Chapter 19: Snow
The minute the doors to the train slid open Katniss inspected its occupants. District Twelve's sole female victor turned towards her companions, grey eyes scanning them for any differences. Physically Finnick appeared to be unchanged. His posture normally relaxed to the casual observer on a deeper scan one could pinpoint the subtle twitch of muscle waiting to be put into action. Finnick's posture now was rigid every muscle poised ready to strike up a fight. His female companion's changes were a little more obvious. Johanna had lost some weight she was nearly a skeleton despite the influx of food offered by the capital. The District Seven victor was in a constant state of tension much like Finnick and if Katniss was honest, herself. Katniss kept an eye on her two companions as they did a quiet survey of the area. A victor's life was a constant arena battle Johanna is simply the latest one to figure that out.
"You look well" was the first thing out of Katniss's mouth. The other girl's mouth twitched rolling her eyes, "Liar."
The tension between the group broke. "Come one love birds let's see your home" Johanna pulled Katniss roughly by the wrist before she looked over, "Well are you going to lead the way?"
The Everdeen's welcomed their guests with soft smiles. Haymitch even joined them for dinner spending the entire dinner making inappropriate jokes toward Finnick and Katniss. Johanna was kept under the watch of the other victors. The girl made grunts of annoyance but one look from Haymitch and she begrudgingly accepted the fact. Haymitch and Johanna quickly forged a friendship. One based on Haymitch's giddy reaction to Johanna and liquor.
"She makes a fine drunk" Haymitch chuckled.
It was a week before the visiting victors had to return to their home districts. The victors were alone talking quietly about what would happen during next year's games. Johanna sat on the living room floor with her eyes closed. "I hate this" She muttered softly to herself.
"I can't do these damn appointments again" She growled in frustration. Katniss could easily see how Johanna became addicted to the morphine during the Rebellion. The stress alone would drive anyone crazy, and Johanna lacked a single outlet that would not destroy her from the inside out.
"It's not like I have anything left to lose!"
The others looked on as she ranted. "Then don't" Katniss's voice was hard.
"Like they'd let me go quietly"
"They will if you make yourself useless for their cause" Johanna smiled widely Katniss suddenly felt wary of what was to come. Soon her smile dropped and her shoulders fell as if fall her energy was lost.
"I lost everything"
Katniss looked Johanna in the eye, forcing the other girl to stand up straight. The seriousness in the gaze of a fourteen-year-old was something to behold. "You have us, Johanna. No matter what else happens you have people."
No one said a word as silence ran through the room. Not being able to take the silence but not feeling up to try another speech Katniss opened began to hum softly.
"All the ways that you think you know me
All the limits that you figured out, limits that you figured out
Had to learn to keep it all below me
Just to keep from being thrown around, just to keep from being thrown around"
Johanna looked up mouth slightly open. Haymitch who had been leaning back watching the exchange found himself fighting a laugh at the look on the newest victor's face. The girl quickly found herself straightening up listening intently subconsciously. Only to readjust once her mind caught on.
"Yeah every single time the wind blows
Every single time the wind blows
I see it in your face (Mmm)"
Finnick grinned softly as a soft knock sounded before the door opened. It revealed a tired looking Mags as Annie held her up. Gale and Peeta held the door opened as Prim led Madge in.
"In a cold night
There will be no fair fight
There will be no good night
To turn and walk away
To burn me with fire,
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name
Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain"
"Well don' you sing pretty" Johanna whispered. As the whole group sat around as those who grew up in twelve smirked at the still shocked faces of the other victors. "You're not alone Johanna remember that" Finnick nudges her with a soft grin.
"Now we talk about a wasted future
But we take a good look around
Yeah we take a good look around
Yeah we know it, it hasn't been for nothing
'Cause we'll never let it slow us down
No we'll never let it slow us down
(Oh yeah)
Yeah every single time the wind blows
Every single time the wind blows
I see it in your face (Mmm)
In a cold night
There will be no fair fight
There will be no good night
To turn and walk away
So burn me with fire,
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name"
Finnick watched with an easy grin as the Girl on Fire worked her magic. Her younger sister cuddling into her side as Katniss unconsciously began to stroke her hair. If Finnick did not know any better he would have sworn Haymitch had a tear in his eye.
"Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain
Said we remain, we remain
Burn me with fire
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name
Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain"
XXXXXX
Months passed without a word from District 13. Few small rumblings sounded but the Capitol was quick to shut it down. By the time word reached them, news of a rebellious leader's death followed. Soon enough the word began to dwindle. Katniss feared that the Quarter Quell would have to happen before all the districts would be willing to stand up together. Her birthday passed quietly much to her relief. However, everyone still wished her a happy one and she was forced to receive gifts as Haymitch glared at her to dare not accept them.
"What good presents when people are starving," She thought.
Snow covered the ground and Katniss could see her breath every time it escaped her lips. Her arms were wrapped around her as she and Gale returned from a hunt. A few squirrels were all they could boast, Katniss felt Gale's eyes on her. Inwardly she worried he felt something for her more than their easy friendship. Something that would ruin their friendship mostly due to Gale's own issues rather than her own narrow focus on survival.
"Gale?"
He looked back toward her nodding his head, "Katnip."
"You've been staring."
"It's hard not to when your hunting partner seems to be someplace else." She nearly turned red as she snapped back, "I have not."
"It's Odair is it not?"
"This again?" She thought tiredly.
"Gale…" She started only to be cut off.
"No Katniss. I'm sorry but I cannot control it. I am worried about you! This has nothing to do with me."
Her eyes narrowed, "Then what is worrying you about Finnick Odair?"
"You know what they say about him. You are now the same age he was when…"
"What are you saying Gale?"
Gale sighed a hand pulling back his hair, "Just promise you will be careful."
Katniss's rough stare softened as she hugged him, "I'll be fine Gale."
He pulled away knocking her head with his forehead playfully, "Let's go home Girl on Fire."
The stench of roses hit her almost immediately. Katniss felt the subtly changes in her body as it became engaged in flight or fight mode.
"Mother?" She called out.
She tried again.
"Prim!"
Her mother opened the kitchen door looking white as a sheet. "Mom?"
"The President came to visit" She whispered tucking back a stray of blonde hair her eyes hollow with fear.
"Prim?" Katniss asked grimly.
"Sent her out. He's waiting for you in the study I told him you went out for a walk."
Katniss nodded pulling her mother in for a quick hug kissing her head before heading toward where the stench of roses was the strongest. And without fail there he was sitting in the hair behind the desk. His grandfatherly face did nothing to hide his dead eyes that mirrored his rather dead soul.
"Miss Everdeen" Snow's voice was soft but Katniss also knew incredibly deadly.
"President Snow"
"Can I presume we can be honest to each other? No need to waste the other's time with deceits."
"I would agree"
"I suppose then that you know of the arrangements we make with certain victors that show… promising characteristics" Snow paused as he watched the girl's reaction.
Katniss pulled a blank face over the inner rage and disgust she felt. She could almost feel his disappointment at her lack of emotion.
"I have heard rumors, Sir"
"Then it shall not come as a surprise to you've gained many admirers. These said admirers have sponsored not only you but your tributes."
Somehow the term admirers did not seem an appropriate label to what he was subtly referring to.
"Miss Everdeen it would be a mutually beneficial relationship between your family and the capitol to keep them happy" Snow raised a cold eye her way, his words failing to get the outward response he was hoping for.
"President Snow how would you suppose we keep your citizens happy?" Her voice pressed to remain cold and calm. Her past with this man caused her to take heed to the wisdom Haymitch offered.
"You simply need to repay their generosity."
"By what means are you speaking of?"
His eyes slowly danced down her body making Katniss feel far dirtier than she could recall. Knowing she had blood on her hands never made her feel this repulsive.
"By offering your company to those who share in their generosity. I of course will make all the arrangements for your safety."
The meaning behind those words rang with so much clarity it took all her self-control not to pierce him with an arrow. They would sell her body to highest bidder, just like Johanna and Finnick. The District Twelve victor was sure Snow would ensure that she would not survive long.
"No need to worry my dear. Your admirer's simply want a chance to get to know you." President Snow paused allowing for the words to sink in before stepping toward the door officially dismissing the girl.
Katniss was left standing in the middle of the empty room as her vision became blurry. Her entire body felt numb as memories of an old life flashed through her mind.
"You have to get them to like you, likes get you sponsors. Sponsors give you money, money that provides water, bandages, tools for survival. When you're out in that arena with no food or water and a warm blanket would help keep you from the cold, that's the difference between life and death sweetheart."
"Sugar cube?"
"Do you mind if I take that? Ahhh that's better."
Images flew through her mind such as Rue's gentle smile, Madge's home burned to a crisp as her whole district was floored to the ground leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. The picture Annie sent of her newborn son Finnick Jr, Katniss leaning against a struggling Peeta.
Everything was on repeat in a loop of destruction taking over her mind. She felt herself slip into what Haymitch would call her default mode. Katniss Everdeen was neither here nor there all sounds muffled. She could vaguely recall herself being tugged into a direction causing her to fight back against whatever was pulling at her. Only to find herself unable to break free.
Haymitch was the first person she registered. He had her pinned to the wall as she kicked and yelled. His grip was firm but not enough to leave a mark. Her breathing was rough as she willed herself to stop fighting and listen. The man who had done everything in his power to keep her alive despite her rough treatment of him and his lack of social skills. She listened to him as he asked her to calm down.
"Alright there Sweetheart?"
His laugh at her glare only angered her in the slightest. She attempted to get out of his hold to avoid the feeling of relief and calm the man brought.
"Easy there. You had us worried."
"I am fine."
His stern gaze told her that Haymitch was not buying it. Prim was back as the younger girl made her older sister sit in order for Prim to check her over. Haymitch kept a hand on her shoulder until she had her breathing under control.
"Prim, your sister and I need a minute."
Prim nodded leaving the two victors alone. Katniss stared at her mentor as he sighed sitting down across from her.
"What did Snow tell you?"
"Same as what he always tells people. I'm desirable."
Haymitch cursed, "I was afraid this would come up eventually."
"Just not right now"
Her mentor looked grim, "Exactly Sweetheart"
"How long?" Her gaze was not on him but rather the window mentally controlling her every action.
"Snow is not going to get what he wants this time. You're in no shape to play that game."
Katniss raised her eyebrow, "How oh all-knowing mentor?"
"No snark Sweetheart"
Katniss leaned back still giving him a questioning look. "Sweetheart the only way to avoid this is if you're already attached."
Katniss stood up, "Attached? I'm barely 14 years old Haymitch no one is going to buy it."
"People believe what you want them isn't that right Sweetheart."
Her glare almost caused him to flinch. He glared right back daring her to tell him differently.
"Anyone in mind?" She growled.
"Odair."
"But he's…."
"Still closest to you in age. There is an added benefit of your friendship being of public record. All we have to do is suggest to President Snow that a budding slow build romance will sell better once you're older, one that he can profit more than by selling you now." Haymitch muttered his brain clearly going every scenario a thousand times.
Katniss closed her eyes, remembering to follow her breath as her fingers felt the piece of rope she carried in her pocket. Finnick would do this without complaint she knew. But it would hurt people she cared for. People she tried so hard to push away only for them to slam their way into it without her realizing it.
'Who tells him?" She grounded out.
Haymitch gave her a tight smile.
"I'll do the dirty work Sweetheart"
"It was your idea!"
"An idea forged to save you from ruining all of your plans with your acting skills" Haymitch sighed feeling a headache coming on.
Her grey eyes narrowed in on him, "Who says I cannot act?"
They shared a knowing look as he grabbed her hand pulling her toward her worried family members. Katniss pulled her sister into a warm hug as she pretended not to notice Haymitch slip toward the phone. No one mentioned her break down for which she was grateful.
XXXXX
It would be a few months later when she was dressed in green and her hair in her usual braid getting ready for this year's reaping when Katniss saw the first roots of Haymitch's plan fall into place. A letter came to their door that morning, the handwriting confirming it as Snow's.
Miss. Everdeen,
At our last meeting, we discussed the generosity of your sponsors and our system of thanks. Your mentor has informed me of your insistence that the sponsors be thanked properly, for their generosity in helping you win your games and the help you receive as a mentor and toward the development of your mentee's well-being during their trials.
The capitol is hosting a party in honor of the sponsor's after this year's tributes are chosen. As a young mentor, this would be the perfect time for you to greet the sponsors personally. Many of the sponsor's you have talked to this past year will also be in attendance.
Your presence will be delighted and go a long way to thank them for their generosity. After all the sponsors will be delighted to see how you're growing into such a fine young woman that in a few years will be a shining example of our great nation.
Sincerely,
President Snow