~ Cora's POV~
Once we were back on the train, I headed straight for my old room, but before I could open my door, Haymitch grabbed my shoulder.
"Glad to see things are back on track," he smiled. "You two deserve some happiness, though I guess I'm glad I didn't walk in five minutes earlier."
"Believe me, Haymitch, so am I," I grinned, then winced as I tried to move my arm away.
"What's up?" he frowned.
"Oh nothing," I lied, "I just twisted it a bit playing with Posy." Before he could ask me anything else, I closed my bedroom door behind me, and heaved against it, sighing. What was I going to do? I needed to tell someone about Snow, but I didn't want to endanger anyone else. I changed into something more comfortable - a light pink blouse, with light brown, wide legged trousers, and dark brown flats - then sat down with Effie, Haymitch, Portia, Cinna, and Peeta at the dining table. I took my seat next to Peeta, and was secretly surprised when he stood up to pull my chair out for me. I didn't realise he was such a romantic. After a delicious supper of blue melon, then roast lamb, and topped off with the must luxurious strawberry chocolate cake I had ever seen, I bade my goodnights and headed back to my room. Once again, Haymitch caught up with me in the corridor outside my door.
"In here, now," he said, pushing me into my room and closing the door.
"What the hell, Haymitch?" I cried.
"Shush, we don't have much time. Now I know you were lying to me earlier. I might be drunk alot of the time, but I know you Cora. Tell me what really happened to your arm." I hesitated, unsure whether to tell him or not, but I sighed and let it all out. About how Snow had come to visit me, about how he had taken me to see the rack in the Peacekeepers headquarters. That he had told me it was in honour of two lovers who thought their happiness was above that of Panem's. Haymitch visibly sucked in his breath at this point and muttered something unrepeatable. How I had tried to turn away to throw up, but Snow had gripped my arm tight, forcing me to look at it as he continued to explain the torture it produced. I then explained how I was supposed to prove to Snow that Peeta and I were in love, because he didn't believe it, the districts didn't believe it, which was the reason for the imminent uprisings.
"Bullshit," spat Haymitch. "Anyone who spends five minutes with the two of you can see that you love each other. It was obvious to see before you even realised it." I blushed. "I mean it Cora. He has something else up his sleeve, I just don't know what it is yet. And as for the districts uprising? That has been a long time coming, they just needed the push, and your defiance with the berries seemed to have done the trick."
"So what do I do?" I sighed, leaning back against the wall. "He threatened to use it on Peeta. Haymitch, I can't let him do that. I can't lose him."
"Don't tell him. At least not yet anyway," he soothed, wiping away the tear that was threatening to roll down my cheek. "I think he's coming anyway. We will be in District Eleven tomorrow, let's see how that goes and we can make a decision then, yeah?" I nodded in agreement, then he left. Moments later, Peeta knocked and walked in.
"Did I just see Haymitch leave your room?" he asked.
"Yeah, I wasn't feeling too great," I lied. "I have to see Rue's family tomorrow."
"Oh god, I forgot." He pulled me in close to him and wrapped me tight in his strong arms, stroking my hair. I relaxed into him, taking in everything I could about him; his scent, his touch, the sound of his beating heart. He spent that night in my room. Nothing happened, we just curled up together, grateful we had each other.
The next morning I woke to see Peeta just laying there, watching me.
"Did you know you snore?" he grinned.
"Oi, cheeky git," I gasped, feigning offence, but he just smiled and kissed me on my head.
"I better get back to my room, Portia will be pulling her hair out. We need to get ready for this afternoon." After he left, I stretched out in bed for the remaining few moments I had left before my day started. I guess I must have dozed off, because I jolted awake to the sound of Effie banging on my door, reminding me that this was now the third time she had come to get me and if I didn't get up now, she wouldn't let me have dessert tonight. Sighing I crawled out of bed. Today was not something I wanted to do, but I was a victor now, I had to do it.
"Haymitch," I hissed, as I saw our mentor walk past my door. "I need to talk to you." Pulling him into my room, he sighed.
"Look, I've already told you we will get thro-" he began.
"No, it's not about that. Look, I need you to help me - help me get through through this trip."
"You still haven't got it yet, have you sweetheart?" Haymitch was evidently not a morning person. "This trip doesn't end when you get off the train. You never get off this train, Cora. You and Peeta are mentors now, every year from here on out. The Capitol is going to drag every part of your life, your romance, out for the public every year for the rest of your lives. You don't have privacy anymore, this train is your life." The shocked look on my face didn't seem to register with him as he left my room, and left me to get get dressed.
Breakfast was a quiet event, except for the usual bustling of Effie, which we were all used to by now. The train had stopped, and it was unscheduled. The Capitol attendant looking after us said some part had malfunctioned and that we would be waiting for about an hour until it was fixed. Effie went off on a rant about how we would be behind, that the impact would affect every event for what seemed like the rest of our lives. Though what after Haymitch said, I figured that was about right. After a while though, the thought that I would never get off this train finally got to me, and I scraped my chair back as I stood up.
"No-one cares, Effie," I shouted, storming out and attempting to slam the door behind me, forgetting that these were automatic doors. I jumped out of the train doors, landing in the soft snow below. Feeling the snow soak through my soft shoes, I instantly regretted doing so, but my temper meant I would carry on as I had meant to go on. I found a patch of ground to sit on and just sat there, playing with my trousers, not caring that I was cold and now wet. Hearing footsteps behind me, I sighed.
"I'll apologise to Effie later," I said.
"You don't need to apologise to anyone," the voice replied. I turned round to see Peeta, crouched down behind me.
"Sorry, I thought you were Haymitch."
"Nope, sorry, just little old me," he winked, poking me in the arm softly, and I couldn't help but start smiling. Peeta always knew how to make me smile. I leaned back and rested my head against his shoulder, just enjoying the breeze floating past us, his arms wrapped around my waist as he sat behind me. "So hows your talent coming along?" he murmured.
"Well that wasn't quite what I was expecting you to say," I smiled, turning around.
"Come on, humour me," he chuckled. I half sighed, half smiled, shaking my head.
"Ok. Well I think I will have enough recipes, tried and tested of course, to release my own cookbook soon. Cinna says the Capitol will just eat it up. Yes, pun intended," I grinned, as Peeta raised an eyebrow. I had to be careful about some of the recipes I put in the book though, because though I was able to use some of the ingredients I had hunted, or rather Gale had hunted, I didn't want the authorities knowing we hunted illegally. Alot of it though, was the fresh herbs, the edible plants and flowers, the fruit and veg we could grow. All things that the Capitol would consider 'quaint' in Cinna's words. But I was also able to import some ingredients from the Capitol to practise with. Baking with Posy was my favourite Saturday afternoon hobby.
"There you two are," cried Haymitch, as he staggered along the side of the track. "I've been looking all over for you, the train is leaving in ten minutes."
"Sorry Haymitch, I just needed some fresh air," I said. "How is Effie?"
"She'll live, don't worry," he grinned. "Come on, let's get you two sorted. We'll be in Eleven soon." Back on the train, I stopped at the dining compartment door.
"I'm going to apologise to Effie first. I shouldn't have snapped like that." Haymitch nodded and left Peeta and I to it. Presumably to drink some more before we arrived in Eleven. Effie was sat in her favourite chair when we walked in, going over our itinerary and what looked like speech cards, so I sat on the chair opposite.
"Effie, I'm sorry," I said, bowing my head. "I shouldn't have yelled at you, I know you are only looking after our best interests." I lifted my head and looked at her. "If it weren't for you, no-one would know what was going on. You hold us together and you should know that we all truly appreciate it."
"Thankyou," she sniffed, patting my hand, and trying to hold back a sob. "I often forget how hard this is for you victors. But it's all forgotten." I threw my arms round her and gave a hug, but pulled away when the Capitol attendant came to let us know we were about to move. "Go on, you had better get ready, Cinna will be waiting for you," she smiled, and then turned back to her speech cards. Back in my room, I was surprised to see Cinna holding an outfit that looked rather chilly for this time of the year.
"Don't worry, it's alot warmer in Eleven that it is in Twelve," he smiled, seeing the confusion on my face. By the time he was done, I looked like a breath of fresh air. I could only hope that it would work in keeping the districts calm for President Snow. I stood up and allowed Cinna to slip my shoes on, and I was completed. My long hair was tied back loosely, and hung over my shoulders gently. Flavius brushed my eyelids with his favourite gold eye shadow, and I was set. We made out way to the back of the train, where the glass windows extended to the roof, and we had a full panoramic view of the countryside. Curling up on the sofa at the back, I nuzzled my head into Peeta's shoulder and looked out of the window, smiling as his arms wrapped securely around me. As the train sped through the large tunnel separating District Eleven from the rest of Panem, a large mockingjay in red paint shot past the window.
"Did you see that?" I asked Peeta, sitting up so fast I managed to knock my shoulder into his chin.
"Urgh, no, see what?" he grunted, holding his jaw.
"That, that, I don't know. It was big and red. I can't be sure, but, quite possibly. I don't know."
"Well that cleared that up," he said, staring at me with wide eyed confusion. Before we could worry any more about it, Haymitch came in.
"Effie wants us. We're here." Before we could move however, the sight of Eleven stopped us in our tracks, and surprisingly even Haymitch. There were barbed wire fences everywhere, peacekeeper trucks at every interval, cameras, and worryingly, more armed peacekeepers than I had ever seen outside of the Capitol. The train station, when we arrived, was filled with yet more armed peacekeepers, which didn't impress Effie.
"Well this is very festive," she snapped as the six of us were herded into an armoured truck, and then herded like cattle into the back of the Justice Building. "Really, you would think we were all criminals." I was glad Cinna had dressed us in something light, as the heat was much more than we had ever had in Twelve. Sitting in the room they had set aside for us, I began to wish for air conditioning, then immediately felt guilty. This was the districts, they weren't able to have the luxuries I had become accustomed to over the last few months.
The anthem began to blare outside, and as I stood up, someone clipped a tiny microphone to my blouse. Haymitch, Effie, Cinna, and Portia all stayed behind to watch live on the television screens, as a now microphoned Peeta and I were ushered out to the front of the building, where hundreds, if not thousands of people were waiting to see us. Despite the clapping, we were greeting with a sombre feeling, a dark, dank, hollow, unsettled feeling that floated around. At the back of the crowd were two large screens, one with Thresh's face on and the other Rue. A lump caught in my throat as I saw her again, so Peeta squeezed my hand. I squeezed back, grateful to have him here. The Mayor introduced us, and we stepped up to the two large microphones in front of us.
"Thankyou for having us here in District Eleven," Peeta started. He looked down at the cards in his hand again, and then did something unprecedented - he put them back in his jacket pocket. I swear I could hear Effie in my head, gasping, and muttering why she even bothered writing the speeches if they are only going to be ignored. "We want to than the fallen tributes of your district. They fought with honor and dignity until the end. Both Thresh and Rue were so young. But our lives aren't just measured in years. The measure in our lives are the people we touch around us. For myself, for Katniss. We know that without Thresh and Rue, we wouldn't be standing here today." Without thinking I couldn't help but lean over and kiss his cheek. "So in recognition of that, we would like donate one month of our wages to each of the families of the fallen tributes every year. It can never bring them back, but I hope it will help." We started to move back towards the doors, but the sight of Rue's family stopped me. Her frail mother, her five younger siblings who all looked like her, with her luminous brown eyes. They looked like a flock of little birds. I couldn't stop myself, as I ran forwards to the microphone at the front of the stage again.
"I just wanted to say that I didn't know Thresh, I only spoke to him once. He could have killed me, but instead he showed me mercy. That's a debt I'll never be able to repay. I did know Rue. She wasn't just my ally, she was my friend. I see her in the flowers that grow in the meadow by my house. I hear her in the Mockingjay song. I see her in my sister Posy. She was too young, too gentle and I couldn't save her. I'm sorry." Rue's mum pressed her fingers to her lips to stop herself from crying and nodded in approval. A hand in the middle of the crown pressed to it's owners lips, and very slowly, three fingers were raised, in the greeting of District Twelve. Those same lips whistled Rue's mockingjay four note tune. The one we had used as a signal in the arena to tell each other we were okay. One by one, the rest of the crowd did the same, until they were all holding their three fingers up to us. The peacekeepers moved forwards as one, and two of them pulled the elderly man who had started it forwards, up to the steps, then a third kicked the back of his legs so he was kneeling.
"No!" I screamed. "NO! NO DON'T. LEAVE HIM ALONE." I ran forwards, the cold terror filling my heart like ice, the nausea hitting my stomach like a sack of bricks. I tried to stop them, but two peacekeepers held me back and dragged me back into the building. The doors shut just a fraction of a second too late as Peeta and I watched them put a bullet in the back of his head and his body slumped to the floor. Peeta looked horrified. He hadn't seen what had happened, he had already come back inside.
"What's happened?" screamed Effie, as she ran from the back room.
"They cut your speech seconds after your speech about Rue, Cora. What happened?" Cinna asked. I couldn't answer. I was hysterical.
"They can't do that, they can't. It wasn't his fault. He has to know I didn't mean it," I cried. Haymitch grabbed both Peeta and I at that point, and dragged us out of the lobby and through a maze of corridors and rooms. He must have been in here enough times to remember this route. I worried that we would be followed, but the peacekeepers left us alone. We were inside now, we were safe, they didn't need to worry about us. Pulling our microphones off us and shoving them under a pillow in a room filled with squishy sofas, he led us down yet more corridors and into a room that looked as though it hadn't been opened since the building had been constructed.