The journey to District 13 was awful. As he said, Domitius remained in District 2, disappearing towards the main part of town, and left me with a group of surly soldiers in grey uniforms and a few misplaced, confused looking people who were once perhaps Capitolians. No one talked to me for the remainder of the journey, for which I was grateful. A few times I caught the Capitolians glancing anxiously at me. Their faces were worn and stripped of their usual colours, but the anxiety in their eyes was clear and, as I met their gaze, the flash of fright there reminded me who I was in their world.
Even though the world had changed beyond recognition, they'd still remember me as the ruthless killer who ripped out children's throats with her bare teeth. At that thought I ran my tongue over the tips of my sharpened teeth. I should try and get rid of them. I wasn't sure if it would be possible, but now they were just one more reminder of what I'd done to try and save Clove.
I disappeared back into my darkened thoughts until the jolt of the craft told me we'd landed. As everyone else rustled into movement- or snapped, in the case of the emotionless grey soldiers – I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with courage. I still wasn't certain I was prepared for this. Who knew what awaited me in this lost district? Up until days ago I had talked to no one save Hazel for months. Was I ready to face a whole hidden district of people who most likely wanted me dead?
I didn't give myself a chance to answer that question before I forced my body into motion and followed the directions of one of the Greys down the steps. I caught a brief glance of wide, oppressive grey clouded sky before we were practically pushed through a steely door and into a closed concrete corridor. Already I could sense that grey was going to be District 13's colour. Perhaps every district had a colour that represented its nature. I contemplated that as I silently followed the lead soldiers down the corridor. The Capitolians shuffled nervously but whatever we faced I was determined to hold my head high and my back straight. Still, my heart was pounding nervously against my ribs, aching old bruises from the inside out, so I began to list districts and colours in time with our footsteps.
District 1 was definitely gold. An image of Cashmere and Gloss standing side by side, wrapped in shimmering gold before the Quarter Quell parade surfaced in my mind. I remembered Gloss' horror at the lack of clothing his sister wore and the way he'd glared at everyone within sight as if his fierceness alone could keep them from touching her. I swallowed, an image of their deaths flashing through my mind.
District 2 was always bathed in blood. Red was our colour; a deep, burning crimson that spoke of extremes; hate, anger, passion, pain. I skipped through the other districts, assigning them colours from instinct. Artificial orange for Three; Deep, glittering turquoise for Four; Luminescent pearl-white for Five; pale pink for Six, the colour of a fishes stomach; dark pine green that disappeared into black for Seven, brilliant scarlet for Eight, rippling ochre for Nine, creamy tan for Ten, rich, earthy brown for Eleven, and finally pitch black for Twelve.
We came to stop at almost the same moment I decided on this last colour and quickly I glanced around us, though the endless grey corridors didn't reveal much to me. We'd paused at a door and as I glanced behind I realise I'd lost the Capitolans somewhere along the way. Mentally I scolded myself for being so lax. I was in enemy territory just as much as if I were in the Capitol and here I was musing about colours. My time in the Institute had obviously blunted my skills; I couldn't allow that. Frowning, I brought my mind back into sharp focus and tuned into the environment around me. The door opened to reveal a large room and the soldiers who had escorted me stepped backwards to let me pass. I could feel their eyes on me as I did, but I didn't dare meet any of them.
"The President requires you to wear the District 13 uniform, if you are agreeing to our side," the leader said in an emotionless voice. Something about them reminded me of robots and it was unnerving, as if none of them thought for themselves. Even though I knew from what Domitius has warned me that the President referred to a woman named Coin who ran the district and the rebellion, I still could not stop myself from internally flinching at the title. It had never represented anything good to me. Somehow, I doubted it did not either. Whatever she had arranged, this Coin woman was still in a position of immense power, and that made me nervous. She was no different to Snow in that she held thousands of people's lives in her hands. And I still did not know if she could be trusted.
"I agree to no one's side," I said coldly to the man who had spoken to me. "No one's but my own."
I wanted to make my position very clear. Even if I had agreed to be here it did not mean I had joined their rebellion, not as they thought. They did not control me.
"Well that's unusual," said a sarcastic voice and I turned to be faced with Johanna Mason who stood with her arms crossed over her chest, looking at me as if I were the Devil herself. She rolled her eyes at my surprise. "At least some things don't change," she spat.
"Oh. You're alive," I said with dismay, while the soldiers looked between the two of us. I'd noticed their shoulders tense, their fingers tightening around their weapons. Perhaps they were as nervous of Victors as everyone else in Panem after all. I looked Johanna disdainfully up and down, taking in her simple grey uniform and short, spiky hair. She looked quite different to the last time I'd seen her but far from her old self.
"No thanks to you," she spat back quickly and I realised I wasn't the only one thinking of our last encounter. I looked away, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at her childish scowl and narrowed my eyes on the soldiers.
"You can leave now," I said, as if it were my position to order them about. They hesitated, but clearly none of them really desired to be stuck in a confined space with Johanna and I, because a moment later they nodded and stomped away.. I turned my back on Johanna and walked into the room, only then taking it in. It looked very much like an apartment, as if I were staying in District 13. I looked around contemptuously at a solid but comfortable looking bed, a door leading to a bathroom, and a neat pile of plain grey clothes sitting on a table by the door.
At the sound of the door clicking shut behind me, I turned to have the inevitable encounter with Johanna. My expression revealed nothing as I met her angry, taupe eyes.
"I like what you've done with your hair," I said mockingly. She snarled and I gave her a cool smile. It was as easy as ever to be in a position of power with Johanna; as always she allowed her temper to take control. As my gaze drifted over the rest of her body, I couldn't help but picture wire coiling around her skinny limbs. We sized each other up; I knew she was assessing my condition too, wondering where I had been in the time since we'd last met. I averted my eyes, not wanting her to read anything in my expression. The memories were still too fresh.
"Did our dear President treat you well?" she asked coldly, her eyes narrowing. "District 2 pet as usual."
"First class room, Johanna," I replied evenly, then hesitated. I wasn't sure whether to reveal certain facts to her. On one hand Hazel and Hyde wanted everyone to think they were dead. On the other, if she wanted to, I knew Johanna could keep a secret like her life depended upon it. I licked my lips and decided to risk it.
"In fact I met an old friend there," I said carefully, "...Hazel's alive, Johanna."
She started, her eyes flying to mine but quickly narrowing with suspicion as she tried to decide if I was lying. She should have known better than that. I did not lie.
Eventually she shrugged with forced nonchalance. "Good to know."
She hovered for a second and then quickly turned to leave, ending our short conversation as unexpectedly as it had begun. As she reached for the door, I spoke without thinking.
"You didn't tell them, did you?"
She froze before looking slowly over her shoulder, her profile majestic with pride.
"Tell them what?"
"Whatever information they wanted from you..."
Her eyes flickered as she remembered those rooms where we'd last met; I knew the flash of haunting memories well. Some memories never let you go, no matter how many miles you put between you and them.
"None of us would be here if I had," she said simply. For once, I did not believe it was her arrogance that spoke, it was a truth that hollowed her out with pain. For a moment, she disappeared in front of me, her eyes glazing over as she became lost somewhere in her memories, and then she snapped back with ferocious speed, her eyes snapping back to me in a vicious glare.
"Rebellion or no rebellion, Two," she spat, "You and I will always be enemies."
I smiled, slightly comforted by the familiarity of fighting with Johanna. At least some things were still the same in this world which had turned upside down.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Seven," I replied, showing her my teeth. She nodded curtly and then slammed the door shut behind her.
A/N: Happy New Year to all my lovely readers who celebrate it! Thanks for being your awesome, caring selves!
All my love
- Lu xo