I hear her before I see her. Johanna Mason has always been a force of nature and she just blew into our apartment. "Where is he?" she demands. I can't hear the response but I can defiantly hear her as she curses her way down the hallway towards Katniss's room. Johanna burst into the room with no preamble. Halting in her steps, she eyes Tova sitting cross-legged on the bed before marching over to the armchair I'm sitting in. Before I can react, she's pulling me to my feet and wrapping me in a fierce hug. "What do you know?" she asks over my shoulder.
I pull back and look at her. Her face is serious but her eyes are bloodshot and watery. I give her shoulders a squeeze. "We know that our driver took her and that he wasn't who everyone thought he was. He's got tons of money and had a game maker for a grandfather," I groan.
"Fucking Capitol," she growls.
"Really Jo, your language," a soft voice calls from the door. I spin on my heels toward the door and find the small redhead victor from four with a sleeping toddler on her shoulder. "Annie!" I exclaim. I hug her, careful not to wake the baby. "You can lay him on my bed if want," offer, brushing a curl away from his eyes. Annie's forehead wrinkles, "Peeta it's okay, no need to inconvenience you. I'm here to support you!"
I laugh humorlessly, "No chance I'll be sleeping anytime soon," I say. "Plus, I prefer it in here right now anyway."
Her eyes tear up but she nods in agreement. "He is getting heavy," she admits.
I lead her to my room then turn and head back towards Katniss's room but stop outside when I hear Johanna talking to Tova.
"Do you really think a stylist is needed right now?" Johanna says dismissively. "The last thing he's worried about is what pants he's gonna wear."
"I'm here to support him," she rebuts.
"Peeta needs his family right now," Jo says, sound more irritated. "You…you're Capitol…you should go."
"I wasn't born Capitol and you aren't Peeta's family," Tova retorts.
Feeling tension building so I come around the corner.
Johanna is leaning over the edge of the bed into Tova's personal space, "Victors are family," she growls. "That and his district family is all he needs," she growls.
Taking her by the arm, I pull her back. "Jo," I say softly.
She glances back at me, her eyes flashing. "Her lies about Cinna are the very reason Katniss was ever alone with Carson!"
"Jasper," I correct.
Johanna rolls her eyes.
"Whatever! It's her fault that brainless was ever alone with him," grumbles.
Annie has rejoined the group and places a hand on Johanna's arm. "Jo," she says softly, "Nothing anyone caused this to happen," she says calmly.
An unexpected tear escapes from the corner of Johanna's eye. She swipes at it. "I'm going to kill him," she sniffs.
"Not if I do it first," I grumble, feeling my own eyes tear up.
"Peeta," Haymitch calls from the doorway. "Arnica has arrived," he tells me.
I nod, "I'll be right there," I tell him.
"Who's Arnica?" Johanna asks.
"Katniss's mother," I tell her, my heart sinking.
"She found her way out of 4 then?" Johanna snorts dismissively.
I shake my head. "She's a traumatized soul whose daughter has been abducted, so just…don't Jo," I warn.
She rolls her eyes but nods in agreement after a moment.
Taking a deep breath and steel myself. I don't know what to expect from Mrs. Everdeen, after all, I don't really know her. She was always kind to me after we won our games, even when I ended up engaged to her 16-year-old daughter against her wishes. We never spoke of our predicament, but her eyes were always understanding, so unlike my own mothers. We had few in-depth interactions over those months and only one ever sticks with me. The morning of the reaping plays in my thoughts unrequested. It was well before dawn when arrived on the back doorstep, cheese buns and a rye loaf in my hands. Through the window I spot Mrs. Everdeen sitting silently by the fire, staring stoically into the flames. I open the door with a knock and she looks up at me, surprise in her sad eyes. "Peeta, you should be at home with your parents," she says coming over to hug me. I shake my head, "We said our goodbye's last night," I say solemnly. She takes the baked goods from my hands and puts them on the table. "Tea?" she asks. I nod and pull a rocker over to the fireplace as she rattles around the kitchen. Setting a tray on the hearth, she goes about pouring me a cup. "Sugar or milk?" she asks. I shake my head and she hands me the cup and starts slicing the rye loaf. I set the cup down on the hearth and grab the toasting basket from where it propped up and slide the bread in and start turning it over the fire. We silently sit together staring at the fire. "I'm going to do everything in my power to send her home to you," I confess to the slight blonde woman next to me. I feel her eyes on me but keep mine on the bread in the fire. "Don't tell her," I say, trying to not sound like I'm begging. Mrs. Everdeen places a hand over mine and squeezes it and I force myself to look over at her. "She'll try to do the same," she says, tears in her eyes. I shake my head resolutely, "No, she will come home if one of us does," I promise again. The sound of feet on the stairs pulls us from the moment and I'm pulled back to the present. Other than a few memories, the only other thing I know about Arina Everdeen is that she is a damaged soul. She's lost her husband, one child was reaped twice, and one was killed in the war and now this. I know also she does not handle loss well. She would have died after her husband was killed if it hadn't been for Katniss, so I have no idea what state she will be in today.
Running my hand through my hair, I take a breath and head down the hall to the main room. I find Arnica perched on the edge of a chair in the corner, her hands worrying a handkerchief. As I enter the living room her eyes lock on to mine. She rises from her seat and approaches me hesitantly. The evidence of tears streaks her face, but her eyes are dry at the moment. Now in front of me, she stares up into my eyes for a long time before finally speaking. "You've grown to look even more father," she finally says, taking one of my hands in both of hers. I smile sadly down at her, "And Katniss has you're nose and jaw. I can't believe I never noticed before," I return. This brings tears back to her eyes so I gather the fragile women into a hug. "Oh, Peeta," she cries, her thin shoulder shaking in sobs. I hold the tiny woman tighter against me, it's as if I'm trying to hold her together. "She's a fighter, Mrs. Everdeen. She will survive," I say, words meant as much for myself as for her.
She pulls back and nods, "I know that I'm just…."
"Worried," I say ending her thought. "Me too," I admit.
Mr. Mellark," a soldier says. I turn towards a young woman in camo and give her a nod. "We have something." Arnica tenses next to me so I place a gentle hand on her shoulder and give it a rub. I'm sure it's good news," I say directing her to the table where Haymitch, Effie, Annie, and Johanna stand huddled around a counsel. Haymitch looks up, "They think he's in the northwest, in the wilds," Haymitch tells us. My eyes widen. "The wilds! How?" I ask.
Paylor clears her throat. "The wilds are as wild as the districts were led to believe. There a number of small towns on the western coast and along the northern shores of The Lakes. The wealthiest of Capitol citizens appear to have had homes and land in these areas. We have found some old documents that lead us to believe that Magnus McVellie owned land on the northwest coast."
"You know where she's at?" Arnica asks hopefully.
Paylor shakes her head, "We have a general vicinity but it's thousands of acres," she explains.
"Put me on a transport," Johanna demands. "I'm going too," Gale says, speaking up from the corner he's been glowering in.
The president raises her hands. "Troops are already in the air. I don't see how adding victors to questionable hostage situation would be helpful."
"I'm not a victor," Gale protests.
"With your public appearances with Katniss during the war you're are as good as one, the answer is no," Paylor says pointedly.
Gale lets out a frustrated grunt and leans against the wall but says nothing else. Johanna, however, is not a soldier trained to follow orders. "I'll get my own ride out there then," she says, crossing her arms defiantly.
Paylor levels her eyes at her, "I will have you detained Ms. Mason. We do not need to look for a second person because you went in hot-headed," she states, her voice slightly raised.
"She's right Jo," I say, hating every word. "I want to go too, but what if it makes him show his hand…it could just end up hurt Katniss in the end." Johanna glares at us but lets out a sigh when Annie puts a hand on her shoulder. She sighs in recognition of the facts."I'm gonna kill him."
Mrs. Everdeen clears her throat. "What is being done?" she asks timidly.
Paylor turns to her and comes over to put a hand on a shoulder. "We have sent 100 troops to start combing a grid that has been designed. It is rough terrain so it will be slow going, but I promise you they will leave no stone unturned," she promises.
She then turns her eyes to mine, "They have also brought in his aunt."
To my surprise, it's Annie who nearly shouts, "Why didn't you lead with that!"
The president spins to face her, "Because we don't think she'll be of much help."
"She's…incapacitated," Effie chimes in.
"What does that mean exactly," I ask, feeling anxiety creep up my spine.
"She is in a delicate state," Effie says looking sad.
Haymitch huffs at this non-answer. "She's bat shit crazy," he blurts out.
Effie huff and admonishes him, "Haymitch!"
He just shrugs, "Don't beat around the bush sweetheart, the victors are too restless for that," he dismisses.
President Paylor clears her throat, "She has a form of dementia," she explains. "Most days she's doesn't even know her own name, but she does have moments of clarity so she is being monitored closely by a team of doctors, they will push her if she becomes lucid.
"There is a blend of oils that help promote memory," Arcnia says, "Have they tried them?" she asks.
Paylor shrugs, "I don't' know, but come with me and I'll connect you with the team," she says.
I grind the heels of my hands into my eyes. "I need some fresh air," I state and push passed Gale to the deck.
The night is humid but cool. I flop down on the patch of grass and look up at the faint stars. At home, the stars are much brighter, here the lights of the city seem to dim their shine. I let myself believe for a moment that she's looking up at the same sky and my breathing calms. I hear the door behind me open and I glance over my shoulder, it's Tova. I lay back in the grass and look back up at the sky as she approaches.
"That was some good news," she says settling next to me.
I shrug. "I guess," I return.
We're silent for a bit before she speaks again. "I thought all of Johanna's bratva was just a games ploy," Tova says, her voice quivering.
I snort, "Not so much."
I glance over at her and see thoughts spinning behind her eyes. "She would really kill him, wouldn't she?" she finally asks.
I raise an eyebrow, "As would I," I tell her honestly. Her green eyes widen. I let out a small breath. "If it's what it takes to get her back, I would do what needs to be done. And if he hurts her…his chances aren't good either," I admit. She gapes a me. I turn my eyes back up into the night. "They trained us to be killers Tova."
"This isn't the games," she says softly.
"Isn't it?" I rebut.
"It's a kidnapping."
"By a game maker."
"A grandson of a game maker."
"Same thing."
"So, the sins of our family are now passed down? And what about me, Cinna was in the games."
"Cinna was a rebel; it isn't the same thing." I dismiss. "This guy is playing by a game makers playbook. If you play by the games, you can die by the games."
Tova is quite next to me and when I look over at her I see tears in her eyes. I hesitantly reach out and take her hand. "You okay?" I ask.
She sniffs and returns my gaze with wet eyes. "I'm having a hard time combining the two different images of I have you right now," she admits.
"Tova, this is who've I've been since we meet," I counter.
The backdoor opens and steals her response. It's Annie. Backlit by the lights inside she looks almost ethereal. "I arranged for food, come inside and eat," she says, her tone leaving no room for argument. I get to my feet and pull Tova up with me. She looks up at me for a moment and I see a change forming in her eyes. She's never really seen the real me, the whole me. I thought she knew, but how could she….really? I realize. I shrug it off, this is something for another time. I turn and head towards the house, hunger far from my thoughts but the need to be in the company of my adopted family driving me forward.