After lunch, we make the short drive from the Executive Compound to a large, imposing building called the Citadel, which, Peeta explains, serves as the headquarters for the combined War and Security Departments.
Once we pull into the gates, we're greeted by a uniformed man who salutes us, or more accurately salutes Peeta, as we exit the armored limousine.
"Mr. President-Elect, Miss Everdeen, welcome to the Citadel." The man says.
"Thank you, General Mattias," Peeta says, "it's good to see you." Peeta and the General exchange pleasantries as we walk into the building and are escorted past the security checkpoint, down a long, gray hallway, and into an elevator.
We plunge down so fast that my stomach drops. I immediately think back to the elevator at the Tribute Center; it was fast but not this fast. The elevator comes to a stop. The doors open to reveal a man in a military uniform and a woman in a white lab coat.
"Miss Everdeen," the man begins, "we're going to enter you into the system and give you your security clearances. Is that alright?"
"Yes- Yes, that's alright." I stumble out.
"Excellent. Follow me."
Our escort begins to separate Peeta and me. I look back at Peeta, not wanting to be
alone in this strange, intimidating place.
"General, let's hold off on that briefing. I'm going to accompany Katniss."
I mouth a quick 'thank you to Peeta, who smiles and quickly embraces me. "Always," he whispers in my ear.
The general nods and gives a quick, "Yes, sir," before shaking Peeta's hand.
We walk down the hallway into a room filled with all sorts of computers and holographic displays. The escort hands us off to another man dressed in military attire who salutes Peeta before beginning.
"Miss Everdeen, if you could lay both of your hands on the glass below, we can go ahead and process your finger and handprints." Suddenly the glass on the table be- gins to glow and pulsate a soothing blue.
I lay both hands on the glass, and the machine replies with a pleasant computerized sound.
"Now for your retina scans," he continues, "if you'll just look into the camera, please."
"Huh? The camera?" I reply, confused.
"Yes, ma'am. It's the black sphere located at eye level."
My eyes immediately find the inconspicuous black ball that I hadn't noticed be-
fore, being so distracted by the various holograms.
I stare into the camera, and it makes the same pleasant noise as before.
"Now, Miss Everdeen, your security clearance is tied to your partner's clearance. A future or current spouse of a government official receiving a security clearance, not to mention the level of clearance you're being given, is exceptionally rare. You are admonished to follow all proper protocols regarding securing privileged information. For your convenience, we will be providing you with a handbook that will explain, in detail, the rules surrounding such information. The penalties for divulging classified information are harsh and immutable."
I nod and give a solemn "yes, sir" to the official.
On our way out of the building, we're stopped by an older man in a sharp formal suit that, while not a uniform, still signifies that he is a high-ranking Peacekeeper. Peeta shakes the man's hand before introducing me, "Katniss, this is General Ravinstill, Reyna's father." My face lights up at this. I shake his hand.
"Katniss Everdeen, it's a pleasure to meet you," the General says with a firm handshake.
"Thank you," I reply.
He produces an envelope from a pocket inside his jacket. "Would you be able to give this to Reyna for me?"
I freeze, wondering if delivering the envelope could be considered some sort of crime. Still, the pleading look on General Ravinstill's face and Peeta's earnest nodding convince me that it's the right thing to do.
"Thank you." The General replies, "I promise it isn't contraband," he says with a small, polite laugh.
I smile and nod, and before I know it, we're in the car, heading back to the Blair House.
We're again greeted at the entrance by two saluting Peacekeepers, one of whom opens the door as we walk up. Peeta quickly salutes them as we step inside.
On our way back to the Residence, Peeta introduces me to his Chief of Staff, Plutarch Havenseebee, who turns out to be the man that fell into the punchbowl during my 'private session' with the Gamemakers before the Games. I unsuccessfully try and suppress my amusement.
Plutarch notices.
"Is something the matter, Miss Everdeen?" He asks. Peeta raises his eyebrows like he's ready to ask us what sort of silent conversation we're having.
"It's nothing," I say, laughing, "it's just, I know you. You fell into the punchbowl. Also, aren't you a Gamemaker?" Peeta looks even more confused.
"Wait. Punchbowl?" Peeta asks.
"Do you remember how during Katniss' 'private session' with the Gamemakers, she shot an arrow into the viewing area?" Plutarch says.
"Yeah, how could I forget? It was the highlight of my week." Peeta replies, amused. I blush.
"What?" Peeta says, looking at me, "It was. No one stands up to Gamemakers like that."
"Well," Plutarch adds, "what I didn't tell you about was my reaction. I fell backwards into a punchbowl."
Peeta doubles over laughing and barely gets out, "really?!" In between laughs,
which causes me to laugh with him.
Once the laughter dies down, Plutarch turns to me.
"To answer your question, Miss Everdeen, I was a Gamemaker. Though not by choice. The President transferred me into that position; I used to be head of Propaganda. I've known Peeta for years, he requested that I join him here, and the President al- lowed me to leave my post."
I nod, and Plutarch pauses for a moment before looking at Peeta.
"Oh," Plutarch begins, "I pulled Mr. Hawthorne's National Aptitude Assessment results. They were outstanding. I think he'd be a great fit."
"Thanks!" Peeta says as we walk off.
Mr. Hawthorne, as in Gale Hawthorne?
Before I can question it, Peeta asks, "do you think Gale would be interested in an advisory role in my office?"
I was not expecting that.
"I don't know," I say honestly, "you'd have to ask him. He's not..." I pause, trying to
think of how to get my meaning across without getting him charged with treason, "... enthusiastic about the Capitol."
Peeta laughs. "Neither are most of the people that work here."
I raise my eyebrows.
"We may be from here, but we're not blind. It's painfully obvious that the system as
it exists today isn't sustainable. You know that, I know that, and Gale knows that. We- I, need people that recognize that the system is broken and that harbor no allegiances inside the Capitol. You fit the bill, and frankly, Gale does too." Peeta says, his voice filled with earnest passion.
I nod.
"I'm going to call him. But please. Would you talk to him?" He begs. "Sure," I reply, smiling despite my uncertainty.
"Good. Now let's go eat."
"So, Cinna," Effie begins excitedly, "tell me, of everything in your new collection, what's going to be the most chic accessory this fall?"
"If Portia has anything to say about it, it'll be those earrings!" Cinna says to much laughter.
"No, no, no," Portia replies, "it'll be whatever she's wearing tomorrow." Gesturing to me.
I blush. "So, nothing I'd normally wear then?" I reply jokingly. "I, for one, love what you normally wear," Peeta says sweetly. I hear Effie make a disapproving 'tsk.'
"What? I do!" Peeta replies, kissing me on the cheek.
I can't believe I'm allowing this. Enjoying this.
Dinner continues much in the same way, with Peeta taking some lighthearted raging from Cinna and Effie about his tendency to wear 'common clothing' rather than something more 'befitting of his station.' Cinna makes it clear he's joking, but I can tell that Effie is serious.
After a while, we bid our dinner guests goodbye, leaving just the three of us sitting in one of the main drawing rooms. Portia is the first to head to bed, citing her need to get up 'extra early' tomorrow.
It isn't long before Peeta, and I head off to bed, splitting ways at the doorways to our adjacent rooms and bidding each other goodnight.
After I fall asleep, the nightmares come back. I suppose I should have expected them to be worse here. I see Prim get Reaped, I see Thresh fall off the Cornucopia and get devoured by vicious mutations, and right before I see Rue get shot in the back by Marvel, I'm awoken by Peeta.
"Katniss. Katniss. You're safe, Katniss. Safe." I awake crying, Peeta cradling me in his arms.
"Stay with me?" I ask.
"Always." He replies, his voice sweet like sugar.