Chapter 54 –– A Father's Legacy
AN: My thanks to those read, reviewed, alerted and favored Destiny. Lol I especially want to thank the following who left a review for the last chapter. I enjoy reading your comments––pumpkinking5, LACR, BDizzy, little Bird Lina, Twink21, Nais1987, Browniangel and guests. Because you know reviews inspire authors to write updates and let's them know you enjoy reading their stories! Lololol
This chapter was written with Snow and Jimmy's POVs and is rated R for strong language. Katniss and Peeta need a bit of rest sometimes. The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins and any mistakes found are mine.
Snow POV ––
Exhaling a long and cleansing breath, I looked outside my window at my palatial garden that expanded to five acres of land. I remembered my father spending a fortune for the design. It was an immense landscape that I found comfort and solitude amongst the beautiful expanse of roses, only white. The scent of the flower filtered in the house at mid afternoon perfuming the air. My state of tranquility disrupted by the sound of Mockingjays voice.
'Who do you fight for?' Mockingjay, also known as Garrett Everdeen's words echoed in my head. I had my back turned to the monitor as Plutarch watched with great interest, watching the video over and over. I however, was not amused or intrigued. After the watching the cornucopia exploded I sent troops after the tributes.
Flashback ––
"I want Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen alive," I ordered as I tried to contain my fury. " I don't care how long it takes you find them and bring them to me. You don't stop looking until you do."
"I want Haymitch Abernathy, Effie Trinket and Cinna, the stylist and his team to brought to me now," I instructed. "They are to be detained and kept at the Gamemaker's building with no than 20 guards. Close down the exposition at the stadium. Shut down car or air transports in and out of the city. No one is allowed to leave or enter the city limits."
Next I sent for Seneca Crane, my Head Gamemaker. "Tell me, Mr. Crane," I started. "What is the status in the arena? When can you have it functioning again?" I was certain that my soldiers would apprehend and capture my tributes. The games would continue as planned.
"I'm sorry, Mr. President, but…" he hesitated. Sweat beaded his forehead. I narrowed my eyes and waited for him to continue. "The programming…all the data and servers…they have been compromised."
"Compromised? Explain?" I didn't like the sound of it but I prepared for the worse.
"The rebels not only destroyed the cornucopia in the arena but they have infiltrated the computer systems. We lost everything."
"Everything. What do you mean everything?" I asked horrified. All my predecessor's work and my legacy lost.
"They destroyed the computer main servers, sir. All data, programs, games and plans. The only thing they had left untouched were the footage to all the 73 games––the archives. They were saved."
"With all the security measure placed inside the gamemaker's facility. How did 'they' manage to infiltrate and destroy…everything?"
"They had to have been planning this for months, even years, sir. There was a virus in the system that had been planted for a long time. Once all electrical feed was turned off, we turned on the back up system. And after that the 'worm' started to delete the files."
"I see," I said in grim manner.
"Once they started, my programmers did the best they could to stop it from 'feeding', but the more they interfered, the fast the files were deleted."
"So…you lost everything. Everything that my family had worked for," I stated. "Was there anything saved?"
"Nothing, we…we have to start from scratch and start over. All the programming and designs."
"So how did this happen?"
"There were two programmers that I suspected…but…"
"But?"
"Before I could detain her, she was gone, sir. There was wide spread panic and chaos. She slipped out."
"And who is 'she?' " I asked. A woman programmer? There weren't that many but the ones Crane hired were very skilled and brilliant.
He pulled out his datapad and handed it to me. On the screen was dark skinned woman in her early 30's, Elsa Nayala. "She is not a Capitolite," I discovered. Most programmers were born and trained from the Capitol. With a few exceptions, only a few were hired out of the city. "She was exceptional in game design, Mr. President. We had her heading the designs for the 75th Hunger Games. You…you hand picked her yourself."
I didn't remember the face but the name stuck. She was rare, as designer with a brilliant eye for 3-D designs. She had created a new digital species that would revolutionize the games––the mutt animal configuration. Plutarch had suggested to use them for the Quarter Quell––the 75th Hunger Games. The mutts were tested weeks ago in District 12. The test was dual purpose as a testing ground and warning to Peeta Mellark as he did not comply to my…request––to help me discover the identity of the Mockingjay. Little did I realize it was his girlfriend's father. Did he know and if he did how was Peeta able to resist the truth serum?
Nevertheless, the alpha test for the mutt dogs in District 12 were a complete success and would have been used at next year's Hunger Games.
"So not only did the rebels destroy my the programs and the cornucopia. The electrical substations in District 5 were sabotaged as well. And, you mean to tell me that Ms. Nayala has escaped after she has literally destroyed all the Gamemaker's programming? Over 70 years of data, files and programming gone. Never to be recovered?" Everything my family built had collapse in mere seconds. All because of… I held my temper in check. My life's work destroyed by a seventeen year old boy, his girlfriend and her crippled father.
"Yes, Mr. President," Crane said, his Adam's apple bulged in throat and a vein protruded on his forehead as sweat gleamed on his skin. He looked…scared. He should be scared for his life. My family's was legacy gone. It would take years to rebuild the games.
I was a man of few word and when I spoke, my words were clear and succinctly. "Leave my sight. You are finished."
End of Flashback ––
That night Mr. Crane's body was found at the stadium––a rope around his neck as he was suspended on the flagpole of District 12.
The rest of my peacekeepers I sent over to find my daughter in law and family once I had discovered they were the disappearance of my daughter-in-law and granddaughter, I had doubled security at my home. Roberta and Amelia are missing, presumably kidnapped. Though most of their clothes and things were untouched and undisturbed, I had my…doubts, their abduction so easily executed.
"He's brilliant, you know," Plutarch stated. "All these years, no one knew who he was and where he lived. I thought he was a gypsy travelling place to place, district to district never setting down in one place. We suspected he was loner with no family or friends. Only to find out he was in the farthest and poorest district, blending with the locales while dispersing order to his men at other districts making it look like he was there." He chortled. "And a cripple no less, a missing arm and leg to disguise and hide him in the population."
"You admire him," I accused. "A man whose man purpose is to destroy our way of life. Destroying decades of traditions, the Hunger Games."
"You should never under estimate the desperation of a man willing to sacrifice a boy and his own daughter for his cause," he added. "He puts his country first before his family, his home. What does that tell you what kind of man he is?"
"A dangerous one," I admitted. I too knew the sacrifice a man must make to have power and success. To become the president of a nation who would serve him.
"We under estimated his forces as well," Plutarch voiced. "We knew he had an army, three to four hundred at best . Paltry numbers in comparison to your thousands. His attacking district 3, 5 and 8 did put out his hand. He has more men than we expected. They are probably scattered within the district and adding more men each day. This…" He pointed to the monitor. "This is his call, to rally the rest of Panem to join him."
"What of his district, District 12?" I inquired.
"The men there are merchant and miners. If any one would give you trouble it would be the miners. They have less to lose because they are fighting for better conditions. The merchants are lazy. They wouldn't want to disrupt their way of life."
"But didn't you just admit that these are desperate men in desperate times," I reminded him. "12 will become a problem. Everdeen was a miner… before the accident." I sighed. I had never had so much trouble with one district. I listed the names of people in my head, but then I didn't realize I had spoken out loud because was I annoyed and troubled.
"It all started with Head Peacekeeper's Cray, his nephew…Ivan, didn't it? He chose the wrong girl to harass, Katniss Everdeen whose boyfriend is Peeta Mellark. Garrett Everdeen used the boy in video that started the…events. It's victor Haymitch Abernathy's district as well. That damn district has cost me everything."
"Who would have thought that little district, one of the poorest and farthest would be the cause of your troubles."
"Is it true? Crane reported that nothing was salvageable," I asked one last time. Heavensbee nodded his head.
"I'm afraid so, Mr. President," he admitted. "I'm not sure it wise to reboot the systems. The programs and files were deleted and that includes all back up systems. We literally have to start from scratch. All the programmer's data base and backup files were deleted as well. Nothing was saved or could be reconstructed right away."
"Then we start over," I decreed.
"But sir, it would takes up months or even years to recover…"
"I don't care," I seethed in silent anger. "I don't care how long it takes. I will not let that…cripple undermine all the work my family has created. He will not defeat me––"
"Sir, don't you think you have other priorities to handle first," he started. "Mockingjay has attacked your power and sub stations. He has infiltrated the gamemaker's facility, his rebels are looting and destroying the Capitol supplies––food, grain. You have half your soldiers in the west side looking for Peeta and Katniss. The other half looking for Mockingjay and his wife. Your people still haven't heard from you. They need you support and comfort. They want answers to questions that Flickerman and your PR team cannot answer."
"What do you recommend me to do?"
"Take a step back. Take a moment to talk to your people who are looking to you for some reassurance," he began. "There are rumors of rebels in Capitol. That there will be an attack. People are scared, and when they are scared they do not react rationally." I remembered the riots during the 30th Hunger Games. The strong and trained tributes fought each other, killing each other off while the weak hid. The remaining tributes kept away from each other. Weeks flew with no resolution or victor and people grew tired or boredom. Nothing pushed the games to its conclusion. In reaction, the Capitolites rioted and angry sponsors and citizens wanted their money back.
"Why are they worried? It's me that Mockingjay wants," I scoffed.
"But the rumor of your daughter-in-law and granddaughter missing is running rampant in the city," he stated. "With them missing, there is proof of their presence in the city. People are scared. You need to make a statement. Don't lie or try to hide anything from them. Lying will make situations worse." I snorted. I wondered how the citizens would react to the 'things' I knew and kept from them––dark secrets from some of the Capitolites.
"Fine," I agreed with great reluctance. The last thing I wanted to do was appease a bunch of spoiled citizens because their toys were taken away from them. How do I announce that the Hunger Games and all it entailed were gone? How do I tell them that we are under attack and since the rebels have infiltrated the city, that no one was safe? "I leave you the task of writing the information that is needed to be given. I want this conference done quickly."
"Thank you, sir," he Heavensbee said. "This is first move to make. You have already implemented measures to find Mellark and Everdeens and to find your family. May I suggest that you add more security to the warehouses and train stations for each district. You have to protect transportation and manufacturing if you intend to keep the Capitol functioning."
"You have my permission to give the order on my behalf," I said. I trusted Heavensbee as my consultant on such matters. His years of loyalty and service had served me well. Albeit, I trusted no one but I needed his help. As my consultant, he too was in danger. "And another thing, tell the head peacekeeper in District 12 to start removing all personnel as soon as possible. I want then all out of the district."
"Why, sir?"
"It's time that I teach Everdeen a lesson. Tit for tat you might say," I said a sinister tone. 'He needs to feel the my wrath.' "And I'm sending a message to all of Panem when I'm done there is nowhere that Garrett and his rebels can hide."
It was time to act. Mockingjay may have destroyed the Hunger Games but I was confident that I would recreate the database and programming that was lost. The new facility will be impenetrable. It would take years to reconstruct even if it meant to start from scratch. But first there was a bird to catch and I knew the means to lure him into a trap.
A loud knock interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I ordered.
"Sir, we found these two trying to leave the city," the peacekeeper announced. A male and female was escorted into the room. My eye bulged from my sockets. This was indeed good fortune as I smiled at my two guests.
"Hello, Cinna," I greeted them. "I believe you and I have a lot to talk about."
Jimmy POV ––
Despite the turmoil since the Hunger Games ceremony, life in District 12 continued. The sound of a pan disrupted the quiet that hovered inside the bakery.
"Delly," Rye's voice filled the air with tone of remorse and frustration. "I said I'm sorry already." I walked into the kitchen to find Delly in tears.
"What's going on in here?" I asked. "Is there a problem?" Rye had his back turned his hands on his head.
"Him." Delly pointed at her husband. "He's the problem." 'Oh, boy.' I cringed as the sight of my family. Since Delly's pregnancy, she had been emotional and sensitive to anything Rye said or did. I had faced the same problems three times with Evelyn.
"What did Rye do now?" I sighed.
"Me, why is it always me?" he said as he turned around his eyes wide open. I glared back at him. I had counseled him about pregnant women and the emotional upheaval he was going to endure. No matter how irrational, impatient or demanding Delly was going to be, she was carrying his baby and had to endure her emotional outbursts and tantrums.
Rye closed his eyes once again and placed a hand on his hip. I could tell he was counting in his head.
"Delly, what happened?" I asked my daughter-in-law.
"He called me fat," she hiccupped. 'Oh, geez.'
"Rye!"
"I did not," he defended as he opened his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yes, you did," Delly seethed back with tears in her eyes, her lower lip trembled.
"I said…I said that you should stop eating the cupcakes. The baby needs to be fed with healthier foods like fruit. I said you are eating too much sugar and fat––"
"See, he called me fat!" Delly wailed. I pursed my lips hoping to contain my amusement. I loved Delly and Rye. She was unreasonable but since when did any hormonal pregnant woman was rational? I wouldn't change this life for the world as I remembered my time in the Justice Building after Darius had arrested me.
Flashback ––
"Mr. Mellark, please have a seat," Darius directed. Worried and scared, I now realized the magnitude of Peeta's experience. I mean, I knew it was horrifying and scary but to actually experience how he felt, it stunned me. I clasped my hands together noticing the bits of dough and flour between my nails and hands. I woke up early despite not sleeping well the night before worrying over Rye and especially for Peeta. Images ran inside my head that I couldn't turn it off no matter what I did.
At least Rye was safe with Garrett. I was angry and felt betrayed at Rye's abandonment but I understood his motivation. He loved his brother and wanted to help. How? I wasn't quite sure since he wasn't a fighter. I obsessed over Garrett's plans to rescue my son and his daughter. There was so much to lose and things that could go wrong. I prayed that both my sons would come home unscathed.
"You're dismissed," he ordered his two soldiers that accompanied us. Once the door was closed behind them, Darius sat across me. I looked at Darius. He was far too young to shoulder so much responsibility. But I was relieved it was Darius and not some stranger. Images of Cray with his face in a sneer as he took Peeta away into the Justice building surfaced in my mind. I imagined how Peeta must have felt scared, alone and trying to stay brave. I was happy that Haymitch was there for him. I envied the bond that grew between them. It was obvious that they did form a relationship of trust and care but I never begrudged Peeta for feelings he had for Haymitch since I knew I had failed him.
"Listen, Mr. Mellark," Darius started. "I'm not here to hurt you, okay? But I do have to ask you a few questions. Questions you want me to ask and not with anyone else. Do you understand?" I nodded my head. "Just be prepared if…if I have to take you to the Capitol just in case President Snow orders me to."
"Do you think he might?" Sweat trickled down my head onto my neck. Even with the air conditioning on, I felt hot as though I was suffocating. The bakery created heat that had us perspiring for hours. Inside the Justice building, it was a different kind of heat accompanied with fear, stress and panic.
"He's been very uncommunicative lately," he added. "There hasn't been any information as to who is supposed to be sent to be the new head peacekeeper. It's not like him to take this long." He hesitated. "It worries me that he's been pulling out some soldiers a little at a time these past few weeks. I don't like it."
"Me, too," I admitted. Darius raised his brows. "I mean in under different circumstance I'd be relieved but I have a bad feeling. I can't explain it." The number of peacekeepers still present was less than half now. Those numbers bothered me. "What do you suspect is going on?"
"Truthfully?"
"I expect no less, Darius. I have trusted you for some time now."
"I think something bad is going to happen again," he confessed. "Really bad."
"Like maybe more mutt attacks," I suggested. Darius's eyes grew wide. "Maybe a large number of mutt dogs not just a dozen like last time." Like the last time when I lost my son and daughter-in-law. Graham's death was still fresh in my mind, a hole that would never heal. Losing Peeta and Rye would more than devastate me.
"I thought about that possibility," he stated. He drew a long and raspy breath though his mouth. "It would be easy to make it look like another mutt attack with not enough soldiers to defend the citizenry."
"You know, I can see Snow leaving a small number of soldiers to defend us," I said. "It would be too obvious if all you guys left completely. If he orders all of you to leave, you and I know that…" I couldn't complete the sentence. The thought more than scared me. I thought of all my family and friends both Merchant and Seam.
I grew angry that Garrett had gotten his family out of 12, but what about the rest of us? Did he not think of us when he sent his message to Snow and revealed himself? He had to know there would be repercussions.
"I confess that I'm at a loss what to do," Darius admitted. "I'm a peacekeeper, trained to serve the Capitol and President Snow. But…"
"But?"
"I feel as though even us peacekeepers, the ones left here have been abandoned," he stated. "Ever since the incident with Ivan and Cray, we have no support or information of what's been happening else where."
"How many of you feel have felt like this?" I inquired.
"A lot…nearly have of those left." He shifted in his seat as he felt guilty for revealing his concern. "I shouldn't be talking or telling you any of this."
"Darius, I'm your friend. But I know that you have a job––a job to keep us in check and to keep order. We have in fact complied to all the demands, requests and lived with unbearable conditions. We know about the unrest in the other districts. Our lives are at stake, so no more lies or subterfuge." He nodded his head. I placed him a tough position––our lives over his job. "What would you do when not if Snow orders for all peacekeeper to leave District 12? We would be defenseless when––"
A soldier interrupted up. "Sir, you need to watch this," he said as he pressed a button on a panel. The monitor in the room turned on. On the screen, Garrett's face appeared. I gasped in surprise and relief as I watch an image of Peeta and Katniss running in the forest with two rebel soldiers.
'Panem, this is my gift to you. And to the families of the tributes, these are your children.' Garrett announced as I also noticed the other tributes following them.
'He did it. He fucking did it.' Words rang in my head. 'Garrett rescued Peeta but…he also rescued the other tributes?' That was not part of the plan.
'The games are over. If you join me I swear that no child will ever be reaped, no child will ever sign up for a tessarae nor shall a child stand in a crowd with their peers as they wait in fear for their name to be called. Join me and free Panem from Snow and the Capitol. Help me end his reign of terror and subjugation.
Our children are running for their lives from the arena. Help me fight for them, help me fight for everyone's child in every district.'
The monitor went dark and the Capitol icon appeared on the screen. I wanted to jump for joy as my heart burst with happiness and relief. My son, Peeta was saved. Albeit, he was running for his life, but he and Katniss had a better chance of survival. They were no longer in the arena. My spirit lifted, the world seemed bright and new again, but my jubilation was short lived.
"I have to ask, Mr. Mellark," Darius started as he had a grim look on his face. "I'm asking as a friend because at this point it doesn't really matter to me. How long have you known that Mr. Everdeen was the Mockingjay?" I couldn't stop from smiling. Tears brimmed my eyes.
I debated whether it was a good idea to talk about Garrett. I trusted Darius but when asked, he will tell Snow any information that he discovered in this 'interview.' But he was right, it was a moot point because all of Panem knows who he is now.
"Garrett Everdeen has been a friend, a good friend." Despite that fact that Lily fell for him while we were together, I never resented neither of them for breaking my heart. You love whom you love. Had I forced Lily Graham, Rye and Peeta would not have existed. Because fate had other ideas. She was meant to fall for Garrett so that my son Peeta would fall for their daughter Katniss. We weren't meant to be. "I only found out after the mining accident and Lily…needed help. She accidentally told me in a moment of exhaustion and fear of losing him."
"I wasn't posted here yet when that happened," he informed me. "I was assigned months later."
"To tell a long story short, I had never suspect it though I heard rumors that he…the Mockingjay was from 12," I admitted. "But when he started appearing at other districts, I never gave it another thought." I took a deep breath. "Before the accident, Garrett was able to disappear two to three days at a time with a help from…a couple of Merchants who were involved with him. But because of Garrett's disability, he stopped. Thus, sending his avatars in his stead to keep the ruse alive."
Darius wanted to know who was involved and if I knew about the rescue attempt. "I can't believe this all happened under my watch and I never suspected any of you involved. I mean, I under estimated Mr. Abernathy. He didn't seem the type to care or get involved. Was he playing the district drunk as a ploy?"
"No, that was real," I told him. Haymitch drank to forget––survivor's guilt is what they called his ailment. That and the fact he lost all his family when defied Snow and was sold and forced into prostitution. "He had stopped only months before because…"
"Because of your son, Peeta," he supplied. I nodded my head. "Your son seems to be very involved––"
"No, Darius" I blurted, a sense panic settled in my chest as my heart raced. "The only thing he did was defend the girl he loved from getting raped. Ivan was a monster. You can't deny that."
"So their relationship is real?"
"Yes, it is. Why would you ask that? You've seen my son. He's besotted over Katniss."
Darius shrugged his shoulders. "I thought Merchant and Seam relationships were forbidden. I thought Mockingjay was making them up as a propo to use for his video."
"Peeta has been in love with Katniss before he even knew what love was about. He was infatuated with her at an early age. That infatuation grew to love and adoration. He is smitten and head over heels in love with her. I would never allow Garrett to use my son that way." My resentment and bitterness surfaced. I forgave Garrett for using Peeta, but it didn't mean that I had forgotten. "To imply that I would allow my son to be subjected to…and after everything he's been through…" I shut my mouth. Peeta was never involved with the rebellion nor would I ask him to, but so much has happened to him. And I knew Garrett was determined to recruit him.
"I am sorry for what happened to Peeta, Mr. Mellark," he said. "He didn't deserve anything that happened to him. Especially with Cray. I still haven't figured out who killed Ivan." I held my tongue. "I mean, he was murdered and his killer should be caught but…with everything that is going on…" He sighed. "I can report that Peeta was never involved if Snow asks me."
"Thank you," I said in relief. "It's' true that Peeta was never involved. Not any of my sons were. Only me." That was true two weeks ago but who knew now. For all I know Mockingjay has already recruited Peeta being that he's in love with the Mockingjay's daughter. He would do anything for Katniss. Like kill and die for her.
"I need to know. Who else is involved?" A ball of saliva formed in my throat. "You said no lies, Mr. Mellark. It's best that you tell me…willingly or else I'll be forced to…" With the ball in my throat an ache followed. Could I subject myself the treatment that Peeta experienced with Cray and Snow? "Just tell me so I won't have to…force my hand and inject you with a truth serum."
I listed the men involved but gave no information as to who helped Lily escape District 12. "I can't…I don't know who helped Lily…Mrs. Everdeen leave. I've been sick with worry over Peeta in the arena. I have a business to run and a family to protect."
We spoke for hours drilling and interviewing me. Darius may not have used the truth serum on me but…his method was passive but effective. Questioning me over and over, if I knew who helped Lilly escape from District 12. Where was she headed?
"Darius, I am not complicit to having Mrs. Everdeen escape District 12. You don't have anything to charge me with. Why am I still here?"
"It's true you were not involved but you did admit that you are a member of Mockingjays rebellion?" Chills ran up my spine. This was it. I was certain that he was going to send me to the Capitol. "I'm sorry, Mr. Mellark but I must detain you for the rest of the day." He stood up. "I have to at least make the pretense of keeping here for questioning. I don't want to release you yet."
"Oh, okay," I sighed. "So you're not going to arrest me or anything?"
"For what? For wanting a better life for you and your family," he said. "I'm a soldier and citizen of the Capitol but I also have roots here. My mother…"
"I didn't know that," I admitted. I felt bad for Darius. His loyalty was divided. It was no wonder he felt compassion for this district. "Then you understand why…why we are fighting. We fight to have a better life, but also we fight to make sure that our children have a better life and future. No more death, no more games." He nodded his head.
"But make no mistake," he said with a hard tone. "I am peacekeeper first and foremost. I have a duty to the Capitol. I too have a family to protect. I have to do my job and take orders. Even if I disagree or object, I have to do my job." After so many hours of sitting down, Darius led me to a room. It was not what I expected for a room they kept for prisoners.
"It's one of the rooms for visiting officers," he explained. "You are not under arrest per se but I can't let you go home yet."
By the first morning light, Darius released me. "I'll hold off all the information you told me for as long as I can."
"Why?" I asked. I was exhausted from lack of sleep as I was overjoyed, happy and worried. Delly and Tyler were alone. I was scared for them even though Madge promised to take care of them. Delly and my grandson were my family, they would be all I had left if Peeta or Rye…
"President Snow is busy hunting down Mockingjay…and Peeta and Katniss. His daughter-in-law and granddaughter are missing. He has to put out fire in Districts 3, 5 and 8." I smiled. "I also found out that Mockingjay destroyed the gamemaker's servers that stored all the files and programs for the Hunger Games."
I didn't understand what that meant so Darius explained it to me.
"Holy fuck!" I exclaimed. "So all of it is gone. All the files cannot be retrieved. There will be no more Hunger Games."
"Yes," he confirmed with a sly smile on his face. He was happy for us? My knees buckled from the news. I knew that Garrett had plans to bomb several substations in District 5, but didn't explicitly explained why. No more games, no more sending children to their deaths as entertainment for the Capitol. Tyler would grow up in world free from the Hunger Games. It was a dream come true.
"He so busy right now that you're not a priority, but…I feel that once he's calmed down, he's going to remember that Mr. Everdeen is from District 12. There is hell to pay, Mr. Mellark. This district is in danger after what Mr. Everdeen did at the arena and for rescuing not just Peeta and Katniss, but all 24 tributes."
"And 12 will suffer the consequences," I added. I was torn in two. I was happy that Peeta was safe and there were to be no more games, but at the same time. Garrett had put our home, our families and friends in danger. Freedom had it's cost and consequences.
"I have a confession to make," he stated. "I'm scared. For you and this district."
"You think Snow might send another mutt dog attack, but this time in larger numbers." I observed. Darius shook his head.
"I feel there is something worse that is going to happen, something more devastating." My mind searched for possibilities and scenarios. How and when would Snow attack District 12. The real question was…how do we protect ourselves from Snow and his need for retribution?
End of flashback ––
"Delly, honey," Rye said as he interrupted my recollection. ""I'm sorry, okay. I didn't say you were fat."
"You did," she sobbed. "You…you think I'm fat and don't want me anymore."
"Delly, how could you think that?" I turned around and headed to the storefront. This matter had to be settled between the two of them. Aside the turmoil of Delly's hormonal tantrums, I was aware that we were still in danger. But knowing that Peeta was out there running for life, it was more than I could hope for.
Soon after I returned home, I was relieved that Rye came home. I was to happy too see him forgetting the fact that I was angry for him leaving in the first place.
Flashback ––
"Thank you for coming back, Rye," I said as I hugged him. He looked relieved and happy as well.
"I'm sorry, Dad," he muttered. "I know you're angry with me for…abandoning you, Delly and Tyler, but––"
"I understand why you did it, Rye. I do. I can't be mad at you for wanting to rescue Peeta, but what angered me was that you took off…in the middle of the night without saying good-bye. What if? What if something happened to you?"
"I'm sorry."
"Just no more running away and trying to save the world," I teased him. "That's Garrett's job. We…you and I, we have a place in this world. We may not be fighters, but courage and bravery doesn't apply just using a gun and fighting on the battlefield."
"An army marches on its stomach," Rye blurted. "We read that in one of the old world history books." He then explained his role at the rebel camp, baking bread and making meals for the rebels. "I became their new best friend.
Rye narrated his adventures with the rebels. How he met up with Prim and Gale. "Did you know that Gale was alive, Dad?" he questioned me. I nodded my head.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you but, it wasn't something I was allowed to share. So I'm assuming that's how you got the black eye?" He smiled, a big toothy smile that I haven't seen since…his wedding. "Rye!"
"He hit me, Dad," he chortled. "I didn't hit him back. That's Peeta's honor and privilege." I confessed that I too wanted to smack the boy around myself after what he put Peeta through.
End of Flashback ––
I couldn't ask for more as Rye was returned home and Peeta was safe from the Capitol. The games were gone forever no longer did we fear for our children's lives. Everyone in the district wanted to celebrate but thought against the idea of throwing a party for the end of the Hunger Games while the peacekeepers will held you captive.
It was quiet in the kitchen so I assumed that Delly and Rye had resolved their 'argument.' During lunch, we ate upstairs as we closed the bakery for at least half an hour. With Tyler on my lap, I watched Delly and Rye. They looked happy. I imagined Peeta and Katniss at the table looking in love and happy as well.
It was another dream of mine to have my family whole and together again, especially for Peeta, to have him back with Katniss. "Dad, Tyler's eating your napkin," Delly laughed as she reached over and took him from me. "Silly grandpa shouldn't let you do that, huh Tyler?" I snorted.
"Graham did that too when he was baby," I said remembering my eldest son. Tyler whimpered as Delly removed the cloth from his mouth. "I think he's teething." This was life, watching my children marry and have families of their own. I sniffled.
"I miss him too, Dad," Rye said. "I miss Graham everyday every time I look at Tyler." The pounding at the front door startled us. "What the fuck?"
"Rye," Delly scolded him. "What did I tell you about cussing in front of Tyler?"
"Delly," he returned, "…it's not like he knows what I'm saying. He's still a baby."
"No, but it's a habit you're going to have to curb once he's older and when our baby is born." Rye snickered. "You can't keep using language like in front of him."
"You didn't seem to mind when I whispered it in your ear last night––" he leaned over and wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"Rye," she blustered as she smacked him on the head with my napkin that Tyler was teething with.
"Ew, Delly. That's gross. Tyler slobbered all over that," he winced as he wiped saliva from his forehead. "Shit, he drools like a dog." Delly smacked him again.
"Stop, stop." I laughed and headed downstairs. At the front door, I noticed Darius alone looking frantic. My stomach plummeted. Was he back for me? To take me to Snow at the Capitol? I knew things were too good to be true. "Darius, what's wrong?" I asked as I let into the bakery.
"I got orders from Snow," he said his voice shook. It wasn't good news either way. He had news from Snow about the district or about me. "I received orders. He ordered me to pull all the peacekeepers from District 12."
"What? All of you?" I was stunned. This was not good.
"Dad? What's going on?" Rye and Delly appeared from behind me with Tyler in her arms. "What's happening?" I was too speechless as words failed me, but Rye read my eyes. "What's going on Darius?"
"President Snow has order that all personnel to leave District 12…immediately," he explained. "We need to be out of the district before nightfall."
"Did he say why? He had to have a good reason?" Rye asked.
"He said he needed to deploy all his troops at various location in case there's an attack from the rebels and to hunt down your brother, Katniss Everdeen and Mockingjay. It's a top priority."
"But all of you?" I inquired. "I don't give a shit for his reason, Darius. We talked about this. You know why he's doing this."
"I know, Mr. Mellark but my hands are tied," he returned. "I'm to oversee that all the peacekeepers––"
"All personnel, you said Snow ordered but he wasn't really specific, was he?" Rye commented.
"What do you mean?" Darius wondered. "What are you going on about?"
"Personnel meaning people but he didn't say anything about your armory where you stock all the guns and weapons." Darius's brow lifted on his forehead, his mouth formed an 'O.'
"Rye, what are you suggesting," I asked.
"Snow ordered the troops to leave but he didn't say to take their weapons and equipment with them," Rye reiterated.
"That's true, Mr. Mellark," Darius agreed. "He wanted his peacekeepers out but said nothing about any weapons. The trains and several hovercrafts are to arrive in a hour to pick us up." I didn't like the sound of Rye's implications but…we didn't have a choice. Once they left we were on our own to defend ourselves to what may come. We were being abandoned.
"Now hold on a minute," I interrupted. "You're playing with fire. Do you honestly think Snow is going to believe you when you tell him you left all your weapons back at 12 because…his orders were to recall all his personnel? And that you didn't think about also taking all your weapons and equipment with you?"
"I take his words seriously and Snow specifically said that all personnel are to be removed from District 12. Would you like to watch his transmission that Mr. Plutarch Heavensbee ordered per President Snow's request?"
"You're not an idiot, Darius."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Mellark but I have to go. I had to get my soldiers ready but after we leave…" He reached into his pant pocket to reveal a piece of metal abou inches. It was a data access card for room at the Justice building. "Use this to get access to the weapon's storage container located inside the Justice building. Basement floor, door number D12-0012. Use this key to get inside."
"Uh, but––"
"We don't have anymore time," he persisted. "Once we're gone you're on you own." He turned and walked away, but before he left he looked back. "By the way, just letting you know that all the drones are gone."
I held the card in my hands. I wished Garrett was here. He would know what to do. I felt confused, stunned and helpless. Then, Tyler whimpered as he stuck his hand in his mouth. I looked at my son and his wife. They were the future of Panem like all the sons and daughters who survived and passed their reaping age. They were my legacy as I hand over the bakery to my children and their children after them.
'Who do you fight for?' I recalledMockingjay's words as it swam in my head. I failed my sons as their mother abused them. I didn't fight for them as father should have to protect them especially from their own mother. This was my second chance.
"Delly, wait here," Rye ordered as he kissed her on the lips and walked out the door.
"Rye, where are you going?" I asked. I was curious and scared for his reply. Everything was happening too fast. I couldn't grasp just what happened with Darius. Or what was to happen once they were gone.
"I'm going to see Madge, Dad."
"Madge?" 'The mayor's daughter, why?'
"This is what we prepared for just in case," he explained. "All those night sneaking around and planning."
"Planning what?" I knew that he and his friends met at night, discussing and planning God's know what? I was too worried about Peeta to care or ask. I pretty much humored Rye and Madge thinking that nothing would happen, but to my dismay I was wrong. "What do you and Madge expect to do?"
"To help evacuate District 12," Rye said in firm and confident tone. "Before it's too late."
AN: Thank you for reading this chapter. Please leave a review at your leisure. I hope you enjoyed reading Snow and Jimmy's POVs. Up next, I'm not certain whose else's POV I should post next since the POVs are interchangeable but I do know that Katniss will be featured in the next chapter. Have a great weekend.
