WARNING: This is a sad chapter. I actually feel pain while writing this...but this is the games. Not everyone is a winner...
Effie bid the kids goodbye and gave them one last hug before Haymitch escorted them to the arena. He reminded them of the lessons he taught him for days. They are very focused and alert. It's something he noticed with the siblings that morning. They are prepared, ready to do anything to survive. He has not seen those in a long time in his tributes. Mostly, he only saw fear but with Grace and Bran, there's determination. Maybe it has something to do with them being siblings. They got something to fight for. Each of them wanted the other to survive, to win. That's giving them the drive, the fire.
"Stay alive", he said last before they got taken away.
When he returned, Effie is already nursing a pack of cigarette while browsing her Sponsor files. She got a lot already in her belt but she looks like she's still hunting for more.
"Turn the TV on, sweetheart. It's about to start in a few minutes", he said.
The alarm registered on her face. This is it. The game is about to begin and the fate of the two innocent children is going to change forever or end abruptly.
"Alright…" she replied and turned on the TV.
They sat side by side on the couch and waited for the countdown. It's not lost in him how she's chain-smoking her way to the whole countdown. She's nervous. He is too.
Then, it started…
Effie subconsciously grabbed his hand and squeezed as they watched the chaos broke in the arena. Children slaughtered themselves for weapons, foods, supplies.
"I can't see them. Where are they? I can't see them, Haymitch!" she said in panic.
They were told to stay clear of the Cornucopia. It's been instilled at them by Haymitch so many times.
"Look…" he pointed on the right side of the screen.
It's Bran and Grace ran hand in hand into the woods. With that, Effie can finally breathe.
"Oh, they listened. They listened, Haymitch", she exhaled in relief.
They're not out of the woods yet so they hang on until the siblings found a good spot to hide and rest. Already half of the tributes had died at the Cornucopia and the momentum of killings had slowed down with the Career pack taking a rest too. They will start hunting for the others in a few hours or so which gives them time to go hunting themselves for more Sponsors.
Haymitch held his end of the bargain as he hounded Sponsors left and right. He stayed sober as much as possible and he smiled and charmed Capitols left and right. It surprised the other Victors and it made them realized how serious Twelve is at winning this season.
"You're working very hard", Mags stood next to him and glanced over to Effie across the bar, "She's working very hard", she pointed out.
She's entertaining a group of very wealthy people, selling their tributes story and hoping to get their money to keep the children alive.
"They actually have a chance, Mags. We thought they're not going to make it but they actually listened. How often that happens for Twelve? Trinket saw that too and made her more determined to work harder…me as well", he replied.
Mags can see that as clear as day, just like everyone can.
"Finnick is very determined too to get Annie Cresta to the end", she mentioned.
Haymitch is aware of that. He and Effie are going head to head with the Sponsors. They're practically competing. Haymitch has been doing his best to keep their paths separate so things wouldn't be awkward.
"I know. The boy told me but I told him not to say anything to Effie. You know how those kids are important for her. I've never seen her like this", he said.
Mags hummed.
"Well, this is going to be bad. I can already feel it within my bones, Haymitch. Your girl is on the last inch of the cliff and if those kids die, she'll break. If Annie Cresta died, I don't have any idea what it will do to my boy Finnick. This is an awful year", she mused.
Haymitch raised his glass to that. It is indeed an awful year.
Effie was in the middle of the conversation when she saw Chaff coming her way. Luckily, she had sealed the deal before Eleven's victor reached her and the Sponsor left.
"You've been busy", he greeted with his usual flare.
She tried to keep it professional. She knows he does not like her. He may even hate her but he's still Haymitch's best friend and they're in public.
"There's work to be done. My tributes are still in the game. Something you need?" she asked casually.
Chaff felt the thickness of her armor. It's not like they're closed before but at least they're civil. She had never talked to him like he's from the Capitol.
"I wanted to apologize for that night at the penthouse. I don't retract what I said because it's true but I was out of line. You could've left me in that cell for almost jeopardizing this season for your district but you still bailed me out. So, sorry and thank you", he said.
The sincereness of his apology surprised her. Haymitch must have given him one hell of a sermon to get him apologizing to her now because Chaff is not very fond of Capitol citizens let alone apologizing to one.
"I appreciate it and you're forgiven", she replied.
He stared at her curiously, like she's some mystery he needs to decipher.
"You Trinket is an odd one. Let me give you a piece of advice. Blend in. You stand out and they notice you, it will be bad and if something happens to you, it's bad for Haymitch. Don't let it show too much, love", he advised.
He left her wondering. What was that all about? Was he expecting for her to stay mad at him? To throw a fit? Finally, she realized what he meant. It's not a Capitol thing to let that kind of action of his slide so easily. If it's anybody else in the Capitol, they would have filed a report about his behavior but she did not do such thing. Instead, she got him out of detention and forgave him outright. She's standing out not because of her looks, her fashion, or the fact that Twelve is doing great this season. She's standing out because she's being attached to the Victors and the tributes. He was right. It's bad.
Bran and Grace lasted for days inside the arena. They don't fight the others. They're good at hiding and running. They remembered all the survival tips Haymitch gave them. They fend for themselves. Effie and Haymitch supplied them with everything they need. Refreshments, food, medicine…anything they will need to last.
Soon, people started to get bored with the games. Career pack still hunts but they're running out of prey. Apparently, most of the tributes left know how to hide or to avoid them, not to mention that the arena was large.
With the hype from the game starting to dwindle, the gamemakers did something rather impulsive just to stir something up. They created an earthquake by the dam.
"Tell me they did not just do that", Effie muttered when she saw it happened while they're in one of the bars working.
Some of the tributes died from the earthquake alone but it's not what caught Effie's attention. Haymitch was lost at first but soon, he realized what had shocked her. The dam is starting to crack. With the intensity of the earthquake they made, he knows it was not intended to damage the dam at all but it is cracking. Must have been poor foundation or material but the thing is, it is cracking.
As soon as it has been made obvious, everyone in the bar held their breath for what is about to come.
"Haymitch…"
He detected fear in her voice and he couldn't do anything to ease up her tension since they're in public. He can't exactly pull her into his arms to comfort her.
Then, the dam finally broke. Water came through and flooded the entire arena within minutes. It was a lot of water and it instantly killed everyone in there…except for Annie Cresta. She was the sole survivor of the unintentional outcome of that earthquake considering she's from District Four. She is a good swimmer as it turns out.
All that can be heard inside the place is a collected gasp before everyone started clapping and cheering. Effie remained rooted on the spot along with Haymitch. They just realized something. Bran and Grace don't know how to swim. They drowned in that flood along with other tributes, crowning Annie Cresta the Victor of the 70th Hunger Games.
Haymitch turned to Effie who remained silent next to him. She's not crying nor in hysterics. She's not talking either. She's just mute. Her eyes are fixed on the screen until they heard people congratulated Finnick and Mags on the corner of the room. He reached for her hand and felt her fingers fidgeting. She's controlling herself to avoid causing a scene in public. He tried to stir her away when he saw Mags and Finnick coming their way but she resisted.
"Effie, dear…we're very sorry for the kids", Mags said with complete sincerity even Finnick feels bad for Effie although the glint in his eyes is evident.
She instantly switched back to her escort mode and plastered a smile on her face. It was creepy and alarming at the same time, like a switch has been turned on in her.
"Thank you but it is the game. The odds are in your tribute's favor. It is meant to be. Congratulations!" she responded with that cheerful tone Haymitch hated so much. Everyone cringed.
"Effie…I'm sorry. I know how badly you want them to win", the boy said as he put his hand on her shoulder.
Her façade cracked a little and they saw a glimpsed of her pain.
"At least one of us gets to take home a tribute alive…that's a win. It does not happen very often. Again, congratulations and good luck on the Victory Tour. I am sure it will be splendid", she replied.
With that, she let Haymitch take her away from the bar.
She did not talk as they walked back to the lobby. She did not talk while they were inside the elevator. When they arrived at the penthouse, she took off her shoes in the living room and left it there before grabbing a pack of cigarette and a fine bottle of wine to take to her room. She did not say a word to Haymitch nor give him any signal inviting his company. She just went to her room and closed the door.
Meanwhile, Haymitch debated whether to follow her or give her some space. He grabbed himself a bottle too. He's too sober to deal with this new grief. Whether he likes to admit it or not, he, too, has grown attached to those kids. They're decent, selfless, kind, and loving children. They're good children and now they're dead for everyone's entertainment. He took big gulps of whisky to soothe his nerves. They don't deserve that. Hell, no one deserved that but it's happening and it will continue to happen. The games never end.
Then, he heard glass shattering. He hastily placed the bottle onto the table and sprinted to Effie's room. He found her vanity mirror broken along with broken pieces of what used to be the fine bottle of wine she took earlier on the floor. Effie is sitting on the floor without any regards to her dress which is a rarity on its own because she does not like her clothes being crumpled and wrinkled. Her wig is already gone from her head, makeup smudged from her face…and she is sobbing.
The sight of her hurting like that broke him. He rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms. Her cigarette was forgotten on the ashtray, left to burn. She did not resist being comforted by him as she poured everything out. She did not say anything at all. She's still quiet but he felt her clinging to his shirt, asking him never to let her go. He has no intention of doing so. He held her tighter to let her know that. He's there for her just like she's been there for him.
"It's never going away, sweetheart, but with time, it will get better. I promise you. You will feel better", he said as he nuzzled her natural hair.
Effie only buried herself further into his body, trying to shield herself from the world.
"You're okay. I'm right here. I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere. I will not leave you, princess", he muttered before placing a gentle kiss on the crown of her head.
Soon, she fell asleep due to exhaustion while he kept his word and stayed with her praying she would get through this.