WHY YES, I have managed to eke out another chapter in time for a regular update! We'll see if I'm able to keep this up, haha.

Thanks so much to Sparky She-Demon, Queen-Maggie-pevensie, Randommmfanatic, ForeverTeamEdward13, Fire'sCatching, Ro-Lee, firehottie, martatheinvisiblegal, Mely-the-Mockingjay, iiMuffinsaur, vampluver19, Meiaideas12, and FletchStories for reviewing!

RueJabberjay: Thanks a bunch!

jafcbutterfly: And now for the rest of La Familia Abernathy to come to a head…

Patting-Patches: ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE? (Brownie points if anyone gets the reference!)

Guest: Rain is probably the character for whom I feel the most sorry. She was really instrumental in the escape/getting the plot started, but ever since she hasn't been able to do much, and she's been through a lot in-universe. :( Thank you for your support!

Thirty-Six:

Ashton Abernathy immediately declares that he's going into the district to rescue his aunt. Ember insists on going with him, and her brother can say absolutely nothing to deter her; she claims she'll find a way to follow him if he tries leaving her behind, and Marvel doesn't doubt it. Of course, that means Cato is going as well, because there's no way in hell the big lug is going to stay behind while Ember walks into danger. Marvel, for his part, can easily imagine Cato doing something reckless if lover boy so much as thinks Ember's at risk, so obviously Marvel has to come along to make sure the idiot doesn't get himself killed. Then Clove refuses to be left behind while they "have all the fun." And Ember's two friends from Twelve, Kill-You-With-Her-Eyes and Grumpus, don't want to be shown up by the Careers. With a harried sigh, Johanna rounds out the merry party, muttering that they need someone with a level head (Ashton Abernathy snickers; "Are you talking about yourself, Bananas? You're kidding, right?") to keep them all alive.

Cedric starts to volunteer for the expedition as well, but everyone else shuts him down before he can so much as get two words out.

"So…" Marvel looks expectantly at the rest of them. "What's the plan?"

It's clear that Ashton Abernathy has no plan. But to his credit, he quickly throws one together, and it's actually quite decent. "Two people are going to need to get to the fence by the Seam. They're going to cause a distraction to lure over the Peacekeepers, make them think that we're trying to enter the district from that way. We have some firecrackers and smoke-bombs that oughtn't hurt anyone, but they'll definitely make a lot of noise and disturbance. As soon as they chuck everything over the fence they need to run, far away, before the Peacekeepers can catch them. So these people are going to need to be able to throw things over the fence and run fast."

Clove smiles. "I'm good at throwing things."

Ashton blinks at her and nods. "Okay. Great. And the other person would preferably be someone who knows the district, so they can pick the best spot for the distraction." He turns to Ember, but she glares at him, daring him to make her sit out the actual rescue mission. Ashton changes his mind. "Gale?"

"Sure," Grumpus agrees.

"Great. Meanwhile, the rest of us will enter the district from a weak spot in the fence in the Victors' Village. Once we're in, there's a way we can climb up onto the roofs of the buildings in the Town, where they have the gallows set up. I'm assuming everyone here can climb?" Nods all around. "Once we're on the roofs, we have the advantage over the Peacekeepers on the ground in the square. We'll take out as many of them from above as we can."

Marvel frowns. "I fight with spears. They're long-distance weapons, but I'll be exposing myself a lot if I stand up to throw them. Clove uses knives, maybe it's better for us to switch—"

"No." They all look at Cato in surprise. "It's almost guaranteed that we'll have to quickly move the fight to the ground. The buildings aren't that high, are they? The Peacekeepers would be able to regroup and figure out a way to follow us up, or force us down. It'd be better for us to take the initiative and not be cornered. No offense, Clove, but Marvel would be the better choice to have for a fight on the ground." Clove makes a face but says nothing.

Ashton waits to see if anyone disagrees with Cato. No one does, so he resumes. "Cato's got a point. We'll do our best to take out the Peacekeepers from the roofs but move back to the ground before they have a chance to regroup. In that case, I think it's best for us to launch our aerial attack from the candy shop, since I know for a fact that it has rooftop access leading inside. It's also next door to the bakery, in a duplex sort of unit, so there's a door connecting the two of them inside. Locked from both sides, but we won't have a problem getting past that. So the Peacekeepers will think we've disappeared into the candy shop and are taking cover in there, but we'll be hustling to the bakery and emerging from there instead. Hopefully we'll catch the Peacekeepers off-guard, take out some more, and reach Aunt Marj. Then we can get her away from the noose and take cover." Ashton checks his watch. "If my calculations are correct, we'll reach this step of the plan just as the hovercraft I called from Thirteen to pick us up gets here, and we'll have reinforcements and/or means of escape."

Glimmer, who's been eavesdropping along with most of the others, pipes up. "Why don't you wait until the hovercraft gets here so you'll have reinforcements from the start, and you're guaranteed an escape route instead of relying on perfect timing?"

Ashton scowls. "Thirteen's administration won't consider rescuing our aunt to be a productive use of resources. But they'll have no choice but to help us if we're already in there."

Ember looks at her brother. "What about Uncle Basil?"

He takes a breath. "He's most likely in the Justice Building. If they don't take him out to the gallows to join Aunt Marj, it'll be almost impossible to get him out without help from Thirteen. Believe me, I want to rescue him too, so if anyone has a better plan that includes getting him, I'm all ears."

Ember bites her lip, thinking. But she, along with the rest of them, can't come up with anything.

"That's settled then," Ashton says quietly. "Everyone get ready. We're just making a few last minute preparations, and then we're moving out."

Amid the ensuing organized chaos, Marvel finds Cato by the portable armory that Ashton & Co. brought from Thirteen, getting ammo for his gun. "Yo."

Cato focuses on his task. "What?"

"You were arguing for me to stick with the rest of you lot instead of swapping with Clove. We both know that she can handle herself in a ground fight. What's your other reason for having me around?"

Cato sighs as he sifts through the bin. "If you must know, I'd feel better if I knew you had my back. I trust you more than anyone to do that."

Marvel is genuinely touched. But there's no way he can let Cato know that, so he disguises it in a teasing tone. "Aw, shucks. You sure know how to flatter a guy. Should Ember be feeling jealous?"

"Ember would definitely watch my back," Cato says. "But it'd be at the expense of her own safety. You would know to watch out for yourself as well."

Very true. But Marvel can tell there's something Cato isn't telling him. "Is that all…?"

Cato finally stops looking for bullets and looks at Marvel squarely. "No," he admits. "Marvel...do you ever get that feeling that something is about to go horribly wrong?"

Marvel looks seriously at him. "Once in a while. Do you have that feeling now?"

"Yeah," Cato mutters. "This whole plan—I know it's the best that we can come up with, but there are so many ways it could go wrong. If it were up to me, I'd say that we not try anything and just wait for Thirteen to get us. But Ember and her brother are never going to go for that. If all the Abernathys are like Ember and Cedric, then you know they're going to stick together, and they're not going to leave behind their aunt without trying to help her." He roughly rakes his fingers through his hair. "Marvel, if something happens to me during this rescue attempt, I need you to make sure Ember gets away safely."

Shivers run down Marvel's spine. "That's kind of a grim outlook, isn't it?"

"Eight of us—no, six of us against who knows how many Peacekeepers. The odds aren't good, Marvel, and it won't do us any favors to act optimistic. Yes, the plan could work. District 12 usually gets the worst Peacekeepers, so if they're stupid and poorly trained than we have a shot. But things could've changed in the months since this rebellion started. The way I see it, we need a lot of sheer dumb luck to get out of there alive, let alone pull off this rescue."

"You should talk to Ember and Ashton," Marvel replies. "Tell them what you just told me. They'll listen to you."

Cato's gaze drifts over to where Ember is with her brother. "They'll listen, but I doubt they'll do as I advise. They love their aunt. She's family. They can't turn their backs on her. Just like I wouldn't leave my family for dead if I thought there was a fighting chance I could save them, even if Ember asked me to. I can't do that to her, so all I can do is make sure she stays safe." He looks at Marvel again. "I'm not planning on being taken down, but there's always the chance. If that happens, Marvel, I need you to watch over Ember. Keep her safe."

Something is catching in Marvel's throat. He doesn't want to dwell on what it might be. "You're going to be fine, Cato."

"Marvel. Please."

Marvel exhales sharply. "Of course I'm going to keep an eye out for her, Cato. She's my friend too."

"More than that, Marvel. If things look bad and I can't do anything, make sure she gets out of there. No matter what."

Marvel stares hard at him. Cato, he knows, would definitely throw himself in front of Ember if he saw trouble coming for her. As much as Marvel hates to admit it, there's a good chance Cato will get hurt if he's more focused on Ember's safety than his own. (Marvel takes a moment to be thankful that Finch has opted to stay behind.) So even though Cato can hold his own in any fight, Marvel doesn't think Cato's just being melodramatic. He nods slowly. "I will."

Cato nods curtly and clasps him on the shoulder. "Thanks, Marvel."

Now Marvel feels a heaviness in his chest as everyone wraps up and gets ready to leave. He squeezes Finch's hand as he passes her, managing a wan smile as she looks at him contemplatively. "What are you worried about?" she asks.

"Something Cato said. Don't worry about me."

"Of course I'm going to worry about you," she says matter-of-factly, and despite the gravity of the situation, he feels his heart flutter a little. "Don't do anything stupid."

"I'll try," Marvel promises. And it'll be much easier for me to do that if Cato doesn't do anything stupid, either.

Clove and Gale run off to set up the distraction, and the rest of them break away from the pack—plus Finnick Odair, who's staying behind to be the point of contact with Thirteen. As the six of them hurry through the woods, Marvel notices how Cato and Ember keep a hold of each other's hands the whole time.

Ashton notices as well. A why-are-you-touching-my-little-sister expression is forming on his face, and Marvel, deciding that Cato already owes him plenty so adding onto the debt won't make much of a difference, intervenes. "How did you calculate the timing so that we get to the gallows the same time as the hovercraft?"

The Victor from Twelve reluctantly tears his attention away from Ember. "The memory of how long it gets from place to place, estimates of the duration of various events, allowances for delays. Math. Lots of math."

Ashton tries to look back at Ember and Cato. Marvel quickly cuts in again. "So you use the same weapon as Cedric?" He indicates Ashton's bow.

"Yup. Katniss's father was the real expert in archery. He taught me, Ember, Katniss, and Gale. My twin too, but she never took to it. Ember's pretty so-so at it as well." Ahead of them, Ember turns around, as if she can hear her brother badmouthing her. Ashton smiles beatifically at her until she resumes facing forward. "Anyway, Ceddy's always been the one who had the natural knack for it. No idea where he got it from." He adjusts how the bow is hanging from his shoulder. "So I'm curious. How long has Emmy been an item with District 2?"

Alright. That's it. Time to declare bankruptcy. If Ashton is anything like his sister, then he won't be able to be distracted or thrown off from any topic that he's seriously interested in. Cato might be his buddy, but Marvel's not going to risk death-by-angry-older-brother for him. "Since a few weeks into this fun little vacation. Feels like forever, though."

Ashton looks like he's just eat something rotten. "Are they serious?"

"Pretty serious," Marvel says, contemplating if he can run away and shove Cato into his spot while he's at it. This is all Cato's fault anyway. He should be the one getting interrogated by Big Brother, not Marvel. Thank goodness Finch has no older brothers.

Now Ashton is muttering under his breath, just audible enough for Marvel to hear, as he glares daggers at Cato's back. "Ridiculous. Emmy isn't even interested in guys. Why she would waste her energy on a relationship now of all times is beyond me…"

Not interested in guys? What, does Ashton Abernathy think his sister is six or something? Then Marvel remembers that when Ashton went into his Games, Ember would have been about six-years-old. From what Ember has indicated, Ashton hasn't been the closest brother since then. Okay. So maybe he does think she's six.

"Are you picking on the kid, Princess?" Johanna Mason, who has been watching the rear of the group, migrates forward to join them. "Come on, I know he's a Career but it hasn't been long enough yet for him to do anything to warrant your pouty face." Marvel bristles at the implication that he's no good because he's a Career, but Johanna looks away from Ashton for a moment to wink at him.

"It's not District 1 I'm ticked about." Ashton pouts.

"My name's Marvel," he grumbles quietly.

Ashton hears and, to his credit, looks chagrined. "Marvel. Sorry. You shouldn't be bearing the brunt of everything just because you happened to be there."

Marvel shrugs. "Far be it from me to understand the overprotectiveness of older brothers."

They complete the rest of the short trek to the fence without incident. Just as they stop to take a breather, waiting for Clove and Grumpus to set off the diversion, they hear the explosions going off. No rest for the wicked. Ashton motions for everyone to follow him, and Marvel waits his turn to climb up a tree, shimmy along a branch, and drop down on the other side of the fence.

Cato has no time to take in District 12 as the last of them, Johanna Mason, lands on the grass, and then they're running across the Victors' Village. To be honest, based on what little he does notice, there isn't much to take in. Of course, he'll never mention that to Ember. She seems to think very highly of her home district.

That's if they don't all get themselves killed in this reckless rescue attempt. Cato still doesn't have high hopes for their success, and he's prepared for the possibility of Peacekeepers waiting for them around every turn. Almost without even realizing it, he finds himself constantly adjusting his position as they move so that he's always covering what he perceives to be Ember's biggest blind spot.

There's a heart-stopping moment when they hear the distinctive sound of booted feet storming closer. They all duck around the far side of one of the Victors' houses, waiting with bated breath for the garrison of Peacekeepers to hustle past. The troops don't enter the Village but are on their way to what Cato has gathered to be the Seam. It seems their diversion worked.

Too easy. Cato is suspicious.

Ashton beckons them to follow him again, and they dash the rest of the way, trying to limit the amount of time they're out in the open. They come to a halt behind a row of houses, more modest than the ones in the Village but still decent. As Ashton predicted, there are large crates behind one house, and they quickly rearrange them so they can all climb up to the roof with little trouble.

Keeping low, Cato peers over the slanted edge of the roof. As reported, a podium with stocks is set up in the middle of the square, and now a noose has been added, seemingly recently. But he instantly deduces that the makeshift gallows are just for show. They're not properly set up, and besides, no one would waste time on a hanging when you can just put a bullet in someone's head and be done with it. No, it was definitely done to get a reaction out of people—specifically, Ashton and Company. And they succeeded.

Two Peacekeepers flank a woman with her hands bound behind her back who, as expected, looks just like Maysilee Donner, only much frailer. Her blond hair is a scraggly mess around her face, and her nightgown has seen better days. Cato hears Ember's breath hitch beside him, confirming that the woman is in fact Marjorie Donner. Several other Peacekeepers are stationed or pacing around the rest of the square.

Ashton's face is grim as he motions for them to follow him again, and the six of them, as quietly as possible, crawl and hop from roof to roof. Then Ashton stops and quietly taps the roof he's crouched on, indicating that it's the candy shop. The rest of them arrange themselves so they're a little spread out but not too far away from the roof hatch for when they have to make their escape indoors.

Cato takes position, sweeping his gaze across the square again. There are more Peacekeepers than there are the six of them, so they won't be so lucky as to be able to swiftly take out all of them before anyone else is the wiser. That means they'll have to strategically pick the best choice of Peacekeepers to take down first while they're not expecting it. Ember and Johanna, with their blowgun and axes, can't expect to hit far, so the closest Peacekeepers will be left for them. Marvel, if he can't be completely standing, won't be able to hit as far as usual with his spear, so mid-distance for him. Ashton and Katniss have their bows and seem to be very good with them, so they'll probably aim for the two Peacekeepers flanking Marjorie Donner first thing. That leaves Cato, with his gun, to go for the Peacekeepers at a greater distance. But the sound of the gunshot will immediately let Peacekeepers in the rest of the district know something is wrong, so Cato will have to hang back.

But as soon as he sees someone radioing for backup, it's all fair game.

As they all get ready, Cato reaches over for Ember's hand. She turns to look at him and squeezes back, determination in her eyes. Cato tries not to let her see the dark foreboding weighing on him.

Ashton raises his bow, signaling that time has run out. Ember lets go of his hand to prepare her blowgun. Cato's mind descends into an unnatural, eerie state of calm as projectiles fly loose and seek purchase in the Peacekeepers' vital organs. One man on the other side of the square cries out in alarm and raises his radio. Cato immediately twists his gun and fires, the shot echoing in his ears, before he turns the gun again to silence another Peacekeeper mid-sentence as he's yelling at someone on his radio.

Hurrying, booted feet and shouts sound in the distance. Ashton jerks his head: time to go. His foot smashes through the rooftop hatch and he ushers everyone inside, starting with Ember. Cato follows her in, barely seeing anything inside the dusty apartment as Ember dashes for an innocuous door in the hallway. She tries it—locked. Ember moves aside and Cato rams into the door, knocking it down on the floor. She leads the charge into the neighboring building as the last of their group, Ashton, drops into the house.

"More Peacekeepers have arrived," Katniss says sharply as she passes a window on their way down the stairs.

"Where's Aunt Marj?" Ashton demands.

"I don't know."
The big glass window of the bakery has been spray painted over. Marvel inches over to peek out of one of the missed spots. "They're all concentrating on the candy shop. I'm surprised they haven't blown it up yet."

"They don't want to risk killing us before they find out who we are," Ashton answers, also looking out. "They all know Snow would love to get his hands on an Abernathy again." There's a smashing sound from outside. "They broke down the sweetshop's door."

"So it won't be long before they realize we've moved into here," Cato states. "We need to get going."

Ashton nods curtly. "Now or never." They all nod back. He unlocks the door, takes a breath, and throws it open.

The Peacekeepers still remaining outside the candy shop whirl around in surprise as they burst out of the bakery. Cato and the others shoot down a few more as they make their way across the square. Some raise their guns to shoot back, until someone shouts, "Don't shoot! Snow wants them alive!"

That someone is standing on the podium, holding a gun to Marjorie Donner's head. His face is long, angular, and grim, with graying hair. Cato vaguely recognizes him—String? Thread?—as someone who's visited District 2 a few times to check out the latest batches of Peacekeepers.

Ashton aims his arrow at Thread; the rest of them are keeping an anxious eye on the other Peacekeepers in the square. "Release her."

"Put down your weapons," the Peacekeeper retorts.

"Not gonna happen."

Thread bares his teeth. "Bullets are faster than arrows."

"Yeah, but I bet this arrow's still faster than you can dodge it. Come on, orders aren't worth dying for. Let her go. Snow doesn't want her, anyway."

"You're outnumbered."

"You're outclassed."

The gun presses tighter to Marjorie Donner's head. "Reinforcements are coming. You should make this easier on yourself and surrender."

As if on cue, the now-familiar hum of an approaching hovercraft vibrates through the air. Cato forces his finger not to twitch on the trigger. Ashton says they're also expecting a hovercraft from Thirteen, so the question is whose reinforcements are on the way?

Ashton masks his uncertainty well, but it's still there. "Thread," he enunciates clearly. "Head Peacekeeper of District 12, arguably the worst of all the Districts. Didn't you want to be a Gamemaker once upon a time?"

Thread's nostrils flare. "Drop your weapons," he hisses.

"My sister told me about you. Very sad story."

The gun parts slightly from Marjorie Donner's head as Thread glares at Ashton. "Your sister. Lorraine Abernathy. The treasonous whore."

Murder boils in Ashton's eyes. "I'll pretend you didn't say that. One must be kind to rejects and failures, after all."

Thread's gun starts to swing toward Ashton just as Cato notices something flying through the air toward them. "GRENADE!" Johanna Mason bellows.

Cato grabs Ember by the arm and runs. The Justice Building looms before them, and he pushes Ember ahead of him as the grenade goes off. The explosion makes him stumble, but the impact isn't as great as he expected. Cato whirls around and sees the reason why: while Thread leapt for safety, Marjorie Donner threw herself over the device.

"What's happening?" Ember cries.

He hasn't the heart to lie to her. "Your aunt is dead."

Her already white face pales even more. "No. No, it can't be, I-I-I…" Her eyes dart to and fro, then suddenly they focus on something beyond him. "Ashton, no!"

Ashton is struggling to his feet. Behind him, Thread has already stood and picked up his gun again, taking aim. But before he can fire, an axe hurtles through the air and separates his hand from his arm. Thread screams and falls to his knees, clutching his bloody stump.

"Don't shoot them!" the second-in-command is shouting. "We need them alive!"

Cato sweeps his gaze around the square. Johanna and Katniss have already found cover and are trying to take down as many of the remaining Peacekeepers as they can, but the uniformed men have also barricaded themselves. Marvel. Where's Marvel? Cato turns and spots his friend trying to fend off two Peacekeepers at once in hand-to-hand, spear out of reach. More are headed his way.

"Go join Katniss and Johanna," he tells Ember. "Don't do anything stupid or heroic. Please."

"No promises," she mutters as she prepares herself.

Cato sprints off to Marvel's aid. In one fluid motion, he scoops up the spear from the ground, skewers the nearer Peacekeeper, and hands off the weapon to its owner as he draws his sword. Armed again, Marvel fares much better against the remaining opponent as Cato whirls to face the approaching newcomers.

"About time you showed up!" Marvel pants.

"I thought you could hold out longer."

Their bantering ceases as more Peacekeepers spill into their square, faster than Ashton and Katniss's barrage of arrows can pick off. As he and Marvel do their best to hold back their share of the flood, Cato hopes that Ember has the sense to cut her losses and run back to join the others in the woods—but it's a futile wish, because she would never abandon the rest of them like that.

A Peacekeeper raises his baton to whack Marvel's skull before a bullet hole appears in the middle of his forehead. Cato looks around wildly until he sees Clove, grinning ferally, as beside her Gale Hawthorne joins in on the storm of arrows. "What the hell?" Cato shouts at his district partner as he cuts down an encroaching Peacekeeper. "You're not supposed to be here!"

"And let you get all the glory? Piss off!" she yells back as she shoots two more Peacekeepers in quick succession.

Cato laughs mirthlessly and begins to fight harder. But the addition of just two more on their side isn't going to make much of a difference against the battalion they're facing. When they get a few seconds' reprieve, he and Marvel seize it to relocate to a more advantageous position.

"We're dead, aren't we?" Marvel says nonchalantly.

"If your name isn't Abernathy, probably. I won't say 'I told you so.'"

"Yeah, because we'll be dead, idiot."

Still, Cato wonders if the Peacekeepers might be mistaking him or Marvel for Ashton, because the ones trying to get to them seem reluctant to use their guns. It's a little far-fetched, since the Abernathys have some of the most famous faces in the country, but in the heat of battle they probably want to be certain before shooting.

A scream cuts through the air, and Cato's blood chills. He whips around and spies three Peacekeepers dragging Ember across the square. Ember manages to wrench her hand free, and in a flash she stabs one of them in the thigh. The man yells in pain and releases her, and she turns on another Peacekeeper. The second man blocks her in time, seizing her wrist and forcing her to drop the knife.

The first man, the stabbed one, gathers himself enough to backhand her across the face. A split second later, Cato's dragged him backward and snapped his neck. Meanwhile, the third Peacekeeper raises his gun and aims squarely at Cato's chest—he's clearly certain he isn't Ashton Abernathy.

Bullet wounds suddenly riddle the man's face. The body hasn't even fallen to the ground yet before the Peacekeeper holding Ember follows suit, and she quickly shakes the dead man off of her.

Cato turns, but instead of Clove, he sees Maysilee Donner with her gun still raised and a grim smile on her face. Beside her, Haymitch Abernathy surges forward and takes down a foolhardy Peacekeeper who thought to attack her while she was distracted.

"Mom," Ember breathes, eyes wide. "Dad."

"Ember, come on." Cato urges her to follow him. "We need to get to Marvel. He's in a safe spot." They skirt the edge of the battle—the square fuller than ever, with soldiers in white and in black uniforms, reinforcements on both sides—and find Marvel, who's breathing hard as he keeps an eye out for any enemies approaching his location.

Ember's eyes never leave her parents, and abruptly she gasps. "Mom!"

Some Peacekeeper's bullet—purposely or accidentally—has found its way to her leg, and Maysilee Donner sinks to the ground, her face twisted with agony. Haymitch runs to her side, and Ember tries to do the same. Cato pulls her back. "Don't!"

"Let me go, I have to get to them—"

"You stay here. I'll go." Cato stares meaningfully at Marvel, who nods and gently nudges Ember behind him. Then, before Ember can protest anymore, Cato takes off.

The Peacekeepers are definitely not shooting at Maysilee and Haymitch, but they're still targeting the couple: Snow's greatest prize, if they're captured. The other soldiers from District 13 are trying to prevent the Peacekeepers from grabbing them, and so Ember's parents are trapped in the thick of the fighting.

Cato quickly finds the easiest opening, and he cuts down several Peacekeepers in his way. "Here!" he shouts, and Maysilee and Haymitch stare at him. He gestures briefly in Ember's direction. "Ember's over there. I'll take you to her."

They spot their daughter and, after a split second of judgment, they nod. Haymitch helps his wife stand, and with Cato mowing down any Peacekeepers in their path, they manage to escape the frenzy. But they haven't even made it halfway to their goal when an earsplitting screech cuts through the air, and rebels and Peacekeepers alike cover their ears, grimacing.

"Cato," a stern voice says, not raised but audible over the now-silence.

His skin prickles at the sound of the familiar voice. Cato can hear his heart pounding in his ears as he whirls around to stare at his father.

Dun-dun-DUUUNNNNN. What's going to happen? Who knooooowws. (Well, I know. Kind of. I need to write the next chapter, though. :P)

Thank you for reading! Reviews encourage me to write faster, and if I eke out enough for a preview, then you'll be getting a preview of the next chapter if you review within a week of this update!