Chapter 38
By the next day, the 75th Hunger Games was about to commence and Berenice and her mother were ready to leave the Capital.
Anatolios had kept his promise and spoke nothing about the escape to his father. Mrs. Willowgood also kept her word and waited to inform her son, Phillip about the departure.
Both Berenice and her mother had packed only a few items as they had to carry light for the escape and Berenice informed Anatolios that he had to take only one toy.
"There will be plenty of toys to play with where we're going," she said, although she was not sure if it was true.
Berenice had thought of what District 13 will be like as Plutarch had mentioned that it was underground. District 13 was the maker of military weapons and when it took part in the first rebellion, the Capital actually made a pact with the district to let them live independently from the rest of the nation.
Berenice was taught that the destruction of District 13 was a reminder for all the people to never spark another rebellion.
She comes back to the present when she saw Snow, he was preparing to leave for the Game Makers Headquarters. "I will be back in a couple of days," he said, "I want to be sure that Miss Everdeen is eliminated."
"Please, don't be too long," Berenice replies and they kiss. He then leaves the mansion and now came the hard part of waiting.
Plutarch had informed her that a Capital hovercraft was going to pick her up at the Tulip Court apartments that very night. There will be a brief outage in that part of the city at 9 and Berenice and her family would have to be at the roof or else they will be left behind.
Berenice thought it was risky considering she would be carrying her son and her mother would have to drag Phillip if he started to fuss.
Berenice had calculated in her mind that it was an hour's walk to the apartments and there were 15 floors to reach the roof. The worst part was having to climb the stairs as Berenice knew they were survallience cameras in the elevators.
They would have to go early, but she had to evade suspicion from Snow's family and the Capital's residents.
The day went on and Berenice would look at the clock every few seconds while the Games were happening.
From what Berenice saw, Katniss and the victors were in a tropical jungle arena and the water was not drinkable.
Berenice went into action and called Haymitch, "Listen, this is an emergency, Katniss needs water."
Haymitch got the funds for a device that would help Katniss and her team get water. It was now the afternoon and Berenice knew it was time.
Celestia went to her bedroom for a nap and Berenice went to gather her son and their belongings.
"Okay Ana, we're going," she said to him and he gets his shoes. "Listen to me, you have to be very quiet because Aunt Celestia is asleep," she adds and he nods.
Mrs. Willowgood had gathered her son, Phillip and their belongings, but Phillip didn't seem to like the idea of walking.
"Phillip, you have to be quiet, otherwise you'll lose the game," his mother said to him. Phillip took this into stride and smiles.
The family then leaves the mansion, they were careful to not attract any attention from the guards.
Once they were far from the mansion, they breathed a sigh of relief, but there came the critical part of getting to the apartments.
Phillip then began to hit his head with his fist. "Stop that!" his mother ordered and drags him along.
"You said don't talk!" he almost shouts. The people look at them, but return to their own business.
"Phillip, if you don't behave, you won't play with Anatolios," Mrs. Willowgood warns and Phillip begins to whine.
"Tell him to stop that," Berenice pleads as she carries her son. Mrs. Willowgood talks to Phillip for awhile and he finally stops whining.
They blended into the crowd, not wanting to be caught by the Peacekeepers or by the survallience cameras.
The walking took some time and Berenice's back began to ache as she carried her son, but she pressed on.
Then they saw the apartment building and they walk towards it. The Tulip Court apartment complexes were full of families and spectators who were watching the Games.
Berenice wanted to know how Katniss and Peeta were doing, but she had to hold on to hope that her friend was going to make it out alive.
"Mommy, I'm hungry," Anatolios said and Berenice nods.
"Wait a moment sweetie," she replies and looks into the sack she was carrying. "You want a clementine?" she asks and he nods.
She takes one out and peels it for him and gives it to him. He eats it in silence while Berenice continues to carry him towards the building's indoor staircase.
This was the exhausting part, having to climb up to the top as Berenice insisted that they don't take the elevator.
"Noooooooo!" Phillip whines, but Mrs. Willowgood covers his mouth. "I hate climbing stairs!" he said as they start to go up.
Berenice looks at her watch, it was now nearing 6 in the evening. Celestia might be awake and concerned about Berenice. They had to go quickly to reach the top.
Luckily, Anatolios had fallen asleep in Berenice's arms and he was heavy. She then turns to see her mother fighting with Phillip. He was having his moment where he refused to obey orders.
"Just go, we'll catch up!" she said to her daughter, while trying to drag her son up the stairs.
Berenice didn't want to leave them, but she to and she goes up the stairs, two at a time. Her heart pounds as she sweats from her forehead, but she presses on.
It took an hour to reach the 10th floor of the building. Berenice had to stop to see if her mother and brother were behind her, but they were far behind.
"Please God, help them," she pleads and she continues to go up. They had five more floors to go and Berenice was sore and exhausted, but she pushes herself forward.
A little later, Berenice decides to stop at the 12th floor and wait for her mother and brother. She could hear their footsteps and Phillip's whining and their mother trying to silence him.
"Phillip, we can't stop!" Mrs. Willowgood pleads with Phillip and Berenice knew that her brother had refused to go any further.
Berenice looks at her watch, it was 8 now, and they had three more flights of stairs to climb.
Then Berenice got an idea, "Phillip, I'm leaving you behind!" she calls down to him. "You will not see me again!" she continues and she hears Phillip whine and the sound of running footsteps was heard.
Berenice waits for a minute for Phillip and their mother to catch up and she then continues on.
Berenice and her son finally make it to the roof and wait for Phillip and Mrs. Willowgood. She could hear their footsteps, but they sound very distant, which means they were further away from her than she thought.
She looks at the time, it was 8:45, the time was drawing ever so close and Berenice began to worry.
Just then, the power went out in the building and Berenice knew that the rebels did it. "Come on! Hurry!" she calls to her mother and brother.
Then, she hears a hovercraft outside and she goes out with her son. The stolen Capital hovercraft lands on the roof and Berenice rushes up to it.
"Please, wait for my mother and brother!" she pleads with the people inside.
"We don't have time! We have to go!" a man in black piece suit shouts back.
A woman takes Anatolios and Berenice pleads with the pilot to wait for a minute and they do.
"We have to go, the power will be back on any minute!" the man said and the pilot begins to shut the door to the craft.
Then, Phillip and Mrs. Willowgood burst out from the roof's door and ran towards the craft. "There!" Berenice shouts and the rebels quickly grab the two before the door closes tight.
The three settle in their seats, but Berenice looks at her brother angrily. "What is wrong with you?!" she shouts at him, which she had never done before.
Phillip looks at his sister with playful eyes, as if the whole thing was a game to him. Then, Berenice raises her hand and slaps him, hard.
Phillip looks at her and begins to cry. "Don't cry!" Berenice orders, but Phillip does anyway.
"I put up with your shit for years! And this is the thanks I get?!" Berenice continues to yell at him. "I swear, you are a toddler in a grown boy's body!" she finishes and sits in her seat.
Mrs. Willowgood craddles her son, his head in her lap and he continues to cry. Berenice does not look at them and insisted to have her son, Anatolios.
The rebel who had him gives him back, "He sleeps like an angel," the woman said. "We are grateful that you brought him," she adds.
"I don't want him to become a monster like Snow," Berenice replies and the woman nods in agreement.
Berenice craddles Anatolios in her arms as he sleeps and she then falls alseep, tired from the events that happened today. She did wonder what District 13 will be like and what tomorrow will bring.
From the author: How's this for excitement?! Berenice and her family are finally out of Snow's grasp and on their way to freedom.
I'm sorry if the escape seems short, but I hope it brought you to the edge of your seat. There's more to come for Berenice and her family when they arrive in District 13. See you soon!