The pain in her eyes is what seems most haunting. This is not the tracker jacker venom talking anymore, this is Katniss.

I stand up slowly and pick up the weapon. I take it and carefully set it down on the couch on the other side of the room. Everyone is silent, unsure of what to say next.

I turn back to her and look her directly in the eyes, "I'm not going to let that happen Katniss."

She locks her eyes onto mine and runs up to me. Instead of trying to lunge at me she takes my hands into hers.

"Peeta please, I'm begging you! I can't do this anymore!" She pleads, the tears rolling down onto her cheeks.

I feel that lump in my throat. I do not know how to process what she is asking of me. Surely she must know that this will never happen. We swore to protect each other. But still, it is killing me because besides those moments with Prim, this is by far the closest I have her to herself since her rescue.

I wipe the tears from her cheek with my thumb. This is the first time I have touched her face since before she was captured. I know this is dangerous, but I can't help it. It is almost like a natural reflex. "Katniss we are not going to do that. I need you, I can't survive without you." I tell her just loudly enough for her to hear.

She rips her hand out from mine swiftly.

"Look at me Peeta! I was trying to kill you, just like I killed Mitchell!" She is yelling now and pointing at the television.

She runs to Gale and tries to beg him for what I refuse to do.

"Peeta is right Katniss. One way or another you are getting out of here. I have known you since you were just twelve years old. You never go down without a fight and I am not going to allow you to give up now." He responds

"But I'm tired of fighting Gale." She says sternly.

He wraps her up in his arms, hugging her softly. "I know," I hear him whisper.

The stress and anxiety of the day has left me feeling like I am in the area all over again. The pods, the fear, the death. And now I am fighting for Katniss' protection the same way I have done before.

"We are on a mission Katniss." Jackson chimes in. "Whether you like it or not, you are a part of it. You have been the Mocking since the beginning, we can not lose you now."

Katniss gives up on arguing with us and flops herself back onto the white chair, turning her body away from us all.

The squad decides to split up to look for food while the other half stays behind keeping watch of Katniss. I quickly volunteer myself to stay with her along with Finnick and Leeg 1 while Gale leads the rest of the squad on a hunt for food within the apartment.

She refuses to take her handcuffs off and sits alone on the same white fluffy chair I held her on just thirty minutes ago.

"You know she didn't mean any of that, right Peeta..." Finnick says as he must have noticed me watching Katniss from across the room.

"I know.." I hesitate. "I just worry she doesn't understand that."

"The worrying will never really go away, that I can tell you." Finnick says looking over in my direction as he sits on the seat next to me hunched over with his elbows resting on his knees.

Then I begin to ask him something that has been on my mind since she returned from the Capitol.

"Why just her though? - That is what I still don't seem to understand. Why just use the venom on her and not the other captives?"

We sit in silence for a moment as Finnick ponders over my words. "I don't think we will ever know for sure Peeta. President Snow is a vicious man. But he is not dumb. He did what he thought he had to do to break each of us down."

I am hanging onto his every word at this point, just hoping he will say something that eases the pain I feel.

"I do think though, that he underestimated you." Finnick continues. "It is no secret to anyone how much you love her Peeta, but I don't think even President Snow realized how hard you would fight for her. You were in the observation room every day trying to help with her progress...even on days when they told you not too. You never gave up on her."

His words are comforting. A small reassurance that I have done something right.

"Found some food!" Homes announces, which turns us away from our thoughts. He marches back into the room carrying a basket filled with canned goods. He hands everyone in the room two cans of food.

I look at the cans in my hands and notice they are identical. LAMB STEW. It is risky, I know. But I stand up and walk over to where Katniss is sitting.

"Here." I tell her, reaching out my hand and offering her one of the cans.

She has a weary look on her face, but after a few moments takes it from my hand.

The two of us ate lamb stew every chance we could while we were in the Capitol. On the train, in the cave, during training.

"This was your favourite." She asks me after studying the label on the can. "Real or not real?"

"Real". I say smiling up at her. "And your's too." A sense of relief washes over me as I know somewhere deep down she is starting to truly place and identify these memories. This gives me hope.

After everyone has finished their canned goods Finnick finds a box of fancy cream-filled chocolates that we begin passing around again. Just as I go to take a piece the beeping of the television starts again. The seal of Panem lights up the screen and the anthem begins to play. They are showing photos of the dead, similarly to how they do it in the area when a tribute dies. I watch as all of our faces light up the screen. Then the President himself appears, with a large Panem flag draped behind him. His subtle smile is smug and confident as if he himself was personally responsible for killing us with his bare hands. He is dressed in a black suit with a familiar white rose gleaming from his lapel. He begins by congratulating the Peacekeepers for the masterful job of defeating the Mockingjay and other heinous rebels.

Then somewhere deep within District 13 Beetee hits a switch because now it is President Coin's face that we see instead of President Snow's. She begins by introducing herself to the country and identifies herself as the head of the rebellion. Then, she begins to give a eulogy about the star-crossed lovers from District 12. "Dead or alive Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen will remain the face of our rebellion. If you ever think about wavering in your resolve, think of the Mockingjay and you will find the strength to rid Panem of its oppressors."

Her words sound so disingenuous and rehearsed that it makes me sick. I am furious at her for sending Katniss here and this just begins to amplify my distaste for her.

"I had no idea how much we meant to her," I say sarcastically, which brings out a chuckle from Gale and Finnick along with some questionable looks from the others.

Next comes a heavily altered photo of Katniss and I before the Quarter Quell. Dressed in all white clothing and standing together in solidarity. No words or slogan follow. Our faces are all they need now to push this mission forward.

Then the broadcast is handed back over to Snow who looks bewildered. I have a feeling that he thought this emergency channel was untouchable to the hackers from District 13. Clearly he was wrong and someone working for him in the Capitol will likely be dead tonight as a result.

"Tomorrow morning, when we pull their bodies from the ashes we will see who the Star Crossed lovers of District 12 really were. A simple-minded pair who couldn't even save themselves." Seal, anthem, and out.

"Except that you won't find them!" Says Finnick to the black screen. He voices what everyone is already thinking.

This grace period will be short-lived. Once they dig through those ashes they will realize that 11 dead bodies are missing, they will know we have escaped.

"We need to get a head start on them," announces Gale. "Once they see that our bodies are not there they will start to hunt us down."

I turn to Katniss who looks as if all she really desires in this moment is sleep. Her eyelids are drooping and I can see the darkness under her eyes from lack of sleep. I want to request that we stop and spend the night in this apartment to get some rest, but I know that Gale is right. We need to move quickly, we need to get ahead of them to make our squad harder to hunt down. It will be no easy task however, our faces are blasted on WANTED bulletin boards on every corner of the Capitol. We are likely the most recognizable faces in all of Panem at this point. Not to mention the hundreds of pods that cover the streets.

"How are we going to do this?" I ask, turning my gaze to Gale.

"Well, why don't we start by ruling out the possibilities," he states

"The street is not a possibility, it is covered in live pods." I respond first.

"The rooftops are just as bad," says Leeg 1.

"We still might have a chance to withdraw, go back the way we came," says Homes. "But that would mean a failed mission."

"No way. I'm not doing that." Gale says almost before Homes is even able to finish his sentence.

"Well we are with you now," adds Jackson. "I think there is really only one significant option."

"Underground." say Finnick.

The thought of being underground is unsettling. There are no windows and very little light. It will feel like prison. Leeg 2, Mitchell, Boggs - the thought of another squad member dying in the cold underground tunnels is terrifying.

Gale quickly checks the Halo. "There are far less pods underground, it is our only choice. According to the map, two doors down there is a vertical tube that will connect us to the tunnel"

Everyone nods and begins packing up their equipment without much of a second thought.

"Shouldn't we make it look like we have never been here." Katniss states. Up until this point she has remained pretty quiet. Never offering up any thoughts or ideas on how to carry though any part of this mission. Though this request is small. She is right. I think about how remarkable her statement is. Aside from what happened in the courtyard block, she has seemed much more like herself than she has in a very long time.

"You are right Soldier Everdeen," Jackson replies. "We need to make it look like nobody has been in here, we don't want to tip off any Peacekeepers.

We attempt to erase all signs of our stay. We toss the empty cans down the trash shoots and keep the unopened ones with us in our packs. I watch Katniss flip over the couch cushions and fluff the pillows. Others follow suit. We can not fix the latch that Homes broke to get us in here, but we do remember to lock the second blot. Every second of extra time we can gain to get ahead of them counts.

"I'm not sure I should go on the rest of this mission." Says Katniss as the rest of the squad heads for the back door.

"That is absurd," says Jackson. "Snow's people will find you."

"That is not an option. Come on." Says Gale.

"Or what," begins Katniss. "You'll shoot me."

"We will sedate you and drag you along if we have to," says Homes. "This will just slow us down and endanger us more."

She shoots him a harsh glare.

"Should we free your hands?" I ask her.

"No!" She yells, bringing the cuffs close to her body.

"We need to move now Katniss." I say back in a calm but urgent manner.

I'm surprised myself that she decides to reluctantly follow. Gale leads us through a series of apartment units until we arrive at the spot he identified on the Halo.

Homes pries open a small maintenance shaft that leads to the underground tunnels. It will be a tight fit for everyone through the narrow passage. Castor and Pollux are forced to remove their insect shell-looking camera protectors to fit. They must now use their significantly smaller backup cameras. Messalla dumps the shells in a closet to do his best to help minimize any trail we are leaving for Peacekeepers to follow.

Gale is first down the tube, followed by Homes, Jackson and Leeg 1. Pollux is next but I notice that he is pale and sweaty. He reaches over for Castor's hand, who stands just behind him. He looks as though he might pass out at any given moment.

"My brother worked down here after he became an Avox." says Castor.

My eyes widen as he tells me this. I can not even begin to imagine what living in these underground sewage pipes must have been like. Of course the Capitol gave that tortuous job to Avoxs.

"It took five years before we were able to buy his way above ground." Castor adds.

I had no idea that it worked that way. Families of these victims are forced into a position where they need to use the little bits of money that they have to try to protect those who were violently taken from them. I am sure this is just one of the many secrets the Capital has that the Districts are completely unaware of. It is almost like a smack in the face to hear this story. It is a good reminder that Katniss and I are not the only ones on this squad who have been through devastating traumas.

"Well you just became our most valuable asset Pollux." I say to him with a small smile.

Everyone behind me looks stunned at this revelation as well. Unsure of what to say. It is hard to find words that feel comforting in this moment, but I want Pollux to know that maybe now his suffering, won't be for nothing. They both look at me with a smile and Castor chuckles.

The tube down to the tunnel is lit with dim stripes of light along the edge. It smells of sewage and mildew. I try to breathe through my nose as I climb the metal ladder downwards.

As it turns out Pollux is as valuable as ten Halos down here in the tunnels. He knows them like the back of his hand. He remembers which tunnels require gas masks and which to completely avoid due to live wires.

Gale assigns Finnick to keep watch of Katniss. I decided that this call was for the best. I choose to ignore what I selfishly want, I know that despite her improvements if I were to set Katniss off down here in the tunnels it would be a death wish for all of us. If I had to pick someone else to watch over her from this squad it would definitely be Finnick. He is really the only one I completely trust here.

Under Pollux's guidance we make remarkable time, especially comparing it to above ground travel. After six hours, fatigue really begins taking over. Katniss has stumbled several times while walking at this point, but Finnick is always there to grab a hold of her. I notice the others are losing stamina as well. Finally, Gale suggests we rest and no one objects. It is three in the morning at this point. Soon they will discover our missing bodies. I am thankful for the headstart Pollux has given us.

We find a small, warm room humming with machines loaded in levers and dials. Pollux holds up fingers indicating we must be up and gone in four hours. Jackson works out a guard schedule. Messalla and Casor take first watch. I am thankful I will be able to get an hour or so of rest. I find a spot in one of the corners of the dark room. Opposite to the wall Katniss lays against. She is curled up in a small ball on the floor with her head resting on her pack. I know Finnick will protect her. He is stronger, and a better fighter and I if something were to arise, but having her within my view is comforting. I rest my head against the concrete wall and fall right to sleep.

It seems like only moments later Jackson shakes me awake and tells me I'm on watch. It is now six o'clock and we need to get going in an hour. She tells me to eat a can of food and keep an eye on Pollux, who has insisted on staying guard this entire time.

I carefully walk over to the small pile of food that sits beside Finnick and pull out a can of potato and bean stew. I find a spot near him and adjust myself to sit against the wall facing the door. Pollux looks wide awake. He has probably been reliving those five years of imprisonment all night. I look over to the sleeping soldiers around me. I begin to hope that all of them will be alive to see the sun again, but shutter at that fact that I know I am just wishfully thinking at this point. I hope that at least between Gale, Finnick and I, we can keep Katniss alive. If I could just get her home and into the caring hands of her mother and sister again, I truly believe she has a fighting chance. Prim is the only person who Katniss was never hostile towards since returning to the Capitol. She will be Katniss' best shot.

I look over to her and notice that she is beginning to stir. Her eyes open slowly and she turns her head, meeting my eyes. She pushes her body up into a seated position.

"Are you hungry." I ask her quietly, trying not to wake the others.

She nods her head. I reach over and grab a can of chicken and rice soup. I crack open the can and hand it to her over a sleeping Finnick who is the only person that separates us at this point.

"Any nightmares?" I dare to ask her, the same way I used to after each night we spent together.

"No, surprisingly." She responds, taking a long swig of the canned soup.

"Well that's good, isn't it." I say back.

"I realized that I'm starting to be able to tell the difference between things that are real and things that are not," she start to explain. "I noticed that the memories that are false have this shiny look to them. They almost seem glossed over. None of my memories of Prim are like this - but almost all of my memories of you are."

"You can always ask me Katniss," I begin. "If you are ever unsure of something. Just ask."

"You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real," she whispers.

"Real" I answer. "Just like we always have."

She nods her head slightly. I can see the dark rims still remaining under her eyes.

"There is still some time Katniss. You should get some more rest." I tell her.

She doesn't seem to object and lays her head back down on her pack. A minute later she drifts back off to sleep.

Shortly before seven o'clock Pollux and I decide to move among the others, rousing them from sleep. The room is filled with the usual yawns and stirs that accompany waking. But it is almost as if my ears are picking up something else now too. It sounds like a hissing. I think that perhaps there could be a small leak in one of the many pipes in this room. But then I notice that Gale hears it too and he hushes the group. My suspicions are correct. There is a hissing. However, this is not just an extended sound, but instead the repeating of the same words over and over again. Echoing through the words. Two names. Repeated over and over again.

"Peeta."

"Katniss."