The drums seem to echo through the silent air, despite the crowd of Capitol citizens lining the area. The other Victors and I stand at the end of the very same straight where the last tribute parade had been held, in the circle just below the balcony that Snow had one stood on. This time, however, Coin is in his place and there's a line of soldiers behind us. Snow himself is below the new president, near the center of the circle. He's bound to a post behind him, in a clear position to supposedly receive the sharp end of one of Katniss's arrows.

Behind us, Katniss makes her way down the straight, dressed in her Mockingjay outfit and geared to kill. People from all across the Districts follow her, ready to see out the killing of the man who has enslaved them their whole lives. They stop at the line of soldiers, but Katniss continues forward to stand just ahead of our little council of Victors.

Everything's still for a moment.

Then Coin raises her arms, speaking loud and clear. "Welcome to the new Panem. Today, on the Avenue of the Tributes, all of Panem- a free Panem- will watch more than a mere spectacle. We are gathered to witness an historic moment of justice. Today, the greatest friend to the revolution will fire the shot to end all wars. May her arrow signify the end of tyranny and the beginning of a new era.

"Mockingjay, may your aim be as true as your heart is pure."

I watch as Snow lifts his head. Neither he or Katniss move for a brief moment, as if sizing each other up. It's silent as she slowly begins to draw an arrow and poise her bow at him. She remains still for a long moment.

And that's when I realize what's actually about to happen, how Katniss is actually going to prevent this last Hunger Games. Shit.

When the Mockingjay finally fires her arrow and a body falls to the ground, an arrow in its chest and blood leaking from its lips, the mob of District citizens cries in outrage and rushes forward.

Because it's not Snow who's taken the shot and collapsed.

It's Coin.

As Katniss is dragged off by a couple of rebel guards, I lose sight of Snow in the angry mob.

It's a safe bet to say he's dead too.

*X*

It takes a long time to deescalate the action. It's Paylor who's the one to get things settled. Once she's declared both Snow and Coin to be dead, she dismisses the crowd with the promise of things being truly sorted out soon.

As we disperse, I catch Plutarch's gaze from up at the back of the balcony. He looks proud of the outcome of Snow's execution.

As the other Victors and I walk back to the building to catch a ride back to the mansion, we don't talk much. Johanna says the most, laughing at the turn of events and expressing mild sorrow over the fact that there won't be a Games with the Capitol's children. Only Enobaria seems to share her disappointment. Beetee seems a little impressed with Katniss's choice, but Peeta and Annie appear a little shaken; as if they believed Coin was any better than Snow had been.

I can imagine Finnick chuckling a little too. He always found things like this comical.

Once the horror of the situation gets past me, I find that I'm amused. Katniss would do such a thing publicly, in front of thousands of other people. But I'm proud of her for it, for seeing the truth; that the woman was a snake in the grass, more subtle than even Snow's atrocious advances. Though the majority may not understand it, Katniss Everdeen did us well.

Plutarch visits me in my room at the mansion, giving me a letter he insists Katniss must read, before he's off again.

So, I head over to visit the dear old Mockingjay, who's confined to her own room.

After convincing her guards to let me enter and to be unsupervised, I step inside her room. I find her still dressed in her prior outfit, alertly watching as I enter with the letter in hand. She sits down as she realizes that it's just me. I cross the room and sit down on a couple of steps at her side.

"I'll say this for you, Katniss. You don't disappoint." I comment with an upward quirk of my lips, referring to her unexpected execution of Coin. Then I get down to business. "Well, Plutarch gave me a letter for you."

"I don't want it." She interrupts.

"You never make it easy, do you?" I frown, shaking my head at her. I guess some things never change, even after a war. But I don't mind. I've got nowhere to be. "Okay. I'll read it for you."

I unfold the paper and begin to read the former Gamemaker's words to her.

"Katniss,

Maybe the country was shocked tonight by your arrow, but once again, I was not. You were exactly who I believed you were. I wish I could give you a proper goodbye. But with both Coin and Snow dead, the fate of the country will be decided tonight, and I can't be seen at your side.

Tonight, the twelve District leaders will call for a free election. There's little doubt that Paylor will carry it. She's become the voice of reason.

I'm sorry so much burden fell on you. I know you'll never escape it. But if I had to put you through it again for this outcome, I would.

The war's over. We'll enter that sweet period where everyone agrees not to repeat the recent horrors. Of course, we're fickle, stupid beings, with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction. Although, who knows? Maybe this time, we'll learn.

I've secured you a ride out of the Capitol. It's better for you to be out of sight. And when the time is right, Commander Paylor will pardon you. The country will find its peace. I hope you can find yours.

- Plutarch."

Katniss looks at me for a moment. "What now?"

"Home." I say. "We go home."

*X*

Peeta elects to stay behind to help Annie for a while. We bid him and the other Victors farewell, promising to stay in contact. And then Katniss and I are climbing down the stairs at the front of the mansion, leaving it behind once and for all. There's nothing left for us here, and it's time for us to take Plutarch's advice at finally finding peace. Because it's all finally over. For us, anyway.

Effie awaits us. "I couldn't let you go without a proper goodbye."

She embraces Katniss in a hug.

"It's your job to take care of yourself now, Katniss." I can see the amount of effort it takes to keep herself together and I appreciate her fierce loyalty now more than ever. "Promise me you'll find it."

"Find what?" The girl asks.

"The life of a Victor."

"Goodbye, Effie." Katniss says.

"Goodbye, my girl."

They hug one last time, and then Katniss continues down the walkway.

"Effie, don't be a stranger." I advise fondly, planting a kiss on her cheek.

She smiles sadly. "Take care of her."

"I will." I promise.

And then I'm following Katniss, because it's time to begin anew again. The Games, Snow, the Capitol...it's all in the past now. Closed off as a chapter in my life. It's never too late to start over, and that time is now. I'm not going to look back. Not now. One day, maybe. But it's behind me now, and it's time to finally move on. Just like Finnick and Maysilee would have wanted.

Because my life starts now. For real this time.

*X*

We take the train home. The same one I've ridden dozens of times. The same one I took dozens of tributes on to their deaths. The same one I took Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark on.

Neither one of us talk much. The mere presence of one another is all we need, because we know we're here for each other if the other needs it. I can tell that Katniss appreciates my company, as I do hers. There's no one I'd rather take this last ride on with.

The ride is a trip down memory lane. Images of my past tributes flash through my mind. Their reapings, their interviews, their deaths. I remember Maysilee, Chaff, Finnick, Cinna, Primrose; all of them. But none of it bothers me anymore. Justice has been done. They're at peace now, wherever they are.

District Twelve is a sight for sore eyes.

The ruins are covered in snow, the trees bare, but Victor's Village does indeed still stand. It's an odd feeling, walking up to my door as Katniss does hers. It feels wrong to stand here, after all that's happened. But...it's home. And that's all that matters.

I go inside.

Everything's just as it was the day I left for the Quell.

The first thing I do is stock the fireplace, to get some warmth into the place. And then I start cleaning everything up. Because I'm a changed man.

If there's anything all of this has taught me, it's that I should respect what I have. And so that's what I'm going to do, from here on out. My life is a blank slate. I'm going to build it up the way I want it. I'll give myself a life that I choose, not one chosen by the Capitol. I'm no one's slave, and it's time I took charge of my own destiny.

For all the tributes who've ever been in the Games.

For Maysilee.

For my family.

For Cinna.

For Mags.

For Wiress.

For Chaff.

For Boggs.

For Mitchell.

For the Leeg sisters.

For Jackson.

For Castor.

For Homes.

For Finnick.

For Primrose.

And for myself.

I've earned it. And I'll be forever grateful for this chance.

Not because I'm the Victor of the fiftieth Hunger Games.

Because I'm a survivor and live for those who didn't make it. I owe it all to them to make my life the best it can be.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do.