Please don't come after me with torches when you get to the end ;) Good news is I am planning to post the next one by Monday, so you won't have long to wait!

We're getting close to the end!

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates. Stay safe!

XOXO


Haymitch and everyone else stared at the radio with eyes as wide as dinner plates. Coin was the only one who didn't look surprised; instead, she stared at the radio with narrowed, mistrustful eyes.

"I repeat, this is Peeta Mellark trying to reach District 13." Haymitch yanked the communicator out of the soldier's hand.

"Peeta? Is that you?"

"Haymitch! Oh thank god!"

"Kid, where are you?"

"With Tigris and Commander Cretus. Rebel Headquarters. Are you alright? Is everyone alright?"

"Are you on a secure signal?"

"Yes, we're secure. Cretus is asking for updates."

"Peeta, listen, Katniss will be in the Capitol tonight. She should join you tomorrow. I should be there tomorrow night or by dawn the next day. Tell Leo that we need as many of our Capitol soldiers as we can get."

"Katniss is… coming here?" Haymitch knew from the tremble in Peeta's voice that he definitely remembered her.

"I just spoke to Colonel Boggs, the head of her unit. They are on the outskirts of the city. They should be knocking on your door tomorrow. In the meantime, Leo needs to summon the rebels."

"We don't have a lot, Haymitch," came Peeta's reply. "A lot of them have been captured or killed. And most of them have gone back to their districts."

"President Coin just made the announcement. The attack on the Capitol will be soon. Troops are marching now. Be prepared, Peeta."

"We will. And Haymitch?"

"Yeah kid?"

"My family… are they all alright?" Peeta glanced at Coin, who was looking even more irritated. He rolled his eyes; the kid had been too much and all he wanted to know was if his family was safe.

"Rye is with Katniss, but everyone else is here and safe."

"And Katniss's family?" He bit his lip, not sure if he wanted to say anything about Prim coming to the Capitol too.

"Safe and sound."

"Thanks, Haymitch. I'll see you soon."

"Stay safe, kid. Katniss will be over the moon to see you again." Understatement of the year. She would probably bind him to her with rope so that she wouldn't lose him again. The soldier disconnected the signal and Haymitch turned to Coin.

"I'm going to get ready to leave. Can you try to reach out to Boggs and give him a heads up about Peeta? It might cheer Katniss up a little."

"Of course," Coin said, though her lips were thin. Haymitch nodded and strode out of command.

"Lieutenant Jackson, a word please?" Jackson disappeared into command and shut the door behind her.

"What happened, Haymitch?"

"Peeta reached out." Cinna's eyes widened and Cressida's jaw dropped. Plutarch puffed up and clapped his hands together.

"Oh this is wonderful. You must film their reunion, Cressida! It will be such a stirring moment in the revolution."

"While the Mockingjay getting her husband back is indeed a great thing, I'm not sure it's what we need to be focusing on," Haymitch said, resisting from rolling his eyes. "Cressida will be there for the fight, to show Panem what is happening. And hopefully, for the surrender."

"Well, of course, I just, I mean," Plutarch floundered but Cinna stepped forward.

"Does he remember her?"

"Yes. We didn't talk for long but he also asked about his family. I hope that means he has his memory back."

"You think she'll make it to HQ with no obstacles?"

"It's the Capitol," Haymitch scoffed. "I'm sure they'll face plenty of obstacles. But hopefully, Boggs and the rest of them will keep her safe."

"Cressida, we will need a few more propos. Preferably of her and her husband together. Show Panem we are ready to fight now."

"Got it, Plutarch. We'll go get ready. See you in the morning, Haymitch." He nodded as she and her team made their way back to their rooms.

"I need to make sure I'm ready to leave too. Good night Cinna. Plutarch."

"Good night, Haymitch," Plutarch said jovially.


Haymitch made his way back to his bunker but found his way blocked by an anxious Bran Mellark.

"Bran… did you hear-?"

"That you invited Primrose to go to 8 with you? Haymitch, what are you thinking?"

"Prim wants to be helping her sister. We will need medics once we march on the Capitol. And Madame Coin agrees."

"Violet is furious with you. I came up here to warn you before she can get her hands on you."

"I have my orders to take Prim with me. Violet has no say in the matter." Bran gaped.

"No say? She's her mother! She has every say."

"This is war, Bran. I'm telling you that Madame Coin won't listen to pleas from a desperate mother. You should go on and tell her, see if you can calm her

down." Bran sighed and started to turn away.

"While I understand you are worried for your daughter, you might be curious about your son." Bran whirled around, his brows high.

"Peeta? You've heard from him?"

"I just spoke to him. He's safe with the rebels. Katniss should be joining him soon."

"He's alright? He remembers everything?"

"From what I can tell, he has his memory back. He knows who Katniss is and he asked about his family." Bran covered his face with shaking hands.

"You'll have him back soon, Bran," Haymitch clapped the baker's shoulder. "I need to get ready to leave. I'm joining the rebels in the Capitol."

"You'll keep an eye on my boy," Bran asked hopefully. "Make sure no further harm comes to him?"

"I'll do my best, Bran. In the meantime, you and Margaret may want to figure out what you're going to tell him about, well… everything."

"That can wait, Haymitch! We just want our son back."

"We don't know what lies, or truths, have been put into his head. For all we know, he already knows about what Margaret did. I'm just telling you to be

prepared."

"We will," Bran waved impatiently. "But we will just be happy to have him back with us."

"I know. Good night, Bran." He pushed past the baker and retreated to his room. Bran sighed and paced the hall for a moment. He knew he should speak to Violet and try to soothe her worries. She probably didn't even know that he knew about Haymitch's offer. He'd overheard Prim asking her mother and only heard a few of Violet's sharp curses about Haymitch before he'd come up here.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he made his way back to his bunker to tell his wife the good news about Peeta.


"So you understand your mission, Lieutenant Jackson?"

"Madame President, are you saying you want me to kill the girl… in front of the Colonel?"

"The Colonel is already aware of what needs to happen. Making her a martyr will fuel the fires that have been stoked around Panem. Now that everyone has been called to action, this is the opportune time. No I don't expect you to have a direct hand in it, but see if you can't goad the boy to do it. He sounded… shaky and uncertain. It won't take much to provoke him."

"To kill her. You want Mellark to kill his wife."

"It doesn't necessarily have to be him," Coin threw her hands up in exasperation. "It can be a stray bullet, a trap step, Snow's hands, I don't care. What we need most for this revolution is for the Mockingjay to die. The symbol of the rebellion, dead on the Capitol's steps. It will enrage the peoples of Panem and push them to destroy the Capitol. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Madame President."

"Good. The hovercraft leaves at 0400 hours. Stay safe, Lieutenant." Jackson bowed to her president and retreated as quickly as she could.

Should she tell Haymitch, since he was the one who seemed so protective of the girl? President Coin had said Boggs was already aware so perhaps he already had a plan. Jackson decided to remain silent until she reached the Capitol. She hurried back to her bunker to prepare for departure.


Peeta handed the communicator back to Cretus, his face shining with excitement.

"She's almost here," he muttered to himself.

"So Haymitch is saying we need to summon the others?"

"And quickly. President Coin issued an announcement to the rebel camps. They will all be marching on the Capitol in a few days. We need as many troops here as we can get." Cretus nodded and made a few notes in his notebook.

"Um, Leo?" Cretus looked up at Peeta's hesitant tone.

"Since Katniss should be here soon… can I please delay my next mission? I need to see her, Leo. It's been... I don't even know how long it's been since I've spoken to her but I need to hold her again. Please, don't make me go back just yet. I want to be here to welcome the squad when they make it to City Circle." Cretus gave him a sympathetic look.

"It's your choice, Peeta. I'm not going to force you to do anything. But you do realize, do you not, that if you carry out the next mission, you will have a better chance at protecting her? You can rejoin her side once the Capitol is taken."

"And risk getting arrested or killed as soon as that happens," Peeta pointed out. "I'm not willing to risk it."

"We know Snow is using his resources to search for you. Aurelia found documents about all of Minister Antonius's mishaps. If you could convince Snow that you are-"

"No," Peeta said firmly, folding his arms over his chest. "No. I don't care about Antonius's mishaps and Snow's trust. Katniss will be here tomorrow. I'm staying right here to greet her. Being a spy doesn't mean I will be able to protect her better. It will mean I won't be here to see her and damn it, I'm done taking orders. I'm done being the obedient soldier. Last time I agreed to a mission, I had all my memories taken from me and forgot the love of my life. I'm sick of it, Leo. Sorry I can't be the perfect spy you and Aurelia were hoping for. I'm a soldier, I will fight, but I'm not spying again." Cretus stared at him for a long time and Peeta had no idea what the commander was thinking. Finally, he nodded.

"As I said, I won't force you. It has to be your choice and I understand your reluctance. I'm not your commanding officer, Peeta, you don't have to follow my orders. Technically, you are still a General."

"No, I was General of the Peacekeeper Army. My ranks and promotions have all been within Snow's army. To the rebels, I'm just Soldier Mellark. Once I have Katniss back, I swear to you, I will follow whatever orders but right now, all I care about in this moment, is seeing my wife again." Cretus nodded again.

"Very well. Go ahead and tell Tigris what's happening and ask her to get started on dinner. I'll start reaching out to those who have returned to their homes or their districts. With any luck, they will be here within the next day or so." Peeta nodded and made his way to the kitchen, where Tigris was looking through the cabinets.

"Leo is asking if you can start on dinner, Tigris."

"I must shop tomorrow," she said in her usual low voice, opening a drawer. "We are nearly out of food."

"I wish I could help more," Peeta shifted uncomfortably. He had been eating her food for several days and knew he could not go out to replace it. As Cretus had pointed out, he was a wanted man. Snow was pleading for his safe return but Peeta knew as soon as Snow saw him again, he would be locked in a cell with tracker-jackers once again.

"You have been through enough," she said gently. "I am glad you are safe now. Did I hear you say Katniss will be here soon?"

"Colonel Boggs, who is in charge of her squad, is saying they will be in the Capitol tomorrow."

"Good," she nodded. "I know you miss her."

"More than you know," he blew his hair out of his eyes and leaned against the wall. "Hey Tigris? Can you cut hair?"

"I have cut many tributes' hair." Peeta fingered his curls, which now nearly touched his shoulders. He hadn't kept it shaved in all this time and he found himself wanting a normal haircut.

"Can you help me after dinner?" Tigris's eyes softened.

"Of course, Peeta."

"Thank you. Can I help with dinner at all?"

"Go and rest. I do not need assistance." Peeta watched her gather ingredients for a moment before he went back upstairs.

In his room, he lay on the bed and leaned against the pillow. Staring at the ceiling, he thought about seeing Katniss again. Would it be completely inappropriate to kiss her until she couldn't breathe? He blushed as he started to think about bringing her back here and sneaking her away from the group. What he wouldn't give to hold her body close to his again. His hand was a poor substitute for what she could do, and since his dream several nights ago, he had been acting on his thoughts of her an awful lot. He felt himself start to come to life and his head snapped up.

"No," he said bitterly. "Not right now." His dick did not cooperate but he chose to ignore it. He reached for the paper and pencil that Aurelia had brought him, and he started to sketch. By the time Tigris had called up the stairs that dinner was ready, he had her top half done and gazed into those silver eyes for a moment. He tucked the sketch pad under his pillow and went downstairs to eat.


After dinner, Tigris dragged a chair into the main room and instructed Peeta to sit. Peeta showed her the length he wanted, knowing that Katniss secretly loved to wrap her fingers in his curls. Tigris moved around him as blonde curls fell into his lap. He closed his eyes as she brushed it out of his face, unsure as to when was the last time someone had so tenderly cut his hair. He had to have it cut short as a soldier, and even before that, his mother had sent him to a shop in town. He thought it was strange, since his mother had insisted on cutting Bing's and Rye's hair.

She hadn't wanted to touch him, he thought bitterly. He was a curse.

What did that even mean?! What could a child possibly do?

He thought back to the papers he had hidden upstairs. Corialianus Snow's own words about him. The declaration that he was an actual witch and orders for him to be experimented on when he reached District 2, to find the magical element in his blood. He remembered his surprise and fear when they had isolated him from the other soldiers. Months of lying on a table with needles in his arms, tubing coming out of his nose, and pain beyond belief.

And all because his mother thought him a curse?

"Peeta? Are you alright?"

"Hm?" He glanced over his shoulder. Tigris grasped his shoulder.

"You are shaking."

"Oh… yeah, I'm fine."

"Here." She handed him a handheld mirror and he blinked down at his reflection.

"Is that sufficient?"

"Yeah, it looks great. I appreciate it, Tigris, thanks." She nodded and retrieved a broom to sweep up the golden curls. Peeta rubbed his head, sighing. It felt so much lighter and he felt more himself.

"Tigris, do you have any extra razors?" She motioned for him to follow her to the bathroom, where she opened the drawers. There were several sets of extra toiletries and she handed him a new razor and a bar of soap. He nodded his thanks and set to work.

When he was finished, he swiped his hand over his clean-shaven face and sighed. He didn't want to meet Katniss again looking so rough.

He went to help clean up, put the chair away, and thanked Tigris again before returning to his room.

He finished the sketch, pressed a kiss to the paper, and fell asleep rather quickly, the thoughts of holding his wife soothing his dreams.


"Listen up," Boggs cleared his throat. His squad looked up at him and he blinked in the darkness. The power in the city had gone out just about ten minutes ago and he had no idea what that meant for them.

"When we get underground, stick to one side. Stay together and keep your hands on your weapons. We have no idea what is down there, so keep your eyes peeled."

"Is this the best idea? To go down there in the dark?" Madge's voice shook a little and she looked upset with herself. Rye squeezed her hand and she cleared her throat.

"Workers will be finished with their shifts. We will have an easier time moving around the sewers without having to worry about being seen. But that doesn't mean Snow hasn't added pods underground." He had shown them all the holo earlier that day and explained that deadly pods had been activated all over the city. It was why the city was so quiet; everyone had been evacuated and Snow was practically laying out a welcome mat for Katniss. A welcome mat with death traps on every edge.

"Game makers are disgusting," Katniss spat. Finnick snorted behind her.

"Sunshine, you have no idea."

"Ok team, let's get going." They had abandoned the hovercraft on the outskirts of the city and had been walking all day. Katniss was exhausted and just wanted to sleep but she agreed that night time was the best time to go underground and navigate the sewers. Gale nudged her gently.

"You alright?"

"Fine," she nodded, her eyes on Boggs's back. They followed Boggs through the city, where he knelt next to a drain.

"I need some help opening the hatch." Rye and Gale moved forward to pull it up while Rory and Finnick helped the girls lower into the sewer. Johanna went first, followed by Katniss, then Madge. Finnick jumped down next, pulling out his rifle.

"All ok?" he asked the girls and they nodded. He called up to Boggs that it was clear and Gale told Rye to go on down.

"I can hold it up," Rye said, his eyes traveling Gale up and down.

"Never said you couldn't. But I'm not a burly peacekeeper. I can fit down there easier, once the hatch is back in place." Rye glanced down at himself and begrudgingly agreed. He dropped down next to Katniss and looked up.

"Be careful, Gale," she said anxiously. Gale let the hatch slam back into place and squeezed himself inside.

"I should have gone last," Rory muttered.

"No, I wasn't letting my little brother stand up there, exposed like that," Gale clapped his shoulder. "Now let's get going."

"Night vision goggles in place," Boggs called from the front. He hadn't had enough for the entire squad but the Victors had insisted on them and Katniss gave hers to Gale, knowing he was a hunter and had as good eyes as the Victors did. Finnick went ahead of them, turning the corners and adjusting his goggles.

"All clear."

Every turn they made, they expected to run into something but so far, they had been lucky. Two hours down here and they hadn't encountered anything. Madge released a tiny squeak and grabbed Katniss's hand, only to be embarrassed when a bunch of rats ran by. Rye pointed his gun, undoubtedly to ease his love, but Johanna rested her hand on his and pushed it down.

"Let's not mess with any animals down here either. We don't know if Snow has any mutts."

"Damn it, Johanna, you had to go and say mutts," Finnick groaned, shooting her a glare.

"As if you weren't thinking about it!"

"I was trying not to!"

"Can someone explain what a mutt is," Rory asked, looking baffled.

"Muttations," Johanna spat.

"They're genetically modified animals," Finnick explained. "The Capitol creates them for the Hunger Games." Rory turned back to Katniss, still confused.

"You know the story of the mockingjay, Rory," she said softly and he nodded. "Well, the mockingjay is an accidental mutt. Female mockingbirds mated with male jabberjays, which were Capitol mutts. The mockingjay is a muttation."

"But a beautiful one," Finnick shot her a wink.

"Tracker-jackers are another one you're familiar with," Gale pointed out. Katniss's face fell and Rye shot him an angry look.

"Oh. I didn't… I didn't mean…"

"Let's keep moving," Boggs said loudly.

By the time that their seventh hour underground ended, they were all starting to grow uneasy. Madge tried to be positive, pointing out that it was a good thing they hadn't seen anything bad. Boggs was the one to shake his head.

"I would be inclined to agree with you, Soldier Mellark, but this is a Snow we are talking about. This only makes me anxious about what is undoubtedly waiting for us."

"Maybe we should get some rest and have someone keep watch," Rory suggested.

"I'll take first watch," Finnick volunteered. "I'm not tired." So the squad all gathered along the wall, trying to get comfortable. Johanna was, surprisingly, the first to fall asleep. Rye tucked Madge's head under his arm and held her close, even after she dozed off. Rory leaned against his older brother and sighed.

"I miss Prim."

"I'm sure she misses you too," he muttered.

"Gale… when all of this is over… I wanna marry her."

"I kind of figured on that, Rory."

"You're not mad?" Rory sat up and turned around. Gale huffed and sat up too.

"Why would I be mad? You've always fancied Prim. Even when you were a snot-nosed seven year old, you told us you were going make her your wife." Rory grinned and stared off in the distance.

"You think she'll wanna marry me?"

"Hey," Gale took his brother's shoulder. "Why wouldn't she? You're a good man, Rory. You helped me with Posy and Vick when Ma wasn't able to. You'll make a good husband to her. And she's already crazy about you."

"She is?!" Gale rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"Are you really that blind? Didn't she tell you how she felt before you left?"

"Not exactly," he shifted. "I mean… we did some stuff, but we-"

"Nope. No more. I don't want to hear about my little brother "doing stuff" with Katniss's little sister." Rory blushed but chuckled, leaning against the wall. He sobered up and glanced back over at Gale.

"You'd be ok with it?"

"Why wouldn't I be ok with it, Rory?" Rory glanced back over his shoulder and Gale knew who he was gesturing toward.

"Just because it didn't work between Katniss and me doesn't mean a Hawthorne isn't destined to be with an Everdeen. Katniss is happy and I'm happy for her. Sure, I did see us being together but I think she's right, it's just because it made sense. She loves Mellark and he worships the ground she walks on. It's time for me to move on with my life, instead of resenting my best friend's relationship."

"You'll find someone who makes you really happy," Rory clapped his brother's shoulder. "You'll make a great husband one day too."

"Yeah well, kind of hard to find women when I'm stuck in a sewer. So get some sleep." Rory nodded and watched Gale get comfortable. Rory waited a few minutes, before leaning back against his brother. Gale shifted his shoulder, so Rory could lean back against him and with a smile on his face, he fell asleep.


Katniss was trying to get comfortable and Finnick snorted behind her.

"What," she snapped.

"You just strike me as someone who could fall asleep anywhere. You look pretty funny right now though."

"Because I don't like sewers? I don't think I'll be able to sleep down here."

"Try," he said gently. "You need your strength. With any luck, we'll make it to the other side before morning and arrive at Headquarters before noon." Katniss nodded and leaned back. She blinked up at the ceiling and exhaled deeply.

"Do you think he will remember me?" Finnick glanced over at her, chewing on his lip.

"I think if he doesn't already, seeing you will jog his memory. You guys are pretty special together. I think together, you can do anything."

"So what if he doesn't remember me?" Finnick's smile fell.

"Don't think about that, Kat. Just remember how it feels to be in his arms. Think about how happy you're both going to be. Focus on that."

"How can you do it, Finnick?"

"Hm?"

"How can you have seen so much bad, been through so much horror, and still have a positive outlook on life?" Finnick smiled patiently.

"Your husband asked me something similar when we first met." Katniss blinked up at him.

"He did?"

"I told him what I basically just told you. Focus on the good, not the fear and uncertainty. Yeah, I could think about what the Capitol put me through during and after the Games, but I have Annie now. She's my wife, something I never thought I would be able to say. Remember that you are close to being with him again. Even seeing him again. Annie's face is always in my mind and that's what's keeping me going. The thought of seeing her again. Just find that bright, happy thought or memory and hold onto it. You'll make it through this, Sunshine." He gave her a wink and she felt as if someone had lifted a ton of bricks off her chest. Peeta's smiling face, not the Peacekeeper Peeta but the Peeta she had seen in the bakery, or at home when he was telling her how much he adored her, the Peeta who had been beaten because of her and had trusted her to care for him, that was the face she saw dancing across her mind.

The trouble was, she didn't know if she would ever see that face again. What if when he saw her again, his eyes would be filled with doubt and distrust? What if he didn't believe she was his wife? What if, after the war, he would want to start a whole new life, without her?

Find that bright happy thought or memory and hold onto it.

Finnick's words echoed in his mind and her brain flipped through her moments with Peeta. So many to choose from, to focus on, but nothing so strong as to keep the fear down.

But one thought stood out, and in her mind, started to conquer the darkness. It wasn't a memory, per se, but it was the happiest thought she could muster up. It kept the dark thoughts and sadness away and she fell asleep with a happy smile.


What felt like only minutes later, someone was shaking her awake.

"Katniss, your watch," Boggs muttered. She nodded and yawned as she stretched and stood up, to move over. Boggs leaned against the wall across from her and his eyes darted around the darkness.

"Aren't you going to sleep," she asked quietly.

"The silence makes me uneasy. And I don't know what time it is, so I don't know when workers will start coming in."

"Workers come down here?" He gave her a sideways glance.

"Avoxes. Capitol slaves."

"Like Pollux," she said, her face losing color. Boggs nodded.

"Katniss… I need to talk to you. And I need you to listen, without interrupting. Can you do that, Soldier?"

"Yes sir."

"What I'm going to tell you is top secret. I don't want the rest of the squad finding out, at least not yet. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir," she repeated.

"Before we abandoned the hovercraft, President Coin reached out. She is sending Lieutenant Jackson to join our squad and has informed her of... a plan she has." She nodded but he seemed hesitant to continue.

"Colonel Boggs?" She bit her lip, having promised not to interrupt but he nodded and took a deep breath.

"Katniss, sometime in the near future, this war will be resolved. A new leader will be chosen." He looked at her pointedly and she scoffed.

"Boggs, no one thinks I'm going to be a leader."

"No. They don't," he agrees. "But you'll throw support to someone. Would it be President Coin? Or someone else?" She shrugged.

"I don't know. I've never thought about it."

"If your immediate answer isn't Coin, then you're a threat. You're the face of the rebellion. You may have more influence than any other single person," Boggs said patiently. "Outwardly, the most you've ever done is tolerated her."

"So you're saying she'll kill me to shut me up." The moment she spoke the words, her eyes widened in realization. "She's instructed Jackson to kill me." Her jaw dropped and Boggs sighed.

"She doesn't need you as a rallying point now. As she said, your primary objective, to unite the districts, has succeeded. These current propos could be done without you. There's only one last thing you could do to add fire to the rebellion."

"Die," she whispered but Boggs heard and nodded.

"Yes. Give us a martyr to fight for. But that's not going to happen under my watch, Soldier Mellark. I'm planning for you to have a long life."

"Why?" Katniss cocked her head and shrugged. "You don't owe me anything."

"Because you've earned it." She stared at him as he settled against the wall and tilted his head back. Katniss didn't know what to think or say or do at that moment. And she had promised to keep it between them.

She wished she could tell Finnick. They had gotten really close and he would have some words of wisdom for her. Or Gale, who had a fighter's spirit and could tell her what he thought. Johanna, even, would unload about how she'd never trusted Coin and how they could defeat her and Snow.

Katniss hadn't noticed that she was shaking, as she pulled her knees into her chest. She watched her squad sleep and impatiently brushed tears away.

She knew the next step was killing Snow and paving the way for a new Panem. She just wasn't sure if Coin was the right next step.


About an hour later, she started hearing voices echoing through the tunnels. She sat straight up and strained her ears. It had to be morning already. She glanced anxiously at the group and wondered if she should wake them up.

She started to shake Boggs awake when she heard a faint whisper. It was coming from behind her and she whirled around to squint in the darkness. There it was again, she started as she reached behind her for an arrow. When it came a third time, she could make out her name.

Someone was whispering her name. And it sounded as if the voice was getting closer.

She clutched her bow and arrow, making her way down the tunnel. The whispers started to fade so whatever it was, it was moving away from them. Katniss continued to the end of the tunnel, and stepped out onto the ledge.

Except the ledge tilted downward and sent her hurtling through the darkness. She screamed as her stomach flipped upside down, moving so fast that she couldn't see anything around her. She fell for a long time, which gave her a lot of time to prepare for her death as soon as she should hit whatever it was at the bottom.

Pain lanced through her body as she smacked down in shallow water. Her leg crumpled beneath her and she grimaced as she fell to the side. Shoving her bow and arrow back into their sheaths, she clutched her ankle and knew if it wasn't broken, then it was fractured pretty badly. She moved up on the ledge and pulled her knees to her chest. The water was cold and she had no idea where she was now. Or how far she had fallen. Of course she had no radio to communicate with Boggs.

She grimaced at her own stupidity and tried to stand. If she tried to move, she might be able to make it back to the main tunnels. It was a shot in the dark but at least it was a shot.

Her nails scraped the walls as she made it to her feet and moved backwards, into the dim light. She looked both ways before making a decision, turning left.

She made it a few tunnels in before she collapsed to her knees. She was feeling so stupid, knowing Boggs would be furious with her. But she hoped they would continue on to Rebel Headquarters. They could finish this war without her. Boggs knew that, she thought bitterly, reflecting back on their earlier conversation. Well, Coin might get her wish if she didn't find a way out of here.

"Hello! Hello, is anyone there? HQ, do you copy?" she froze, leaning her injured foot against the wall. She could see a light ahead, like a campfire. Someone else was down here with her.

Friend or foe, she asked herself, as she pulled her arrow across her bow and crept closer.

"Piece of shit," she heard the voice mutter. "HQ, do you copy? I'm injured. Leg wound, mid thigh, caused by a mutt. I don't know if I can make it back up top. Send reinforcements to find the rebels. Do you copy?"

Find the rebels? He obviously meant them. The Capitol was looking for them?

She wanted to yell in frustration; she needed to tell Boggs what was going on.

She rounded the corner to see the capitol soldier shaking his device violently, hitting it with a frustrated cry. He shook his head and turned his attention to his injury. By the light of the flickering flames, Katniss could see his leg looked bad. She couldn't make out his face but she could hear his small grunts of pain as he attempted to bandage it up. She crept closer, deciding she would use her arrow to put him out of his misery. Not that he deserved an act of mercy but she wouldn't complain about ridding the world of one more peacekeeper.

His head jerked up as she stepped out of the darkness and he made to grab his gun. He threw up his hands, however, when he saw an arrow pointing straight at his head. His eyes drifted up to her face, half hidden in shadow but he could see silver eyes glittering dangerously at him. Her dark braid rested over her shoulder and she stood with a defensive stance.

"Are you here to finish me off sweetheart?" She froze at the voice. It couldn't be.

She watched him struggle to his feet, clutching the wall for support. He straightened up and shook his blonde curls out of his eyes.

Bright blue eyes. Bluer than she remembered.

Her hands shook as she lowered her bow. His eyes showed recognition, his features registered disbelief and something more intense that she couldn't quite place. Desire? Desperation? She wasn't sure but she could tell he recognized her. Whether it was the cruel mockingjay Snow had portrayed her as, or the girl he had loved all his life, she didn't know.

His hands reached out, as if to caress her face, and her fear and surprise were replaced by the desperate longing to feel his skin against hers. To have his lips crushing hers, the way they did in her most vivid dreams. She moved toward him, extending her arms.

Her lips were just forming his name when his fingers locked around her throat.