Having Coin as interim president of Panem is no better than having Snow at the helm. The woman is simply out for blood. She started her administration with an order to arrest everyone who's been involved with the games. She planned on putting them to trial which of course, everyone knew will be rigged so they can be executed.
Meanwhile, Effie started going into physical therapy for her ankle and shoulder. They told her that she will be able to walk but no more high heels for her which she does not mind very much if she can use her foot again. With regards to her shoulder, Johanna did a great job putting it back in but whether she'll get her full range of motion again or not is still blurry even for the doctors.
Part of her therapy is walking so she took the chance to visit Annie first and comforted her with the loss of Finnick. They said the Victor was unresponsive most of the times but when it comes to her, the girl opened up like a flower. That's when Annie decided to reveal a secret to her.
"I'm pregnant, Effie", it's barely a whisper but Effie caught it nonetheless.
She never knew she would hear something so glorious. She hugged Annie so tight and told her how happy she is for her. It's only sad that Finnick won't be able to meet his child or know about him but she's certain that the boy will look after his family from heaven. She told Annie the same and it gave the girl some comfort.
After that, she went to Katniss' room. Haymitch told her about the bombing and the girl's sister Prim's death. Katniss is no longer inside a tank and most of her burns are healing nicely. She found Dalia sitting near her daughter's bed when she came in. The grief-stricken woman looked at her and blinked a few times before she recognized her. She's lacking her usual fashion style so it's not that surprising.
"I did not mean to disturb. I can come back later…or perhaps tomorrow since I can only go out during therapy sessions", she muttered.
Dalia shook her head and smiled at her.
"Nonsense. Come here and let me have a look on you", she did as told and went to the woman, "Oh, what have they done to you?" she asked.
Her mind is already listing a series of answers but it's not the time to lay it all out on a mother who just lost her youngest daughter and almost lost her eldest.
"Nothing I couldn't handle. There's no need to worry. Dalia…I am so sorry about Primrose. I really did like your little girl", she answered and tucked the woman's hair behind her ear with her good arm.
Dalia fought the tears from falling.
"Thank you. Prim was fond of you as well. She always liked your colors", she responded.
Effie knew that. When she came to Twelve for the Victory Tour, she and Prim talked about different styles of clothes for hours. Apparently, the kid got a flare for dressing up too. It's just that they didn't have the means in Twelve to pursue that passion.
"How's Katniss?" she then asked.
They both stared at the girl on the bed.
"She's doing better according to the doctors. They have wonderful technology in this place. We're just waiting for her to wake up", Dalia turned to Effie and studied her carefully, "I don't know how you do it", she muttered.
Effie looked back at her and frowned.
"I don't understand what you mean, Dalia", she replied.
"They hurt you. They did inexplicable things to you even though you don't like to tell me. I have eyes and even though you seem different now, that light…it was there when I first saw you come to Twelve, standing on that stage. It dimmed a little over the years but right now, it's still there in your eyes. No amount of pain was able to kill it. You're hurt and yet, you're here asking about my girls. I don't understand how you manage to…live, to breathe, because right now, I feel like dying inside and I haven't been where you were", Dalia explained.
She completely ignored the tears that's falling down her cheeks now. She looks broken in front of Effie and she finds ridiculous because she was not tortured like her. She was not hurt and beaten up.
"Physical pain and emotional pain are two different things, Dalia. All the things you can see right on me, the scars, the bruises, broken bones…they meant nothing to me in a grand scale. I am not saying I am fine because I'm not. What you're going through, it's something I will never understand. That's a mother's pain, Dalia. I might have known a little what that feels like when they told me Finnick died. He's not mine biologically but I loved that boy from the moment I've met him. I considered him as mine and now he's gone. I went to see Annie earlier and she told me she's pregnant with his child", Effie chuckled, "I felt like shattering but I did not want to do that in front of her. Now, you lost Prim. What you're feeling right now is far greater than the pain I am in. You have every right to feel the way you do. As for the question, it's all we can do really, survive. In my case, I live for the people I care about. It's easy to give up but doing that means hurting them and I don't want to do that. You still have a reason to live. You still have Katniss and that's more than enough reason to hang in there and survive. If you don't want to survive for yourself, survive for her because she's going to need you, Dalia", Effie responded.
She welcomed the woman's embrace before leaving the room so she can visit Peeta.
It took her days to get access to his room and she's very excited to see the boy. He had lost some weight and he looked…very confused. That's hi-jacking for you. The Capitol really did a number on him but she is very confident that with therapy and medication, it will get better.
"Effie?" the boy asked when she gets inside the room.
There are nurses posted right outside in case he becomes violent but the notion sounds absurd for her.
"It's me, dear. Forgive me for taking so long to come and visit. As you can see, I was in a bit of predicament", she greeted.
The boy assessed her from head to toe the way Johanna did and his face hardened.
"They hurt you. They continued to hurt you even after…"
"It does not matter now, Peeta dear. We're here. We're safe. I would prefer for you to get better so we can both get out of this horrid place. I do hate hospitals, you know. Wearing this sad excuse of a gown is enough torture as it is", she cut him off.
The boy smiled, feeling the comfort that comes from her usual ranting about clothes.
"I missed you, Effie. They wouldn't tell me what happened to you. Johanna kept avoiding the subject. I thought…I thought they killed you as well", that got him thinking, "…maybe you are gone and this is another trick…"
Effie pursed her lips.
"Oh, will you stop? If I am dead, I intend to look my best! Can you imagine me wearing this in my coffin? That's dreadful! Really, Peeta…I thought you have better taste than Katniss and Haymitch", she made a fuss about it just to draw him out of a possible flashback.
It worked and the boy relaxed. She knows what it feels like to get lost between two worlds. It happens often and sometimes, she hides it from Haymitch but she's not good at it. He always senses when she's slipping away.
"What's going on out there? They won't tell me anything", he asked.
There's desperation in his voice and she can understand why they would want to keep him in the dark but it's not going to help him in the future. It will only make it worse.
"A lot of people died. The rebels have the Capitol now. There's no easy way of saying this so…Prim is dead, dear", the boy's eyes widened. "There's been bombing at the Mansion's gate. Prim was tending to the wounded along with the medic team. Katniss was there and tried to get to her sister before the bomb exploded. Prim did not make it and Katniss was badly injured. She's recovering now, that's why she couldn't come here to see you", she answered.
The boy initially thought it's because he had hurt her before and Katniss got mad at him for losing it.
"Who else?" he followed up.
"Finnick. Finnick's dead. Haymitch told me that it was during the time they invaded the Capitol. He sacrificed himself to save the others from the mutts that attacked them. Johanna was not thrilled and she does not like hearing that. Annie was sad but she'll get better", she answered with a smile.
The boy frowned at her.
"How can you be so sure?" he asked.
"…because she's pregnant", that topped it all, "I know. It's crazy but after everything that has happened, that feels like a blessing, a miracle. I just wished that Finnick had known before he died that he was going to be a father. He would be so proud", she answered.
Peeta is now smiling. The idea of a baby made him happy too. They both know Annie would love that baby with everything she got.
"You're going to visit me always, right?" his voice sounds hopeful and desperate at the same time.
He's desperate for human connection and it pains her to see that. The boy is lovely. He's lost, true, but he can still find himself again.
"Of course, dear, and you will get better. You and I will get better and when Katniss gets better too, we can come to Four and see Annie and her baby. I always want to see the beach, you know. Finnick used to boast that around how beautiful their district is", she said.
It made Peeta happy.
"I think I would like that too. I promise to get better. Thank you, Effie…for everything",
He wants to say thank you to her for being there for him always, for protecting him when they were in prison together, for giving him hope when he's about to give up. She became a mother he always wanted to have and he would do anything for her too.
"You are very much welcome. Now, get some rest and I shall go to my room. A lady must have her beauty sleep", she replied with a wink before leaving the room.
Chaff was already waiting for her outside with a baffled look on his face.
"What is it?" she asked.
"You know, that's the most that boy talked ever since he was conscious…and he's…calm", he answered.
Haymitch told her what happened when Peeta woke up in Thirteen and how he tried to kill Katniss. That's not Peeta. That's the Capitol who messed him up.
"He's just lost. He will get better. You can't really expect someone not to be hostile if you're keeping him in restraints", she pointed out.
That's the first thing her eyes saw, the restraints around his wrists. She shook it off her brain right away. Having flashbacks in public is a big no no.
"It's for his safety and for others. Anyway, I am here to get you back to your room before Haymitch cuts off my head", he said.
Haymitch has become overprotective since she woke up. She knows he still blames himself for what happened to her no matter how many times she told him it was not his fault.
When they reached her room, there were soldiers waiting for her in there which quickly triggered her.
"Chaff?" her voice shook and her hands trembled.
"What is going on here?" she heard Chaff asked them.
"We're here under President Coin's orders. Ms. Trinket, you are hereby under arrest for crimes of murder and crimes against humanity", the soldier answered and she felt like her whole world is crashing down on her.
She can deal with the flashbacks, the injuries she has but going back to prison? Her brain couldn't keep up and she looked at Chaff, silently begging him to help her because going back to prison is going to kill her or what's left of her sanity.
Chaff tried to argue with the soldiers but nothing helped her. When they put the handcuff, she just zoned out. All she can think about is the feeling of metal on her skin. It's over. She's still in hell and she'll never going out.