A MockingJay Story Part 2 Chapter 8
Clara went back down to the old media room with the TV again. She slipped in the next VHS tape she had. It was so weird to watch this game. For the reaping, it showed each district in order. When it came to 10, Clara remembered it. They called Emily Kanin's name. It was so strange to see her again, even if it was only on the screen. Clara turned away from the screen for a moment. She was going to see what happened to Emily. How she died...
The video continued, showing Ceasar Flickerman go over everyone's results for the skills test. Emily got an 8. Katniss got an 11. It was so rare to get a score above a 10/12.
Their game was a forest. Once the timer reached zero, it was pandemonium. Emily ran off in the other direction. The video didn't focus on her as much as Katniss and Peeta. Clara watched Katniss run for the cornucopia, get a knife thrown at, and run off. She bumped into another tribute. She was the red haired girl from district 5. They both looked scared and ran in different directions. Peeta was approached by the career pack. They were going to kill him when they found him in the forest, but Cato suggested that they could use his help.
The video went back to Emily when she killed a tribute the next morning in the game. Clara jumped when she saw the spear impale the other tribute. She couldn't believe Emily actually killed someone. She had to remind herself that the other tribute was going to kill her.
The footage stayed on Emily as the career pack, including Peeta, found her. They chased her until she fell down a hill. Peeta was able to convince them to leave her. Clara smiled a little.
The footage showed Katniss also finding Emily in a hiding spot-the cave in the pond. She didn't go after her. She didn't give her away when the other careers were after her. They ended up chasing Katniss up a tree. No one could shoot her with an arrow. No one could climb the tree either. Clara was glad no one had matches.
Clara closed her eyes when Katniss dropped the tracker jacket hive on the career pack. When Katniss passed out for three days, the video switched to Peeta and the other tributes still alive. Emily was hiding in the blind spot of a small cave in the pond for most of the day. She found oranges from a tree and was living off of those. Peeta ran away from the career pack and hid. He disguised himself as rocks in the ground using paints in his backpack and the grass to cover up.
She saw Katniss and Rue's alliance. It worried Clara, knowing who would win the game. It reminded her of Patrick's game. How will this story tragically end?
Clara pulled herself together. She watched the video play on. She saw the explosion caused by Katniss, destroying the career pack's food supply. Katniss ran off back to the meeting place with Rue. She wasn't there. Rue shouted for her. Katniss ran and found her. Another tribute threw a spear towards them. Katniss shoot an arrow at him, hitting him in the heart. She turned back to Rue. The spear impaled her.
Clara gasped, covering her mouth. "No-" she blurted. She caught herself, remembering that the rest of the bunker was asleep.
Katniss's lullaby was peaceful to hear, in a strange way.
Later the video focused back on Emily. There were only seven tributes left. She was so close. She came so far in this competition. Clara's heart beat just watching it. She didn't think this would be built up so much. She thought Emily would have died sooner, given the career pack's skills and the game makers. They started a fire and threw fireballs at Katniss. Emily went into the pond as usual and Clove found her. Clove threw a knife and hit her.
Clara's eyes began to water. She put her hand over her mouth, to stop her from making any noises.
Clove stabbed her again but Emily fought back. She escaped Clove's grip but Clove grabbed her and stabbed her again.
Clara put her arm around her mouth while tear went down her face. She started rocking back and forth.
"What the hell?" Someone asked behind Clara in the room.
Clara gasped, turning around quickly. She almost screamed.
Shay stood in the doorway of the room. She turned the lights on.
Clara squinted her eyes as the bright lights filled the room.
Shay quickly walked over to the TV and turned it off. "You should not be watching that."
"Why not? Everyone my age does." Clara asked.
"That's not true. Most parents in the districts don't let them watch the games until they're eight." Shay said. "And how did you even find this?"
Clara looked away from her. She was quiet, not giving her an answer.
"Why would you do this?" Shay asked. "I told you about my game. Wasn't that enough?"
"No." Clara said.
"Why not?" Shay asked. "We've been trying to protect you from this."
"Then stop." Clara said. Her tone grew more angry. "I may be little but I have suffered too."
"Oh please." Shay said.
"My mom died! Jerome died. My aunt died-"
"You never even knew Jane-"
"Half my family has been in these games. It's our life. Our- I don't know. Our legacy. Apparently my dad was in a game."
Shay's expression changed. Now she looked scared. "What do you know about-"
"Just that he was a victor too." Clara said.
Shay closed her eyes. "How do you know that?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes. Who told you that? Was it Coin?"
"No." Clara folded her arms. "And what's wrong with watching these games? What's wrong with knowing how my family died?" She voice began to crack. "Why won't anybody tell me about my dad?"
"Because he's evil!" Shay shouted.
Clara took a couple breaths before replying. She thought about what Shay had said. "How?"
"You need to go to bed. Is this why you've been falling asleep in class?" Shay asked.
"I've only been here the last 2 nights." Clara said.
"2? Who-which games did you watch?"
"Why don't you answer my question?"
"There are some things are too young to understand. That's not just a you thing, it's a you're five thing." Shay said.
"Then tell me in a way that I would understand."
Shay pushed her lips together. She looked up at the ceiling and fought back the tears trying to come out. "He hurt your mom."
"He hurt her feelings or he hurt her like he hit her?"
She considered how to answer. "Both." Shay said. "I won't say any more about it. You need to go to bed. Now."
Clara quickly walked out of the room and ran up the stairs to her room.
Katniss and Gale left the next morning. They said their goodbyes to the troop, needing to complete this last part on their own. People will be looking for them. If they travel in packs, they are more likely to be exposed.
"Good luck, Katniss." Liam said.
"You too." Gale said, standing behind Katniss.
Liam nodded at him. His own mission was about to play out.
About 20 minutes after Katniss left, Liam got ready to leave. Tigris supplied him with a long jacket to blend in. She lifted the hood up, to hide his face.
Tigris grabbed another coat, handing it to Cressida.
Liam looked at them confused. "I thought this was a solo mission."
"You're not going into the Capitol alone." Cressida said. "You've never been there. You don't know the secret entrances or passages. You don't know the hot spots for cameras and guards." She put the jacket on and the hood up.
"If you wanted to spend time with me, you could have just said so," Liam teased.
Cressida chuckled to herself.
Cressida led the way down the streets towards to Capitol building. Snow's mansion. The streets were full of people walking to the Capitol for aid. There were Capitol guards every ten feet, armed.
Cressida and Liam casually walked down each block, with the crowds. They avoided eye contact with anyone, looking straight ahead. Cressida grabbed his hand, pulling him along.
When they got close to the Capitol building, She guided him around the house to a back entrance. She entered a code and the door unlocked.
The walked into the mansion quietly. Once inside, she took her jacket off. "We won't need it now. It's just extra weight to slow us down." She whispered.
Liam did the same, dropping the jacket on the floor. "I hope they don't see this before find him."
Cressida grabbed the jackets and put them down a laundry shoot behind her.
Cressida peered around each corner before walking down. She led him to a secret passage in the wall. The wall slid open, and they went inside. A guard walked down the hallway seconds later.
"This is pretty cool." Liam said, speed walking behind her.
"Snow had these made to ensure he would have plenty of places to hide in case of an attack." Cressida said.
The passage led to a ladder going up to the second floor. Cressida climbed up to the top, slowly lifting the top. It the part of the second story floor. The coast looked clear, but she still reached for her gun as she climbed out.
Liam lifted himself up to the second floor a few moments later.
They quickly moved down the hallway. When Cressida peered around the corner, she quickly moved back. She held her gun, getting it ready to fire.
A young girl came down the end of the hallway, looking right at them. Snow's granddaughter!
Cressida has her gun pointed right at her.
The girl looked terrified. She was breathing heavy, and staring at them.
"Wait." Liam said. He put his arms around. "She's a child."
Cressida slowly lowered her gun.
"Please don't scream." Liam said. "I'm looking for a baby boy."
The girl gave him a weird look. She knows something.
"He's my family." Liam said.
The girl started breathing normally and pointed down the hallway. "He-he's a secret."
"Not anymore." Cressida said.
The girl walked down the hallway. She kept looking back at the two home invaders. She walked up to a big picture and pressed the plaque. The picture opened up, revealing another secret room.
Cressida, Liam, and the girl walked inside cautiously. In the middle of the room was a crib. Liam approached the crib with Cressida and the girl standing back. Liam saw the baby's face in the crib. He was sleeping. The baby was wearing expensive Capitol clothes. He had Violet's nose. Even with his eyes closed, he looked like her. Her and Jerome. He had Jerome's sandy hair.
Liam covered his month and looked at Cressida. "It's him." He said. He eyes started to water.
"Congratulations." Cressida said. "We need to hurry." She nudged her head towards the door.
Liam carefully picked up the baby. He cried upon being held. Liam bounce the baby in his arms.
"No, rock him." The girl said.
"Right." Liam said. He rocked the back side to side, and he started to fall back asleep. "Thank you." He said to the girl before heading out.
Cressida led him back down the hallway and in the secret passage downstairs. That's when the first explosions went off outside.
"What was that?" Liam asked.
Cressida paused for a moment, looking scared. "We should probably stay in here for a minute."
A minute later, another explotion went off outside, killing Primrose.
The explosions were caused by small bombs disguised as aid for the Capitol residents seeking shelter. It had the Capitol's symbol on it. The bombs came down on the children. Everyone thought Snow killed Capitol children. No one stood by him after that.
District 13 members came to the Capitol in hovercrafts. Coin assumed power. Clara and Liam were reunited. They embraced out in the courtyard. Cressida stood nearby, holding the baby.
"Is that my brother?" Clara asked her.
Cressida lower her arms so Clara could see.
Liam picked her up and carried her over to him.
Clara had a huge smile on her face. "He's so cute."
Cressida and Liam giggled.
"What's his name?" Clara asked.
"Well that's a good question." Liam said. "Your mom wasn't sure what to call him. She had a few different ideas." He tilted his head. "What do you think we should call him?"
"Well Jerome Jr. is kinda funny." Clara said. "It would be weird if he was named after Jerome, I think. I would always think of the other Jerome and be sad. I like Dillon for his name."
"Alright." Liam said. "Meet Dillon Alexander."
Katniss was in the hospital following the explosions. The last thing she saw was a bomb going off right by her sister.
As she was being discharged, Liam came to visit her. He knocked on the door which was already open.
Katniss narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your family?"
Liam closed the door behind him. "I heard what happened, and I am so sorry."
Katniss sat in a chair and tied her boots. Her face softened.
"I don't even want to tell Clara. She is finally smiling again since losing her mom." He looked down. "I'm sorry you lost her." His eyes began to water. "She- she was so good. Only wanted to help people."
"I don't know how you do it." Katniss said. "How you can go on, without your sister. Both of them."
Liam sniffed and leaned against the wall by the door. "It's agony." He put his hands on his knees. "But it helps to be around other family. To be around people you care about."
He stood up to leave. His hand was on the doorknob when Katniss stopped him.
"I'm going to see Snow," she blurted. "To talk to him before we execute him. You can come too, if you have anything to tell him."
Liam turned back to her, intrigued.
Katniss and Liam walked out of the mansion, and down to the greenhouse half a mile away in his extensive backyard. He was just sitting in his greenhouse eating some berries. He looked so calm, oblivious to what has just happened. He doesn't have power anymore. He doesn't have followers.
Snow told them that he didn't send those bombs down. He suggested that it was the work of Coin.
Liam interjected the conversation. "Do you know where my father is?"
"Your father?" Snow asked, raising his eyebrows. "No. I was surprised to find just Patrick in that 10 mansion."
"And you have no idea where he could have gone?" Liam asked.
"You think I hid him somewhere?" Snow asked. He chuckled to himself. "He serves no purpose to us. Why would we bother kidnapping him?"
Liam bit his lip on the inside of his mouth. "Why did you kill Violet?" He knew the answer, but needed to hear it from Snow.
Katniss glanced at Liam.
Snow sat back in his seat. "She killed one of my best men."
"What were you planning with her baby?" Liam asked.
A smirk grew on his face. "Doesn't matter now."
