Being an escort of the first double Victors has its perks. It allowed her access to every establishment possible. She does not have to work so hard anymore in finding pledges for the next season and her family does not berate her that much anymore. Aside from the paparazzi continuing to hunt her down for a picture or an interview, all is good during the break. She talked here and there with other people, gathering all the dirt and secrets she can find to be used later on in case anyone tries to send envelopes to her Victors. That's a downside to having a fresh Victor. Everyone wants a piece of them and she's not going to just sit back and let it happen.
She talked with Haymitch on a regular basis on the phone just to ease his tension about her safety. So far, Snow has not tried to summon her again and she never noticed any Peacekeepers breathing down her neck. It's too good to be true that he finally let go of his obsession with Katniss and Peeta but it's nice to finally be able to breathe on her own. Deep down in her guts, she knows something big is going to happen. She does not know how to call it but that rotten feeling is deep within her and she cannot shake it. Haymitch told her that it's just her brain waiting for the other shoe to drop. She wants to believe him, of course, but she couldn't bring herself to do so.
Her suspicion came to pass when the announcement for the 3rd Quarter Quell happened.
She's at a party with Portia when the broadcast was played on the TV. It kept playing over and over in her head like a broken record…from the remaining pool of Victors. Her stomach turned and she rushed to the nearest bathroom to throw up. Portia barely caught up with her to hold her wig back as she emptied her stomach into the toilet bowl. Her body was shaking as she retched. The stylist rubbed her back gently and when she was done, she insisted on going back to her apartment.
Effie tried calling Haymitch that night but he did not pick up. She can only guess why. She stopped going out after that. There's no point. Well, there is. She can go start hoarding Sponsors but she cannot bring herself to move. The temptation to start swallowing pills again is too great. She almost give in a few times but whenever she's holding the little white things on her palm, she remembered Haymitch and his worried eyes and that's enough to pull her back. She resorted to smoking and vodka instead. They're equally unhealthy but at least it's not as bad as drug addiction. It became her only companion until it's time to play escort once again.
Meanwhile in Twelve, Haymitch heard Katniss' scream from the other house when the announcement was made. Remaining pool of Victors…what a joke? Why not just send Peacekeepers to kill them all instead? It will save the Capitol some time and it's less effort. Snow wanted to make a show out of it. That's the reason why. It's Quarter Quell. Nothing is off limits when it's Quarter Quell. The girl is sure to return inside the arena. Now, it's up to Effie's delicate fingers who will it be between him and Peeta to join Katniss.
The idea of him returning inside the arena to fight his friends made smashed everything his hands could get a hold of. His phone kept ringing but he already knows who it was. He wanted to hear her voice to calm him down but he's afraid he would lash out on her instead. He does not want to hurt her with his cruel words, especially since it was not her fault.
He had drowned himself with alcohol the following days after that. The girl came to him and proposed a deal to save the boy. She said Peeta is not cut out to become a tribute once again. He barely survived the first time and he agreed. The boy came to him begging him not to volunteer if his name was called out. He wanted to be there for Katniss just like the last time.
Days passed…weeks even, his phone stopped ringing. He waited for Effie to call again but she never did. He tried calling her once and she did not answer. He regretted not picking up the night she called. He was so preoccupied with his own nightmare he forgot to think about her. She must have been shocked by the news. She's their escort. She would have to reap them again. She might reap him. Despite that horrible future, she took the time to call him to check on him but he did not pick up the phone and now, she stopped calling.
He called Cinna to find out how Effie is doing but the stylist said that she's not been seen in gatherings after the announcement. Portia said she came to visit Effie once in her apartment but she refused to let her in saying she needed some time alone. He felt bad. What if she did not take the news well? What if she relapsed again? What if she lost control and took too much? He begged Cinna to go to her just to make sure she's still alive and he did. The stylist informed him that she's well, just sad and…drunk.
After a while, Katniss came around and confiscated his booze. She said he needs to get back in shape if he'll be reaped and alcohol is not going to help him. The girl was right. His body is no longer used to exercise and most of the time, he felt like he's going to pass out but with time, he gotten better, fitter. They have to train and even though it's not legal to train, they live in the Village. Peacekeepers are not allowed in the Village.
When the day of the Reaping came, Effie did not arrive an hour earlier unlike what she use to do in the previous years. He waited for her to come through his door but she did not. The next time he saw her is on stage. She's wearing that ridiculous butterfly dress and cake of a makeup. She's smiling to everyone but even with the cake on her face, he can see her eyes are sore.
They stood on stage along with her. There are two glass bowls in front of them. The first one has only one piece of paper and the other has two.
As usual, Effie greeted everyone in her cheerful tone before playing the video from the Capitol. She tried to sound excited about the Quarter Quell but she did not convince him. When it's time to draw the names, she went with Katniss first. The girl was out of it. She's staring into space, knowing her fate is sealed.
"Katniss Everdeen!" Effie still announced as tear escaped the girl's eyes.
He heard Effie swallowed a sob upon seeing the girl's reaction and shrugged it off to draw the name from the boys. He met Katniss' eyes and recalled the deal they made. If Peeta was called, he will volunteer in his place. He does not want to but it's the only way to ensure Katniss' safety. When he spoke with Cinna, he emphasized on the importance of Katniss' survival. She's important to the rebellion and he promised him that they will all make it out of there. How? He has no idea but until then, he has to keep the girl alive.
Then, Effie put her hand inside the bowl and picked a piece of paper. He heard her took a deep breath upon reading the name before announcing…
"Haymitch Abernathy!"
His brain flashed back to the time he was first reaped. He can still hear his mother's cry. It's like a distant memory.
"I volunteer as tribute!" Peeta immediately declared.
"No", he tried to stop the boy but there's no stopping him.
No one can take volunteering back.
"You can't stop me, Haymitch", Peeta replied coldly.
He can see the panic in Katniss' eyes but she knows it's hopeless too. Peeta volunteered. That's the end of it.
When Effie closed the ceremony, Dalia Everdeen did the three-finger salute followed by Prim and the rest of Twelve. Katniss and Peeta did the same and so did Haymitch. That's when the Peacekeepers stepped in and chaos broke.
They were ushered straight into the train without giving them a chance to say goodbye to their families. Effie remained quiet until the train started moving.
"Wow, we're back here again. I thought the next time I will set foot in here, I'll be a Mentor", Peeta broke the silence.
Haymitch snorted at that but raised his glass nonetheless.
"You would have been if you had not volunteered", he pointed out.
"I'd rather be a tribute this time", the boy replied.
Effie felt her guts turning upside down. She did not have the time to excuse herself as she ran straight to the bathroom to throw up. She's been doing that a lot after the announcement. She blames it at first to alcohol that she suddenly became fond of but maybe, she's getting sick of herself, of the things she has to do. She just reaped her Victors…again. What kind of person sentenced kids twice and within two consecutive years?
She did not hear Haymitch calling behind her. She only realized he's there when he gently rubbed her back as she heaved.
"Are you alright?" he asked once she's done and washing her mouth onto the sink.
The glare she sent towards him caught him off-guard.
"I just reaped Katniss for the second time and I called out your name. You tell me", she answered with such venom he had never heard from her before.
"I know. It's going to be alright, yeah? We've been through this before. We'll make it through again", he tried to be optimistic since he's holding on to what Cinna had said.
The rebels will find a way to get the Victors out of the arena. They will be fine.
"You think Snow will allow two Victors to walk out of the arena once again?" she asked, her voice a little louder.
He had to turn on the faucet to dampen the sound.
"We will make it through, princess. We will. You will be fine. The kids don't hold it against you. They know you have no choice and we would rather have you calling our names than someone else who does not care", he responded.
She almost laughed at that before escaping him and walked to her room. Haymitch had followed her still and closed the door.
"Tell the kids I don't feel well. I'll join you for dinner later", she muttered as she lights her cigarette.
"Sweetheart, what's going on?" he asked.
He couldn't quite pin it but he knows something is up with her. She did not turn to face him just simply tossed a crumpled piece of paper on the bed. He frowned but took it anyway.
PEETA MELLARK
It does not make sense. Why would the boy's name be written on that piece of paper? What was that for? Why does she have it? It took a few minutes before he realized it. He understood why Effie is acting strange. Why she suddenly got sick and now, hiding in her room.
"What have you done, Effie?" it came out with a growl which is unintentional.
He knows what she did but he wants to hear it, to confirm it.
"I've known you for a very long time, Haymitch. I have known Katniss as well despite being with her for only a year. She would want to spare Peeta from going through the game again. Since the two of you think alike, I figured she would ask for your help in that matter. You would have volunteered in his place for Katniss and Peeta would volunteer in your place to be with her", she expressed as she blew out clouds of smoke throughout her bedroom.
She used to care about triggering the alarm but not right now. He did not also reprimand her for the smell.
"So you thought it's better to play god and send the boy to the arena? Should I thank you for saving me? Fuck, Effie! Why would you do that? Why would you willingly send someone to his death? What's the fucking point?!" he exclaimed.
"You would have died in there. You can deny it all you want but you know it's true. You will die protecting Katniss and I can't let you die. It may sound selfish for you but I don't care. You can't die because if you die, I don't know how to get past that. I don't know how to get through this whole fucking thing without you so did something about it. I am powerless in most things but that…that I can do something about. So, you see? I am not the person you thought I was. I am a monster and I am not denying it anymore. You can all hate me but I will never let you die, Haymitch…never", she responded.
He was stunned by how firm and sure she is with that response. She does not sound like she regrets her decision at all. She does not care whether her action were punishable by death. He wanted to be angry by her recklessness but he would have done the same if the situation is reversed. He would never let her die as well.
"Well, fuck princess…we're so screwed, aren't we?" he muttered.
She smiled sadly.
"When have we never been?" she replied.