Ashes from Fire
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games trilogy, but I do own the books. (I finally got a copy of Mockingjay!)
Chapter 21: The Parting Glass
The next day, the newest member of the Star Squad arrived. A slight apprehension of shock, confusion, and caution could be sensed around the train station. The newest soldier being stocky build, medium height with ashy blonde hair, and blue eyes; with a riffle hanging off a strap from his side. What made things even more complicated was the freshly ink tattoo of 451 stamped on recruits wrist. To see Peeta caused mixed emotions of happiness to see him in a much better condition, though concern how this will affect the mission. Now it makes sense in why Varick acted distaste, since Peeta was hijack and programmed to kill Katniss. This could be another attempt to assassinate Katniss. Commander Boggs confiscate his weapon and left to make an important call.
"It won't matter," Peeta tells the rest of us. "The president assigned me herself. She decided the propos needed some heating up."
Yes, that completely confirms it.
.o0o.
"Well, now we know President Snow wants Katniss dead." Acre declared when we got to our tents for a private meeting.
"True, one meeting Coin said she wanted to rescue Mellark first, but no one agreed," Cleo added.
"And don't forget Katniss giving the other victors immunity," Jason included.
I remained silent as my teamed discussed on the situation. This would be a second attempt assassination, only it would not be from an obedient soldier, but one of Katniss closes weakness. But that's not all, from Dr. Caduceus studies; he discovered anything from his past could set of an episode triggering the ferocious if not violent attack. Being at the Capitol with Katniss less than five feet away could cause a major epidemic that would get anybody hurt.
"Why?" I asked softy.
"Probably the leadership role in the near future," Varick said. "A new leader would be chosen once this war is over."
I snorted unintentionally, "You don't think the people will choose Katniss as a leader. Hell, she hate's politics like any other teenager."
"Not exactly," Cinna replied.
"It's the support," Varick continue. "Whoever she supports, the people will follow their hero. If her immediate answer isn't Coin, thus Katniss would be a threat. She's the face of the rebellion. She has more influences than anybody in this camp."
"The only thing that's a miracle is how Katniss tolerated her," Cleo praised sarcastically.
"So she'll kill her to shut her up." Jason added.
True. The only reason Katniss has been alive this long was to unite the Districts. Now that objective has been completely, there is nothing for Katniss to do. In the beginning, what history always repeated that war is declared over somebodies death, a martyr? What better way to add more fuel on the fire than having the Mockingjay killed in combat! The assassination attempt in Two, when the opportunity came with a false shooter, the young stone mason. Kill any important Victor can cause an outrage…like they attempted with me, a threat, while Lyme and the other victors suffered. But killing Katniss or even Peeta then you killed two birds with one stone, because if somebody kills a comrade in battle punishment is immediate death.
Varick gave direct orders for Johanna and I took keep a close watch over Peeta. We are the only ones he may trust here, since Johanna shared a cell with him during torture and I being the closes friend her got here, if not understanding the psychological confusion from the hijacked serum. So after being dismissed, I stood by Peeta during the Squad intense watch. We hardly talk, instead sit by each other watching the immense stares, eating partial rations, and flicked some pebbles.
"You still haven't told me about your eye?" Peeta finally spoke out in the silences.
I sighed looking at him, "I was tortured, same as Johanna, although for a different reason. I did no treason other than loving a man who held treason. He wouldn't surrender any information, so President Snow thought of forcing him to watch me suffer. It wasn't until Damon gouged my eye, did he snap. Though even to this day, he looks at me with no sympathy or regrets."
"He doesn't regret that it's his fault that your eye is gone?" he asked.
"Maybe, maybe not," I answered. "But he looks at me like I'm special, that I'm his world. He says our flaws make an impression of ourselves, telling a story." I stared at his artificial leg, "Though painful they maybe, in the end, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
Peeta scoffed slightly at the last comment for they were the lyrics to one of my songs. Suddenly he remember something, unzipping his backpack and pulled out something small. "I figure you wanted this back." as he placed the object in my hand of a long thin porcelain snow drop. My throat clenched in seeing my token again, my mothers pin. Unable to control myself, hugged Peeta kissing him on the cheek saying thank you. Peeta laughed, "No problem, it's the only thing i had of you during the time..."
I placed a finger on his lips, "I know."
By dinner time, Squad 451, the television crew, and Johanna, Acre and I joined them around the tensed circle while eating. It wasn't because of the amount of differences, though the apprehension between Peeta and the Squad. The rebels were concerned, if not cautious around him thinking how dangerous he might be if not having an episode. Yet he remains calm, especially around Johanna, Acre, and I. chatting a little or asking question in the late autumn air.
By midnight no words were ever exchange. When I asked about Peeta' sleeping condition, Boggs announced Peeta shall be sleeping outside for full view for the rest of us could keep an eye on him. I told him that's unnecessary and to assign Peeta a tent, but Jason and Cleo agreed to the situation with consent. So I continue to sit next to Peeta, who sat on the ground with his pack to his chest, attempting to tie knots from the small straps. The only person out on such late our by the fire, was Jackson who seemed interested in her gun, cleaning the barrel, until Katniss crawled out of her tent to take watch. Now everyone is on full alert. But nothing happened, as the sounds of soldiers breathing and fire crackling fills the night sky. Still refusing to return to my tent to sleep and keep him company until Johanna comes in the early morning to relieve me.
An hour later, Peeta speaks. "These last couple of years must have been exhausting for you. Trying to decide to kill me or not. Back and forth. Back and forth."
"I'd never wanted to kill you. Except when I thought you were helping the Careers kill me." Katniss replied. "After that, I always thought of you as…an ally."
That's a good safe word, I thought. Taking out a knife from its holster and twirled it around my fingers listening to their conversation. Maybe this conversation could help Peeta realize the situation, that Katniss is not the enemy.
"Ally." Peeta said the word slowly. "Friend. Lover. Victor. Enemy. Fiancée. Target. Mutt, Neighbor. Hunter. Tribute. Ally. I'll add it to the list of words I use to try to figure you out." "The problem is, I can't tell what's real anymore, and what's made up."
"Then you should ask, Peeta." Finnick voice said coming out of nowhere in his tent. "That's what Annie does."
"Ask who?" Peeta asked, "Who can I trust?"
"Well, us for starters. We're your squad." Jackson answered.
"You're my guards," Peeta pointed out.
Jackson shrugged, "That too, but you saved a lot of lives in Thirteen. It's not the kind of thing we forget."
"And you can ask me," I included. "Or Johanna, or anybody from the Jabberjays."
Those who couldn't sleep joined us in discussion to resolve any clear memories or illusion. Although Peeta couldn't define what is real and what is fake, I realized how different our hijackings were. His were distraught tamper memories while mine were based on fears. When I went through an episode from the serum, I knew what was real and what is not, but my senses were everywhere that they appeared so real that my body thought as well. Imagining blood everywhere, snakes slithering against skin or sudden darkness become so overwhelming to actually think it's real. By four in the morning, Johanna came by saying she got him while I ruffled Peeta's hair and went to my tent to sleep.
I practically had to take a small sip of sleep syrup in able to sleep, for my insomnia and overthinking mind bother me. The next time I woken up, it was around late morning hearing glass shattering in the far off distant. Once refreshed, I put on my scope though paused at the metal thing. There was no such thing as privacy when wearing this bionic contraption even if I manage to see 20/20 with it. Yet I'm the Jabberjays eyes during this war, a spy yet again. Sighing, I decided to wear my usual eye patch and let the scope charge more, though kept the communicator and comp on.
When I exit the tent, I found Cinna waiting outside. I was going to ask him what is it, when he smiled taking my arm in a friendly gesture and escorted me to the Squad camp where Peeta was sitting in a circle with other soldiers talking openly. Soldier Jacker comes up with a game called "Real or Not real" to help Peeta understand. Hearing those words brought back moments of when I hallucinate in a simulation and everybody tell me "Not real" no matter what it is. Though this was different, when Peeta tells a memory, he asked us if it's real or imagined. Sometimes I would answer while other Johanna would confirmed being there when the event happen in the quell arena. Around early afternoon, Katniss, Finnick, and Gale joined us.
"Most of the people from Twelve were killed in the fire."
"Real. Less than nine hundreds of you made it to Thirteen alive." Jackson answered.
"The fire was my fault."
"Not real. President Snow destroyed Twelve the way he did Thirteen, to send a message."
Jackson breaks up the team into groups from Finnick, Katniss, Gale, Johanna, and I too though from thirteen. This way he has more aces to those who know him personally. During the day he asked unstable questions. Gale would answer questions about 12: Finnick would discuss about both of Peeta's game; Johanna talked about the prison; I would answer the post games, tours, and moments in victor's village, but he knew them perfectly, just the confusion laid around Katniss. Patience's is the key to fixing his memories together, although it's something Katniss doesn't have.
By dinner time all were intrigued of his progressed.
"Capitan Abernathy?" Mitchell asked aloud.
"Yes," I replied back.
"Why don't you sing for us?" he said.
I paused while everybody in the camp murmured saying it would be nice to have some entertainment. Finnick even praised about my talent along with Katniss and Peeta. My throat clenched and stomach churned, debating if that is such a good idea. It's not because I don't want to sing, but I haven't sang for months now or even if I'm capable of singing again, not since Damon strangled me. Cinna through his goggles gave a reassuring nodded. With a sigh I took a rather large sip of water.
"I bet you don't want to hear some Capitol pop," I muttered thinking of a good folk song from Twelve or what my mom used to sing. It took a moment until remembering one song. "Okay, I got one." So with a deep breath I gazed out into the fire.
"Of all the money that e'er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm that e'er I've done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all.
Of all the comrades that e'er I had,
They are sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had,
They would wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.
A man may drink and not be drunk,
A man may fight and not be slain,
A man may court a pretty girl,
And perhaps be welcome back again.
But since it has so ought to be,
By a time to rise and a time to fall,
Come fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.
Good night and joy be with you all."
After singing the last verse everybody fell into a deep silent. The Parting glass is an old song since forever. A song sung amongst friends, only hearing sometimes at Rippers stand back in the hob or Haymitch mumbling it in his deep lamented moments. Even my mother sung it to me when little, and singing it now brought memories. All of us are here for a cause, and tonight be our last time together or tomorrow or the next day. Only there may be a possibility we might not be sitting in this circle again the next time we meet.
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The Parting Glass- Ed Sheeran version.
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