Chapter 16: Never Forsaken
Thanks for reading, thanks for the support, thanks for the feedback, and thanks for your patience! I
wasn't able to post last week, because I was sick. "You've already given them everything. You don't
owe this city anymore." (Catwoman v.) "Not everything, not yet." (Batman v.) I wish You could take it
all away.
President Snow nearly slammed his glass on the table. He set it down gently. He was still in control. He
knew what she was doing. She was praying. She was defying his authority. She was defying him.
"Get Effie in here now. Use force if necessary. I'm not in a comfortable mood." He growled at a
Peacemaker.
Effie was horrified, not only at the danger Katniss and Gale were in, but also President Snow's disregard
for life. She also feared for her own, so she knew that she needed to choose her next words very
carefully. It was a matter of life and death.
"Effie dear, who is that girl?" President Snow asked, his back to her.
"Her name is Katniss Everdeen, sir." Effie said, nervously, sensing the weight of his displeasure.
"What is she doing, Effie dear?"
"She's praying, sir."
"No, that's not it, Effie dear."
"It's not, sir?"
"Effie dear," President Snow turned around slowly in his chair. "She is defying me. She is defying
everything I stand for. I thought the diseased hope of religion was dead for good. Nope, I still see a
persistent stain."
His eyes pierced into her, and yet his smile said nothing was wrong. He stood up and walked over to her.
Effie looked down at her feet. She barely looked up. President Snow chuckled, and began laughing
hysterically. He placed his hands on Effie's shoulders for balance.
"Effie dear, do you see it? Do you see this stain? Fear still has sway over you because you've heard
about the horrors of the wars that brought the districts into existence. This Katniss Everdeen has no idea
what she's doing. She's going to undo all my work, Effie dear. I will not allow her to. She will die trying.
Her district and her loved ones will be ashes if she returns. I will kill her hope with reality. It's all the
sanity we have left." President Snow said, walking back to his chair, and sighing heavily.
"She's just one girl, sir." Effie managed to get out, despite fighting back her tears.
"Go on, Effie dear. Let the grown ups worry about the threat of security." He once again turned his
back to her, and she knew she had been dismissed.
She walked out of his office, holding her head high. She smiled at every concerned look, and fearful
glance. When she got back to her room, she broke down. She was so angry at her powerlessness, and
overwhelming fear.