witness. Just a few more minutes and this nightmare would be over.

Effie took breath after breath, trying to get her concentration on something else but the vast injustice happening right on stage there, all Panem watching and longing for the revenge. They took out their anger on the wrong people, some of the young men and women were innocent, and not responsible. Effie was guilty a little and she had tried making it up by saving one innocent, but she had failed. She had failed in front of national TV, it was even worse than Haymitch trying to hug her at the 74th Reaping.

Haymitch. The kids. The girls. Her girls. Daphne. Poppy. A wash of realisation hit her. She had forgotten about her family for a moment. She had pushed away any thoughts about them, but now she remembered it clearly. She wanted nothing more than to leave, leave this nightmare behind her, so she could finally get to the girls she loved so much, the girls she already had to leave behind. There was nothing good in the world any more than these two girls waiting for her back in Twelve. And the girls weren't even aware of how close they were to lose their mother. Effie sighed, but she did not feel the weight falling off her shoulders. The weight was still there; she was still in the Reaping, hearing the words the representative of the government spoke.

Eventually, music was played and the audience was allowed to leave. Effie turned fast on her heels, sprinting to towards the end of the restricted area for the possible tributes. She didn't watch the 24 walking-dead tributes heading off stage. She couldn't lay her eyes on the people she used to be close to or work with maybe for the last time. This was not how it was supposed to be.

She ran as fast as her high heels allowed her. She had lived in those shoes for years, so she was a master in them and the running training with Katniss paid off and was, after all, useful for something. She jumped over the barrier, to where Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch were standing. She didn't care how she looked like. All she wanted was to be gone from this place right in this second, the quicker, the better, no matter what. She was sure she'd never revisit this site again.

As soon as she had jumped over the barrier, Katniss threw herself at her, who gave her the most bone crashing hug she had ever been given. Effie could hardly breathe, she was overwhelmed by Katniss' action and only reluctantly gave in to the hug. A shiver ran down her spine, when Katniss whispered into her ear, her voice full of emotion, "I thought I lost you."

At this words, Effie closed her eyes and finally gave in to the hug properly, drawing Katniss closer, giving her the comfort the girl clearly needed. The Reaping was a trigger for Katniss, taking her back to the time when she lost her little sister. Effie had to be there for her because she needed the comfort. It was not often Katniss was this openly vulnerable.

Eventually, Effie pushed Katniss away a little, but the girl still held on to her, making sure Effie would stay with her and not be taking behind to stage to be part of the last Hunger Games.

"I want to go. I want to leave here. I want to see my girls." Effie said hastily, not taking pauses between the sentences. She brought a strand of her hair behind her ear, which was loosened from the running and jumping over the barrier.

Peeta nodded with a smile across his face, and placed an arm around her shoulders, protecting her from the crowd leaving around them as well. "Yes, we will. We'll get the next train to Twelve. We'll just get our luggage from the hotel and then we leave, OK?"

Effie nodded and watched Peeta let go of her, taking off to have the lead back to the hotel where they were staying. Katniss tightened her grasp around Effie's arm, dragging her along with her. Effie had to comply with it.

As they walked off, Effie turned her head over her shoulder, watching Haymitch, who hadn't said a word. He avoided looking into her eyes. His face was grim and not filled with joy. He seemed not happy that she was safe, and that hurt Effie. There was no hug or a smile or a simple word that would show Effie he was glad she was not in the arena.

Effie thought he would say or do something when they were in private. Haymitch was never good with a public display of his feelings. The good-bye scene an hour ago was the great exception and maybe Effie was a fool to believe that he would be like this when she would return safely from the Reaping.

As soon as they reached the hotel, they went to their respective rooms, but Katniss was hesitant to let go off Effie. She was worried if she let go off Effie, she might never come back, but Effie assured her everything was all right and in just ten minutes they'd be reunited.

Peeta somehow managed to make Katniss release Effie from her grasp. Effie caught Katniss looking over her shoulder while Peeta guided her to their room. She herself turned around with a deep breath, taking grand strides to catch up with Haymitch, who was already walking down the hallway to their room.

They didn't speak as they entered the room and looked for their belongings. They had packed most of it in the morning and Effie took the opportunity to freshen up a little in the bathroom. A long journey was ahead of them and the stress of the Reaping was still sticking on her all over. At least a little wash should be in her cards for now. She already longed for a proper shower, she would only get after a one and half day train ride to Twelve.

She waited for Haymitch to join her at the door, who hadn't packed his belongings in the morning. He had not counted on leaving today. Effie had not either. He settled his luggage next to hers and looked up and down her body, grunting as he did. Effie thought he would finally say something to her, but he didn't, so she asked, "Can we go now?"

"Just a moment." He took one of the smaller bags and dragged it back to the room. She heard a loud noise coming from the room and she didn't have to look to know that he was rearranging the furniture in the room just like she had done days ago. But instead of hiding the alcohol like she had done, he looked for it.

Effie closed her eyes to keep up a straight face, to not be hurt by his behaviour. She patiently waited for him to come back, and be finished with whatever he did in the room. Either he was placing the bottles back to the mini-bar or he drank them. Effie wasn't sure and she didn't want to know.

When he came back to her, the bag in the hand, looking a little heavier than before, she met his eyes for the first time since the Reaping. She didn't arch an eyebrow, purse her lips or frown. She just looked at him expectantly. But he didn't speak the words she thought he'd say. "Let's get out of here."

She nodded and opened the door behind her to get away from this place. Away. Away from this place she once used to call home. It had nothing comforting to offer to her anymore.

All she wanted was to leave the city she once used to call home. It didn't feel like home anymore. The streets weren't welcoming her anymore, not giving her a feeling of comfort. The people seemed foreign and, suddenly, the more people surrounded her, the more unease she felt. She tried keeping a low profile, but she was still wearing the same blue outfit from the Reaping. The luggage and the big sunglasses she wore to hide her face weren't helping from keeping her unseen. Soon one of the photographers, who was present at the Reaping recognised her and was chasing her, Haymitch, Peeta, and Katniss. The paparazzi called out for her, calling her name, "Miss Trinket, Miss Trinket!"

She tried not to listen to the calls because she wanted nothing to do with this nonsense anymore. She wanted to forget about it, never deal with it again. But soon another reporter was following her, and some other noisy people. The reporters and photographers kept asking for her, kept calling her name, "Miss Trinket! Miss, Trinket, can you please give us your thoughts on the Reaping?"

She knew they wouldn't stop bothering her and calling her name until she gave them what they wanted. She stopped in her steps, stepping closer the reporters. Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch watched with wary, not sure what Effie had in mind. She raised her voice, "OK, I'll give you one statement and then you'll stop following us. Deal?"

The reporters took their places around her, making space on the narrow sidewalk. Effie gave them all time to adjust to get the right angle, a good view, a few microphones, and Dictaphones were held in her direction. Everyone wanted their share of the story they could build out of this.

Effie cleared her throat and held her head high as she spoke, "These Games and what they stand for, are not right. It's not good for the Panem I grew to be proud of in the last 10 years. We grew together as a nation, overcoming the cruelness of Snow's regime and the destruction the rebellion had brought along. We rose as a nation, but these last Hunger Games will tear us apart. It's Capitol versus Districts again and that's not healthy for a country. There are hate and thoughts of revenge going on again, and this is not the way it was supposed to be in a new Panem, a peaceful Panem. Killing people. Some of them, like Junia Flickerman, did nothing to deserve this. Everyone, who is watching this atrocity on television, is no better than any Capitol under Snow's regime. Everyone, who's supporting is a fool, an idiot and doesn't deserve my respect. This is intolerable."

Effie ended her statement. She posed for a few more photos, a stern look on her face. She didn't enjoy the spotlight so much anymore and therefore she didn't pose they way she used to, even though she was wearing a beautiful outfit.

After a few minutes she turned around and wanted to leave, but the reporters kept calling her name. "Effie Trinket, please, another question. Miss Trinket, please. Miss Trinket!"

The reporters were after all greedy and Effie didn't react to any of their calls anymore. She didn't bother correcting one of them, they were calling the wrong name, she was no longer Effie Trinket, but none of them seemed to understand that. Even Haymitch, who followed behind Katniss, Peeta and Effie noticed that she wouldn't correct the name confusion. His face fell even grimmer.

In the train, they finally had time to talk about things and Peeta first asked, "Effie, I thought cursing on TV is not proper?"

They started with a light topic, which Effie dismissively waved off. Sometimes cursing, even when it was only the use of the word 'idiot' had to be done.

Katniss moved the talk to the Reaping, asking with emphasis. It sounded full of reproach, almost like she questioned Effie's behaviour, "Who was that man you talked to?"

"His name is Traian," Effie answered, looking to Katniss, who sat next to her.

"How well do you know him?" Katniss asked harshly.

"Well enough to let him kiss her." Peeta interfered, raising an eyebrow. He tried to defuse the tension.

"Peeta, you should know that a kiss means nothing in the Capitol," Effie replied softly, bringing his eyes to him. Peeta sat across from her. Both, Peeta and Katniss, didn't want to stay too far away from Effie.

"So, were you friends?" Katniss dug deeper, but Effie kept responding vaguely, "Sort of."

"What did you talk about?"

Another question Effie had to answer, she answered truthfully. There was no point in hiding her conversation with Traian. "He wanted to be my ally."

"What?" Katniss blurted out. She couldn't believe what she was hearing out of Effie's mouth.

Even Peeta could not believe Effie. He had to clarify, "That slime?"

Effie pursed her lips at the kids' reaction and bothered with not answer them to their rude comments. Katniss recovered quickly anyway, saying, "He could have killed you in a second. Did you even look at him?"

"I did." Effie said, and added, "He was in shape."

"No, he had muscles like the Careers used to have. He looked like a killing machine. He would have killed you in a heartbeat. He is not made to have allies." Katniss explained.

"You don't know if he'd done that," Effie argued back. She could not handle Katniss being judgmental of people she had only seen once. Effie had known Traian for years, she knew him better than Katniss.

"Do you?" Katniss asked, her voice was filled with concern, "Did you trust him?"

"I…" Effie paused. She had not seen Traian in forever. Maybe he had changed and maybe they had not been truthful with each other after all. She answered honestly, "I am not sure. I don't know."

"I can't believe this!" Katniss hissed.

"It doesn't matter, Katniss. Effie's safe. We don't need to worry about the right or wrong allies." Peeta reminded her, leaning forward, so he could reach for Katniss' hand.

"I-" It was Katniss, who hesitated. It took her a few moments to remind herself that Effie was indeed safe and that the Reaping was over. "I know. … Mark my words though, he will win this. He has it. The whole package. He's cut out to be a victor."

Effie let the words sink in for a moment and came to a different conclusion. She said, "I bet against that."

"Who?" Katniss inquired.

After another moment and thinking back and forth, Effie said, "Celestia Snow."

Katniss reply came immediately and very harsh, "No."

"It's a bet, Katniss. You don't have to agree with me. We wouldn't have a bet if we would agree in the first place."

Katniss was uneasy now. She scoffed. "Fine. But one more question."

"Yes?" Effie looked at her expectantly.

"Why her?"

Effie was prepared to answer that question. She had made up her mind about Celestia the minute she laid eyes on her. She was determined, and she would make a good story.

However, she took too long to answer, so Katniss made clearer what she wanted to know. "Why did you volunteer for her?"

That was whole other issue, but Effie had an answer for that as well. "She was just a girl, Katniss. A girl just like Prim. And just like her, she was born into the wrong family. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time. That's what happened to her."

Katniss was choking up, the tears filled her eyes. She needed some space for herself, some time to compose herself again. She quickly left the compartment, Effie couldn't reach for her hand fast enough. Peeta followed Katniss right away and Effie understood that he did so.

Haymitch and Effie were alone in the train's compartment and yet they chose to stay silent. Haymitch had listened to all of what Katniss, Peeta, and Effie had discussed, but not once did he bother to participate in the conversation. Maybe, he finally learned to remain silent when he had nothing good to say.

"He'd be an OK ally." Haymitch suddenly said, leaning against the wall. He was sitting in the seat furthest away from Effie. His feet were unlike on their ride to the Capitol not dropped on the seat across from him.

Effie understood that he was talking about Traian. She nodded and whispered, "No winner though."

"There is no winner, only a survivor." He grunted.

At these words, Effie sat up a little straighter, folding her hands in her lap. She said, "I suppose some things don't change."

Haymitch arched an eyebrow, looking at Effie, she returned the look. For the first time since the reaping they locked eyes, but Effie could not hold it too long. She broke the intense eye contact with saying, "And others…"

She let the rest of the sentence be up in the air and looked out of the window. She could see his reflection in the glass. By the way his jaw moved, Effie knew he was clenching his teeth. Haymitch got up and left the train compartment without saying where he was heading off. Effie was sure it was not the toilet and there weren't many other places in a train where he could go. She was certain he was heading for the restaurant car, but it wouldn't be a snack he longed for.

They arrived in Twelve very late in the evening, making the travel almost two nights long; Sae was there to meet them with the girls at the train station. Peeta had called her from the train to let her know they were on their way.

Peeta and Katniss left the train first and were greeted with cheers and hugs from the girls. Effie's heart grew fonder when she heard their high voices. She was about to smile when she met Haymitch's gaze, which was still grim. Effie thought he would relax more with every meter they got closer to Twelve and away from the Capitol, but he didn't. She wasn't as tense anymore, but exchanging one look with Haymitch took her breath away.

She let him exit the train first, leaving her with her suitcase alone. He wouldn't help her, but the girls had occupied his arms anyhow. She heard the joyful voices, greeting him with loud screams of "Dad" and "Daddy".

But soon after, she heard Daphne ask, "Where's Mum?"

Poppy following her sister's lead soon, "Yes, where is Mummy?"

Haymitch didn't have to answer because Effie had left the train by now. She had just enough time to settle down the suitcase next to her and lean slightly down, when Poppy and Daphne crashed against her, throwing her arms around her neck. She picked both of them from the ground. The girls had wrapped their legs around her torso, holding on to their mother tighter.

Effie wouldn't let go off her girls, never again. She was with them forever now, no Games would ever take her away from them. As long as she had the girls she was good.

She did not let go off Daphne or Poppy, she insisted upon carrying them home. It was past their bedtime anyway and their eyes closed a little more with every step they headed home. At some point, they parted from Sea and said their thanks for looking after Daphne and Poppy.

Effie enjoyed having her girls close, listening to their stories even though some of it got lost it a yawn every now and then. Their breaths against Effie's neck made a shiver run down her spine, but it was the best feeling the world. It made her realise that she was still alive and not destined to participate in Games, in which she would die.

As soon as they arrived home, Effie brought the girls to their rooms and helped them getting ready for bed. "It's past your bedtime. Quite a lot past your bedtime, so hush now into bed, my dears."

It took Effie quite some time to get the girls to sleep even though, Effie could tell they were tired, but Daphne and Poppy were excited to have their parents back after such a long parting. Eventually, the girls let Effie go to the bedroom, where Haymitch waited for her. The suitcases were placed on the dresser.

"We need to talk," Haymitch said without any hint of emotion in his voice.

In exchange, Effie nodded and drew her hands over her skirt. She took a fresh nightgown out of the dresser and left for the bathroom to get ready for bed first. She changed into the nightgown and went through with her nightly routine. When she came back to the room and noticed the door to the hallway was still ajar. She thought it would be best to close it when the talk Haymitch insisted upon having turned louder than expected. She didn't want to wake the girls.

However, her worries were unfounded because the girls were still awake. Daphne looked around the corner carefully, peeking into the room. "Mum, can we sleep with you tonight?"

"We?" Effie echoed, looking at her daughter with a stern look. She placed an arm on her hip. Poppy's strawberry haired head popped up warily behind her sister. She tried to hide behind her. "Please?" Poppy added with an unsure smile, trying to get a look at her father, who she was sure to persuade.

"I-" Effie hesitated, looking over her shoulder to Haymitch, not sure what she should tell the girls.

"Please, Mum, we'll behave, right, Poppy?" Daphne nudged her sister in the side, who nodded with enthusiasm. "It's just you've been gone all week and we- … we missed you."

Effie couldn't deny her daughters a wish when saying that. She motioned with her arm to the bed, inviting them in. She smoothed over the girls' heads as they ran past her to jump on the bed.

Haymitch had an unpleased look on the face, but Effie couldn't tell the difference to the grim look he had on his face before. She supposed the talk could wait another day. Besides, with the girls there, sleeping in the same bed wouldn't be as uncomfortable. The girls could act as their buffer.

Poppy was already snuggling against her father's side, nudging his arm to make him place it around her. Daphne lay next to Poppy, waiting for her mother to come to bed. Effie closed the door like she had intended to do, and went to the windows to close the curtains.

She saw the light in Katniss and Peeta's house was still on. Katniss was probably watching the opening ceremony. The presenting of the Tributes, while Peeta would seal himself off from the last Hunger Games. He was scared it could trigger something they all weren't ready to face. Instead, Peeta waited patiently for Katniss, who had her own way of coping with the Games. She watched the Games for her own mental health. Effie supposed they all had developed their own coping mechanism for these Games.

A small smile came across her lips when she looked at the two girls, who waited for her in bed. The love she could give those to kids was her way of coping, while Haymitch's way was well known by all Panem. When he fell down the stage at the 74th reaping it was clear to anyone that he was nothing but a drunk.

Effie could smell the alcohol. She had developed a sensitive nose for it. She debated with herself if she should throw him out of the room because she didn't want him near the girls when he was drunk. He had been sober for almost six years now. He had thrown his sobriety out of the window, even though he knew what her opinion on that matter was. She had sworn to him that she would never let him near the girls if he was drunk.

However, Poppy was comfortably snuggled against his side, after not seeing him for a week. Effie couldn't afford to cause drama now with sending Haymitch away. She had to trust him, even though he made it hard for her. Drinking again made it hard for her to trust him. She didn't recognise him anymore. She wasn't sure what was going on in his head. He had shown her the cold shoulder ever since she returned from the reaping. She had expected some kind of reaction, but all she got was a grim face expression, showing off that he was not pleased with the outcome. She didn't let her thoughts take her to a world, in which Haymtich wanted her to be dead.

She pushed all ugly thoughts aside and settled into bed. The girls were already yawning, the late hour caught up with them, but still, they were keeping up with chit-chat and after all the drama in the last weeks and especially the last days, Effie could use some easy chit-chat with her girls.

Effie's safe! Are you relieved? I told you I wouldn't crown Effie the victor and here we are, she's not even in the Games. I couldn't take Daphne and Poppy's mother away. Never, that would be cruel.

However, this is not the end, as you may have noticed. We still have two chapters ahead of us, which I already have outlined. See you, hopefully, soon. For now, please let me know what you think. xxx