I know that you didn't miss me, that you hate me and think that I'm a disgrace to all authors, but I still haven't given up on this story, despite not updating for a while. I finally managed to finish this chapter. I hope you enjoy!

They had recently moved from electrocuting, to beating.

No, the Capitol had not figured out yet that Link had no information. Unfortunately, he was known all around the whole country not just for his victory in the Games, but his silence throughout them. The Capitol must have thought he was simply using that silence trick to keep himself from spilling anything, for he hadn't said a word since they brought him in. It's been weeks, maybe even months, (he didn't bother to keep track) since they first started torturing him. But he refused to say anything.

Link was still stuck on his hard table, the restraints hurting his limbs from struggling so much. Sometimes they would pull him off of the table, and into another room, where they would chain him to the ceiling, letting him hang there, and beat the pulp out of him. He thought he could faint every time he glanced at his bare torso. They would keep him hanging for hours at a time before they sent an Avox or a Peacekeeper in to take him back to his table. As soon as the chains slipped off his wrists he would collapse on the cold floor, and into his blood that had splattered across it. The Capitol always had to send in two Avoxes to pick him up and carry him into the room, because he didn't have the strength to do it himself.

Link was thankful that they left him alone for days before they started hurting him again. They didn't want to kill him. But now, he wasn't sure if he wanted to live. It was too much.

One day, an Avox came in, bringing him food. Link immediately recognized him as the Avox that had served him before the Games. The Avox set the tray of food down, and began to pick up the food with a fork to feed Link, since he was unable to do it himself. Link felt more comfortable around him. So he spoke for the first time in weeks.

"Don't." He whispered.

The Avox stopped, and rose an eyebrow at him.

"I don't want it." He told him.

The Avox motioned towards Link's stomach. He was concerned for Link. Link had always been kind to him, and so he didn't want him to starve. Link shook his head.

"I don't want it." Link added a bit more voice into his words as he repeated the sentence. His Avox took on a sad look, as if pleading him to eat. "I can't." Said Link. "I don't think I want to live anymore. The pain is too much. I want to die before anymore pain reaches me."

The Avox looked around before taking his finger, and tracing letters in the air. All Avoxes were mute. The Capitol did something to their tongue that prevented them from speaking. Link made out the letters the Avox traced in the air with hardly any effort at all: Hunger is pain.

Link sighed, and his eyelids drooped as he relaxed back onto his table. He nodded. "I guess you have a point." He shut his eyes. They reopened when he felt the Avox's hand on his bloodied shoulder, his sad gaze upon him. Don't give up. He wrote in the air. Believe in your strengths.

Link looked up at him, confused. "What good are my strengths when my hands are chained to solid surfaces?" The Avox smiled slightly. Believe, he wrote again. Food?

"I guess I should." Link sighed. The Avox nodded, and began feeding the food to Link.

Katniss couldn't sleep. She'd been tossing and turning for hours. She stood from the bed, and began to tiptoe over to the dresser.

Underneath her clothes in the middle drawer was where Katniss kept her few items she had when being lifted out of the arena. Her mockingjay pin. Peeta's gold locket. A silver parachute that held the spile, and the pearl Peeta gave her. Her weapons were in the armoury.

Katniss reached down into the drawer until she wrapped her fingers around the pearl. She sat back down on the bed, cross-legged.

"Katniss?" Came Prim's sleepy voice from behind her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just a bad dream." Replied Katniss. "Go back to sleep." Prim carefully scooped up Buttercup, and made her way over to her. She sat beside her, and touched her hand.

"You're cold." She told Katniss. She took a spare blanket, and wrapped it around Katniss, herself, and Buttercup. "You could tell me, you know. I'm good at keeping secrets. Even from Mother."

Prim had grown up much too quickly. It couldn't have been too long since she needed help reaching the dishes, or begged to see the frosted cakes in the bakery window. She simply wasn't a little girl anymore.

"Tomorrow morning, I'm going to agree to be the Mockingjay." Katniss told her.

"Because you want to or because you feel forced to do it?"

Katniss laughed slightly. "Both I guess. No, I want to. If it will help the rebels defeat Snow. If it can get Peeta, Johanna, and Link out. It's just… Peeta. I'm afraid if we do win, the rebels will execute him as traitor."

Prim thought it over. "Katniss, I don't think you understand how important you are to the cause. Important people usually get what they want. If you want to keep Peeta safe from the rebels, you can."

"You mean… I could demand that they give Peeta immunity? And they'd have to agree with it?"

"I think you could demand almost anything and they'd have to agree with it. Only how do you know they'll keep their word?"

"It will have to be public." Said Katniss. "I'll make Coin announce it in front of the entire population of Thirteen."

Prim smiled. "Oh, that's good. It's not a guarantee, but it will be much harder for them to back out of their promise."

"I should wake you more often, little duck."

"I wish you would." Prim kissed Katniss on the cheek. "Try and sleep now, all right?"

She did.

Katniss's schedule showed that 7:30-Command came right after 7:00-Breakfast, which was fine with her. Before heading to the dining hall, she grabbed the hero's journal.

At the finished dining hall, Katniss took her food over to the table assigned to the Everdeens and Hawthorns, and some other refugees, including Zelda. She sat, placing the hero's journal onto the table. Zelda was already sitting.

"I brought something that I thought you might want. I found it at Link's house." Katniss nodded at the journal. Zelda's blue eyes looked down at the old book. Carefully, she reached for it, and pulled it closer. She began to study it.

"I don't recognize it." She finally said.

"What?" Said Katniss. "Didn't Link show it to you?"

"I don't recall it." Said Zelda. She opened its pages, and began to read silently. Suddenly her eyes widened. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "Yes, I think Link told me about this once. But he never told me that he had it." She looked up at Katniss. "You said you found this in his house?" Katniss nodded. "Huh. I've never seen it before."

Just then, Gale sat down with his tray of food right next to Katniss. Gale slopped a spoonful of mashed turnips into her bowl.

"You've got to stop that." Said Katniss. It's not very convincing, though, since she already started shoveling the stuff into her mouth. "Really. It's probably illegal or something." District 13 had really strict rules about food. You couldn't take it from the dining hall. You couldn't get seconds.

"What can they do? They've already got my communicuff." Said Gale.

"What happened?" Asked Zelda.

"He got in the way of one of Coin's men." Said Katniss as she scraped her bowl clean. "Hey, maybe I should make that a condition of being the Mockingjay."

"That I can feed you turnips?" Asked Gale.

"No, that we can hunt." Said Katniss, immediately catching Gale's attention. "We'd have to give everything to the kitchen. But still, we could…" she didn't finish, realizing that she didn't need to.

"Do it." Said Gale. "Now's the time. You could ask for the moon and they'd have to find some way to get it."

"What are you scheduled for?"

"Nuclear History class. Where, by the way, your absence has been noted."

"I have to go to Command. Come with me?"

"All right. But they might throw me out after yesterday." They left the table to drop off their trays. "You know, you better put Buttercup on your list of demands, too. I don't think the concept of useless pets is well known here."

"Oh, they'll find him a job. Tattoo it on his paw every morning."

By the time they made their way to Command, Coin, Plutarch, and everybody else had already assembled. Nobody threw Gale out. Katniss asked for a piece of paper and a pencil, which was personally handed to her by Coin. She sat the the table, and began to write. Buttercup. Hunting. Peeta's immunity. Announced in public.

That's it? Surely there was something else she wanted. Gale. She added to the list. She didn't want to do this without him.

Her thoughts began to tangle. She shut her eyes, and began to recite silently.

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger games. I escaped. The Capitol Hates me. Link was taken prisoner. I think he's alive. Peeta was also taken prisoner. He is alive. He is a traitor but alive. I have to keep him and Link alive…

The list was still too small. Shouldn't she be asking for more? For her family? The remainder of her people? Her skin began to itch with the ashes of the dead. Katniss felt the sickening impact of the skull against her shoe. The scent of blood and roses stung her nose.

The pencil moved across the page on its own. She opened her eyes and saw the wobbly letters. I KILL SNOW. If he was captured, she wanted the privilege.

Plutarch have a discreet cough. "About done there?" Katniss glanced up at the clock. She had been sitting there for twenty minutes. Finnick wasn't the only one with attention problems.

"Yeah." Said Katniss. She cleared her throat. "Yeah, so this is the deal. I'll be your Mockingjay." she waited. "But I have some conditions." She smoothed out her list. "My family gets to keep our cat." Already an argument started. Finally it was decided that they'll be moved to the top level, which had the luxury of an eight-inch window aboveground. Buttercup was expected to feed himself. If he missed curfew, then he was to be locked out. Any security problems caused by him, and he would be shot immediately.

Katniss provided her next request. "I want to hunt. With Gale. Out in the woods." Everyone paused.

"We won't go far. We'll use our own bows. You can have the meat for the kitchen." Gale added.

"It's just… I can't breath shut up here like a...I would get better, faster, if...I could hunt."

Plutarch started to explain the drawbacks, but Coin cut him off. "No. Let them. Give them two hours a day, deducted from their training time. A quarter-mile radius. With communication units and tracker anklets. What's next?"

Katniss skimmed her list. "Gale. I'll need him with me to do this."

"With you how? Off camera? By your side at all times? Do you want him presented as your new lover?"

Katniss's mouth dropped. "What?"

"I think we should continue the current romance. A quick defection from Peeta could cause the audience to list sympathy for her." Said Plutarch. "Especially since they think she's pregnant with his child."

"Agreed. so, on-screen, he can simply be portrayed as a fellow rebel. Is that alright?" Katniss just stared at Coin. "For Gale." She repeated. "Will that be sufficient?"

"We can always work him in as your cousin." Said Fulvia, another person in the room.

"We're not cousins." Gale and Katniss said together.

"Right, but we should probably keep that up from appearances on camera." Said Plutarch. "Off camera, he's all yours. Anything else?"

Katniss began to blush with anger. That people would think that she would so readily dispose of Peeta. She let the anger propel into her greatest demand. "When the war is over, if we've won, Peeta will be pardoned."

Dead silence.

"No form of punishment will be inflicted. The same goes for the other captured tributes. Johanna, Enobaria. And Link."

"No." Said Coin flatly.

"Yes." Katniss shot back. "It's not their fault you abandoned them in the arena. Who knows what the Capitol is doing to them?"

"They'll be tried with other war criminals and tested as the tribunal sees fit." She said.

"They'll be granted immunity!" Katniss rose from her chair. "You will personally pledge this in front of the entire population of District Thirteen, the remainder of Twelve, and the loved ones of Link who are staying here. Soon. Today. It will be recorded for future generations. You will hold yourself and your government responsible for their safety, or you'll find yourself another Mockingjay!"

Her words hung in the air.

"That's her!" She heard Fulvia hiss to Plutarch. "Right there. With the costume, gunfire in the background, just a hint of smoke."

"Yes, that's what we want." Plutarch agreed.

Katniss wanted to glare at them, but she kept her attention toward Coin.

"What do you say, president? " asked Plutarch. "You could issue an official pardon, given the circumstances. The boy… He's not even of age."

"All right." Said Coin finally. "But you'd better perform."

"I'll perform once you've made the announcements." Katniss replied.

"Call a national security assembly during Reflection today," Coin ordered. "I'll make the announcement then. Is there anything left on your list, Katniss?"

Katniss smoothed out her now crumbled piece of paper. "Just one more thing. I kill Snow."

For the first time ever, Katniss saw the hint of a smile appear on the president's lips. "When the time comes, I'll flip you for it."

"Fair enough."

Coin took at her arm with her schedule. "I'll leave her in your hands, then, Plutarch." She exited the room, followed by her team. Plutarch, Fulvia, Gale, and Katniss were the only ones left in the room.

"Excellent. Excellent." Plutarch sunk down, elbows on the table, hands rubbing his eyes. "You know what I miss? More than anything? Coffee. I ask you, would it be so unthinkable to have something to wash down the gruel and turnips?"

"We didn't think it would be so rigid here." Fulvia began to massage Plutarch's shoulders. "Not in the higher ranks."

"Or at least there'd be the option of a little side action." Says Plutarch. "I mean, even Twelve had a black market, right?"

"Yeah the Hob." Said Gale. "It's where we traded."

"There, you see? And look how moral you two are! Virtually incorruptible." Plutarch sighed. "Oh, well, wars don't last forever. So, glad to have you on the team." He reached a hand out to the side, where Fulvia handed him a large sketchbook bound in black leather. "You know in general what we're asking of you, Katniss. I'm aware you have mixed feelings about participating. I hope this will help." He slid the sketchbook across the table to Katniss. Curiosity got the better of her. She opened the cover.

Standing there was a picture of herself standing straight and strong. She wore a black uniform. She was the mockingjay once again. Only one person could have designed that outfit. Her murdered stylist.

"Cinna." Katniss whispered.

"Yes, he made me promise not to show you this book until you'd decided to be the Mockingjay on your own. Believe me, I was very tempted. " said Plutarch. "Go on. Flip thorough."

Katniss did so, taking in every detail drawn on the paper. The body armor designed to protect her, reinforced near the heart. The hidden weapons in her boots and belt. On the last page, Cinna had sketched a picture of her mockingjay pin. Underneath were the words, I'm still betting on you.

"When did he…" Katniss's voice failed her.

"Let's see. Well, after the Quarter Quell announcement. A few weeks before the Games maybe? These are not only the sketches. We have your uniforms. Oh, and Beetee's got something really special waiting for you down in the armory. I won't spoil it by hinting. " said Plutarch.

"You're going to be the best-dressed rebel in history." Gale said with a smile.

"Oh, yeah." Said Plutarch. "This is probably kind of foolish, but we've been making similar things for Link as well. His own stylist moved here after he learned that Link had been captured. His armor, like yours, was shaped for his use and his use only. But there's something missing. We need to paint something spectacular on it. I don't know what, but we'll get some ideas eventually."

Katniss nodded.

Plutarch continued speaking. "Our plan is to launch an Airtime Assault to make a series of what we call propos-which is short for 'propaganda spots'- featuring you, and broadcast them to the entire population of Panem."

"How? The Capitol has sole control of the broadcasts." Said Gale.

"But we have Beetee. About ten years ago, he essentially redesigned the underground network that transmits all the programming. He thinks there's a reasonable chance it can be done. Of course, we'll need something to air. So, Katniss, the studio awaits your pleasure." Plutarch turned to his assistant. "Fulvia?"

"Plutarch and I have been talking about how on earth we can pull this off. We think that or might be best to build you, our rebel leader, from the outside… In. That is to say, let's find the most stunning Mockingjay look possible, then work your personality up to deserving it!"

"You already have her uniform." Gale told her.

"Yes but is she scarred and bloody? Is she glowing with the fire is rebellion? Just how grimy can we make her without disgusting people? At any rate, she has to be something. I mean, obviously this"-Fulvia walked over to Katniss, and framed her face with her hands- "won't cut it." Katniss jerked back. "So with that in mind, we have another little surprise for you. Come, come."

Gale and Katniss followed her and Plutarch to the hall

"So well intended, and yet so insulting." Gale whispered in Katniss's ear.

"Welcome to the Capitol." she mouthed back. She hugged the black sketchbook closer. If Cinna wanted it, then becoming the mockingjay must be the right decision.

They boarded an elevator, and Plutarch checked his notes. "Let's see. It's Compartment Three-Nine-Oh-Eight." He pressed the button that was marked with the number 39, but nothing happened.

"You must have to key it." Suggested Fulvia.

Plutarch pulled out a key, and slid it into a tiny slot in the wall. The doors slid shut. "Ah, there we are."

The elevator went down deep. Real deep. At last it came to a stop. They stepped out.

A guard had just then entered the hall, and the walked over to them.

Something felt wrong down there. Gale seemed to sense it as well.

"Good morning." Plutarch told the guard. "We were just looking for-"

"You're on the wrong floor." The guard interrupted.

"Really? I've got Three-Nine-Oh-Eight written here. I wonder if you could just give a call up to-"

"I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave now. Assignment discrepancies can be addressed at the Head Office."

Compartment 3908 stood right in front of them. It seemed incomplete. In fact, all the doors seemed this way. They all lacked doorknobs. They must swing free on hinges.

"Where is that again?" Asked Fulvia.

"You'll find the Head Office on Level Seven." The guard told them.

From behind door 3908 came a sound. A tiny whimper. Katniss's eyes found Gale's for a brief moment, just enough time for two people to operate like they did. Katniss suddenly dropped the sketchbook, and it landed on the ground. Both the guard and Gale acted at the same time, bending down to retrieve it. Gale intentionally bumped his head against the guard's. "Oh, I'm sorry." He caught the guard's arms as if to steady himself, and turned him away from Katniss.

That was her chance. Katniss darted around the distracted guard, and pushed open the door marked 3908. That's when she found them. Half-naked, bruised, and shackled to the wall.

Her prep team.

I do believe that from this point of the story on is going to have a few more Zelda references. I need to actually write the rest to find out. plz R&R! Your reviews really do make my day!