Effie kept having nightmare about Felix for days after the accident. She never told Haymitch about it when he asks her about her nightmares but he knows. He knows because she would scream stop and please don't each night. Sae did her part and talk to the others not to say yes to Felix's proposal. A week has gone by and they have no news if he already left town but Katniss guessed that he already did since he did not get any business deals in Twelve.
"Plutarch called this morning. He's got some news", Peeta said when he and Katniss came over in the morning.
Haymitch carried on with his book while Effie waited on the news as she put the cups of coffee on the table.
"There will be another Hunger Games", Peeta revealed.
Effie stopped moving while Haymitch dropped his book to his lap. Katniss looked at him with guilty eyes and he already knows what's going to happen next. Effie straightened herself up and looked at the kids.
"I don't understand. I thought the whole thing about the rebellion is to stop the games", she said.
It's why she sided with her victors because she found the games to be heartless and cruel and she wanted it to end.
"It's going to be different, Effie", Peeta said.
"Different how?" she asked.
"…because the tributes will come from the Capitol, those who were part of the games with the exception of Plutarch since he volunteered for the job to enact the rebellion", he answered.
Time stopped. Of course, Haymitch and Katniss already know that but Effie doesn't. She set the tray gently on the counter and turned around to go clean the kitchen sink without saying a word.
"There will be Reaping two weeks from now and it will be broadcasted live from the Capitol", Katniss added.
Effie continued with scrubbing the already cleaned sink just to keep her mind from going someplace dark. They watched her as she does until she bumped the water glass next to her and it shattered on the floor.
"Eff, don't move. I got—"
Haymitch is too late because she already took a step and she stepped on a broken glass. Effie pulled the glass from her foot without blinking an eye.
"We got to clean that up", he said to her.
"I got it. I clean this. It doesn't even hurt", Effie said and began hopping on the floor.
They all stared at each other with wide eyes. They know that it must hurt but Effie looked at it like she just stepped on a piece of gum and it didn't pierce her skin.
"You know what this means, right?" Peeta asked Haymitch.
"We cannot be sure that her name will be picked", he answered.
"Oh, come on Haymitch! Are you seriously that naïve when it comes to the games? They will draw from different ranks of the officials of the games. Do you know any other escorts alive and breathing to this day other than Effie?" Peeta exclaimed unable to hold his emotions in check.
He cares too much for Effie. She took care of him when he stayed in the Capitol for his therapy and she continue to take care of him now. The thought of Effie inside the arena after everything she went through is unimaginable.
"Peeta, he's just trying to be optimistic", Katniss intervened but the boy is just plain furious.
"Yeah, he's never been optimistic and he shouldn't be right now. It's both on you why this is happening in the first place", Peeta snapped and left the house.
Katniss and Haymitch are left alone in the kitchen. His voice is ringing inside their ears. It is their fault. He's talking about the vote they made in the Capitol. It was Coin's idea to conduct another game and they voted yes. Well, Katniss only humored her because she's going to kill her and Haymitch knew that. They did not know that her plan will be put into action once she's dead.
"I should go check on Effie upstairs", he muttered.
"Yeah, I'll check on Peeta", she replied and both gone their separate ways.
He found Effie cleaning up her foot in their bedroom. She's nearly done when Haymitch took over. She did not protest or decline anymore like she did earlier. She let him wrap the bandage around her foot.
"Still feel nothing?" he asked.
"Yes. It's odd but I don't feel it sting", she answered.
She's too shocked about the news and her own heart pounding in her chest is much more painful than her wounded foot.
"It's the adrenaline. It's not unnatural", he explained.
That made sense too, she thought. Haymitch finished with the bandage but did not get up from the floor. He just sat there and looked up to Effie who is already looking at his eyes.
"I am going to the arena and I don't think I can make it out alive", she muttered.
"Stop. I will find a way. You are not going in that arena and you're not going to die", he cut her off.
"Haymitch, I'm the last living escort. Fulvia is not going in. The government adores her. It's not up to you anymore. You've done your part", she said.
Haymitch stiffened.
"Yes, I know about the vote you and Katniss made that day. Johanna voted the same way too. I've known right after that meeting and it's fine. I understand", she explained.
"Eff, it's not what you think. Katniss and I only voted that way because the girl was planning to kill Coin. It's her way of throwing her off her plan", he explained but Effie returned a smile.
"I know that too once she fired that arrow. I am not dumb, Haymitch. I thought you knew that. Now, we have two weeks before they take me so we must make the most out of it", she replied.