"Peeta, you can't go," she clung to his hand. "What if it's a trap?"
"I have to, Katniss. It's a direct order from the President. And he will be well protected. I'll be fine."
"I have a bad feeling about this," she said, blinking back tears. "Felix can go for both of you and we can be ready to run when 13 arrives."
"13 still has to get past the Capitol's airfields, Katniss," Duartyr said anxiously. "I don't know how they are going to pull it off in broad daylight. I can go provide a distraction but if the Capitol sees 13 insignia, they won't hesitate to blast them out of the sky. I told the Colonel that last night but he said he would take care of it. I don't know how but I'll trust a military man, I suppose. Still, Peeta can't disobey orders. Not while the President is still alive."
"How did he even know Peeta was in the Capitol? Something doesn't feel right here!"
"Plutarch informed him that Peeta was alive. He will have his guards with him. We will answer our summons and then we will return here immediately. If we aren't back in time, I'll make sure Peeta has access to a hovercraft and he will join you in 13."
"I'm not leaving here without you," she ignored Duartyr completely. Her eyes locked on his and they were tossing storms. Peeta swallowed deeply as she gripped his hands tightly.
"Do you hear me? I won't leave the Capitol without you. They'll have to drug me and knock me out first."
"Be reasonable, Katniss," Duartyr said sternly. "You are the Mockingjay. Peeta is one of your soldiers. We have sworn to protect you above all else." Katniss turned and fixed him with a cold glare.
"Sweetheart, I'll be fine," Peeta said placatingly. "Just stay here and I'll be back soon." He hastily pulled one of his uniforms out of his bag and pulled it on over his clothes. Duartyr nodded to Katniss before crossing the room and picking up two rifles.
"After today," Peeta cupped her chin. "You won't have to see this uniform on me ever again."
"Be careful," she barely moved her lips but he'd heard. He leaned in to kiss her, his hand going to her hair.
"I love you," he whispered against her forehead before his lips left a sweet kiss and then he was gone. Katniss watched the Peacekeepers disappear through the door and she was alone in the house. She felt antsy and anxious, having no idea what to do to pass the time. She had no clue when the hovercraft from 13 would be there, nor when Peeta would be back. She crawled onto the bed and pulled a pillow toward her, closing her eyes and allowing herself to believe that he was still in the bed with her, holding her tightly.
"Do you think Katniss could be right, sir?" Peeta clutched his rifle as they entered mansion. "Could this be a trap?"
"President Snow is still the acting ruler. As long as he's alive, we are still the President's Guard. I don't know why he is summoning us but just stay alert and we will be out of here shortly, alright?" Peeta nodded, his mind racing. Peacekeepers saluted them as they passed and Duartyr stopped at the desk to address Snow's secretary.
"Egeria, we need to speak to President Snow, please."
"He's waiting for you, General. As is the Minister." Duartyr froze.
"Minister Antonius? He's here?" Egeria nodded, looking politely confused.
"Go right in, sir." Duartyr glanced at Peeta before he lead the way into Snow's chambers.
Minister Antonius stood by the President's bed, while the President himself was perched on top of the sheets. His face was completely bloodless, so that Peeta felt like he was looking at a corpse. His lips were blood-stained as if he had been drinking the stuff, and his hair was falling out in clumps. Peeta heard something rattling in the old man's chest as if his very heart was trying to escape. Ironic, he thought, as he had spent so long thinking the man didn't have a heart.
"Generals," Snow said slowly, as he attempted to breathe.
"President Snow, sir," Duartyr bowed his head. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I am on death's doorstep, General Duartyr, but that is neither here nor there. I asked to see you both because I only trust a few, and I count you both among those few. I must first inquire about your wife, General Mellark. How is she?"
"I claimed her charges as my own, sir. She is fine, for now. I on the other hand nearly died at the hands of Romulus Thread."
"Do you hear that, Antonius? What do you have to say to General Mellark?"
"Romulus Thread has been stripped of his title, General Mellark. You will now carry out the duties of Head Peacekeeper as well as earn an increase in your status. As General, you will be granted more of a stipend and your wife will have a title as well. Congratulations." Peeta couldn't help but notice how strained Antonius's smile was.
"Thank you for this honor sir," Peeta bowed his head. Snow had a coughing fit into a handkerchief and when he lowered it, Peeta saw it was stained with red.
"I haven't a lot of time, gentlemen. We have traitors in our midst. General Mellark, I am pleased to see our Capitol medicine has healed your injuries. Antonius, I have forgiven your transgressions. For now. Don't fail me or my family again. You will look after my granddaughter and inform her of what I have told you. Now then, Generals-" Snow trailed off with a gasp as wires were suddenly yanked from his nose and mouth. Duartyr and Peeta moved forward, uncertain, as Snow flopped around the bed like a fish out of water. The machine by his bed emitted a loud beep and Snow fell back onto the pillow, his eyes wide. Duartyr and Peeta gaped at the old man in horror but Antonius looked remarkably calm.
"What a tragic morning this is," he said slowly, shaking his head. Duartyr's wide eyes rested on the Minister.
"What-?" He clamped his jaw shut as someone emerged from the shadows, an evil grin spreading across his pale face. Peeta took a step back as the figure flung the medical wires on top of his dead father.
"You saw it with your own eyes, Minister Antonius," Caius Snow spat. "They murdered the president."
"What? That's madness!"
"Guards," Antonius called as Peeta and Duartyr backed up against the wall. "Guards, the President has been murdered!" Peacekeepers burst through the doors, aiming their guns at Peeta and Duartyr.
"They murdered my father," Caius cried dramatically. "Arrest them!"
"Stand down," Duartyr said angrily. "General Mellark and I are innocent!"
"Innocent," Caius scoffed. "Minister Antonius, what do you say to the General's claims?"
"Arrest General Mellark and General Duartyr and take them to the holding cells. They will stand trial for the assassination of President Coriolanus Snow."
"Get your hands off me," Peeta snarled as three men wrestled him to the ground.
"Subdue him if necessary," Antonius called after the peacekeepers.
"Minister, we've just received word of an unknown hovercraft approaching from the east. District 2 insignia."
"District 2, eh?" Antonius locked eyes with Peeta and he smiled a wicked smile.
"We have no current flight plans for District 2. But you may allow them to land." The Peacekeeper nodded and Antonius cleared his throat.
"Track its landing site. When they take off again… shoot it down."
"No," Peeta cried in anguish, fighting against the hands that held him down.
"It seems that the traitor Mellark knows something we don't," Caius jeered. "Take him to the Laboratory instead. We may have a better use for him, after all." It took five soldiers to tug Peeta to his feet and one jerked his head back, leaving his throat exposed. Antonius fingered a thick gold blade and glanced at Peeta.
"I must wonder, General, where is Mrs. Mellark? Did she travel with you to the Capitol, or is she still in District 12?" Peeta remained silent, his blue eyes icy cold.
Antonius jerked his chin.
"Take him away." He and Caius exchanged smirks as the two generals were dragged away, kicking and cursing and swearing their innocence. Caius glanced at his father, his smirk widening, before he turned and exited the President's chambers.
Katniss jumped as the holo in the living room came on by itself.
"What the-" she looked both ways before approaching the screen, looking wary. The banner underneath the Capitol woman was flashing red. URGENT. DEATH OF PRESIDENT SNOW. ASSASSINS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH TREASON AND MURDER.
"Oh my god," Katniss released a sob as two pictures popped up on the screen. She didn't hear the woman speak but she knew them both. Her husband's expression was calm but full of silent rage.
ASSASSINS WILL BE PUT TO DEATH IMMEDIATELY.
"NO!" Katniss clawed at the screen frantically, screaming Peeta's name. She didn't register a hand close around her arm.
"Katniss, let's go." She jerked her arm out of the person's grasp and sank to her knees.
"We don't have much time. Can you carry her, Odair?"
"Yes sir. Check the bedroom for her belongings. Katniss? Can you hear me? It's Finnick. Finnick Odair." She shook her head as he pulled her to her glanced at the holo and cleared his throat.
"Colonel, we can't leave her husband behind. We have to-"
"We don't have the means to rescue him at this time, Soldier. Grab the Mockingjay and let's get out of here." Finnick sighed and hoisted Katniss in his arms. She immediately flew into a frenzy, hitting and kicking him as hard as she could. He grunted in pain and nearly dropped her as he hurried outside.
"I need a hand," he cried toward the hovercraft. A paunchy man stepped out of the hovercraft and rushed toward them.
"What happened?"
"She saw her husband on the holo. She won't leave him willingly, Heavensbee."
"Get your hands OFF me! Peeta! Peet-" She felt a sharp stick in her arm and her eyelids fluttered. Everything started to go black and she fell backwards, Finnick catching her before she hit the ground. Heavensbee shoved the needle into his jacket and sighed.
"This isn't good. Haymitch said under no circumstances could we leave the boy behind."
"Capitol devices are tracking us. The decoy isn't working. We have to leave immediately," the Colonel barked as he jumped into the hovercraft. Finnick draped Katniss over his shoulder and shook his head.
"She's going to go insane when she finds out."
"Then let's hope the drug keeps her out of it until we reach 13."
Super short but unfortunately I haven't had a lot of time to write with work being so crazy. Sorry for the cliffie but hope you all enjoy your week/weekend! :)
