Throughout our lives the world seems to ring us through certain obstacles testing our patience, strength and trust. Slowly lacking one of these, doubt will slither into your mind and you can not only lose friendships, but yourself. But as the way my life was going, it seemed I had no room for doubts. Nope, I had no doubt that my beloved friend, Peeta, would suffer for his heroic action. As for his captured teammate, Johanna, they would torture her for information that she would have no insight. And I was hundred percent sure President Snow would shortly be piecing the crime to me. Betrayer of the Capitol is what I had become. It would only be a matter of time that I would be paying the ultimate price. My life.

You would think I would have some preservation to stay alive by trying to run, hide or even both. But I didn't. Truthfully, I was done. Done with all the bull shit and for once I just want to stand my ground. After all, I knew I did the right thing.

So here I was rocking back and forth holding Rose in my arms. This is how I choice to spend my last hours before joining the traitors. I kissed her forehead and said, "I want you to remember, baby girl. Be smart. Be strong. Be good."

"Yes, Mommy," Rose nodded her head. She then stared up at me with her big green eyes and my eyes began to sting.

"Mommy loves you."

A soft knock upon the door erupt me and a peacemaker peeked into the room. I stood up and placed Rose by the blocks she played with everyday. "Be a good girl now." I kissed the top of her head one last time and walked beside the peacemaker. "Follow me, Miss Sparks."

The peacemaker assisted me by placing my hand in the crook of his arm as he directed me downstairs. My body was slowly becoming numb when we reached the prison area. "In here," again the peacemaker commandeered softly. I stepped into the room and was quickly striped down and given a tattered uniform. The peacemaker had his weapon fully exposed now with the protective walls blocking the view of any suspicious citizen. Finally, the door clanged as he sealed me in my cell where I would wait till death.

Leaning against the wall, I slowly slide to the cool damp floor with my eyes close. Again the what ifs play into my mind. What if I choice to run away with Finn that morning when the train broke down? We could have been surviving off of good old nature. Made some shelter far into the woods where the three us would live as a happy family. Neither President Snow or Capitol would have found us and…. I was rattled out of my dreams with a blood curdling scream. Listening closer I could hear the unknown girl begging for them to stop. Others accompanied her pain with whimpering and moaning of pain down this dark hallway.

I tried to swallow the hard lump in my throat and looked around my cell for any distraction it could offer. For the first time I noticed some sort of chalice filled with a dark liquid. A scooted closer to this odd sight and snatched the paper that lay next to it. Even though the air reeked of must and mildew, the aroma of the paper had obstructed my nose with the overwhelming smell of roses. Yes, I already know it's from my dear old friend President Snow.

It's a shame after all these times I tried to keep you alive, you do something unforgivably rash. I'm sorry our relationship must end this way, but you know the cost of your actions. Still I feel we are connected than most. Almost like family. So here I offer a merciful escape. President Snow.

I slid further to the ground till I was lying on the floor and staring up at the cement ceiling. He didn't come out and say it, but the worst was yet to come. I glanced over to the chalice.

If I did drink this poison my death would be quick and no pain. Then again he could have given me a poison that would take long to kill me? Even though he favored me, doesn't mean he's above having fun and justice as to what I have done. Plus, I be a coward. No, I must bare my punishment.

I know this was small, but I did still have hope for the break out. What could be a bigger move than trying to bomb District 13? Yes, I just had to hold out. And if they didn't come in time? I shuddered at the thought, but still kept my mind determined. I die doing the right thing. That's honorable and brave. Qualities her father had displayed.

"Gram, did they come?" Murray asked nervously.

His Grandma patted his back and replied, "It took awhile, but yes they did. And if it wasn't for your great grandfather, Willow would have never been rescued."

Maya asked, "What do you mean?"

"When they broke in for the rescue most of the prisoners, Peeta, Johanna and Annie, they were very close to each other. But Willow was on the other side of the chambers being prepared for her punishment. Thankfully, your great grandfather team had scattered out in search of his comrades, thus allowing him the chance to save Willow."

"What were they doing to her Gram?" They both said simultaneously.

"Remember when I told you about Gale getting caught for hunting."

They nodded their head as their faces grew a little pale. Murray was brave enough to affirm, "They whipped her like Gale."

"Yes and no. You see she was whipped, but with a different weapon meant to make a lot of damage. It had shards of metal at the ends."

Maya covered her face as Murray bit his lip tight. Grandma continued, "My father heard her cries of agony through the door and before anyone else could give him back up, he busted the door down and shot two of the soldiers. He had untied her arms from the post and quickly caught her in his arms. I remember him telling me, he had no clue who she was but, Willow's eyes touched him in a way he never felt before. Being in her same shoes once, her eyes held all the pain and agony he remembered and he just wanted to save her. And with her last words before passing out, "Don't let me die here," your grandfather lifted her away.

"She must have been happy to be free in District 13," Murray said.

Maya added, "And back with Finnick." They looked over to their Grandma making a face that she had to disagree with them.

"What? It couldn't be worse than the hell hole she just escaped from." Murray said with his arms raised in the air.

"Willow loves Finnick. That's why she almost died to save his life," Maya said sternly.

Their Grandmother twisted her wedding ring given from her mother. "Kids you have to remember. Willow wasn't just some normal prisoner. She was seen close to President Snow, the worst enemy for District 13. Under President's Coin digression Willow was placed under arrest secretly and thrown in their prison cells."

"Why secretly?" Murray asked confused.

Grandma responded, "Good question. KatnisS had made a deal with President Coin. Katniss would become the face of the rebellion in exchange for immunity of capture victors and the chance to kill President Snow."

Maya said, "I see. Willow would have been safe under that law."

"So Willow was left there to rot?" Murray said exasperated.

"It was only a couple days with Gale fought to get her medical attention. And soon enough after Gale's cunning persistence and Peeta's confession of how she got the information to save District 13, Willow was sent in the hospital."

Grandmother shook her head as she said that last sentence. "What, Gram?" Maya questioned.

"Gale told me that he had never been so angry until she was released from her cell. You see, President Coin pacifically placed Willow in a small chamber that was pitch black and muddy."

Her grandkids knew too well why this was cruel. It was the same environment Willow fell into at the games. It was what almost drove her mad. "Before the doors open Willow was screaming her brother's name along with other tributes that died and tried to claw her way out. When the doors slid open, Willow burst out and ran smack into Gale. She struggled in his arms to escape and he added in soft tone, "I'm not going to hurt you. You're safe."

She glanced up at him in her fog and for once Gale saw recognition in her eyes. It was only a few seconds until she collapsed with all her fatigue and was taken to the hospital wing to be taken care by a great healer…."

Willow shifted in the uncomfortable bed again trying to find a less painful spot. How long had she been out? And where exactly was she? Her memory served her poorly as to remember only fuzzy pieces. Poison wine. Whipping. Being carried. Lots of darkness. Hand squeeze. Pain. And the occasion sight of a man out the glass window to my room. I glanced around for any clues and saw my bag of solution was almost empty, I had some ivy in my arm, and bandages wrapped around my torso tightly. A youthful girl caught my attention when entering the room. "Oh, hello. How are you feeling?"

"Sore" I kept to myself, confused. "Where am I?"

The girl with braid blonde hair told me, "District 13. Your bag is nearly empty." She whispered to herself, "Odd? The morphling should have last at least another hour or so."

"You look familiar to me," I blurted out by accident.

Her eyes shifted over to me and responded, "I met you in District 12."

My eyes opened and I felt good to remember something. "That's right, you gave me the trophy made of coal."

My eyes shifted toward the movement out the window that looked into the hallway. It was the man had I vaguely remember and he was giving a quick check up on me. "Gale, he's been visiting you a lot."

"Gale?" I glanced back, but he was gone. Gale. Why did that sound familiar?

I turned to the young girl and asked, "Miss?"

"Call me Prim."

She smiled at me and I replied, "Prim, did Peeta get the word out in time so everyone could go into shelter?"

Prim nodded her head, "Yes, everyone is safe thanks to you." I directed my attention to over to the doors when someone called my name.

There stood three familiar faces, Annie, Finnick and Katniss. Annie sat next to me on the bed and asked, "How are you doing Willow?"

I tried to place a carefree smile, "I've been better. How are you?"

Annie nodded her head, "I'm okay." Finnick placed his hand on Annie's shoulder and he said, "I just want to thank you Willow for keeping Annie safe."

I shrugged my shoulders, "Annie and you are family. I do anything for you both."

I glanced over to Katniss. "I'm sorry I never got the chance to fully meet you."

Katniss smiled a little, "We were both a little busy at the time."

Finnick pulled Annie up and said, "We'll see you in awhile."

Katniss shifted closer and I could tell something was truly bothering her. It was the same frustrated and confused expression Finnick wore a lot when we were together.

"What the-"Murray exclaimed until Grandma cut him off with a stern tone, "Murray."

"Finnick and her are broken up?" Maya finish Murray's train of thought.

"Yes…."

"How? Why would Finnick be some dumb to dump her?" Murray said and his grandma responded, "Maybe we should stop for the night. I can see this is making you upset."

"What? I'm not upset. I'm cool, right Maya?" Murray changed his tone quickly trying to cover his anxiety.

Maya nodded, "He's alright Gram. You can continue to tell the story."

Grandma took another sip of tea and responded, "If you're sure?"

"We're sure," Murray said.

"Okay. Where was I? Oh, Katniss sat on the edge of her bed ready to ask a question….

"Willow, you were good friends with Peeta, right?"

I nodded my head afraid as to what fate I might find out about Peeta. "Could you talk to him…try to help him find his self again."

"What's going on?" I asked and tried to sit up without wincing so much.

Katniss's fingers curled up in a fist as she said, "Peeta was given tracker-jack venom and was brainwashed on certain ideas."

Ideas? Well the obvious one was that District 13 is evil, so anyone associated with it can't be trusted. But what else could they do?

Katniss answered my mental question, "Peeta hates me. He actually tried killing me."

I bit my lip at President Snow's house warming gift. If he couldn't keep Peeta, so couldn't Katniss.

"I don't see how I can help him if he's gone off the…."

Katniss waved her hands and said quickly, "No, no, no. I know Peeta is still down in there somewhere deep. He's confused on what to believe anymore because he knows President Snow messed with his mind. He's not sure who he can trust or what he can trust."

"And you think he'll trust me?" I said skeptically.

"Yes. Please just try." Her eyes were filled with desperation to bring back the one she loved.

"Okay, I'll try," I said not sure how I was going to save Peeta.

"Oh, thank you!" She wrapped her arms around me and I patted her back. Katniss stood up to leave and halted quickly at the sight of Gale. Tension between them was evident, but Katniss just kept moving after Gale gave a slight nod. I remembered him now. He was the boy I met in the woods in District 12.

"Well, don't I feel popular today with all these people visiting me," I said as he stood by my bed.

He stood there silent, so I decided to wait for what he would say. Gale wasn't a boy anymore. He had sprouted taller in that three year difference…or was it two? His face was more define and angular, thus demolishing any last indication of his boyish childhood. I scanned down his body to see his cream olive skin and clothes still held a little dirt. I guess a habit he could never get rid of as a kid. His impressive biceps looked good in his gray t-shirt, as well as his dark green army pants fit around his muscular legs. The only other thing I could recognize from the man that stood in front of me was Gale's black hair sweeping into his piercing steel grey eyes. His pursed lips slowly pulled into a smirk as he said, "It's rare to get a hug from Katniss, Sparks."

I attempted again to sit up further as I said, "Don't get jealous. There are plenty of hugs to go around-oooh."

Gale suddenly helped steady me by placing his one hand gently on my upper back and the other holding my arm. "Do you need more medicine?"

I shook my head and said, "Prim went to get more I think. But I don't want them. I'm done being groggy from now on." Gale's expression change to disproval as I mentioned helping me out of bed, but he did as I asked.

Maybe I over estimated the pain I could take since a new wave of sweat formed on my forehead. Trying to bit my lip from the excruciating pain only a hiss escaped my lips. Gale again steady and mostly held me up when my legs became rather weak suddenly.

"Now that you've proven you can stand, why don't you sit back down and give your body a break?" Gale said annoyed.

I was about to retort with a smart ass comment until I elevated my head and noticed Gale's expression of worry. I nodded my head and said, "Okay."

Prim came back into the room looking frazzle and said, "I have an emergency, so I have some cream to rub in and help numb the pain. So we can quickly…."

Gale placed his hand out and said, "I can do it. You go where you're need most."

Prim looked at me unsure and asked, "Are you okay with that?"

I waved my hand and said, "Yea, yea. I'm good. Go."

Prim nodded her head and left the room hastily. I turned to Gale, "You don't have to do it. I can wait…."

Gale opened the jar and replied, "It's fine." I shrugged my shoulders and lifted my arms up. He slowly unraveled my wrappings of my lower back and said, "While I'm here I'll go over some rules."

Turned my head slightly at him, I eyed him up and asked displeased, "Rules?"

"Under Katniss law you are protected and given immunity, but you are still a prisoner under President Coin's orders."

I stared at my gray sheets and sarcastically replied, "So it's President Coin I should thank for this awesome ankle bracelet?"

Gale coughed and responded in his soldier manner, "That tracker shouldn't be taken lightly. If you should try to escape, within a mile from the district 13, it will active and kill you. Also-"

"There's more good news?" He was at the end of the wrappings and replied, "You can't be called Willow in public here. Plus we have to change your appearance so, ohh."

My body stiffened knowing he was examining what was left of my back. I could feel his timid touch as he smeared the remedy. I tried to get back on conversation, "So she wants me to hide because people won't take kindly to me, I get it. Anything else, general?"

He said in a quiet tone, "Just don't cause trouble because it's both of our butts on the line."

I nodded my head and Gale grabbed for more bandages to wrap my wound up. I asked, "Can I see Peeta?" Gale glanced over curiously and I added, "Katniss asked me too."

Gale shrugged his shoulders, "I don't see a problem in that." He sat next to me and started trace the wrappings around my waist. Gale bent over and whispered to me, "But you must first get better. No walking in pain. That's orders."

I rolled my eyes, "Okay, General. I shall not walk in pain."