Katniss's shoulders slumped as she walked back to the hovercraft. The entire district smelled like death but her team was cheering. Why? Because they had managed to shoot down a few Capitol hovercrafts? Only after they'd destroyed the hospital full of innocent people. Innocent people who were now dead. Innocent people who had, only moments ago, put their fingers to their lips, then raised their hands into the air, to symbolize their loyalty to Katniss and all she stood for. She had been uncomfortable with the whole thing but the film makers Plutarch had introduced her to had told her it would help for people to see her with them. Just let them see your face, the director had told her.
And now they were dead. Because they had seen her face. Because she had been in the building with them. The Capitol hovercrafts had fired on her and her team, and they had shot the hovercrafts down. It didn't bring all of those people back though. She felt responsible for their deaths.
"Nice shooting, Soldier Everdeen," Lieutenant Jackson said with a smile. "The Capitol will be talking about that one for a long time." Katniss gave the second-in-command a cold look.
"And what about the people in that hospital? The people we just swore to protect? Will anyone be talking about them?" The Lieutenant's smile faded.
"Your message will move people, Katniss," Cressida said, leaning over in her seat. Katniss still felt uneasy around the young woman. She was Capitol-born but had run away to join the rebellion. She had brought her entire crew with her; two brothers, Castor and Pollux, as well as her assistant, Messalla. Pollux was the only normal-looking one of the group and he was an Avox. He kept swallowing oddly, which made Katniss anxious for some reason.
"This is the first that people are seeing and hearing you," Castor said eagerly. "As an adult, I mean. Some people may remember seeing you as a baby. The baby bird is all grown up!"
"Hey, that's good," Messalla nodded. "From baby bird to a full grown Mockingjay. Grown into her wings and her talons. She's ready to take full flight." He turned to Cressida, who nodded.
"Your father moved people, Katniss. You are about to do the same."
"Katniss?" She sighed when the old District 12 Victor walked into the hovercraft. He opened his arms and she ran into them.
"You ok," he grunted.
"We're fine. Were you hit?"
"Barely but the pilot said we needed to land anyway. We hid in a bunker while the action was going on. Arrived just in time to see you shoot those hovercrafts down. I thought it was your dad for a second." She smiled weakly but then it faded.
"Haymitch, all those people-"
"This is not your fault," he said firmly. "Do you hear me? The Capitol murdered them, not you."
"Haymitch, I can't do this," she angrily brushed her tears away. He moved her into a corner and gripped her shoulders.
"You can. You come from a strong family."
"They wanted to see something real, but-"
"Katniss, I saw you screaming at the camera. That was as real as it gets! And it was all you! I spoke to Commander Paylor. She wants to join us in 13, once she is sure the Capitol won't come back here. You impressed her."
"How did Dad do it," she asked softly. "How did he manage to speak to a nation of poor people?" Haymitch was about to speak but just as his eyes lit up, he clenched his jaw.
"Maybe I can show you."
"Huh?"
"Please be seated everyone," the pilot called. "We are preparing for take-off." Haymitch sat across from Katniss and pulled on his safety belt.
"Boggs is on his way back to 13 as well." Katniss sat straight up.
"Is he with them?"
"I don't know, sweetheart. Plutarch had to send in an emergency hovercraft and they barely managed to get away. I don't know anything beyond that. We will see when we get back." Katniss leaned against her seat and fell silent. She didn't know what she'd do if Peeta wasn't with the group. How was she supposed to lead this rebellion without her husband? It may have started as a fake marriage but her feelings for him were now very real, as was her fear that she would never see him again.
Someone gently shook her awake and she blinked sleepily to the side.
"We're almost to 13," Cressida whispered and she nodded. Everyone was stretching and massaging the stiffness out of their muscles as the hovercraft approached the hangar. Plutarch was waiting for them, looking quite jovial.
"I hear it was a success?" Katniss bit her tongue to keep her bitter words from spilling out. She merely nodded and brushed past him, Haymitch close behind. Cressida hastily fell into conversation with the former game-maker and Katniss could swear the woman had shot her a wink. She picked up her pace as she entered the bunkers, twisting her head this way and that.
"Katniss, slow down," Haymitch called behind her, but she ignored him, making her way to the hospital. Surely Peeta would be there. She didn't want to think about how bad his condition might be, but as long as he was there, she didn't really care. She ran right past Rye and nearly skidded into Colonel Boggs. He reached out to steady her but she shrugged him off.
"Where is he?"
"Katniss." Her blood ran cold at the Colonel's tone.
"Where's Peeta?"
"Katniss," Gale stepped in front of her. "We did everything we-"
"Then where is he," she said shrilly. "If you did everything you could, he should be here! He should be with you!"
"The Capitol did it again, Katniss," Rye approached from behind. His hands were stuffed into his pockets and his head hung low. "They poisoned him. He didn't know who we were. He didn't even know who he was. We were hoping your name would jog his memory, but…" he trailed off, chewing his lip. Katniss shook her head in disbelief.
"Your voice did do something at first," Boggs said firmly. "When you were singing, I could see a difference in him. But there's no telling what all they have done to him, or how much venom is in his blood now. I don't think anything short of seeing your face will snap him out of it now, and even then… it's a long shot, Katniss. He's been through so much."
"So what do you want me to do, huh? Forget about my husband while the country goes to war?"
"It was a contract, Katniss," Gale said angrily. "You married for money! I know you say you love him and I believe you do, but he's with them now! He's our enemy. And he has the power to turn lots of people against us. Even if we managed to bring him here, there is no guarantee he wouldn't have tried to kill you! That's what the Capitol has done. They've turned him into a weapon. And they're pointing him right at you!" Katniss was shaking with anger. Finnick, Ryen, Boggs, and Haymitch were all looking around, desperate to be away from the tension.
"Nothing short of seeing my face, huh? Alright. Sounds like I'm the only person who can save him. And I will." Her fists balled, she turned on her heel and stomped away. Gale exhaled and rubbed his face.
"Um, does someone need to go after her and make sure she doesn't get herself killed," Finnick asked with a raised brow.
"She needs some time. Maybe her sister can calm her down."
"I didn't know about the contract," Boggs said quietly.
"Contract or no, my brother has never loved another and she is the only one who can bring him back," Rye said quickly.
"Assuming we can get them face to face without him shooting her first," Gale snapped.
"Hawthorne makes a good point," Boggs shrugged. "I spoke to him. He didn't know who she is. According to him, he's married to someone named Lavinia. They've fed him fake memories, his whole past is a lie!"
"Poor Peeta," Finnick shook his head.
"Don't you mean poor Katniss," Gale scowled.
"I know firsthand what it's like to be intimate with someone you don't love," Finnick said bitterly. "I guarantee you that Peeta is questioning it in his mind. The way he spoke about Katniss in the Capitol tells me he wouldn't just accept all of this."
"He would if they tortured him enough," Boggs pointed out.
"Deep down there has to be a part of him that questions everything he knows right now. You said he changed when he heard her sing. Maybe that will be enough to get into his head. Make him really start asking himself if everything around him is real or not. You know him best, what do you think?" he addressed Rye.
"I agree with you. Peeta's love for Katniss goes way back to when he was a kid. All he ever wanted was to keep her safe. Even hijacked, I don't think that will go away."
"Ok, I need to get going," Haymitch pocketed his communicator. "I have an idea of how to help our Mockingjay."
"Does it involve Peeta?"
"It involves another man in her life, actually. See you all later." The men all frowned after him.
"Another man?" Gale shook his head.
"If Haymitch can do what I think he's going to do… Katniss may not need Peeta to do this after all."
Boggs and Rye were studying the interactive maps on the table while Gale sat in the corner and sorted his arrows. Finnick burst into the room, causing the men to look up, startled.
"I have an idea," the Victor exclaimed.
"Clearly. You wouldn't have burst in otherwise."
"Hear me out. Plutarch wants Katniss to do more propos, right? What if she sings in some of them?"
"How is that going to help anyone," Gale rolled his eyes.
"It will help Peeta! Boggs said her voice did something to him. So we broadcast her voice where he can't get away. He will question it, and in turn question his role in this war."
"Which could get him killed," Rye pointed out. "If Snow decides that he's not worth the trouble, they could just kill him."
"Seems to me they have been through an awful lot of trouble to keep him alive, though," Finnick said, looking considering. "There has to be a reason they just keep poisoning him rather than killing him and moving on to someone else."
"Katniss," Gale stood up. "They must think he is the only one who can kill her."
"Maybe. Maybe there's something else."
"What we need to do is show him what Snow did to 12. No one has seen it yet."
"You want Katniss to visit our bombed district?" Gale sounded angry and Rye sighed.
"I'll escort her."
"No, I'll escort her."
"Enough," Boggs said loudly. "Everdeen just returned from filming a propo in 8, where she witnessed a lot of people die. Plus she found out her husband is not coming home to her. Let's give her a little time." The men seemed surprised by Boggs's gentle tone.
"It's a good idea, Finnick. Let's talk to President Coin and see if we can get clearance to fly to 12. It's almost dinnertime, so let's head down."
When they arrived to the cafeteria, they all split into different directions. Posy leaped into Gale's arms and smiling, he sat down beside Vick, Rory sitting across from them. Boggs's wife and young daughter greeted him with kisses and he smiled as he embraced them both. Annie curled into Finnick's arms and he kissed her hair, his heart speeding up at the sight of her waiting for him. Rye walked over to where his family sat and Madge stood to wrap her arms around him. He glanced at his family, his shoulders slumping at the look on his father's face.
"He's not coming home?"
"We'll get him back, Dad. I promise." Bran swallowed and stared at his dinner. Rye sighed and sat next to his wife and brother. Bing clapped him on the shoulder.
"I'm sure you did everything you could." He nodded but still felt miserable. Madge's fingers wrapped around his and he squeezed.
"I think I'll go on to bed," Bran said as he pushed his tray away.
"Dad, please finish your dinner," Bing called after him but the baker was already halfway out of the cafeteria.
"So what went wrong," Mrs. Mellark asked, her brow raised.
"He didn't know who we were," Rye shrugged miserably. "They made him forget again. He didn't even react to Katniss's name."
"That might not be such a bad thing…"
"Mom," Rye said sharply. "She is the only person who can save him at this point. So will you please shut the hell up?" Her eyes flashed and she too pushed her tray away. Rye lowered his head to the table as his mother stormed out of the cafeteria.
"I'm so tired," he said softly. Madge caressed his hair and kissed the back of his neck.
"Did I miss anything here?" He looked around at his family.
"Quite boring, actually. We have our daily schedule printed on our arms and we just help out where we are needed. They give April extra time for meditation so she can rest. Apparently pregnancies are a big thing around here and they are being extra careful with her."
"It's nice but sort of annoying," April rubbed her belly. "We are still at least a month away and they treat me like I'm made of glass. I was still working in 12."
"They haven't had any babies in a long time," Madge said quietly. "They want to make sure you're safe and healthy."
"I guess we will head to bed now. You going to be alright, Rye?"
"Sure. My baby brother is in the Capitol thinking that he is someone else and his wife is here crying for him to come home. Why wouldn't I be alright?"
"It's not your fault, Rye," Bing gripped his shoulders. "Peeta's strong and he can overcome this. But it's not your fault that he's there." Rye shook his head and Madge draped her arm over his shoulder.
"I'll take care of him. You guys go get some rest." Bing squeezed her hand and helped April to her feet. Madge kissed Rye's hair.
"Let's go to bed," she whispered. He turned and buried his face in her chest.
"I need you to hold me tonight. I need you to tell me things are going to be alright." Madge cupped his chin and gave him a soft kiss. She didn't say anything as she pulled him away from the cafeteria and up to their compartment. She didn't speak as she undressed in front of him, then started to pull his uniform off. She lowered to her knees and flattened her tongue against his shaft, her hand moving slowly. He tilted his head back against the door and closed his eyes, his hand moving down to grip her blonde curls.
"Oh shit Madge," his teeth dug into his lip as she started to hollow out her cheeks. His eyes snapped open and he pulled her to her feet, kissing her until they were both breathless with want. Madge bent over the bed and Rye moaned at the sight, leaning over her to kiss her spine.
"Not like that," he whispered, pulling her up onto the bed. "Not tonight." She looked confused but allowed him to pull her into his lap while he stretched his legs out and leaned against the wall. "Tonight I want to see you," he whispered as he bent to take her nipple into his mouth. She cried out as she tilted her head back. "I want to look into your eyes. Because when I hold you like this, everything is ok."
"Everything will be alright," she whispered as she pushed his hair out of his eyes. "I love you, Rye."
"God I love you Madge," he brought her down on top of him and squeezed both of her cheeks. "I'm not going to last long."
"It's ok," she gasped, draping her arms around his neck. "Oh baby!" Droplets of sweat dripped down his face as he held on as long as he could. When they both finished, he wrapped his arms around her and hid his face in her neck. She didn't say anything as warm tears splashed her arms. She didn't want to tell him things would be alright again. She wasn't sure she even believed it. So she stayed silent and allowed him to cry in her arms.
Bran trudged along the darkened hallway, his hands stuffed into his pockets. He wasn't sure where he was going but he kept on walking. One of the compartment doors was wide open and soft light spread into the hallway. He paused, leaning in.
"You draw too? Is there anything you don't do, young lady?" Primrose jumped, startled, but her face relaxed into a smile.
"Plenty. But I sketch when I get stressed and it helps calm me down."
"Peeta is the same way," he said softly. "Or he was. I don't know if he still draws. But he was quite talented! Is… well, you know." Prim nodded and adjusted her sketch book.
"Katniss saved up for months to make me my own sketch book. She bought sheets of paper from the Hob and put it all together. Mom thinks drawing is a waste of time, but like I said, it calms me."
"Me too. Do you mind if I…?" She shook her head and held her book out for him to take. He flipped through it, whistling.
"These are incredible, Prim. You are very talented."
"Thanks," she went pink. "I'm trying to practice hands but they're so difficult."
"Ah, they're not that bad. Here," he sat on the edge of the bed and bent over the book. Prim peered over his shoulder and her eyes widened.
"How did you do that?"
"You just need to remember highlight and shadow. There, now you can add details. Don't forget the joints and the lines." He handed her the book and she lowered her head. He watched with a smile as her hand flew across the paper.
"Very good. That's much better."
"Thanks Mr. Mellark!"
"Call me Bran," he stood from the bed. His hands returned to his pockets and he turned to go.
"Bran," she called and he paused. "Do you think you could… I need some help with these flowers. I'm trying to draw a katniss flower for my sister, to maybe cheer her up, but it looks all wrong." He turned back and gave her a sad smile.
"You sound like someone else I know." She cocked her head, her drawing pad on her knee.
"Let's see it," he sat back down and flipped the pages. "This isn't bad at all. You just need some shading and detailing in the petals. Petals were Peeta's least favorite part too. Ok, let's start here…"
When Violet was finally finished with her nursing shift, she made her way back to her compartment, her feet dragging and her whole body aching. She rubbed the back of her neck and her shoulders and she paused when she heard laughter coming from the compartment. Not just her daughter's but a man's as well. She peered in and her eyes widened.
Bran was sitting on the bed with Prim, showing her how to draw. Violet watched with fear in her eyes.
"Bran," she said loudly, making him jump to his feet, the drawing pad falling to the floor. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry Violet, I know it's late. Primrose asked for some help with her drawing."
"That's nice of you. But won't Margaret be missing you?" Bran looked uncomfortable and his hands returned to his pockets.
"Yes, you're right, of course. Um, well goodnight Primrose. Violet."
"Thanks again, Bran," Prim said cheerfully. Bran gave her another sad smile as he rounded the corner.
"Ugh Mom, that was kind of rude. We were having fun."
"It's inappropriate, Prim. And his wife would be furious if she knew where he was." Prim rolled her eyes.
"Probably why he was wandering around. Wanted to get away from his witch of a wife for awhile."
"Where's Katniss," Violet quickly changed the subject.
"Hiding in one of her spots. She's not doing well. I assume you heard the news?"
"Vick and Posy stopped in to say they were back. They didn't know anything though. Peeta wasn't with them?" Prim shook her head sadly.
"I'm scared, Mom. What if he never returns to her? She loves him. I mean really loves him."
"She's a strong young lady. She'll survive this." Prim bent to pick up her sketch pad.
"Why didn't you come down to the hospital wing instead of sitting up here, drawing?"
"I just needed to calm down a little. Drawing helps clear my head." Violet pursed her lips but said nothing else as she pulled her uniform off. Prim studied Bran's katniss flower, trying to replicate it.
"Will you please go find your sister? We need to have lights out soon."
"Ok," she said doubtfully, putting her sketch book on the bedside table. She peered out into the dark hallway and wrapped her shawl tighter. In truth, she knew Katniss could be anywhere. Haymitch had been the one who told her that her sister liked to hide in the various closets to get away from everyone. She wanted to give Katniss space but knew her mother was worried about her. She wandered up and down the halls, sighing heavily as it got later and later. Finally, she gave up, knowing that Katniss would return to them when she was ready, and made her way back to the compartment. Her mother was already asleep, the covers pulled up over her head so Prim pulled on her sleep shirt and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She had a feeling Katniss would be back with them in the morning, though she had no idea the state she would be in.
