A MockingJay Story Part 1 Chapter 6

Peeta had another interview during dinner a few weeks later. Peeta continued to urge for the districts to stop fighting. Many residents in the district 13 cafeteria shook their head at him on the screen.

Katniss went up to the screen, like the first time. Gale walked up to her too. He was negative about Peeta's interview.

"They are torturing him, Gale." Katniss said.

Shay walked over to them.

"I would never say what he said, no matter how I was tortured." Gale said.

"Peeta is doing what he has to survive. It's like the games all over again." Shay said. "Maybe he still has hope of being freed and seeing Katniss again."

"Thank you." Katniss said.

"Yeah. And at least we know he's alive..." Shay said.

Katniss pushes her lips together. "Maybe they haven't shown her because of her attitude."

Shay nodded and put her hands on her back.


Clara walked to class with her Ugly Duckling book in hand and a smile on her face. The chalk board read, "Show and Tell" in big letters. The children, ranging from 5-7, sat around the room in a circle. There were about 20 kids altogether, plus the teacher. Most children brought a stuffed animal or a doll to class.

When it was Clara's turn, she sat up and showed them her book.

A couple kids laughed at the sight of her book.

"This is my favorite book." Clara said, ignoring the kids. "It's about a duck that is teased for being different."

"Like someone we know." One older kid sis.

"He gets separated from his family and has to find them again." Clara said.

"I thought this was a made up story, not your story." One girl said.

A few kids laughed. Their chuckled filled the room. About a third of the class was laughing at her.

Clara griped her book in hand. She got up and went over to the girl. She hit her with her book across the face.

Some kids gasped, and some cheered her on.

The teacher finally intervened, breaking up the fight. Clara was assigned to write an apology letter to the girl and to write "I will not hit people with books" 30 times.

After school, Clara slammed the door to her room and threw her book on the floor. She lied on her bed and screamed into her pillow. Tears followed, pouring out of her eyes.

An hour later, Clara began writing her sentences. When she was on her 13th sentence, there was a knock at her door.

Clara sat up and hid her paper under his pillow.

President Coin walked in the room.

Clara sat on the edge of the bed, with her feet dangling over the edge.

Clara tilted her head in confusion. "You? Am I in that much trouble?"

Coin smiled a little. "You teacher tells me that you are having a hard time with all this. Missing your mother." She sat at the other edge of the bed, with her feet firmly on the ground.

Clara looked down at her feet.

"I'm sure this must all be so confusing for you." Coin said.

Clara nodded quietly. "Why would the Capitol take her?"

"Well the arena was destroyed. They couldn't film the games anymore. And they need her for leverage and propaganda."

Clara narrowed her eyes at her. This doesn't make any more sense.

"They are using her to make the Capitol look good and us look bad." Coin said.

"Why her?" Clara asked. "Why not someone from the Capitol?"

"She's a victor." Coin said.

Clara looked at her blankly.

"Do you understand what that means?" Coin asked her.

Clara shook her head slowly.

"The Hunger Games is a fight to the death." Coin said. "The last one standing is the victor."

Clara's eyes widened in fear. "No." She said. She leaned back, "No."

"Everyone is last year's game was a victor." Coin said. "They've all fought to survive."

Clara shook her head quickly. "My mom didn't do that. She didn't kill anyone."

"She killed someone in last year's game. A man she knew." Coin said.

"You're saying that everyone has been in these games. Katniss. Jerome. Shay. Finnick. Peeta?" She asked. "They've all done this. They..."

"They wanted to live, and they did." Coin said. "These games are brutal and dangerous. Some tributes are more elite than others. Some try to hide and some kill on sight. Of course, it's also the the elements that can kill them. Starvation, thirst, poisonous plants-"

"Emily." Clara said aloud.

"Kanin? From the 74th game. Yes, she died. She was killed. But you seem close with the victor, or at least her sister."

Clara faced Coin with dread in her eyes. "Katniss didn't-"

"No dear." Coin said. "But Katniss did take a few lives in her year."

Clara gasped a little.

"I can see this is a shock for you. Most children learn this when they learn to walk. You need to know our nation's history, so that you can learn from it." Coin said. "The world is a dark place, but we want to change that. We want to end these games."

"What are you doing?" Shay asked quickly, entering the room.

"I'm only telling her the truth about the world she lives in." President Coin said. She stood up from the bed.

"How much did you tell her?" Shay asked. She reached her hand out.

"Did you kill people too?" Clara asked her.

Shay looked at her, heartbroken. She shifted her gaze back to Coin. "You had no right. This was something for her mother to tell her."

"Her mom's not here." Coin said. "Or her dad. Violet saw to that."

"What?" Clara asked.

"Get out." Shay said to Coin. She pointed her finger towards the doorway.

"What is she talking about?" Clara asked.

"She doesn't know?" Coin asked.

"This is none of your business." Shay said to Coin. Anger filled her face.

"Who is my dad?" Clara asked.

"This family has already lost too much. Don't make it worse." Shay said.

Coin smirked a little and left the room.

Shay went over to Clara. "Clara, I'm sorry she did that to you." She reached her arms over Clara's shoulders.

Clara pushes her over of her. "You lied to me!" She said. "You all lied to me!"

Shay covered her mouth. "Your mom was going to tell you-"

"When? On the day of the reaping?" Clara asked. She stood up and walked over to Shay.

"When you were 8." Shay said. Shay held her by her shoulders.

Clara shook her head. "That's why mama always had us play hide and seek. She was preparing me for this-" she started crying. She knees got weak, shaking from side to side. She fell to her knees in her hard ground.

Shay held her in her arms, trying not to cry, herself. "It's okay Clara." She repeated. She put her arm around her mouth.


Clara's journal entry 3
I just learned that the world is an evil place. These games are bad. People die in the games. They kill each other. Children kill each other. They can pick you at 12 years old. A 12 year old has never won. It's so wrong. Even I know that. Coin told me. I was scared, and hoped it was all a lie. Shay said the games are because of a big fight years ago. The games are a punishment. But the Capitol isn't a part of the games. Thier kids don't go in the games. I had a long talk with Shay. She said she did kill people to live. She did it so she could go home to her family. The other kids were trying to kill her too. I know now that Emily was killed in her game. Liam saw it. He saw her die. Everyone watches their friends and children die. How can this been the world I live in?
I wish someone else had told me. Liam should have told me when we moved here. Mama should told me when she knew she had to do one more game. Everyone knew!
There is still one more secret I do not know. Coin said something about my real dad. I thought he was dead this whole time. I didn't know I had one. Shay wouldn't tell me. Liam got sad and left the room. I wonder who else knows? If I ask Coin, she might tell me, but I don't want to hear it from her.


Shay leaned against the wall with her arms around her gut in the weapons room. There were hybrid arrows and other weapons around the room.
Katniss, Gale, Beetee, and Finnick were there too.

"Coin told her?" Katniss asked, shocked.

Shay nodded. "And I had to clear it up as best I could. That's not my place. Clara wasn't supposed to know this so soon."

"I was three when my parents told me." Gale said.

"Your parents weren't in a game." Shay said.

"Why would Coin do that?" Finnick asked. "What could she gain from that?"

"I don't know." Beetee said. He spoke in his usual calm voice. "Part of Clara's troubles is feeling like people are hiding things from her. Maybe this was an attempt to help her."

"It wasn't her place." Shay said.

"I agree," Beetee said. "But I don't think this was mal-intent."

Shay tilted her head. "I could believe that if Coin didn't also bring up Clara's biological father."

"She did not." Finnick said.

Katniss stared at Shay.

Shay nodded, "She did. And now she's asking questions about him. I- How-"

"Well this is a mess." Finnick said.

"No one should ever know that sort of thing about themselves." Katniss said aloud.

Gale looked at her confused.

"Have you considered lying to her?" Finnick said. "Just say her dad was dead all along."

Shay lifted her head. "It's for Liam to decide now. He's considered telling her it was Jerome."

"She would believe that." Finnick said. "I would believe that."

"Me too." Katniss said with a hint of a smile.

Shay smiled a little and tried not to laugh. "I love you guys." She said, looking at Finnick, Beetee, and Katniss.