It was easy to get out of the rebel zone. But now I have been walking on these heels with barely any sleep for two days, and I am feeling it. Every step aches. My clothes are becoming limp, less crisp. I have taken to stealing some on the way through. I have only fired my gun once, to kill a poor woman who was about to call the peacekeepers. But it was necessary, I tell myself. It was necessary.
I start to notice the build up of civillisation as I go. The apartments go from being completely deserted, to seemingly having been lived in within the past few days. Then I notice people actually INSIDE the apartments, and a few on the street. I watch them, from a perch next to the window in an abandoned apartment - they walk quickly, never stopping, never saying hello. They all have scarves pulled up around their necks too, and thick coats that fall just below their knees. I try to pick up some of their habits - the woman with handbags walk with it resting in the crook of their elbow, their hand flat and palm to the sky; they never greet eachother, nor look at eachother, nor smile at eachother; they look around themselves warily, as if any one of the people beside them may be a rebel.
On my fourth day, having rested, eaten and changed back into my original clothes, I am about to venture out into the Capitol, when I the television automatically flickers to life. It is President Snow, announcing the death of the Mockingjay.
I sit down on the violet sofa, blinking slowly. If Katniss is dead, then Peeta most likely killed her,meaning Peeta is most likely dead. And if Peeta did kill her, there is no doubt that Gale would of tried to defend her, and may of got himself killed too.
I stare at the tv until it has flicked back off again, the screen darkening to black. I run over it inmy head repeatedly. Could he just be saying that to reassure the Capitol people? Or is it true? Are they really dead? Most likely.
I stand up, then, feeling angry with myself. I must keep going. I practically sotrm out of the apartment, about to fling open the door, when I realise that no one knows I am in here. I must act like the Capitol people act. When in Rome-
I straighten up, pull my scar fup around my neck, and put my bag in the crook of my elbow. I hold my palm to the sky, and keeping my eyes narrowed, I leave the building.
There are still people milling about outside, but there are less than there were before. We are still relatively close to the rebel zone, here, and people are moving inward to be with family and get away from the awfulness here. But as I move closer to the center, the number of people grows, until it feels just like it did when I arrived here with Cole. Funny, how both times I was being taken to my death.
Turning on to a small square, I see the shop immediately. In the window is a range of fur underwear, made of deep brown fur, and the shop is deserted inside. When I openthe door, a bell rings, and an old women turns to look at me. "Come to look at the furs?" She asks.
"Yes," I reply. "It's freezing outside."
Tigress nods and flicks her fingers towards herlsef, gesturing me to come forward. I am led into the back, where there is a bed already set up on the kitchen floor. "One night?" She asks.
I nod. "Thank you, Tigress."
She smiles, a cat like grin, and returns to the shop, leaving me on my cold, hard bed to get some more rest before I move out.
When I awake, there is early morning light streaming through the kitchen window. I have learnt from experience that moving early helps, as there are less people to recognise me, and it's easier to check the holo, though I doubt there are many - if any - pods around this built up, civillian area.
I get up, put on my clothes - I slept in my undergarments - and eat the slice of bread and cheese that Tigress has left on the counter. I am about to leave out of the back door, when I catch sight of a person out of the corner of my eye. Tigress shakes her head, the whiskers on her face quivering. "No one walks that way," She purrs. "Go out the front."
I nod, my pink curls bouncing. Walking out to the front, I see that the shop is still closed, and as we go, Tigress turns the sign around, and stands by the door. "What is your mission, girl?" She asks.
Top secret, I think, but then I realise I have left no form of payment for her kidness. So I look around me, purple tinted eyes flicking from left to right before I say, "To get as close to him as possible."
She nods, and steps aside. "Good luck." She purrs, holding the door open for me as I leave into the cool morning air.