Chapter 48
(Gale POV)
When I leave for work Madge is still sound asleep. I kiss her forehead and then slip out and head to work. It's super quiet this time of morning and I kind of like that better than the middle of the day or evening when everyone is out and about. Today, I'm helping to harvest corn. I get paired up with another worker who shows me how to do it properly and then I spend the rest of the shift on my own. It's not a hard task and I actually kind of like it. The smell of the plants and the soil make it feel like I'm not trapped underground and I have a feeling that's something I will always appreciate. Being underground is something I've always sort of been afraid of ever since my father died in the mines. For years I've dreaded the day when I'd have to start working in the mines myself. When I first saw this place was underground I was too preoccupied to panic about it and now that I've seen it all, it doesn't scare me. they've done a great job of making things not seem so underground but I know there will be days where I'd go crazy without the smell of nature. By the time I'm done with my shift, I'm filthy and in need of a shower.
I head to my family's place and enjoy a shower, scrubbing away the dirt and soil. The water isn't super strong or super warm but it is refreshing and it sure as heck beats trying to wash up at the rain barrel. After my shower, I decide I want to go see if I can find the apothecary department. A woman at work today told me they may be able to give me something Madge could use as conditioner. Personally, I've never used conditioner in my life and probably won't ever need to but Madge has always had top quality stuff and I know she really misses having it for her hair. She won't even wear it down right now, just keeps tying it up on top of her head. I miss it being down and being able to run my fingers through it.
The apothecary has a front counter and I go up, explaining to the girl who's about my age, what I need.
"Why do you need conditioner?" The girl asks me, eyeing my hair.
"It's for my girlfriend. We just came here and she's never been without it before. Her hair is really long and curly." I explain.
"You're with that girl from District 12, huh?" She asks.
I nod. "Yes, her name is Madge."
She stares at me for a moment like she's trying to figure something out. "But you look so different in person." She finally says.
She thinks I'm Drew. "No, I'm not the guy you saw in the newspaper and stuff. He's here but they aren't together anymore."
"Oh, that explains it!" She says with a laugh. "I couldn't for the life of me figure out why you looked so totally different in person."
I smile and wait for her to go get me some conditioner. She realizes I'm waiting and starts talking again.
"So I'm not supposed to give you something that's for someone else. She would have to come here and request it herself. And I probably wouldn't be allowed to give it to you if you requested it because I don't see a real need for it."
"Why?"
She shrugs. "Something to do with how we track supplies and make sure no one is hoarding anything."
"This whole thing has been really tough on my girlfriend, her family being killed, her coming here and all. Is there anyway at all that I could get it for her as a gift, just this one time? I think it'd really make her smile." I ask, turning on a little of the charm I used to use on the girls back home before Madge.
She puts a hand over her heart. "That is just so sweet of you!" She gushes. Then she glances around to see if anyone else is watching. When she sees they aren't, she leans forward and whispers "Wait here, I'll be right back."
I flash another smile her way and watch as she hurries to a shelf in the back and then comes back with a small bottle.
"Here, I'm a sucker for romantic gestures. Next time she has to come get it though." She tells me as she hands over the bottle.
"You're awesome, thank you so much! What's your name?" I ask, knowing that asking her name and making it personal will help seal the goodwill I've created with her in case I ever need another favor.
"Rachel." She says with a big smile.
"Thanks for all your help, Rachel." I say with a wink as I turn to go. I laid it on a little heavy but it was really nice of her to break the rules for me.
I head down to Madge's place with the conditioner that I know is going to make her incredibly happy. It's been such a good day and I hope Madge comes home with a more information about the potential rescue of Prim.
(Madge POV)
When I wake up, Gale is already gone. I must've slept right through him leaving for work. He's really good at being extra quiet and I suppose that comes from sharing such small living quarters with such a big family his whole life. That or the hunting I suppose. I get up and get ready for work, hating that I look such a mess. My hair is not responding very well to the shampoo here and not having conditioner or styling products has made it a nightmare. It's funny the things you take for granted when you always have them. I never knew how unruly my hair could be until I had nothing to tame it with. I sigh and tie it up in a knot on top of my head. It's the best I can do with it.
I decide to skip breakfast even though I'm starving. I really hate the oatmeal they seem to always serve so I'll hold out for lunch. I head straight to work and find Drew is already there. I'm early so I'm surprised he's here.
"You're early." He says looking up as I walk in.
"So are you." I reply as I take my seat in the uncomfortable chair in the corner.
"I've been here for the last 2 hours. Just trying to get some of this stuff finished. Did you not go to breakfast?" He asks.
I shake my head. "Wasn't hungry. Do you have anything you need me to do?"
"Can you run and get me some breakfast? I'll call up and tell them to have it ready for you. Just ask at the window to the side of where the line is."
I nod and head to the dining hall. I normally wouldn't want fetching food to be my job but any task that allows me to get out of his office for awhile is a welcome task. Just as he said, they have his food waiting for me at the window. I thank the woman who gives it to me and sign a paper saying that I'm taking it to Drew in the defense department. Apparently it's a special privilege to be able to take food out of the dining hall and the defense department is one of the only areas allowed to do it. When I get back and hand him the food, he dives into it as if it's the best food he's ever had. He must've been starving.
As he eats, I ask about the pending rescue mission. "Do you think they'll be able to rescue Prim?"
"I do. They've got a solid plan and a back up plan too."
I lean forward in my chair. "You know the plan? What is it?" I ask in excitement. I hadn't expected him to know many details.
"I can't tell you anything."
"Seriously? Nothing?"
"I can tell you they've got plans to rescue lots of people, not just tributes. There are insiders who have been working with 13 for years and it's time to get them out."
"I wonder who they are. Do you know them? Is it anyone we knew?"
"Madge, I'm not supposed to share this sort of information. It's all confidential."
I give him a look. I can't believe he's choosing right now as the moment to follow all rules.
He sighs and gestures for me to shut the door. I do and then look back to him excitedly, dying to hear what all he knows.
"There will be people you know or well, people you know of. And before you ask me, no, I had no idea they were informants working for 13 when we were back home."
"Who?" I push, wanting names.
"Pemberly's father has apparently been working with 13 for over 20 years. Her entire family will be rescued. That's who you'll know."
My mouth drops open but my heart feels really happy for her. She never looked really happy with August and I am elated that she won't have to marry him now. "Do you think she knows? Was she an insider too?"
He shakes his head. "She has no idea what her father is. All of this will be a huge surprise for her."
"How are they going to get them out of Panem?"
"I can't give you specifics, but they're putting them on a train, we're pulling them off the train. You know you can't repeat any of this to anyone, right?"
"I know." I tell him though I will absolutely be telling Gale every single thing. "Who else is being rescued?"
"Many of the tributes. Hopefully their families if we can make that happen. Several informants and their families. The informants who's identities would be compromised if we try to rescue tributes anyway. Some informants will remain there, still undercover."
"But Prim and Haymitch for sure, right?" I ask.
"Yes. They're actually a priority. 13 hated the way the Capitol destroyed 12 over everything and so they really want to take a stab back at them by getting Haymitch and Prim out of there."
"And what happens to Prim when she gets here? She's a child but doesn't have family. Where will she stay?"
"She'll be in the children's ward. There's actually a good amount of children here without parents so they keep them all together. Then when she's 16 and finished with school, they'll put her on a floor like ours and she'll get a job."
"I don't recall seeing a children's ward on the tour." I comment.
"It's not something they really share. They don't want to make the children feel uncomfortable. Would you want a bunch of strangers coming through and looking at you if you were a parentless child?"
"That makes sense. They are certainly kinder here in 13 than they ever were in the Capitol." I say, knowing the Capitol would never care what the children felt. In fact, they'd likely just put them all to work somewhere and make servants out of them. As I think that, a thought crosses my mind. One I can't hold back from asking about.
"Drew, can you arrange for someone else to be added to the rescue list?"
"Probably not. I mean, I could ask that we add someone but there's no guarantee. Why? Who do you want rescued?"
I pause, not sure how to even ask. "Martin. I want you to rescue Martin."
He stares at me, wordlessly.
"I mean it. I want you to try and get him out. He doesn't deserve the life that's been imposed on him and you have a chance to help make that part better for him if you can get him out too." I say firmly.
"Madge, that's not a good idea."
"I'm asking you to try and save him. I think you and I both owe him at least an effort in rescuing him. Honestly, I wouldn't be alive right now if not for him warning me about not trusting you. If not for his warning, I likely would've been with you in District 4 when everything happened and would've been taken and killed by the Capitol."
"You mean you wouldn't have been with Gale if Martin hadn't warned you?" He asks, anger flitting across his face.
"Oh I would've still been seeing Gale. I did that all on my own because it was something that made me happy. I just wouldn't have resisted when you called that night and wanted me to come stay with you during the rest of the games. I'd have gotten on the train and come to you simply because you asked."
"It would be a bad idea to bring him here. I can't do it, I'm sorry."
"Bad for who? You? Me? 13?"
"For everyone. Please don't ask me about this again." He says as he finishes his food and holds his dishes out for me to take back to the dining hall. I take them and he starts working again and I know the conversation is over regarding Martin.
As I walk up to the dining hall, anger floods through me. Why can't Drew for once do the right thing? It would cost him nothing to rescue Martin and honestly after what he did to him, it's the least he could do. Sure Martin will never be the same as before but at least here he could be free of the life of servitude that's been imposed on him by Drew. I'm going to have to keep pushing him on this until he sees things my way. The only reason I can see him not wanting Martin here is because of his own guilt over what he did to him and that's not enough of a reason for me to want Martin not to be rescued.