On the second day after my release from the hospital, I went for a walk in Snow's mansion in complete disbelief for how ridiculously ostentatious the place was. The walls were taller than a two story house easily, and everything was embellished in something fancy. Gold, drapes, portraits, plastic fruit, white roses, the works. The halls were long, there were many rooms all for a different purpose and the place reeked of Snow's hideously-scented genetically modified white roses. I had to escape them, so I went outside into the garden, spying a greenhouse across the way. Outside of the greenhouse were two guards who were guarding the door, either keeping people out or keeping whatever was inside in. I thought it strange that a greenhouse of all places was being guarded, so curiosity got the better of me and I approached it.
"Senator Mellark," said one of the guards, greeting me as I approached.
"Hello... Am I allowed to go in?" I asked them.
"Afraid not, ma'am," said the other. Ma'am, as if I were middle-aged. I wanted to spit back with 'that's Miss to you', but I wasn't even that. I was married. I guess I was a ma'am.
"She's earned the right to go in there," I heard Commander Paylor's voice behind me, and I turned to face her. "You might not like it, Katniss, but if you really want to see what's in there, by all means." I nodded as I turned back to the guards, and they stepped aside to let me inside. I stepped in, overcome by the aroma of the wretched roses as I saw them all around me. As I walked in, I could detect the faint smell of blood behind me, and suddenly, I knew what those guards were keeping in there.
"President Snow," I said without turning around, and I heard the old man chuckle.
"I was wondering when I would be honoured by your company, Mrs. Mellark," he said back to me as I turned to face him. He was as vile and as snakelike as ever, but he didn't appear as strong as he once was. He looked weakened, weaker than I had ever seen him. He coughed into a handkerchief in his hand, and I could see a spot of red on it.
"You're dying," I said suddenly, the medic in me searching for a cure. I knew what was ailing him. The poison was catching up to him.
"So it seems," he replied. "But I suppose, as many would say, I died a long time ago. Miss Maude Ivory must have told you that."
"She mentioned something like that," I said back.
"How is your husband?"
"Not very well. He was burned pretty badly, but they said he'll recover." Why was he making such ridiculous small talk?
"I am sorry that I never extended my congratulations on your marriage. A match made in Heaven." He paused for a moment to cough into the handkerchief again. "So here you are, among my roses. Katniss Everdeen... Katniss Fòlais... Katniss Mellark. You know, these very roses are genetically modified."
"It certainly smells like it." He chuckled again with amusement.
"Yes, the scent is strong, and for good reason. I wear them to hide the smell of blood in my mouth from the sores that Mr. Odair told you and all of Panem about. These roses were modified from the same ones that grew on my grandmother's rooftop in her penthouse apartment in the Capitol. White is a pure colour, the purest a colour can be." He smiled at me. "I was poor once. I know what it is like to starve and not know where my next meal was coming from. It is for that reason that the people in the Capitol never wanted for food."
"But the districts did."
"I never starved the districts."
"You turned a blind eye. That's just as bad as starving the districts." He chuckled again.
"Mrs. Mellark, you have a quick tongue. By the way, I am very sorry to hear about your brother and sister."
"It was you that killed them. Your mutts killed my brother, your bomb killed my sister, and dozens of other children who didn't deserve it."
"Ah, that's where you're wrong, Mrs. Mellark. I don't waste life. I kill with reason, and I had no reason to kill dozens of innocent children no more than I had reason to kill your sister. It was a clever ploy by the rebels designed to turn even my loyal Peacekeepers against me, and it worked. I am genuinely very sorry it happened."
"So if it wasn't you, then who was it?"
"Who would use such an excellent tactic to turn my own people against me?" My stomach dropped at the realisation. Gale. He gave the order. He'd whispered it beside me. He'd confessed to giving it. Gale killed Prim. Gale killed Donnel. Gale killed all of those innocent children. Gale hurt and damaged my Peeta so badly that he would hate me and never want to see me again. Gale was the reason the rebels took over Snow's mansion. It was Gale. "Mrs. Mellark, I do have one final question for you." I turned to look at him. "Do you want to kill me?"
Was this man, this murderer who took so many lives, who killed for sport, who tortured people for no reason other than pleasure, asking me if I wanted to kill him? I couldn't stop my answer before it came tumbling out. "No."
"And why not?"
"Because I want the violence to end. I want the killing to stop. I don't want any more blood on my hands," I said firmly, believing fully in my words. "I don't want to kill you, I want you to sit and rot along with the old Panem you created and your damned Games. You already lived a long and full life, so there's no point in killing you, not when you'll be dead soon anyway." I started to stalk out of the greenhouse.
"Give my best wishes to your husband," he called after me. I couldn't stand the smell of the roses any longer, I thought I would vomit at the thought of them. The Senate meeting would be at noon, and when I left the greenhouse, it was a quarter to, so I made my way to the President's meeting room and scanned over everyone who was there. Aristotle Archer and Prodigy Prelius from District One. Magnow Rose and Lenerok Kifflin from District Two. Beetee Latier and Dravius Pillock from District Three. Annie Cresta-Odair, taking Finnick's place, and Chase Winters from District Four. Odeon Avisdee and Clarabella Dustin from District Five. Ellorah Harpernet and Gladius Firk from District Six. Johanna Mason and Jonny Woodstock from District Seven. Karis Paylor and Zosia Verity from District Eight. Pascasia Mazarinne and Tremor Ureon from District Nine. Lystra Eshwater and Rufus Ripley from District Ten. Cytherea Lewes and Kypp Jecker from District Eleven. The two seats for District Twelve remained unoccupied. Gale and Cailean, representing District Thirteen. Carolina and Weaver Redstone representing District Fourteen. Also present was Effie, who would be there to give a voice to the Capitol.
Annie looked sullen and sad, but somewhat normal. A week ago, she had been in a horrible state, but had come out of it just in time to take her deceased husband's place in making a decision for the future of Panem. Cailean looked sad, but was standing in for his brother doing something that mattered to Calum. Gale had a sullen look on his face, too, and I was grateful that Cailean would be sitting between us. As soon as I walked into the room, the chatter at the table stopped, and one by one, each senator stood and gave me the traditional District Twelve three finger salute of respect. I acknowledged it with a nod, then sat down in my seat between the empty seat that belonged to Peeta and the seat that Cailean was occupying. I refused to look at Gale, who was equally refusing to look at me.
"Where's Peeta?" I asked my brother, who shrugged. My question was answered when the door opened and in stepped Haymitch, who stood to address the room.
"Senator Peeta Mellark will not be joining us today as he still ain't well enough to do so, so I will be stepping in as Senator for District Twelve," he announced, and my heart fell. Part of me wanted so badly to see Peeta again at this meeting, but another part of me was glad I wouldn't be. I felt my brother's gentle touch on my arm in support as Haymitch made it to his seat. "I would also like to introduce Senator Annie Odair, who will be stepping in for her husband, and Senator Cailean Fòlais, who will be stepping in for his brother. Both Finnick Odair and Calum Fòlais gave their lives fighting for the rebellion, as Senators Mellark, Hawthorne, Abernathy and Fòlais can attest." Haymitch then sat down beside me.
"Will we have an advisor with us today?" asked Senator Dustin.
"What do we need an advisor for? We won. Now we're buildin' the government up from scratch," Haymitch replied.
"Very well," said Senator Dustin, and she turned to address the table. "I propose the first question that I am sure is on all of our minds tonight: What do we do with President Snow? President Snow is currently being held prisoner and we must decide our next course of action with him."
"Public execution," said Johanna. "He sent us all to a similar fate. Why don't we send him to one?"
"I second that," said Gale. Of course he would. Not only because he was fucking Johanna, but he also loved violence.
"Excellent. Is there anyone opposed to this suggestion?" asked Senator Dustin, and my hand raised into the air. All the eyes of the Senate were on me and Haymitch looked at me with an expression of surprise on his face. "May I ask the reason for your opposition, Senator Mellark?"
"We've done enough killing. Isn't that what this rebellion was for? To stop killing?" I asked.
"He killed so many people, Katniss. He deserves to die for his crimes," Gale said to me, and I shot a glare at him.
"It's what he wants. He wants us to kill him. He wants us to publicly execute him, because he wants us to be just like him. He wants us to behave like he believes people do, through chaos and disorder. And he wants us to execute any high ranking officials who had a hand in the Games as well. Why should we give him the satisfaction? Let the man rot in a cell for whatever's left of his life, he won't live long," I said.
"I agree with Senator Mellark's statement," said Senator Jecker.
"I second that, Senator Jecker," said Senator Paylor.
"All for the public execution of Coriolanus Snow?" asked Senator Dustin, and several hands went in the air. Johanna, Gale, both Districts One and Two, Senator Dustin, Senator Mazarinne and Senator Harpernet all raised their hands. Ten hands, out of twenty eight. "And all against?" The remaining eighteen hands went into the air. "Very well, let it be set into motion that Coriolanus Snow will be imprisoned for his crimes for the remainder of his life, however long or short that may be. Senator Mellark, bear in mind that you must prepare a lengthy speech to satisfy the people of Panem. They are craving Snow's blood."
"I will gladly, Senator Dustin," I replied.
"May I propose the next question?" asked Senator Firk. "What about the high-ranking officials that Senator Mellark mentioned? Should they be executed or imprisoned?"
"I am with Senator Mellark on the belief that it is unnecessary," said Senator Jecker, always in agreement with me.
"But they are not Snow. There ought to be some executions," said Senator Kifflin.
"If we aren't making Snow pay for his crimes in blood, then we should make someone else do it," Johanna hissed.
"All for the execution of the high-ranking officials?" asked Senator Firk. Fifteen hands went up this time, and mine wasn't one of them. "And all opposed?" The remaining thirteen were raised.
"At least try them, first!" Carolina exclaimed, having been one of the thirteen that opposed. "We don't know how many of them held those jobs to protect their families."
"The people of the Capitol were raised the way they were, the same way that we were raised the way we were. It isn't fair to expect them to know any better when this is all they have been taught," I chimed in.
"Very well said, Katniss!" exclaimed Effie, who represented the Capitol.
"All for a trial?" asked Firk, and now at least twenty hands went into the air. "And all opposed." Only four hands were raised, which meant that twenty-four people were for a trial before execution.
"Let it be set in motion that high-ranking officials then will be tried and, if found guilty, will be executed," said Senator Dustin, and this time, my hand shot in the air.
"I have a proposal in regards to the trials," I said, and all eyes were trained on me. "We the Senate should not also be the judges. I propose that each district in addition to the Capitol have a judge representing them and it will be that court of judges that perform trials."
"I believe that to be a very clever idea," said Senator Prelius. "I will not deny that when it comes to gamemakers, I will be too biased in my opinion to commit to a fair trial. All trials should be judged with no bias, regardless of the person being tried. It's only right. They might have done awful things, but they're still human, not animals."
"I am in agreement with Senator Prelius," said Senator Archer.
"All for Senator Mellark's proposal of each district and the Capitol presenting a judge for trials?" asked Senator Dustin. All twenty-eight hands were raised. "Then let it be set in motion, by unanimous vote, that each district and the Capitol will provide a judge to perform trials."
"I have a proposal," said Gale suddenly, drawing my attention to him. "We should hold a symbolic Hunger Games with the children of high ranking officials." There was an audible gasp from Annie, and a few people sent glares his way.
"After all we've been through, you want to host another Hunger Games?" I demanded of him, and he ignored me as he defended his decision.
"It'll be a way to satisfy the people's thirst for blood, since we decided we're not killing Snow," he replied.
"Why not? Snow has a granddaughter. If we aren't making Snow pay with his own blood, then we'll make him pay with his granddaughter's."
"We just fought a war to put an end to the Hunger Games and you want to start them up again? What makes us any better than Snow if we do that?" I demanded again.
"I could never agree to such a thing! And Finnick wouldn't either, if he was here!" Annie exclaimed.
"Peeta wouldn't, either," said Haymitch, resulting in a glare from Gale.
"The Games took everything from me, as well as many of us. I want to see the Games take away everything from the people who created them," Gale said without looking at me.
"The Games took nothing from you, Snow did. The Games have nothing to do with what you lost," I said.
"You know what the Games took from me," he said, finally meeting my eye.
"You killed my sister," I said back, calmer than I would have thought, and Senator Dustin cleared her throat.
"Please settle your affairs after the meeting, Senators Mellark and Hawthorne," she said, and then she turned to address the table with a slight tone of disgust in her voice. "All for this 'symbolic' Hunger Games?" Gale's hand went up, as did Johanna's and the hands of both Senators Rose and Kifflin. "All opposed?" The rest of us raised our hands. "There will be no symbolic Hunger Games."
"We must now approach the subject of leadership," said Senator Archer. "Do we wish for the Senate to continue leading the people of Panem?"
"I think like with the image of the Mockingjay, we need to have someone be the face of Panem. They will make executive decisions and be kept in check by the Senate, and they will be voted for by the people of Panem," suggested Senator Avisdee.
"I believe that to be an excellent idea," said Senator Ureon.
"I second that notion," said Senator Verity.
"I nominate Senator Paylor for President," I said suddenly, quieting the room, and Senator Paylor looked at me first, and then at the people who were watching her.
"I also nominate Senator Paylor," said Senator Jecker.
"I don't believe the Senate should be responsible for nominating people for President," said Senator Paylor nervously. "I believe that the President should be voted for by the people only, and the role of President is not a lifelong role, but instead, a temporary role, with elections every few years."
"Perhaps another rule should be that they have to have had spent time representing their district in the Senate," said Senator Eshwater.
"How does a term of four years sound? That was how they did it once in the days before Panem," suggested Gale. "The candidates run for President and are voted for by the people, and then when those four years are up, they can run again but in order to be President for another four years, they have to be re-elected, and they can't run for President again for more than two terms."
"That sounds like an excellent idea," said Senator Archer.
"What about the Senate? Do we have terms?" asked Senator Prelius.
"In the old days, senators held their position for six years and were elected by the people every six years. Unlike the position of the President, they could continue to run for a position in the senate basically until they decided not to or died, whichever came first," said Gale.
"Basic democracy," said Cailean. "I like the idea of implementing elections so that the people are selecting who they want to represent them."
"Perhaps, then, when these decisions are made, we should hold an election for the Senate in a year, to give the country time to settle down and get people back into their homes," said Senator Dustin. "Until then, the Senate remains as it is, unless Senator Paylor does indeed decide to run for President."
"I second that decision," said Senator Rose.
"I believe that the Capitol should be allowed two senators, same as every district," I said.
"I second that," said Senator Lewes.
"All in favour of the government that we have formed today? Of a President who is elected every four years and cannot run for more than two terms, or a Senate made up of senators who are elected every six years and can run to be re-elected every term, of the Capitol receiving two seats on the Senate?" asked Senator Dustin, and all twenty-eight hands shot into the air. Another unanimous decision. "Senators Paylor and Mellark, at your victory speech to the country with Commanders Jackson and Lyme, you should present the decisions that have been made here today in the Senate of Panem. Tell the people of the new government that we have created and how every citizen of Panem will be given a voice."
"I guess that's meeting adjourned then," said Haymitch proudly. The Senate had finally created the new government that would rule Panem for as long as it exists, based off of an old system that worked until the planet tore itself apart in natural disasters. At four o'clock, which was in an hour and a half, the four commanders of the Siege of the Capitol would give a victory speech, and I was expected to give one, too. I wish that I had been the one who was so badly injured that I couldn't leave the hospital because Peeta was the one who was better versed in language, while I was always more of a woman of action. But Peeta was right when he said I was getting better with my words - I suppose he truly was rubbing off on me. As the Senate dispersed, Gale caught my arm as I was about to leave the room.
"I didn't kill her," he hissed at me, gripping my arm a little too tightly.
"It was your bomb that killed her," I told him. "Your bomb that was set off upon your orders. You might not have killed her physically, but you might as well have." I yanked my arm from his hand. "I don't ever want to see you again." I walked quickly away from him, trying desperately to just get back to my room to hide away from everything. I had hardly had the chance to mourn for Prim, but I didn't think I could shed any more tears. I cried for Peeta, I cried for my lost child, I shed a few tears for Calum, but my eyes were dry, all of my tears having been used up. Perhaps, when they replenished, I would cry for her someday, but for now, I just couldn't. The tears just wouldn't come.
Suddenly, there was a knock at my door and I lifted my tearless face from the pillow as it opened and Haymitch walked in. "You haven't been to see the boy," he told me.
"How did you-"
"The nurses who have been treatin' him say they ain't seen ya since you were in a wheelchair. That was easily a week ago. You ain't been to see him since," he told me.
"Haymitch, I can't. I can't see him, not like that," I said, feeling a sob in my throat but being unable to produce tears.
"He'd never leave your side if it was you layin' there instead of him," he said harshly. "He's awake now, been up since last night. He's askin' for ya, and you're gonna go see him."
"I just can't..."
"You're goin'. I ain't takin' no for an answer. After your grand speech tonight." He then shut the door, and I buried my face in my pillow. I had a speech to prepare for, but I felt that I needed more time to prepare for seeing Peeta.