Disclaimer: the Hunger Games trilogy belongs to Suzanne Collins

Chap 38

I return to the beginning of the tape. I didn't realize this sooner but it happened at every districts, except the Careers' Districts. Only one slip that bearing the name whole district had voted for was given to the escort. The orphan, the loneliest, the weakest, the most useless child become the sacrifice for other children. No wonder the district bowing their head in shame, the tributes walking up to the podium in anger. Betrayal.

"The female tribute is Aileen Gardyner."

Clank!

The pen rolls on the floor. My eyes are dazzled because of sudden standing up. But there's no mistake. That long dark brown hair, those green eyes. That's Rhosy.

"He named you Rhosy and let you have this face."

That's the girl whom Rhosy's face was changed to. She's so small, even smaller than Prim and Rue at twelve. She's the tribute of Eleven. It's definitely not a coincidence. This is the clue leading me to find out the link between Snow and Coin. I grab the box again. Victor is one of the Careers. I decide to watch the game. Nothing special and it ended real quickly. That time the Gamemaker had some mistakes with the arena. The girl from Ten and little Aileen died at the bloodbath with ten others. Victory belonged to one of the Careers. I watch the whole tape again. Except for the name Snow using as his password and the face of Aileen, I couldn't find anything can be related to Snow and Coin. Both those girls were orphan and they didn't survive the bloodbath to give me any other clues. What are they to Snow and Coin?

Who are they?

I sit in silence and darkness until the guards find me and escort me back to my family's room. I spend the night trying to figure things until I drift into my cage with new faces, new names I watched in that room. Then the next day I decide to forget about it. It wouldn't mean anything after what I would do to those two.

A few days later, I'm woken up by Prim. Following her voice is the sound of shrieking. I rub my eyes and realize standing around my bed is my prep team. They're looked thinner but they're alive, that's enough.

"Katniss! Katniss!" They call my name and hug me and cry. Strangely, I don't feel that annoying. Since that day others always tell me how sorry they are, and that I have to move on or something like that. My prep team with their innocence and idiocy actually make me feel more comfortable. As if they shed my tears for me. I shush them until they gain their calmness back.

"I thought I would never see you again. How could you survive?" I ask Venia.

"Plutarch Heavensbee hid us in his old friend's house. Right before your game." She says.

"I did the same with Peeta's prep team and stylish but they were a little too late to go to planned place." Plutarch says. Now I realize he's sitting on the sofa. Next to him is another surprise to me. Polished from her metallic gold wig to her patent leather high heels, gripping a clipboard. Remarkably unchanged except for the vacant look in her eyes. Today must be the day.

"Effie." I get up from the bed. She does the same and gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"It's good to see you again." She says honestly. Good, she doesn't mention his name again. She lets go of me and picks up her clipboard. "Well, it looks like we've got another big, big, big day ahead of us. So why don't you start your prep and I'll just pop over and check on the arrangements."

"Okay." I nod.

The prep team helps me with the bath. One last time a beautiful puppet and I'm done with the world. I put on the Mockingjay suit, secretly checking the nightlock pill. It's still here. Octavia secures my Mockingjay pin over my heart and we step out of the bathroom.

"Where's my bow and arrows?" I ask Plutarch.

He opens the long box next to him and gives me my bow. It was polished, got rid of scratches.

"And here's your arrow." He gives me the sheath with only one ordinary arrow. "You will fire the last shot of the war. A symbol."

"Oh." I utter. Only one shot to kill two people. "What if I miss?" I ask.

Plutarch laughs as if I'm joking. "You won't miss. We have to go now. Effie will escort you. I have something to finish before I go there." He says.

I give Prim a hug, our last hugging. I wish my mother was here. They might not understand why but it's the right thing I have to do. I can't let Coin live and threaten and use me forever. And the game. It has to be ended.

"Wait." I tell Effie. We're walking down the hallway in the first floor. Snow has stopped falling outside. I can see the garden through the window. "I want a rose."

Effie raises her eyebrows. I'm not the kind of girl who likes flower.

"I want to place it in his lapel before I shoot him." I say. Maybe I can have a moment with him so that I will know what to do with only one arrow. Effie considers my request a little then we both go to the garden. Only the roses in the glass house have flower. I choose a white one just coming to its blooming.

Effie leads me to the front doors of the mansion. The City Circle runs over, spills people down the side streets. The others take their places outside. Guards. Officials. Rebel leaders. Victors.

"What is that for?"

I turn my head and face Coin.

"I want to place it in his lapel. He always wore a rose in public. It makes this more real." I answer. Coin looks at the rose with strange silence.

"I'll do it for you." She says and quickly grabs the flower and steps out. I immediately realize my chance.

I hear the cheers that indicate Coin has appeared at the door. Then Effie taps my shoulder, and I step out into the cold winter sunlight. Walk to my position, accompanied by the deafening roar of the crowd. As directed, I turn so they see me in profile, and wait. When they march Snow out the door, the audience goes insane. They have his hands in cuff, which is unnecessary. He's not going anywhere. We have a deal. He takes a quick glance at Coin and smirks. He knows she would be right here.

I feel the bow purring in my hand. Reach back and grasp the arrow. He's only ten yard away. I won't miss even though I might not have time to aim carefully. I check the arrow. It's solid and long enough, I hope. I block out the roaring of the crowd and concentrate at his face. Coin says something and steps forward to give him the rose. The time has come. I raise my bow and shoot. The arrow lands next to his feet. Snow grabs it, springs up and catches Coin's neck. The guards converge on me and enclose him. The audience screams.

In the chaos, I can't hear it clearly but I can read his mouth. Just right before he plunges the arrow so strongly into her heart, through her body and to his own. They fall to the ground together.

"It's okay. I'm here, Rhosy."

That's what he said to her.