I do not own 'The Hunger Games' or anything related.


The gunshot only confirmed my worst fears.

"Did anyone just hear that?" Cinna asked.

I nodded.

"It sounded like gunfire," I said gunfire. There was no point denying it.

"Don't be ridiculous, Haymitch!" Effie tried to assure us, but I could tell she wasn't so sure herself.

My first fears concerned Katniss and Peeta. No. They were bound to be alright. My best guess was that her speech had caused some uprising, or rather caused someone to do something they shouldn't have done, something that would have seen rebellious. Nevertheless I was relieved when Katniss and Peeta were shepherded in our room, seemingly unharmed. Physically at least. Peeta tried to assure Effie that the gunshot was just a car backfiring. On Peeta's face, I could see confusion. On Katniss, there was grief and guilt, clearly feeling responsible for what was going on outside, which only got worse with two more gunshots. I was reminded of the gunshots that killed my loved ones.

"Both of you, with me," I told Katniss and Peeta, needing to get her away from the commotion as far as possible.

Without being needed to told twice, the two followed me. The peacekeepers took little interest in us with Katniss and Peeta being safely inside. Leading them to our guest room, and after they deposited their gifts, I took off the microphones on their clothes, knowing that these were likely bugged, and stuffed them under a cushion, so whoever was listening in couldn't hear anything. I led them to the same abandoned justice building room that Chaff brought me to those many years ago. I was certain that we would be safe talking here. I kicked the trapdoor shut.

"What happened?" I asked.

Peeta told me what happened. Apparently an old man made the salute, the same salute everyone made to Katniss after she volunteered, and was shot because of it. The peacekeepers would have certainly seen that as an act of rebellion.

"What's going on, Haymitch?"

Clearly Peeta realised that more was going on. I turned to Katniss, still dealing with guilt and grief.

"It's best if it comes from you," I told you.

She shook her head, as if thinking that it would sound much worse coming from her, but told Peeta she did, about everything, Snow's threat, the rebellions, even the kiss from Gale! The expression on Peeta's face reminded me of the one he had after Katniss told him everything on the journey home from the Hunger Games. Katniss expressed her guilt, over how she was supposed to smooth things over, and blamed herself for making everything worse. She appeared so sick that she had to sit down on the sofa. Peeta blamed himself too, for trying to give some of their winnings to the families, and without warning he struck a lamp and sent it flying on the floor.

"This has to stop," He told both of us, "Both of you."

He told us that we had to stop keeping him in the dark, as if we considered him too weak.

"It's not like that, Peeta-" Katniss tried to assure him.

"IT'S EXACTLY LIKE THAT!"

Peeta went on to accuse Katniss of not rating the truth from her, after everything they went through in the arena. I stepped in, telling him that the reason I kept him out of the loop was because he's usually so good with the cameras, and that I didn't want anything to jeopardise that.

"Well you overestimated my abilities, didn't you?"

Peeta went on about how they wouldn't let them give them their winnings, and worried that he's made things much worse for them, before throwing another object, a statue I think. I had never seen him like this.

"He's right, Haymitch," Katniss told me, "We were wrong not to tell him, even in the Capitol."

"Even in the arena, you had some communication worked out, didn't you?" Peeta accused.

"Not officially," Katniss answered, "I just knew what Haymitch wanted depended on what he sent and what he didn't."

"Well I never had that opportunity! Because until you showed up I wasn't sent a damn thing!"

I felt another stab of guilt. It's true. Even though he had never expressed his anger before, I could imagine what it was like for him. I never wanted to hear him express how angry he was against me.

"Listen, Boy-" I tried to explain.

"I know you had to choose between us, Haymitch," Peeta interrupted me, "And I'm glad that you chose her."

He continued to say the situation was now different, and it depended on him being in the loop.

"You will be fully informed from now on," I told him.

"Glad to hear it."

And he stormed out afterwards.

"Did you really choose me?" Katniss asked.

"Yeah," I replied. There was no point denying it.

"But why? You liked him better."

"True," There was no point denying that either, "But remember before the rules had changed I could only get one of you home. And since I knew that's what he wanted then I thought between the two of us we could manage it. You'll see. When you become mentor you'll need to make choices like that."

I guess I should have reprimanded her further. Told her that she should have avoided speaking so familiarly about the tributes, that she lost her moment to talk about them, and that she definitely shouldn't have praised Thresh for playing the games by his own rules rather than anyone else's. But I couldn't. I couldn't reprimand her for that, being unprepared for the unforeseen consequences of her actions, anymore than myself for using the force field, or my brother Larie for speaking against my old man for beating up his wife.

I could see Katniss trying to wrap her head around all of this.

"Come, on," I told her, "we've got a dinner to attend."


Before we went down to dinner, I knocked on Peeta's door.

"Come in."

I entered. When Peeta saw it was me, he had his back towards me.

"Look, Peeta, there's something you should know."

He glared at me.

"I thought you had told me everything."

"About our current situation, I have, but this isn't about that. It's about something else. You should know, last games, it wasn't easy for me – just hear me out, will you?" I snapped before he could tell me that he understood my decision.

"It wasn't easy for me, watching you die in the arena, knowing that I could have done something to save you, but that would have meant using up resources meant for Katniss."

It was torture, watching him dying, knowing that I could help but unable to. Was able to, but I couldn't. I even had nightmares during the experience.

"And even if I had to do it all over again, without knowing about the change in rules, I would, I never want to go through that again."

Peeta remained silent, his face continuing to looking out at the window.

"So hate me! Despise me! Insult me! I don't even mind if you feel like swinging a punch at me! Just – don't take it out on Katniss. She only did as I instructed. She only ever did as I instructed."

Peeta continued to stay silent and unmoved. I moved close to him, so that my mouth was at the level of his ear.

"And she doesn't deserve the way you've been treating her."

Even though I could see a glimpse of reception, Peeta still didn't respond. A little frustrated, I shrugged, grunted, and walked out of there. Hopefully my words would reach Peeta, eventually.

When we came down to dinner, Effie seemed to be out of all sorts. I don't think she found out what happened. Even if Cinna and Portia knew, there was a silent agreement not to tell Effie. When Katniss asked her what was wrong, she said that she didn't like the way they were being treated, and that she had been taking a look around the justice building, before being caught by one of the peacekeepers and poked with the barrel of his gun. I couldn't help but feel if I was responsible. I'm pretty sure that mine, Katniss and Peeta's absence didn't go unnoticed, and even if they weren't surveilling the justice building before, they were now. Katniss suggested that perhaps we should forget dinner until they apologised, but Effie, though cheered a little, said that she'll manage, it's her job.

As we went down, Peeta and Katniss held hands.


As the tour continued, I thought back to my own. What I remember most was the interaction with the other victors, especially the younger ones, giving me tours around the district, teaching me specific knowledge, like herding cattle, harvesting crops, sowing, woodcutting, the construction of vehicles, surviving in the desert, fishing, even shown several inventions being invented. I felt somewhat guilty over the apparently friendly treatment I received from the victors, even passing on district specific skills to me, when we were competitors, especially from those districts whose tributes I had a personal hand in their deaths. It felt awful, looking into the grieving faces of their families as I read the scripted speech given to me by the Capitol. But even if I was allowed to speak for myself, what was I supposed to say to the families? Sorry I murdered your loved ones to ensure my own survival? Well, it was for Maysilee's survival as well, but that wouldn't matter to them. So it was to these District mentors while they were teaching me their skills that I apologised for killing their tribute. It felt cowardly that I was apologising to them when I should be apologising to the loved ones, but then they were their mentors. They were all surprisingly forgiving. I remember their response was either "It wasn't your hand that they died," or "You were only defending yourself."

When we reached the last two districts, however, there was a different atmosphere. The Career districts, those with more victors than the rest of us combined, who took insult at being beaten by the lowest of the low. There were no personal tours given here, no passing of knowledge. I still remember the face of the district 2 tribute I killed's brother, who was only a year younger than me. There was a similar age gap between them and me and Larie, and all I could think was that this must be what Larie would have looked if it was me that was killed and the District 2 tribute parading his victory in District 12.

When we reached the Capitol, we were greeted with large cheering crowds. I noticed that a number at the front screaming my name were teenage girls. Mrs Charm explained that I had proved particularly popular amongst this demographic, and that her own granddaughter couldn't help but constantly ask questions what it was like to be the escort to Haymitch Abernathy. It was a little surreal, having girls hold up images of you, screaming your name, that they love you when you were used to being treated as the lowest of the low back home. Apparently it was something to do with a combination of my outer 'bad boy' appearance and my softer side that I showed while opening up to Maysilee.


Arriving in the Capitol in the present, we stayed at our old compartment during the last Hunger Games. When Katniss brought up the idea of them getting married, the pain on Peeta's face was clear. Even though he agreed with it, he later left for his room and didn't come back for a long time. I told Katniss to leave him be.

"I thought he'd be up for it," She said.

"He would have been. Except he wanted it to be real."

At the banquet, I helped myself to the drinks on offer as I did before, when I tasted every form of alcohol there (But none of the solid stuff). I couldn't wait for President Snow to show up, slipping a knife under my sleeve for preparation. I had barely got it under my sleeve when Ray appeared behind me to whisper "If you're planning to assassinate President Snow, don't bother. He never shows up for these parties."

Feeling dejected, that my one chance at revenge would never arrive, nevertheless I slipped a knife under my sleeve anyway just in case. Ray appeared behind me again.

"Come with me, you're drunk."

"No I'm not," I retorted.

"Yes, you are."

The grip on my wrist told me that I didn't have a say in the matter.

Eerily as I was reminiscing this someone in the present had appeared to accost me for apparently being too drunk.

"Alright, Mr Abernathy, I think you've had enough to drink," An attendant told me.

"What? What are you talking about? I've barely started!"

That wasn't just a drunken rambling, I really hadn't started! Why did this attendant seem to think that I was plastered-

"Play drunk," He whispered in my ear.

I froze. I stared at the attendant, seeing that beyond his assuring face was something more threatening. What should I do? Sensing that there was nothing else to do, I played along.

"I haven't even begun to drink!" I slurped as if I had drunk more than enough.

I had been this drunk enough to imitate the state.

"Easy, Mr Abernathy, easy," The attendant assured me, "Let's find you somewhere to sit."

Beckoning another attendant to help him, they dragged me as I remained limp before depositing me into one of the bathrooms, lowering me in front of one of the toilets.

"We'll come back once you're done."

Then they left me there. At once I got up. What was going on? Why was I brought here? I guess someone planned to meet me in here, but who? As I walked around, waiting for whoever it was that arranged this supposed meeting, I realised that this was the same bathroom that Ray dragged me in after catching me with my failed assassination attempt. When we entered one of the private bathrooms she threw me aside.

"I see that speaking nicely to you doesn't work."

"What does it matter?" I demanded, "You said it yourself he never shows up for these things, so why does it matter?"

"And what if someone saw you? And what if he did? You think assassinating Snow will change anything? Even if he dies, someone else will just take his place! The best thing you can do is train the next victor!"

Just as I was replaying this memory the door opened.

"Ah, Mr Abernathy, I'm glad we could meet."

He held out his hand for me to shake. Thinking there was nothing better to do, I took it.

"My name is Plutarch Heavensbee. I'm the new Head gamemaker. I apologise for keeping you waiting, but I thought it'd look suspicious if we left together."

Why did he even want to meet up with me? I thought.

"At the moment Katniss is looking for Peeta who is looking at the cakes, soon Effie Trinket will usher you all out so I'll be brief. I'm a member of a resistance cell that's been building for years."

What game was Heavensbee playing? Was Snow behind this? Some sort of way to trick me into revealing myself a traitor? I decided to play along, but remain quiet so as not to condemn myself.

"By now I'm sure you're aware of other rebellions in the other districts. We are all part of the same, and Katniss Everdeen is our symbol. As the girl who had escaped the Capitol, she has come to represent the rebellion."

"Even if there was a resistance, what chances would they have against the Capitol? What are you expecting Katniss to lead you into victory if your recruit her?"

"Oh no, nothing like that. Although we do plan to recruit her in the end. No, we have an extra fire power."

"Fire power? From where?"

He took out a laptop and placed it on the side. It showed an image that I recognised to be District 13. Then he took out a telecommunication device.

"Come out."

A trap door open, revealing people coming out.

That's not possible. That's not possible, everyone knows that there are no living people in District 13, nothing can survive there, without masks at least!

Or at least, that's what the Capitol has told us…

Heavensbee looked at me again with a serious look in his eyes.

"The resistance is real, Mr Abernathy, and we need your help."

"I thought you needed Katniss?"

"That as well."

Suddenly I felt very protective of Katniss, as I did of Maysilee's mockingjay pin, wanting no one else to take possession.

"If you think I'm gonna let you use her in your revolution, train her as some kind of soldier or something-"

"As I've already told you, we don't intend for Katniss to do any fighting. Only for her to be a symbol."

It sounded harmless enough, but I didn't want anyone to use Katniss as a piece in their games, even by a resistance, even if it was real.

"And why do you think I would let you get away with it?"

"For her safety."

"...Are you threatening her?"

"On the contrary, the exact opposite. I want to save her. I'm sure that you're aware that Snow has told her to try to keep the peace in the other districts during the tour. Her attempts have failed. By now I'm sure she's aware of it. I don't know why Snow thought she would even succeed. Perhaps it was a last ditch effort, but I don't know what he has planned for her."

"What do you expect me to do?"

"All we want from you, Mr Abernathy, is to keep an eye on her. Keep her safe. And make sure she doesn't do anything foolish."

"I've already been trying to do that, but I think you overestimate my abilities to keep her controlled."

"Well please try. She may try to run, or fight back. We'll be in touch. My associates will take you out."

The attendants dragged me out, as I continued to play drunk. I continued to pretend to be inebriated even on the car journey back to the centre and even when I was deposited to my room, but the whole time I was thinking over what Heavensbee told me.