Effie opened her eyes and saw bright light. It wasn't heaven. It was the light in her bedroom. There are voices chattering not far from her and she couldn't see who they are. Her vision is still blurry but it's adjusting gradually. When she got a clearer view of the people on her left, she was able to identify them. It's Haymitch talking to Mags. Effie doesn't remember Mags coming in the penthouse. If she had known, she would have prepared something for her.

"…when I told you to look after her, I didn't mean for you to screw her. Are you not using your brain, Haymitch?" Mags scolded the Twelve's Victor.

"I know. Don't you think I didn't think of that before? Believe me, I did…a thousand times. It wasn't smart and I had put her in danger but I cannot turn back time. It happened. Can't you do something? There are a lot of decent districts aside from the Careers. How about Seven? Their escort will be retiring soon. Trinket can be their escort", he asked.

Did she just hear him right? He is requesting for her to be transferred to another district? First, it is impossible given the fact that the Head Gamemaker doesn't want her to leave Twelve. Second, they are something, right? They have some sort of relationship and they're friends. Why would Haymitch want her to be transferred? Effie didn't say anything. She just pretended to sleep while they talk until Haymitch walked Mags to the elevator.

By the time Haymitch got back in her bedroom, she's already up and smoking.

"What are you doing? You should be resting", he asked.

"I rested enough", she answered coldly which stunned him but he didn't let it show.

"Mags came by. She was the one who did your stitches. I was about to bring you to the clinic but I figured you wouldn't want that, too many people means too much attention", he explained.

Effie put out her cigarette and lit up another one without glancing at him to see him wince.

"I know…so, did she agree with you when you asked her help for me to be transferred to District Seven?" she asked.

He didn't know she's already awake. Actually, he doesn't want her to know that at all. He preferred to be like she got promoted and he has no clue about it. It would've been easier.

"She will think about it", he answered.

Effie nodded and resumed smoking. He wanted to explain to her why he wants her to be transferred. He couldn't risk hurting her again. They're already so much closer than he should've allowed and he ended up slicing her arm. She would've been safer far from him where she can strive as the best escort in Panem. She will be safe from Snow. It will hurt him definitely but at least she will be safe. The problem is, he cannot bring himself to say that to her. He is really bad when it comes to talking.

"Is it about me being Capitol again?" the question came out as smoothly as the smoke from her lips. "I already apologized to the children. I apologized to you. We already made a plan about this season. The kids have a chance to survive. As far as I know, I am not doing a poor job at being your escort. We were fine before your nightmare. Speaking of that, it is my fault because I woke you up and I am sorry. So, what did I miss? Why do you want me to be out of your hair all of a sudden?" she followed up.

She finally turned to him and all he saw is hurt in her eyes. He doesn't want that there but what can he do? He cannot keep putting her in danger because he's selfish enough to let her go.

"We had a good run, princess. We are a good team, in fact. It's just…it's not natural for an escort to last this long in Twelve. You already put yourself in a huge risk and you keep raising red flags. Transferring to another district will keep you safe", he answered.

It is vague. He knows it and she knows it. She stares at him like she's reading him like a book. It made him feel so conscious. It must've been how Avoxes and Peacekeepers felt whenever she stares them down. There is something about her eyes that is so powerful it can bend a strong man's will.

"You didn't mean to hurt me, Haymitch. I know that and I am not mad at you", she muttered.

She had read his thoughts and it's very unsettling for him.

"It's done, princess. This is going to be your last season here in Twelve and that's the end of this conversation", he said.

He didn't give her time to response. He left her room before she can say something that will change his mind. When he got into his room, the Avoxes had already cleaned up the broken table where Effie fell onto after he attacked her. The sight of her being sad and hurt by his sudden change of heart kept rewinding in his head. It is better this way, he kept telling himself. It is better for her to be away from him or he will just keep on hurting her. Mags agreed on that as well. They're too close. If Snow found out, if he hasn't already, he will use her as pressure point against him and she will be in danger.

Augustus Braun was the favourite of the season. He is from District One and incredibly charming. Everyone already knows that he will be this year's Victor but Effie refused to give up just yet. She worked day and night to hound Sponsors. She trained the kids to work the crowd. When it's time for the interview, she even gave a green light to the girl to show some fire, to let the people know how upset she is for being reaped. It is a different approach from previous years and it worked. People talked about Twelve and Effie received a lot of invitations for Sponsorship.

Haymitch knows she's avoiding him. The only time he sees her is when she put the forms on his table for signature. After that, she quickly disappears and she works again. On the first night of the game, their Tributes managed to survive the Cornucopia. Haymitch sat with Chaff while watching over his escort talking to potential Sponsors.

"What did you do to her? She barely looks at you", his best friend asked.

"She woke me up", he simply answered.

He and Chaff looked at each other and he quickly understood what he meant. It is a clear rule to never wake a Victor during their nightmares if you don't want to get hurt.

"Shit. How bad?" he asked again.

"I sliced her arm and she fell onto the glass table. I couldn't bring her to the Clinic without raising attention so I called Mags to patch her up", he answered.

Effie playfully put her hand on the Sponsor's arm which caught Haymitch's attention. She doesn't play that way. At least, not that he knows of. She just talks and bats her eyelashes. She doesn't touch them. What is she doing?

"So, Mags had been asking around about escorts retiring…does that have something to do with Trinket?" Chaff asked one more time and he just nodded in response.

Mags approached Effie and took her away from the Sponsor who is already ogling her with so much lust.

"We need to talk", the older Victor said once they reached a spot that's loud enough for the bugs to hear them.

"You already found a new District for me?" Effie cut her off which raised an eyebrow in Mags' face. "Don't worry about it. I already know and Haymitch made it clear that I got no choice on the matter. I am just a piece on the chessboard, right?" she added.

She's already tipsy but she can still hold herself properly except for her tongue.

"It is unwise to get that close to Haymitch", Mags reminded her.

"…and so is everyone keeps telling me these days", Effie muttered and rolled her eyes.

Her Capitol accent thickens and she put on her best smile.

"Well, I believe we came to an understanding. Thank you for telling me that. I should go back to my Sponsor. I still have a job to do. Despite this being my last year, the kids still need the best from their team", she excused herself and returned to the Sponsor at the bar.

Mags joined the Victors at the lounge.

"You told her?" she asked Haymitch.

"No. She overheard us. I couldn't lie", he answered while Chaff just listened.

"I asked Seven and they're delighted but there is no way the Head Gamemaker will put her there. If I put her on the market of available escorts, the Careers will make a bid for her and they will get her not Seven. She's done too great of a job with your District to go unnoticed by the Careers so think about what you're asking first because once it's done, it's done", she said and then left.

Haymitch tried to imagine Effie being an escort for any of the Career district and it only made his stomach churned. No. He cannot let her go. His eyes drifted to the bar where she was supposed to be talking with a Sponsor but she's not there. In fact, she's not anywhere in the bar.

"Shit", he muttered.