A MockingJay Story Part 1 Chapter 5

Katniss, Gale, Katniss's filming crew (Cressida, Messala, Castor, Pollux), Boggs, and Shay left for a District 8 visit. It was a publicity stunt for the Mockingjay.

Shay insisted on going because it was her district after all. Coin reluctantly agreed to let her go.

"You haven't been trained for these missions," Coin said. She sat in her office and sighed. "But if you're there, you can help keep Katniss in line."

"Katniss? Isn't she there to help out too?" Shay asked.

"Yes. But she doesn't always follow orders." Coin said. "Keep her from killing herself out there."


Once in the district, Shay's heart sank. It was in ruin! So much ash and smoke. The market place was no more. The only building in sight were the hospital and part of the town hall. The image haunted her. She was paralyzed by it. She had a flash of her own game a couple years ago. Why did it look so similar?

Cressida placed her hand on Shay's shoulder. "Hey."

Shay snapped out of it. "What have they done?" She asked.

"We can't focus on the right now." Gale said.

"They will not stop." Shay said aloud.

Katniss gave her an emphatic look before going to the hospital, or what was left of it.

Shay ran up to a woman lying on the bed. "Grace." She said.

The woman was in her forties. She had long dark hair, that was soaked from her sweat. She had bandages around her leg and stomach.

Shay leaned over to her.

"You know her?" Cressida asked.

"Yeah." Shay said. "She's the best seamstress in the district. I bought all my dresses from her-back when I wore dresses."

Grace smiled and then coughed. It was a hoarse cough.

Shay leaned back. "What happened?"

"The Capitol." One man said. "They sent their own peacekeepers, replacing our own with these heartless keepers."

"Beat a child for stealing an apple. He was just hungry. They took the apple back but that wasn't enough for them. His father attacked the keeper, wanting him to stop." said another.

"I saw it too," said a young boy, about 18.

"Before we knew it, the whole town square was being attacked." A young women said, about 14 years old.

"Molly?" Shay said. She looked at the girl. She had scratches on her face and bandages on her arm.

The girl nodded.

"My neighbor." Shay clarified. "Before I moved into the mansion."

Many of the hospitals residents wanted to talk to Katniss, their mockingjay. She told that that she would fight with them.

The Mockingjay team left the hospital to shoot down enemy hovercrafts flying around the district. They saw Katniss and opened fire.

They sought shelter in the ruins of the town hall. Shay covered her mouth when she saw it up close. "They destroyed it like it was nothing." She whispered to Katniss and Boggs. "For decades this building served as a place to come together as community. People got married here. Had dances. Graduations. Just like that, it's gone."

"This is more that is left of 12." Katniss said.

"I think they did this one purpose." Shay said.

"Of course they did." Gale said.

"I mean the way they destroyed my home. It looks a little familiar, don't you think?" Shay said, fighting the cry voice in her throat.

Katniss looked at Shay, not quite catching the analogy at first. A moment later, she leaned her head back in horror.

There was no time for Katniss to reply. They had to keep moving.

Katniss and Gale made their way above ground. They stood on top of a broken building out in the open. As the hovercraft approached, Katniss shot an explosive arrow at it, causing it to crash.

Before they could triumph, the hovercraft chashed at the hospital, setting it on fire.

"Nooo!" Shay screamed. She ran over to it. Boggs and Cressida tried to hold her back.

"The fire's too big." Boggs said.

Cressida ran over and pulled her back by her arm.

"Grace!" She shouted into the burning building. "Molly!"

"I'm so sorry." Cressida said. "But there is nothing we can do for them, besides this propo."

Shay fell to her knees. She put her hands on the ground. She closed her hands, feeling the dirt in her fingernails. She placed her hand to her chest and sobbed.

Katniss gave her motivational speech for the propo with Shay in the background, crying. "I have a message for President Snow: If we burn," Katniss said, "you burn with us!"


While Katniss and Shay visited 8, Prim proposed a girl's night in 13. She invited Clara to a sleepover in her room that night. Effie joined them for a while, playing cards. Clara showed Effie how to play 9s and kept beating her at the game. Clara wanted to play other board games but there was a very limited supply in 13.

Clara's Journal Entry 2

Life in 13 is still boring. I still get in trouble at school for not knowing the answers. I wasn't even raising my hand.

The best thing about this place is Prim. She invited me to a sleepover. I've never been to one, even in 10. We played go fish, war, and spoons. She had to teach me spoons. She knows a lot of games. She said she could teach me to play more card games. Effie visited us too to play. She was very good at war but not good at go fish. She got mad when we told her to "go fish." I taught her how to play 9s but she wasn't very lucky with that game. I won each time. I like playing cards with Prim more but Effie is fine too. I think she will get better with more practive. She looks so different without all the make up and weird outfits. I think she looks better in 13. She feels like someone I can talk to.

After cards, Prim and I played Would You Rather. She had a lot of good ideas. There are not many games here so I am glad for her ideas. Prim is funny. She is really nice. I like playing games with her. She says that I am really good at hide and seek. She visits me every day and lets me practice reading to her. I think she is my best friend.

I saw my uncle and Shay holding hands at dinner earlier today. I think that is what it was. I think they like like each other. I hope they do. I want Liam to be happy again.