25 The Beginning

From the television, I had learned that her name was Katniss Everdeen and that the girl for whom she volunteered was her sister, Prim.

When Katniss became a tribute, I immediately thought she was being punished for crossing my path in the woods. My paranoia quickly subsided since if they wanted to punish this young hunter, they would have done it during the 73rd games. Moreover, there was no certainty that she would have volunteered for her sister if Prim's name had been a plant. I had to accept that cruel fate was what brought us together again.

Staffed with abundant supporting Avoxes from the CapitolBuilding and the president's mansion, Blue Eyes and I supervised the first feast on our floor in the run up to the 74th Hunger Games. With Blue Eyes overseeing the dining table, I guided the Avoxes out from the service kitchen with the proper dishes in the correct order, keeping to the strict time schedule.

What Blue Eyes did not realize was that I was hiding in the service kitchen from the female tribute. Earlier, when Katniss and the male tribute, Peeta, first arrived to the floor, I had stood off to the side, forcing a supporting Avox to stand in my spot beside Blue Eyes.

Why I feared recognition confused even me. This girl was as good as dead once the games started, I thought. Why does it matter if she knows me?

But it did matter since the President made it clear that every inch of this building had microphones. If President Snow learned that we had crossed paths, he would assume more than what really happened: two strangers locking eyes for a matter of seconds.

I was already a silenced witness, but he could have ordered the Gamemakers to target Katniss even though her chances were already slim. Worse yet, the President could give an order and have her suffer a slow death. Everyone knew that the Gamemakers influenced the games despite their claims of fairness.

The service elevator chimed and a kitchen Avox stepped out with a Baked Alaska dessert that had an order slip designating the female tribute as the recipient. When I saw the warmed flambé triple sec that would be lit on fire, I gritted my teeth, knowing that I would be the one to deliver the desert to the table since I was responsible for special orders this night. I tried to pass the task off to one of the supporting Avoxes, but they all look at me confused not understanding what had to be done.

With the delay in deserts, Blue Eyes came back and saw the cake. He pulled the lighter from a drawer and held it out for me to take. When I did not take it from him, his frustration with this busy night and with me began to show. He shoved the lighter towards me, forcing me to take it.

Quickly I applied the flambé triple sec to the top and edges of the Baked Alaska and entered the dining area with the tray. When I approach the table, I could tell that the girl had been drinking as her face had become flush from wine. Promptly setting the tray down, I lit the triple sec. Relieved that the dessert was capturing Katniss's attention, I stepped back and found my path blocked by the other Avoxes, trapping me by the table.

As the flames burnt out, she began questioning the source of the fire. "Is it alcohol?" Before I could slip away from the table, Katniss's eyes glanced up at me. "That's the last thing I wa—oh! I know you!"

I felt the blood drain from my face as I shook my head quickly in denial and hurried away from the table. When I turned the corner out of sight, I stopped to catch my breath. So, it really was you in the woods.

Effie broke the silence at the table. "Don't be ridiculous, Katniss. How could you possibly know an Avox? The very thought."

I returned to the service kitchen and continued with my supervision of the supporting Avoxes, all the while trying not to panic.

Blue Eyes returned briefly with a tray of dirty dishes and eyed me. I turned away, ignoring him, since I could never explain what was happening, nor would I want to since it would only put him at risk.

The rest of the night progressed smoothly as I debated how to perform my chores in the female tribute's room. There would be no manner of which I could pass this responsibility off to a supporting Avox.

After tidying up the service kitchen, I entered the sitting room with a couple other Avoxes and took up a servant's position in the shadows.

Effie tsked as she watched herself on the television replay. "Haymitch, did you have to mess up my wig?"

"It's a wig?" The drunken man smiled, keeping his eyes closed.

Effie huffed loudly as she glared at the unaware man.

Cinna entered the sitting room and took a seat next to the escort. "You looked wonderful Effie."

From the way Cinna delivered his sincere compliment, Effie was left speechless.

The stylist glanced at the television. "I suspect everyone is talking about District Twelve tonight."

Effie's sheepish smile turned immediately into a frown. "At how ridiculous we all were. It was like a cheap parking lot circus with Haymitch stumbling about, falling off the stage."

Sipping his coffee, Cinna shrugged. "Your girl tribute seems special. Haymitch, you might have something there."

"The boy too. They're both cunning and healthy. Each has a chance if they can follow instructions." Haymitch sipped from his tumbler glass without opening his eyes.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Effie began checking her wig. "I think they are the best tributes I've ever escorted. Did you notice their delightful table manners? Quite civilized those two."

Opening his eyes, Haymitch waved her off. "A dinner knife and a hunting knife are two completely different things. I'd rather have a feral kid who eats with his fingers and does what it takes to survive."

"I disagree. A civilized person is more dangerous when they have something to lose. All you have to do is look at history to see that. The most civilized nations are often the most brutal. Sure, these kids are dirt poor, but they both have something other than their lives to fight for. We just don't see it."

Frowning, Haymitch drunkenly shrugged. "You may have something there."

Effie glanced back at the corridor. "Did they go to bed?"

"No." Cinna clasped his hands over his knee. "I showed Peeta the garden earlier. I saw him take Katniss up to the roof a few minutes ago."

Haymitch turned to Cinna. "What garden?"

Realizing that this was my opportunity, I slipped away and headed for the female tribute's room. I began cleaning the bathing area and worked my way to the bathroom sink. Restocking the towels, I made sure the bathroom was immaculate before tidying the bedroom.

I turned down the bed and performed a quick inspection of the room. All that remained was to collect the dirty laundry, and I could be on my way. Reaching for the unitard and boots on the floor, the door swung open, revealing Katniss.

We stared at each other for a moment before she stepped into the room.

I stood at attention, bowing my head. They're listening. Please don't acknowledge our encounter; it would only make things worse for you. I bit my lip.

Katniss took small steps towards me as she recognized her unitard and boots in my hands. "Oh, sorry. I was supposed to get those back to Cinna. I'm sorry. Can you take them to him?"

Fearful of lingering, I gave her a small nod and exited her room.

I found Cinna still in the sitting room conversing with Effie and Haymitch. Stepping before him, I held out the unitard and boots for him to see.

"Are those Katniss's?"

I nodded.

"Put them in my room. I'll take them back with me tomorrow."

"Cinna will be staying the night." Effie's words trailed a bit too long, indicating that she must have taken one of her pills with her wine. "Turn down his bed."

When I nodded in response to her order, my eyes drifted up to see Haymitch staring at me. Katniss's comments at dinner must have awoken him to what he had missed last year when I served him. I turned away and headed for Cinna's room.

Placing the unitard and boots by the stylist's overnight bag, I next turned down his bed. With his room completed, I headed for the service kitchen since the overnight Avoxes would soon arrive to relieve Blue Eyes and me.

As I travelled down the corridor, a tottering Haymitch appeared, nearly crashing into me. "Sorry, sweetheart."

Keeping my eyes down, I stepped to the side to let him pass only to see him step in the same direction.

"My fault. Sorry."

I stepped to the other side of the corridor as Haymitch mimicked my movements.

"Sorry again." He lowered his voice to a barely audible whisper. "I really am sorry." He gently took hold of my arm. "Your brother?"

I shook my head as I our eyes met.

Haymitch cleared his throat and spoke aloud. "I've might have had too much to drink." He belched, nauseating me with his fumes. "Can you help me get to my bed?"

I nodded.

He threw an arm around my shoulder and began staggering slowly towards his room. He again began to whisper. "Our local Peacekeepers said that two fugitives had been captured and taken back to the Capitol. The visiting Peacekeepers found your camp and dismantled it, taking it with them on the train. Katniss hunts in those woods; did you two actually meet?"

I gave a slight nod as we entered Haymitch's bedroom. Before he could whisper another question, I covered his mouth and gestured that the government was listening.

Haymitch smirked. "Thanks, sweetheart. I'm well aware. Can you get my shoes? I'm afraid that I'll fall over and will have to sleep on the floor."

Through subtle gestures, I inform him that Hadrian and I were running through the woods from the hovercraft when we spotted Katniss and her friend. My hands quickly slipped off one of his shoes. Simulating a net, I gestured how I was scooped up into the hovercraft as they killed my brother with a spear. My hands slipped off the other shoe.

Haymitch leaned forward, whispering. "Did you two speak to one another before you were captured?"

I shook my head.

"Don't let her talk about it if you can."

Nodding my understanding, I guided him into bed and covered him with his blankets.

"Thanks again, sweetheart. How about a bedtime story?" The man guffawed at his own joke.

Rolling my eyes, I gave him a nonthreatening sneer.

He reached out and gripped my hand, pulling me close. Giving my hand a reassuring squeeze, he lowered his voice again to a whisper. "Don't give up. It may take a few years, but..." He bit his lip well aware of the danger of saying too much.

Reminded of my father when he too asked me to never give up, I patted his hand and smiled. Stepping into the corridor, I turned off his light and closed his door.

The next morning, Blue Eyes served the breakfast buffet as I took care of things behind the scenes. However, before anyone appeared to eat, my floor partner confronted me in the service kitchen about my elusiveness. Having heard Katniss's comment at the dinner table the night before, Blue Eyes inquired if my behavior had anything to do with that.

I nodded and indicated that I was trying not to interfere with a tribute who thinks that she knows me. When he continued to eye me, I gave the Avox gesture for danger and tribute.

Blue Eyes reluctantly nodded and returned to the dining area.

With the extra Avoxes and the busy schedules of the tributes, I was able to avoid Katniss for the rest of the training week. I felt guilty avoiding a girl who showed no ill will towards me. I even wished that I could be a better servant to her, but it was too much of a risk. President Snow was right; this was a house of the damned, and befriending her would only condemn her more.

It was Sunday night, and I was expected to address Katniss's room, but she had shuttered herself up inside. I began to fret since I would soon have to go in to clean the bathroom and turn down her bed. Hovering in the corridor, I began to hear the sound of smashing dishes come from her room.

When there was a long pause, I entered her room to find a tremendous mess of broken dinner plates, glasses, and thrown food. She had snapped from what I presumed to be the stress of soon being forced to go into an arena to fight to the death against 23 other kids.

"Just leave it!" Her voice strained as she yelled at me. "Just leave it alone!"

Instead of fleeing the room, I decided to be her friend for the short opportunity that her mess had given us. I closed the door behind me and went to the bathroom, returning with a damp cloth. I wiped her face gently and cleaned the blood from a broken plate off her hands. Thankfully, she gave little resistance.

She began to whisper. "I should have tried to save you."

I shook my head and smiled faintly. You silly girl.

"No, it was wrong."

I tapped my lips with my fingers then pointed to her chest to indicate that she too would have ended up as an Avox, or dead.

Katniss spent the next hour helping me clean the room. Once all the garbage had been dropped down a disposal and the food cleaned away, I turned down her bed. Emotionally exhausted, she crawled in between the sheets, and I tucked her in.

I wanted to stay and hold her hand until she fell asleep, but that was far too risky, so I gave her a parting smile and departed.

Monday night, Blue Eyes and I were finishing the dinner setup when we heard the tribute elevator chime. We watched Katniss step out of the car in her beautiful dress and pace before the elevators. The other elevator chimed, and as Peeta stepped out, Katniss shoved him hard in the chest, knocking him backward into an urn that shattered on the floor. Losing his balance, Peeta fell backward onto the shards.

They immediately began arguing.

Cripes! I glanced at an equally startled Blue Eyes. With that anger, she might win.

The rest of the team stepped from the next elevator car and began to break up the fight. As they argued, Blue Eyes and I learned that Peeta had confessed his love for Katniss live on the television, which angered Katniss since she thought it was a trick.

She thinks it's an act? Is she the only one that doesn't see it? I glanced at Blue Eyes who could only shrug at her ignorance.

We slipped back to the kitchen to finish preparations as our support Avoxes took their positions.

Collecting the broom and dustpan, I waited for them to sit at the table before sweeping up the broken shards of the urn. If I had to guess, the Seneschal was no fan of this destructive girl.

After dinner, they retired to the sitting room to watch replay coverage of the pre-game interviews, which gave me the opportunity to address Katniss's room and turn down her bed.

Returning to the sitting room, I watched Haymitch and Effie share final words with the two tributes. Effie departed for her room as Haymitch remained with the two tributes to dispense his last advice before parting. When they finish their goodbyes, Katniss left for her room, leaving Peeta and Portia alone.

I slipped off to the escort's room where I found Effie sobbing before her dressing mirror just as I had discovered her last year at this same moment in the routine. Retrieving her pills and a glass of water, I joined her on her bench and passed her one pill.

"Thank you, dear." She swallowed the pill with water. "Could you pass me another pill?"

I shook my head.

Effie stared at me. "One more pill. I command it."

I shook my head again, giving the Avox sign for tribute.

"You want me to stay focused for the tributes?"

I nodded.

"So I'm supposed to let an Avox manage my medical care? I take it that Lucius is responsible for your disobedience?" Effie pulled off her wig.

Smiling, I stood, taking the wig from her and stowed it in its case.

"You're right. I believe Haymitch when he says that these two have a solid chance this year. But if you're going to withhold my medicine, you'll have to sit with me until I fall asleep just like Lucius would. No slipping away like you do. I'm about ready to have you fitted for one of those cat bells."

Don't give Julia any ideas. I smirked at Effie as I stepped away to prepare her shower. The thirsty men would probably enjoy seeing me in a collar.

When Effie returned from her shower, her eyes had become droopy from the medicine.

I tucked her into bed and positioned a chair nearby, along with a fresh box of tissues. There I sat until I heard her begin to snore.

Leaving the overnight Avoxes to their watch, I returned to my Avox quarters for a couple hours of restless sleep.

The next morning, I waited for the tribute elevator doors to close before moving from the service kitchen to Effie's room where I found the escort sitting on the edge of her bed in a bathrobe, tissues in hand.

She dabbed her tears. "Are they gone?"

Nodding, I sat next to her and threw my arm around her.

"I know this was the last time that I may ever see them, but I couldn't do it. I can't say goodbye." Effie took more tissues and blew her nose. "Goodbyes are forever." She began to sob.

For several minutes, I sat with my arm around Effie until her sobbing subsided and she regained some of her composure.

"Has Haymitch left for Game Headquarters?"

I nodded.

"I should prepare myself." Effie moved to her bench before her dresser mirror and began her preparations. "Haymitch has hinted at some sponsor interest already. I want to get there early so we can transfer funds as soon as the games begin."

For her reddened eyes, I located her eye drops and assisted her with their application. Next, I slipped out to the service kitchen, returning with jam-covered toast, a bowl of fruit, and coffee.

"Oh, I'm not hungry."

I eyed her, crossing my arms as her friend Lucius would.

Grabbing a slice of toast, Effie rolled her eyes. "Fine. Any other Avox, and I'd be calling Julia to complain."

I smiled as I fetched her gold wig.

"Gold?" When I pulled out her forest green blazer, she nodded with approval. "Bold. I like it. You know, this year will be different."

...

Weeks later, I delivered breakfast to Effie in the sitting room where she sat watching live Hunger Games coverage. The escort had lost some weight from the weeks of stress, and I often had to coax her to eat, but this was the farthest her district had ever progressed under her service.

With District Four out of the games, Lucius came up to assist me with Effie on a nightly basis, which was essential during Peeta's near death injury in the arena.

Her eating had almost completely stopped when a rule change was announced where there could be two victors from the same district if they are the last two alive, a first in Hunger Games history. The only other pair of tributes had lost their female recently, leaving Peeta and Katniss as the only remaining team. Only the girl from District Five and the boy from District Two stood between them and home.

Sitting next to Effie, I placed the oatmeal spoon in her hand. When she did not start to eat, I looked to Seneschal who was frowning.

Julia leaned forward. "Effie, eat some food. You can't go to Game Headquarters on an empty stomach."

"I will, Julia. I will."

Julia sighed. "Twelve, did Haymitch return to the Training Center to rest last night?"

I shook my head.

Effie sipped her coffee. "Don't worry about Haymitch, Julia. He says that as long as they keep going, he can keep going."

"Fueled by grain alcohol no doubt." Julia pressed her lips tight together and sighed through her nose.

Lucius gently took hold of Effie's chin and made her look at him. "Effie, dear. Eat." He pointed to the tray before her on the coffee table.

"You're right." Effie scooped up one bite of oatmeal into her mouth and slowly removed the spoon from between her lips, returning the spoon to the tray.

On the television, we watched Katniss divide the rest of their stew and rice and hand a heaping plate to Peeta.

The male tribute looked surprised. "All this?"

"We'll earn it back today." Katniss plowed into her plate of food. With her plate nearly empty, she abandoned her fork and began to scrape up the last dabs of gravy with her finger. "I can feel Effie Trinket shuddering at my manners."

Effie pursed her lips disapprovingly as she stared at her two tributes on the television.

"Hey, Effie, watch this!" Peeta tossed his fork over his shoulder and literally began licking his plate clean with his tongue making loud, satisfied sounds. Then he blew a kiss out to her in general. "We miss you, Effie!"

Slowly Effie shook her head. "Those two love to provoke me." She took her cloth napkin and began dabbing her eyes. "And I do so miss them, very much."

Lucius placed an arm around her. "They can do it. They'll make it back. Together, they have the advantage."

Perhaps reacting to Peeta's words, Effie focused on her breakfast and began eating. "But they don't know about Cato's body armor or Finch's electric shocker. And why does Katniss keep calling Finch Foxface?"

"I doubt it's derogatory, my dear." Pointing to the breakfast tray, Lucius encouraged Effie to keep eating. "I'm guessing the shocker is meant for a defense against Cato."

Biting into her toast, Effie shrugged, frustrated. "And why are they giving out shockers. It's against the rules."

Leaning back, Julia crossed her legs. "So is having two victors. Seneca Crane seems to have thrown out the rulebook this year."

...

Early in the morning, Blue Eyes and I were glued to the television when the tribute elevator chimed. Before I could turn off the screen, the Seneschal stepped out with the Head Peacekeeper.

"Leave the television on." Julia approached the couch. "Bring me tea."

George sat down. "Coffee, black."

Blue Eyes and I headed for the service kitchen and returned with their orders.

Julia took her tea. "You two can have a seat and continue watching. They are your tributes after all."

Blue Eyes and I sat on a side couch and watched Katniss climb to her feet atop the large Cornucopia where the games had began. Slowly, she took her bow and aimed at a shadowy target lying on the ground below. Releasing her last arrow into her target, the cannon fired signifying the final kill.

With a single clap, George hooted. "Congratulations, District Twelve."

Julia's lips tightly pressed together as she remained silent.

"What?" George sipped his coffee.

Staring at the television, Julia smirked. "No victory trumpets."

I gasped. Your right! They're going to betray them.

The Seneschal glanced at me with a mutual look of understanding.

The elevator chimed and Lucius stepped out, promptly joining us before the television. "What have I missed?"

George picked up his coffee. "The girl just killed the last tribute, but they haven't sounded the victory trumpets"

"Is Peeta still alive?"

"Yes. The tourniquet on his leg saved him." George pointed to the television. "But they had to loosen it so she could use the arrow. His leg has probably started bleeding again."

Julia slid over on the couch to make room her friend. "Would you care for anything from the kitchen, Lucius?"

"I'm fine. So, what are they waiting for?"

Sipping her tea, Julia shrugged. "If I had to guess, Seneca Crane is soiling his pants right about now since he didn't expect that he'd actually have two victors."

As the hovercraft removed the body of the dead tribute, Lucius began to fidget. "You don't think that they will change the rules again."

George frowned at the question.

Julia's eyes drifted towards the stylist. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

I bit my lip. They can't.

Claudius Templesmith's voice boomed from the television as his voice carried into the arena. "Greetings to the final contestants of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. The earlier revision has been revoked. Closer examination of the rule book has disclosed that only one winner may be allowed. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor."

"Just as I thought." Julia crossed her legs and began bouncing her top foot feverishly.

"Poor Effie." Lucius reached over and took my hand as our somber eyes met.

Turning my attention to the television, I imagined her in hysterics at Game Headquarters where she remained with Haymitch last night.

Everyone was staring at the television when we watched a wounded Peeta offer his life to Katniss, who then refused to kill him.

"Kill him." The Seneschal's voice was cold and measured. "Don't think about it. Kill him"

On the television, Katniss reached into a small travel pouch and pulled out a handful of poison berries, dividing them between her and Peeta. The two tributes stared at one another before tossing the poison berries into their mouths, bringing everyone in the sitting room to their feet.

Lucius took me in his arms as I looked away.

The trumpets began to blare from the television speakers as the frantic voice of Claudius Templesmith shouted above the music. "Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you—the tributes of District Twelve!"

I turned to the television to see Katniss and Peeta safely spit the berries out.

"Yaaaa!" George clapped. "Clever girl!"

Everyone displayed a smile except for Julia who calmly sat down. "She's a fool. She should have killed him when she had the chance."

Puzzled, Lucius turned to Julia. "How can you say that?"

"I know the government. I know President Snow. This is unacceptable and someone is going to lose their life over this."

Returning to my seat, I knew in my gut that the Seneschal's words were true.

Everyone on the floor knew well enough the government's cruelty and insistence of having things happen their way. It did not take long until the rest of the room became solemn as the truth began to register.

...

Effie gripped my hand so tight that it caused me to groan. "Sorry." She repositioned her hands, not letting go.

Holding the heavy vase of flowers in my other arm, I watched the numbers atop Training Center elevator descend below the gymnasium to the underground hospital.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a waiting room with couches and chairs. Haymitch paced around a couch in the center of the room as Portia and Cinna sat in the nearby chairs.

Effie released my hand and approached Haymitch. "Any word?"

"Katniss is out of surgery. They believe that they have successfully restored her hearing to her damaged ear. She has not woken yet."

"And Peeta?"

Haymitch looked away. "They aren't sure if they can save the leg, something about ischemic damage to the tissue being too severe. They said they'll try their best."

Effie took his arm. "He's alive, Haymitch. That's what counts."

Tired of having flowers in my face, I sat the vase on the center of the coffee table in front of the couch.

A female doctor entered the waiting area with a stern face. "Peeta is out of surgery. We couldn't reverse the damage and had to take the lower leg."

Effie groaned, leaning against Haymitch.

Haymitch placed an arm around Effie. "Thank you, Doctor."

"We'll fit him with an artificial limb when the wound is ready. Since the amputation is well below the knee, he shouldn't have any difficulty walking."

Dabbing her tears, Effie cleared her throat. "Can I see them?"

The doctor shook her head. "Not yet. Their bodies are being treated for malnutrition with a nutrient I.V, which also contains dermal regeneration proteins. We are also inducing extra sleep for neural regeneration. Since we must avoid visual and audible stimulation during this process, we do not allow visitors until the patients are mentally stable. We have had incidents in the past where outside stimuli triggered a psychotic event. If you want, you can come into the observing room for a couple minutes."

Effie nodded.

"Okay. Follow me." The doctor led the way.

Haymitch remained where he stood, giving Effie pause.

"Aren't you coming, Haymitch?"

"I've already looked in on her. I need to visit the lounge for a little bit. I could use something strong."

Portia stood. "I'll join you."

Effie looked to male stylist. "Cinna?"

"Thank you. I would like to see Katniss." When he passed by me, he gripped my hand, pulling me along.

We entered a dimly lit room and found Katniss lying on a hospital bed through a one-way section of wall. Tubes ran from her arm to a bedside machine.

"She should make a full recovery." The doctor gestured towards the soft-yellow glowing ceiling in Katniss's room. "That's special therapeutic lighting to help with recovery."

As we observed Katniss, someone delivered a tray of food to the room.

The doctor inspected the sparse amount of food. "I expect her to wake soon. She will want to eat."

Just then, Katniss started to move, regaining consciousness. She appeared to have all her senses and quickly noticed that her hearing in her left ear had returned.

"Ah good. It appears that her ear surgery was a success. I'll have the food brought in to her as soon as the nurse returns."

"I'll do it." Cinna turned towards the doctor.

"I can't allow that. She knows you, and I cannot do it since I'm seen as someone of authority. Our nurses dress simple, like Avoxes, and have the best luck at not upsetting patients during this medical treatment phase."

Effie fidgeted with her handkerchief. "She's becoming upset. Look at her. Use my Avox, Doctor. Katniss must be hungry."

What? She knows me. I clenched my jaw.

The doctor studied me for a moment. "Okay. Go now. Be quick and do not respond to any of her questions. I'll have to sedate her if she becomes any more upset."

Picking up the food tray, I moved before the sliding door, wondering what the doctor meant by psychotic event. The door opened, and I stepped into the room.

I sighed with relief when my presence did not worsen Katniss's agitation. She even appeared to calm. I sat the tray across her thighs and found the button to raises her to a sitting position.

As I adjusted her pillows, she began speaking with a rusty voice. "Did Peeta make it?"

Despite the doctor's order, I gave her a nod as I slipped a spoon into her hand. Staring into her eyes, I squeezed her hand in friendship and watched a sense of relief spread across her face. Gently, I slipped my hand from her grip and exited the room.

In the observing room, the doctor crossed her arms as she studied Katniss. "She's doing well."

"How long will she be here?" Effie kept her eyes on Katniss.

"At least a week. Maybe a little less."

"Well, it will give me time to prepare the victory banquet for the sponsors." Effie did not sound as enthusiastic as I thought she would, now that she had become a victor's escort.

"Oh, lest I forget." The doctor picked up a plastic bag from a corner table and handed it to Cinna. "Here are her clothes. They are unwashed."

"Thank you." Cinna pulled out Katniss's jacket.

Wrinkling her nose from the foul odors, Effie took a step back. "Why keep them."

The doctor shrugged. "Sometimes there is something sentimental that the victor wants to keep."

Removing the gold mocking-jay pin from the jacket, Cinna smiled. He tucked the jacket back into the bag before approaching me. "Can you send the clothes to the laundry? Double check the pockets for me."

I nodded.

Cinna placed the gold pin in my hand. "And clean this, please. Use some polish if you'd be so kind. You can set it on Katniss's dresser when done."

I smiled, giving Cinna a bow.

...

I placed the polished pin on Katniss's dresser. Staring at it, I traced the outlines with my fingertip and smiled. You did it. You're going home for the both of us.

But, I soon felt my brief moment of joy fade, knowing that her games against the Capitol had only just begun.