5/11/15

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or anything else I may mention

Hi again! Yes, I do have an excuse for why I didn't update yesterday. My parents decided that for Mother's Day a mini road trip was necessary. That being said, I didn't have any time to update. I tried to write on the way, but I didn't get very much done so it's not like it was good for anything as far as fanfic goes. I actually spent most of it listening to angsty music on my iPod while thinking of my OTPs. Yeah, not one of my finer moments. By the way if you like the song "Just Give Me a Reason" by Pink, do not think of the following fictional couples while listening to it because then you will be depressed: Katniss and Peeta (especially in Mockingjay Part 2), Thomas and Teresa (The Maze Runner), Miss Martian and Superboy (Young Justice), or Beast Boy and Terra (Teen Titans).

I'm pathetic, aren't I?

Anyways, thank you emzybones for following, and authorlouise for following and favoriting.

Reviews:

Josephm611- I love the interviews too! It's kind of hard to think of something unique for each tribute, but once I've got it they're pretty fun.

Stellaslomp- I agree, Finnick and Annie are just too cute. I feel like Johanna "ships" it enough to mention that :)

Darth Yuthura- Thanks! I feel like the interviews were more of a group effort than something loosely organized by a few select victors. And yeah, one of my favorite parts about writing this story so far has been exploring what was going on behind Katniss and Peeta's backs. Like, even the little things that were passively mentioned by Katniss could've been something important when you think about it.

Lya200- Bleh, finals. Tests in general just suck. We had like, 3 science tests in a row a couple weeks ago. It was pretty cringe-worthy.

SibunaMockingjay- I was excited for her interview too. I feel like out of all her scenes in the movie, that was the one where she was the most… Johanna-y if that makes any sense. Like, that scene wasn't in the book and it captured her character better than most fanfic I've read (and wrote, if I'm being perfectly honest?)…

On with the story!

….

(The Manipulation Games 2) No One Left: Chapter 21: Final Goodbyes

The lights go out and the audience shrieks. The Peacekeepers begin to gruffly direct them out of the room. A couple of the Peacekeepers march up the stage and grab Katniss and Peeta, presumably to bring them back to their floor. Or worse, their execution.

The thought lures me out of the trance I've been in since I rejoined the others on stage. Katniss and Peeta are vital to the rebellion. Tonight has proved that, that's for sure. If something happens to them, who knows what would happen to the rebellion?!

My eyes have long since adjusted to the darkness, so I can at least see where I'm going. I shove past my father and run backstage where I previously talked to Ava. Oh, that's right. I'll have to tell Blight about that later.

"Johanna! Where are you going?" Finnick yells as he catches up to me. Leave it to a member of a lap-dog district to even notice I was gone.

"To find The Mockingjay," I growl. "The Peacekeepers…"

"Right," Finnick says. Even in the darkness, I can tell he's nodding. "We don't have much time. They took her to the elevators."

I would question how he knows this, but it's like he said. We really don't have much time. So I follow him to the elevators, running as fast as I can without tripping in my high heels. Eventually, I give up and kick the shoes to the side, instead opting to go barefoot. Unfortunately, we don't get there in time. The Peacekeepers pull us back as Haymitch drags Katniss and Peeta into the elevator.

Crap.

At least the Peacekeepers didn't go with them. That's a good sign, right? If they were going to be executed, they would've been escorted by only the finest of Snow's lackeys. Heck, they already would've had handcuffs by this point.

"What do you think you're doing?" one of the Peacekeepers snaps. I quickly recognize the voice.

Double crap.

"We were just…." I begin nervously. I may be a heck of a good actress, but usually the lies I come up with on the spot aren't as great as the ones that I plan, such as my strategy in the first Games. Usually I can come up with an at least half-decent lie though, but today doesn't seem to be one of those days.

"Telling the newlyweds congratulations. We wanted them to know that, even with their time together being cut so short, we hoped they would treasure the fact that their final moments would be spent together," Finnick finishes. I smile gratefully, hoping that Nero can't tell with the darkness surrounding us.

I can pretty much feel him glaring at us. Of course I can. I've been at the receiving end of that glare for a surprisingly large portion of my life. In fact, I bet he snuck into my room when I was a baby just so he could sneer at me while I was sleeping in my crib.

"I'd believe it if it was just Odair, but with you, Mason? Oh, nothing's ever that simple with you," he sneers.

"You're a skunk, Dark. A really ugly, smelly skunk." I'm unsatisfied with my lack of creativity tonight, but it's late and I'm tired. I can probably come up with something better in the arena tomorrow, and better yet there's nothing he can do to me in there. "Come on Finn, we're leaving."

I grab him by the wrist and pull him towards the stage. The arrangement reminds me of District 1's reaction to Katniss's dress. I bitterly laugh at the thought as the lights turn on. The light stings at my eyes, and I instinctively shut them. Finally, I decide that I have no choice but to open them. I drop Finnick's hand and glance around the room. The Peacekeepers are gone, but the other victor-tributes and a few mentors remain.

It suddenly occurs to me that it was a bad idea to tell Ava and her friends to snoop through Snow's files. It could get them in serious trouble and the problems outweigh the benefits. Hopefully they're smart enough to stay away from my suggestion. Ava's always been a pretty smart kid, so I think she'll figure that out on her own. I hope, anyways.

Bubble approaches us nervously. "Plutarch's discussing a cancellation with President Snow. We're staying here to say our goodbyes, but in a few hours we need to go back to our floors. Your mentors will meet with Plutarch and they'll give you the news. If the Games are cancelled, they won't announce it until morning, so don't bother with the news."

"Thank you," Finnick says with a curt nod.

"Don't thank me yet," Bubble says, exasperated. "It's not good news quite yet. And besides, there's nothing I did to help."

"Well… thanks anyways," Finnick says.

Bubble smiles and pulls us into a hug. "I'm proud of both of you, okay? I just want you to know that, in case something happens."

I frown. What does she mean by that? Does she doubt the plan? Has she heard something from Plutarch that the rest of us don't know?

"Oh… okay then," I say, unsure. I give Finnick a concerned glance, which he returns.

Bubble's hazel eyes have a misty look to them, as if she's about to cry. She blinks a couple times and walks away, presumably to talk to another victor. We watch her for a moment before I decide to bring it up.

"She was acting weird."

"Something's wrong," Finnick agrees.

Of course, this agreement only makes the wait harsher. We spend the couple of hours we have left with the other victors saying our goodbyes, even though we know there's a chance we'll see most of them again. We don't discuss the plan, just in case the Peacekeepers are listening over a security camera Beetee missed. Instead, we talk about things back home, and wonder how much our remaining family members will miss us if we die. The mentors leave after about 30 minutes, but they eventually come back to collect us.

The districts leave one by one, until finally we've all said our final goodbyes. District 7 is in the middle as far as leaving goes. I hug the twins, fist-bump Finnick, and sadly shake hands with Shey. And then I leave with Blight and Pine, wishing for more time.

Pine is silent. As usual, District 7's victors let their actions do the talking. And this time, the silence is all I need to know. We're going back into the arena, and there's nothing we can do about it.

….

Edward babbles on about how lucky we are that the Games didn't get cancelled, but all I feel is anger. I want to punch him. I want to see his red eyes bruised by my fists. I want to rip the hair off his head and shove it into his ears. I want to cut off all of his fingers individually while he watches helplessly, unable to do anything to stop me. I want him to feel the way I do when I watch Snow take away everything from me.

I know my anger is misdirected, that it's Snow I should be mad at, but I'm always mad at him. Taking it out on my escort is nice for a change. So while he chatters aimlessly, I focus on glaring.

Finally, he leaves and Pine turns to us sadly. "I guess I may not see you again. I'm not going to 13. You do realize that, right?"

"We know," I sigh. The possibility of never seeing the old mentor again saddens me, but I don't let it show.

"Take care of yourself, okay?" Blight frowns.

Pine laughs and shakes his head. "Boy, I won the 4th Hunger Games. I'm as old as dirt. If my time comes, I'll accept it. It's been a good life. Not the one I pictured myself living as a boy, but… all things considered it's been a good one. It's been nice knowing ya, though. My life just wouldn't be the same. I'll tell your little sister Ivette and your girl Oakley you said hi if it comes to death."

Blight sighs. "Don't talk like that. I'm sure we'll see you again."

Pine frowns. "Giving yourself false hope like that is dangerous."

"Well don't stay here," I scowl. "That's just suicide."

"Course not girly. I'm going back to District 7 first chance I get. Preferably just before you youngsters break out."

I sigh in relief, dropping my voice to a whisper. "So the plan is still on, then?"

Pine smiles, his artificial, Capitol-created teeth gleaming like pearls. "As long as there's injustice in this world, there will always be a plan to stop it. Maybe just not the one that you've anticipated."

"But it's still on, right?" I ask, growing increasingly agitated.

"Don't worry so much Johanna. Everything's fine."

I'm still not satisfied with this answer, but I guess I'll have to accept it.

Pine yawns and pushes his wheelchair towards us. "I'm going to retire for the night. You're right, Blight. I might just see you again."

Blight nods his head sadly and shakes Pine's hand. "Okay, I'll see you then."

Pine wheels over to me and smiles at me. "You've grown up so fast. Oakley would be proud of you."

I bite the bottom of my lip at the thought of my mother. I can tell Blight's a little upset too.

"Yeah, I'm sure she would," I sigh.

Pine pats me on the arm and smiles at Blight one last time before wheeling towards his room. I hope Blight's right, that this isn't the last we'll see of him. But part of me thinks differently. And it's the part of me that's usually right.

…

For the record, I got Johanna and Finnick coming after Katniss from the books. Just thought I'd mention that it wasn't some random thing I threw in.

This chapter was originally going to be longer, but it was getting pretty long and I wanted to switch to my other fanfic so I went ahead and ended it there. I'll try to actually post the next chapter on Sunday for once, but at this rate I may as well make Monday my official updating day.

Quote of the day!

"What do you want me to do, dress in drag and do the hula?" –The Lion King, Timon

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Spectrobes Princess