I hold onto the railings, quickly forgotten as the room fills up and more screens show the continuing attack on the rebellion. I watch the impending chaos with a morbid fascination, an onlooker in a disaster. The ground shakes on occasion, giving off weak tremors as the sound of explosions take place. An alarm goes off, dead in the wake of further explosions. And still I remain alone. My knees buckle and my knuckles go white from holding onto the railing so tightly. Finally, minutes after the first explosion, an officer must realize I do not belong in the room and he shows me to the door, telling me I must join my group.

I do just that, jumping into a light jog the moment I am outside. I have to push past many other soldiers who are either in a hurry to get some place or simply standing there with gaping mouths. Occasionally, out the corner of my eye, I see the flash of an explosion. Never so close that I panic, but never far enough that I can relax even for a moment. I make a few sharp turns, squeeze behind people who have formed groups, and keep running until I've made it to the others.

Peeta, Clove, and Marvel still remain at our tent and have been joined by Gale, Finnick, and the remaining sharp shooters.

"Have you seen Boggs?" Jackson asks, eyes flashing back and forth through the crowds. If he doesn't show up soon she will be left second in command, something she is very aware of.

I nod my head, not speaking until I'm close enough to not have to strain my voice. "He's back in command. I don't know if he'll be here." I answer honestly. She nods before directing me to get my bow and await orders.

I regroup with the others after grabbing everything I need from the tent. I pause just before making my way over to them and wonder if I should confess the baby. The moment this thought appears, I scoff. No way could I do that, Boggs was one person. My commander, somebody who would inevitably find out. The thought of telling Peeta and Marvel, even Clove, is terrifying. Gale is unimaginable. So I stand quietly beside Peeta who asks, gently, if I'm okay. I nod and give him a small smile which I hope reassures him.

"Why aren't you and Marvel joining your people?"

Marvel jumps in to answer this. Sometimes I think he likes the sound of his own voice. "We were in the middle of being reorganized, our squad is all over the place. Jackson said it would be for the best if we stuck with you guys."

I nod, eyes examining the explosions that continue to go off maybe three miles away. My heart contracts at the idea of Marrisa or any of my friends over there. The horror and fear all of them must be experiencing there. I suck in a breath as the biggest blast yet goes off, the type they must have used when they destroyed Twelve.

Jackson calls us over and before I can make my way to her, I pause and see Clove watching me deeply. Or rather the hand that rests on my stomach. Furious at my own slip, I drop my hand and pray she doesn't put the pieces together. When our eyes meet I can practically see the wheels in her head turning and the sudden clarity that strikes her. She stands painfully close as Jackson begins to speak.

"It seems there was a spy within the rebellion that gave information to the Capitol; that explosion we just saw? That was them taking out one of our biggest strongholds as well as several hovercrafts. I'm awaiting orders now on our movement. You two," She motions to Marvel and Peeta, "You'll be staying with us until we are no longer on high alert, got that?"

She doesn't await an answer, already talking into the radio and trying to get her voice in with all the others.

We turn to our companions once again; I'm petrified of what Clove may or may not ask. Being beside her is enough to rattle me.

I keep my hands balled in fists and in the pockets of my jacket, pressing my thumb against my index finger whenever there is another explosion. They're getting closer and closer, we really have to move soon, they're in a direct path towards us.

They positioned the rebellion in a way that would prevent the Capitol from trying a surprise attack with the mountains behind us. This would be a great advantage but now they are coming at us head on, meaning we can't back up. Well, it might be possible, but those mountains almost seem to touch the sky. I gulp, realizing just how trapped we are. I'm beginning to think of the ways I can escape, if we stay here much longer we'll become the new targets. My lips press together and fear seizes me, we really need to get going soon. Jackson continues to look for orders but nothing new seems to have happened. I begin to fidget, digging my toes into the bottom of my boots. Beside me Peeta voices my concern out loud, as a new bomb goes off less than two miles away.

"They were already in place? God damn traitors." Jackson hisses.

We watch her curiously, I see the others getting nervous.

One mile away.

"Oh thank goodness!" Leeg 1 sighs, pointing to Boggs who jogs to the rest of us and takes Jackson to the side, both of them talking rapidly. Boggs claps and calls us all to order, everybody moving faster than they would with Jackson.

Boggs eyes me for a moment, his eyes once again dropping to my stomach like he expects there to be a giant bump. His eyes burn and I'm tempted to cross my arms, however, with all of my movements being scrutinized by Clove, I don't dare. He finally looks away, nobody seems to question why he looked at me. They're more concerned with what we're going to do, as I am.

"Alright listen up you guys, already soldiers are going into the city. Hovercrafts taking the injured back to Thirteen have been destroyed. Consider us cut off from them until we get reinforcements. We're going to move into the city as a group. We have no current destination. There is, however, an apartment complex that was evacuated last week. We'll shoot for that and make adjustments where we need to. Alright? Let's get moving."

He moves to the front of the group and we begin to move. Others walk in a similar fashion to this and enter the city in different points. I try and focus on my surroundings. We move into the outer limits but quickly get further in, where only a few pods were taken out and then to place where no pods were destroyed, or rather, were scheduled to be destroyed in the coming days. We move rather quickly, occasionally seeing another group walking down the other roads, occasionally hearing explosions in those other streets.

We recognize the danger we're in. Still blocks away from the apartments, all conversation ends as the bombs reach our camp behind us. Gale takes a long look at it before his eyes drift to me. I hold eye contact with him, remembering every conversation in the forest we ever had. Suddenly, I'm thrown into the past that I almost miss. How badly I want to go back, just for one day, just to lie in the grass and stare at the sky and listen to the place surrounding me and have brief fantasizes of a world better than mine. But the thing is, the world I lived in back then was terrible, never having enough of anything. I know I am remembering the past fondly because it is simply better than the here and now. I watch Gale and slowly, very slowly I let him back into my world. And maybe it's the years of companionship or simply some strange law of nature, but he recognizes his invitation and he accepts it. We will always be friends, I've decided.

I look away, focusing in front of me and hoping we get there soon. It's the sound of screeching metal. Of a thousand screaming birds. Of every tribute meeting their death. Somewhere behind us a pod bursts open, black tar quickly covers the group of soldiers down the road. They go down. They don't get up.

We freeze for a moment, and then it's panic as we all take off in a hurry, scrambling down the streets as the tar continues to spread in a never ending wave.

I almost trip as I reach the front of the pack. Finnick's hand shoots out and grabs onto mine as he steadies me. He gives a smile that is surely trademarked before shouting and pointing out the bright red buildings that must be our targets. Relief spreads through me when Boggs confirms this, running faster and faster as we all begin to reach the building. Finnick first, who gets the door open. I'm fourth in, just after Marvel and Boggs.

I get out of the doorway quickly, watching the others getting inside.

Gale, Peeta, Clove, Jackson, and finally Leeg 1. I wait for a moment, as does Boggs who holds the door. When Homes doesn't come through and the tar grows nearer, he has no choice but to close the door and quickly put a coffee table in front of it. I glance at the window, hoping the glass will hold as the tar goes by. There is no speaking in the room as we all attempt to catch our breath. After a few minutes we begin to spread out, obeying Boggs orders. Marvel, Finnick, and Gale search the home for any possible occupants. Clove and Jackson lock up, seeing if they find any possible way tar could get inside. Leeg 1 goes to find any food. Who knows the next chance we'll have a chance at a decent meal?

I look to Boggs for my orders but he points in the direction of a couch opposite of the window and door. The message is clear, I'm not allowed to do anything that might be considered dangerous. This whole situation is beyond dangerous but I have to remind myself that if we were not attacked than I would be on a hovercraft right now, going back to Thirteen where I'd have to explain things to my mother. That might still happen, if we're lucky.

"Sir!" Jackson calls, quickly handing him a radio as she comes crashing back into the living room. "Listen to this."

I can hardly make out anything amongst the static but manage to make out a few phrases; they know why the Capitol attacked so suddenly.

I glance to my side, noticing many of the others standing at the edge of the hallway or in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. Boggs eventually puts the radio down, calling Clove, Peeta, Marvel and I to the corner of the room. I move with caution, eyeing the others and trying to see what they think of this. I realize we all have the same people in common, the people who we left the arena with. I begin to shake, wondering if something terrible happened to one of them.

Boggs eyes each of us and I wish I weren't shaking so badly.

"We knew that somebody within the rebellion had given the Capitol the coordinates to some of our most important points, the stronghold, the hovercrafts. Most recent word is that they've hit the medical bay. It just came in though, you know Azora of District Four don't you?"

He couldn't possible mean… he did.

"She's been working with the Capitol?" I ask.

He nods, shaking the radio in his hand. "Has been for a while now. There was a group of traitors from Thirteen who coordinated with the Capitol, they all got something in return, what they got I'm not sure about but it's official. Azora and several others are now standing with the Capitol."

Jackson calls him over, telling him there's a damage report coming out of the first bombing site.

The four of us are left to stand there and feel the sting of this betrayal. It hurts more than it should and I think it must be because Azora was one of our own. She was there with us through everything in the arena, the forest and the Hunger Games. Somehow it is impossible to wrap my head around the idea of her working with Snow, shouldn't everything we went through convince her to do the exact opposite? I didn't know Azora very well; if we talked directly at all it slips my mind now. But I do remember her helping Peeta and Rue those first few days at the Cornucopia, attempting to merge the two groups. I do remember thinking of her as the most humane Career. So now I have a difficult time placing her behind enemy lines.

Cato and I. Peeta and Clove. Marrisa and Thresh. Rue and Glimmer stayed at the Cornucopia. I quickly look to Marvel who probably spent the most time with her; Peeta and Clove reach the same conclusion and look to him.

He's staring at his feet, arms crossed and in deep thought before slowly nodding and looking up at us.

"She… She hated being a Career. She really wanted to go home… to her family. They were close."

"So why do this?" Clove asks, eyes narrowing and anger spreading across her face.

Marvel shrugs, glancing at the roof as if he expected the answer to be carved into the walls. "Don't know. Maybe she just wanted to be done with this? Maybe she just needed to get home and Snow cut her a better deal than Coin?"

We contemplate this for a moment before there is a yell on the other side of the room. I instantly see what it was about, as the tar makes its way up to the window, pressing against the glass and causing it to creak.

The four of us bury the treachery and quickly join the others.

"These apartments are built with a tunnel system. I'm not sure where it will lead us though." Jackson tells us.

Boggs nods, "It's the best shot we have."

We quickly move through the house, looking for any sort of hidden door. Gale finds it in the closet of the master bedroom. Just as well, the glass begins to groan and crack with each passing moment. Peeta comes in last, pulling the door closed behind him. Only Finnick has any source of light. Being that we never spent the night in the Capitol, only a few hours, we never carried anything but our weapons. We've entered the Capitol once again with little supplies. Finnick passes up the light to Boggs, allowing him to continue leading.

The flashlight only helps a bit, and most of us are still trapped blind and must walk with arms extended. My mind decides now is the time to drag up the past, reminding me of the dreams I once had of my father, trapped beneath the world as it imploded onto him. I bite my wobbling lip, realizing it's probably the pregnancy hormones that make me act this way.

I wonder what he would think if he were still alive. Would he be proud of what I've done so far? I like to think so. How would he go about meeting Cato? Certainly not as light footed as my mother. It's hard to tell, he died when I was eleven, the subject of boys (even Gale who I hadn't met yet) had never come up.

Only in the relative safety of the darkness, I allow one palm to rest on my stomach. I feel instant regret that this baby will never know its grandfather. My father anyway. Somehow I doubt Cato's father will clap his hands and get excited to have a grandchild. Or his mother for that matter. I think of that cruel creature who told me what a dread the Career boys were. What would she have to say about all of this? Certainly nothing positive. Rue, Prim, Lani, even Jet. How would they react to becoming aunts and uncles?

Most of all, the only reaction I truly want to know is Cato's. I have no clue to what he will say or do and the thought of rejection from him crushes me. I slide my palm off of my stomach, taking a deep breath and continuing to stumble around.


We eventually stop, it feels like hours, it must be hours too, judging by the slowly sinking sun that we see when we eventually get to the next apartment.

Gale takes the lead on this one, Boggs holds me back, not allowing me into to the apartment until somebody yells back that it's safe. He goes in first and attempts to help me inside. Honestly though, I'm not some fragile pregnant doll incapable of doing anything. I can get through a threshold anyway.

In the distance, just before Leeg 1 closes the curtains, you can see the smoke rising into the mountains from our base. It's a good ten miles from us.

The same jobs as before go out, the rest of the apartment is searched, no closet left closed. Every possible exit is closed and eventually, when it is determined that we are as safe as we could possibly be in the circumstances, we settle down in the living room. By now the sun is gone, the sky is purple and blue and slowly falling to night. Leeg 1 brings food from the kitchen and we devour it, licking our fingers afterwards. We're all exhausted from the day's walk.

When I return from the bathroom I'm surprised to see Clove cuddled up to Peeta. So strange it is to see such a frightening girl with the kindest person I've ever known. But there they are, holding onto each other and watching the television that whispers quietly in the living room. It's Capitol run, obviously, as it talks about their amazing victory of the day. When it comes time to sleep, Boggs declares the watch schedule, my name is omitted from it. Not that I'm surprised. He insists that I take the biggest couch but I trade with Peeta and Clove who will obviously stay glued together for as long as possible. I take the loveseat and pull the covers to my chin, for a moment trying to imagine the Capitol people who once lived here. A hate spreads through me, one that's always been there for the Capitol. I can imagine them now, watching the Hunger Games on the T.V. that remains on through the night, and cheering at each dead tribute.

I close my eyes, hating the sting that is there behind my eyelids. I blink a few times before it goes away and I can finally relax. The blanket is warm and heavy and my body finally relaxes beneath it.

I roll over just as I'm about to go to sleep and take one last look on the others. Marvel sleeps on the floor beneath me, completely spread out and snoring softly. Gale is already out on the recliner on the other side of the room. Leeg 1 is on guard, sitting beneath the window and occasionally peeking out of it. Finnick, Jackson, and Boggs sleep in front of the T.V. all breathing softly and ready to spring at a moment's notice. It occurs to me than that Finnick is the only real victor amongst us, so somehow I don't doubt that he really would lunge if we were suddenly attacked.

Finally my eyes settle on the Girl with the Knives and the Boy with the Bread. His back is against the couch and her on the edge of it, a blanket covering both of them as they sleep peacefully and he holds her close. A pang of jealousy shoots me and I try to ignore it. I'm not angry with Peeta. I just wish I had my own Career to hold onto.

I wake a few times during the night, usually finding somebody else on guard. For the most part it is silent, the occasional strong wind or maybe an explosion in the distance. At some point I wake up with the sun rising and Jackson toying with her equipment. The smell of cooking food wakes me up fully as I slowly roll out of the couch, pulling on my socks and boots as I get up.

I enter the kitchen, finding Finnick and Peeta preparing breakfast. Finnick took the liberty of wearing a frilly apron that actually brings a laugh to my lips.

"Laugh it up, Everdeen, but I look good."

Peeta snorts, shaking his head back and forth. From the shaking of his shoulders I can only assume he is just as amused as I am.

I sit at one of the counters, observing the kitchen with some awe. If you sold every piece of equipment in it, you could probably keep a family in Twelve going for a few years.

I shake my head just the slightest bit. I've felt too much hate these last few days.

The others are woken when the food is prepared, each stealing a plate and eating wherever they land.

I'm halfway through my waffle (which I remember having and loving in District Two) when I suddenly feel a familiar roll in my stomach and a pressure in my gut. I can't stand the idea of puking in front of all these people, so with as much courage as I can gather, I quickly excuse myself. I walk as quietly as possible to the bathroom, having to pick up the pace once it's in my sight. The second I reach it, there is relief in dropping to the toilet and releasing my breakfast without any prying eyes.

I pause when I think I'm done, giving a few cautious seconds and waiting to see if there is more. Satisfied that there is none, I flush the toilet and sit back.

It's only been a day since I learned about the baby, but already it's been too long. Maybe it's just the anxiety, the need to tell Cato and finally know his reaction.

I hope that's it anyway.

I run the faucet, washing my hands and then splashing the cold water to my face. I open the door and instantly regret it, nearly tripping backwards. Clove stands there, arms crossed and her eyes narrowed in my direction.

"We need to talk Everdeen."

Without giving me a chance to respond she pushes me back to the bathroom, locking the door behind us. I sigh, knowing that if she hasn't already figured it out then she would pry it from me now.

I know this because she leans against the door and looks from the toilet and back to me. More specifically my stomach.

"You're pregnant."

"Yes."

She twists her face, kicking back into the door and letting out a snort.

"Well shit!"

"Yeah, oh shit." I mumble, glad to finally say something like this aloud.

She shakes her head and then looks back and forth, searching for some sort of answer.

"Who knows?"

"You. Boggs."

"Not Cato?"

"Not Cato."

We stand there for a few moments, until she is thrown into me. I catch her easily, being that she is so small. Still, she carries an obscene amount of knives and she packs a lot of muscle. We both crash to the ground as the building continues to shake.

"Get in the shower!" She shrieks.

Unsure of what she's talking about, I follow without question, both of us falling to the tub. The mirror shatters, spilling glass across the ground. Things in the cupboard come falling out, adding to the debris. It feels like forever, though only a few moments in reality. The crashing finally stops and we wait for a moment to be sure that it is really over.

A minute or two later, Peeta comes running through the door, asking if we're okay.

When we nod he begins to urge us out.

"Come on guys! Boggs said we have to go now."

Shakily, Clove and I step out of the tub. Peeta helps both of us over the wreckage and the three of us take off down the hall.

We go to the living room for a minute, only to grab our weapons. After that it's back to the closet and into the tunnels.

"Do you know what happened?" I ask Gale.

"Not sure. Either way the Capitol launched a foot assault into their own city."

We continue at a clumsy run in the dark for a few minutes. Even in the darkness of the tunnels the ground gives occasional tremors.

We continue this for maybe a half an hour when the first hiss begins.

At first I think it's a part of the tunnel damaged or something. But then there is a light green glow and more hissing that fills the air around us. I freeze, knowing what to come will not be pleasant.

You can hardly see them in the murky tunnel, but soon they appear to us. I count three. There could be more. Lizard mutts, the kind you might see in the Hunger Games.

Somebody screams and that's enough to convince everybody else. We take off in a run, bounding down the corridors and losing track of one another. I become so petrified that I hardly manage to take my bow off and load an arrow. I search frantically for any sign of escape.

I let out a scream when I come into contact with something hard, though I'm relieved when I realize it is Leeg 1. My relief is spent short by the sudden glow of green behind her and the knowledge that my shoes are wet.

Her blood I realize. It's tail sticks through her abdomen, holding her up to me as the blood continues to drain from the gaping hole in her stomach and fall onto me. I nearly vomit at the sight, though luckily there was nothing left in me to puke.

Terrified, I turn and run the opposite direction. My bow is the only defense I have and I cannot shoot it wildly in the dark as my body urges me to. I pause, pushing myself against a nearby wall and taking a deep breath. I listen closely for any sign of human movement.

The occasional scream. Nothing more.

I begin to move against the walls, back pressed firmly to it and eyes always searching for any sign of movement. It goes like this for a while. And then I see a small beam of light. I wonder if the lizards are smart enough to leave a trap. Either way it was my only chance in this place.

I wait a moment, watching my surroundings but seeing nothing that possesses an immediate threat. I move quickly towards the light, stiff and ready for an attack at any moment.

When I eventually get to it I nearly cry in relief. When my fingers wrap around it however, I'm once again feeling sick. More blood. I turn the light, already sure who the blood belonged to.

"Boggs?"

I tap him once, he stirs only slightly.

"Boggs." I get closer, giving his face a light slap and hoping to get through to him.

I now see the gash in his throat, it continues to bleed. Maybe if he were close to a medical station he'd have a chance. Here in the tunnels though, he's already lost to much blood on a surface that will surely give him an infection.

"S-s-sol-soldier Ev-Everdeen?" He coughs out, more blood falling to the concrete.

"Yes, it's me." I reply, not sure what I can do. I've never really had to speak to somebody as they died.

"Listen to me." He says with sudden clarity, though his voice is low and I must lean forward to hear even the slightest.

"I hear you." I say with my ear beside his mouth.

"D-don't trust her. Coin. Don't trust her. You hear?"

I nod. "District Eight?"

"Eight." He confirms. His body begins to shake, I hold his arms and then there is nothing as he slowly leaves this world.

I take the flashlight, not sure what I can do for Boggs as I slowly move once again, keeping close to the walls and ignoring the heavy scent of copper that fills the air.

There is another scream, this one not human. I take it as encouragement, running towards it and hoping for the best. I round the corner, finding a room with some light to it. A knife protrudes the creature, followed by an arrow as it lets out another scream. Quickly, I release my own arrow into the beast after setting the flashlight down. It howls as my arrow, along with another knife sink into it.

It goes down, crashing to the ground and giving a few twitches as it dies.

I run around it, slightly afraid that it puts on an act of dying and will strike at me as I pass by. I'm safe on the other side, meeting up with what remains of our group. Gale, Peeta, Clove, Finnick, Marvel.

"Jackson?" I ask

Hesitantly, Peeta shakes his head.

"Boggs and Leeg didn't make it." I answer slowly.

"There are still more of those things." Finnick points out.

"We need to get out of here." Gale agrees.

"There." Peeta points.

I follow the path of his finger, noticing a ladder that leads to a circle in the roof.

"It will take us to the streets." Marvel voices.

Already I feel reluctance of the others to venture out into the streets of the Capitol. They know our faces. Most of us anyway, surely Finnick. They will call for help the moment they see us.

"It's the best shot we have." I say gently.

Clove steps forward first, her steps heavy and sluggish as she takes hold of the ladder. We follow, moving behind her and one by one climbing.

The ladder is in good condition. It holds us easily, anyway.

"Ready?" Clove asks, voice echoing against the walls.

"Do it." I think it is Marvel who says this. It's hard to tell given the sudden anxiety.

"One. Two. Three."

Light suddenly shines down on us, we climb quickly. I'm last out, helped by Finnick as we quickly move from the streets. It's a back road of some sort. There are people down the road, back turned to us as they rush around. There is a lot of running to be seen.

Gale covers the hole in the street as we all move out of the way.

I become petrified by the stillness of the Capitol.

"11561." Finnick mumbles. He points to the number plastered in the wall of the building we lean against. "Come on guys, I know a place we can stay around here."

Nobody questions him. We all realize the severity of us being out here. We follow him, going through alleys and hiding behind anything we can whenever we see people.

My heart leaps whenever men in white uniforms go running by.

Still, somehow, we make it to Finnick's building without any trouble.

Just as well, the cramp in my side grows more and more painful.

We look both ways before we all begin to slip into the building, like others it is brightly decorated. The window however, shows clothes made primarily of fur.

It is empty at first, but than a woman comes to the counter.

Her appearance borders on horrifying and curious. Definitely Capitol. She's had at least a dozen surgeries with the final result being a likeness of a tiger.

"Tigris." Finnick breaths out. "We need help."

She raises a hand, nails sharp and claw like. "Say no more, boy, I have some of you people in the basement. Come, quickly." She leads us behind the counter, pulling a secret hatch that reveals an entire room beneath it.

"I'll be down shorty, just hurry won't you?"

Finnick goes first, followed by the rest.

I'm reluctant to go down, fearing this woman is trapping us like rats. She can turn around and call the Peacekeepers and have us all arrested. But really, what choice do we have?

I climb slower than the others, dreading the moment the door closes and we're left in this place.

Maybe not.

I turn and there he is. The one who has invaded my mind for the last three weeks, in particular the last two days.

I gasp, my eyes widening as the room fades and all I can see is Cato.