So, let's start a war! In this story, District 13 really has been destroyed after the first rebellion. I never liked the idea of Snow not being smart enough to see the danger it would pose to let them survive. For the fact that he was in a position of power ever since the 15th or 20th Games, he should have had plenty of time to wipe out 13.

If you survive this shit, you will visit my parents

It took way over a month to get this organized and approved, but now it's finally time. They'll film part of my meeting with Val's parents and put that on TV instead of me presenting a talent. Now they also know I'm coming to visit. That's good in a way, they'll have time to prepare themselves.

Portia and Cinna have come to our district, with Effie and a whole prep-team and camera people in tow. Cinna and Effie have gone over to talk to Katniss and Haymitch a while ago and the prep-team is talking to the camera people in the other room.

Peeta is leaning against the table, watching Portia as she finishes cutting my hair. She hesitates, but then attempts small talk for the third time, "Are you nervous?"

I'm waiting for Peeta to answer her instead, to take over holding a conversation for me, but this time he doesn't speak up. I sigh and mumble, "You have no idea..."

My sister looks at me from the kitchen table, making me shut up again quickly.

If only she knew why I was nervous. Meeting Val's parents, facing them, knowing that I couldn't save her - it's bad enough. But then I still have to somehow make them into my allies for starting a rebellion all over Panem.

Portia steps back and smiles softly, scissors still in hand. "Don't be... the interview here will be very brief and then in District 2, everything will be fine."

I just nod. "Thanks, Portia. That's nice."

She rolls her eyes. "And now smile a bit. It's not a good look to be grumpy."

I force myself to smile at her and she lights up immediately. "See... that's much better now."

One of the camera-people now comes over and talks to Portia and she nods before addressing me again, "They want to start the interview now. Is that okay?"

I just nod. "Yes... I guess so."

The camera team tells Mace and me to follow them outside. As we close the door, the equipment comes alive and I can hear the damn hymn over the sound system. I remind myself to smile since that means we are going live.

A voice starts talking right after the hymn, Caesar Flickerman's voice. "Cypress! Can you hear me?"

I nod at the camera. "Loud and clearly, Caesar!"

I hear him laugh and he says, "And who is that remarkable young lady that is with you?"

I pull my sister a bit closer, feeling like I need to protect her a bit from the eyes of all Panem. "That's my sister Maysilee."

"How are you feeling, Maysilee?"

She clears her voice and says, "Thank you, I'm great."

Caesar's voice is overly enthusiastic, just like I remember, "Wonderful. And do you live with your brother now, in that house we see in the background?"

Mace nods and forces her smile to be a bit more natural, showing her teeth, parting her lips slightly. "Yes... we all live here now. My brothers and mother and stepfather. It's such a beautiful place."

"Oh, I can see that. Are you happy that you are reunited with your family now, Cypress?"

I swallow the lump in my throat. I know they are testing me with this, that they only want to know how valuable my family is as blackmail. But I won't let them have their triumph anyway, so I say, "Very much... my family is everything to me now. They are the best thing in my life."

Caesar's voice is unchanging, "That's great. Where are your other family members?"

"My brothers are at school and my mother and her husband are working currently. You'll have to meet them another time, I'm afraid."

Now Caesar pretends to be sad, "Oh, that's a shame... I heard you do have grand plans for tomorrow. Tell me about it."

I nod and look down. "Yes... I'm going to District 2. I finally need to make sure I keep my promise."

"We will tag along for sure and see you again tomorrow! Thanks for talking to me and also thanks to your beautiful sister!"

That comment makes me uncomfortable, but I try to brush it off and thank him too when the cameraman finally signals the end of the broadcast. I take a deep breath and Mace puts a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay... he's just a stupid reporter who jumps on every detail that might make a story."

I shake my head at her. "I shouldn't have asked you to be here."

Mace shakes her head too. "You already have to do this alone tomorrow. I didn't mind being here."

Soon Effie walks over to us and tells me it's time to leave. The whole entourage packs up again and we board the train. Katniss gives Peeta a quick peck and he follows us on the train as the last one to board. He's coming too, officially so I won't have to be on the train alone when we go back to District 12, unofficially to talk to Nero in District 2.

Peeta told me they had gotten friendly during the Hunger Games since they were the two mentors who coordinated the gifts that were for both Valeria and me. And now that Peeta has been thinking about it, he suspects that Nero might be one of the people the Capitol threatens with the lives of his loved ones.

During dinner on the train, the Capitol people talk about things I don't care about and also about things I don't even know what they are. I nod along politely every now and then and leave for the room as soon as possible.

It's hard to fall asleep and when I finally do, I soon wake again. Images of mockingjays and bloody crescent moons and the shimmery surface of the Cornucopia fresh in my mind. Quickly I make my way over to the window and open it up just a tiny bit.

The air rushing inside is not cold at all, it just seems like it at first, since it's like the wind. But it's still summer and the nights are hot and uncomfortable.

I feel like crying somehow, but I just can't. I gaze into the darkness outside and this time I don't feel like it's staring back at me. I just see my reflection, vague and translucent. It's really not been so long since my whole life has been turned upside down.

My eyes are dark in the window, almost like Kalina's, wide and scared - haunted even before the Games. I never really knew her, but whenever I see her mother picking up her other children from school now, I feel guilty.

I don't really know why. I didn't kill her, I wasn't even there to have a chance to protect her. She couldn't hold a knife steady in her hand when we practiced. She was always too nervous to be funny or charming or impactful when she spoke. And still - I know it's not fair that she had to go into the Hunger Games in the first place, that anyone had to.

I sigh and turn away from the window. Later today is the most important moment for this whole plan.

Reluctantly, I drag myself back to bed and close my eyes again.

Kalina on the chariot next to me

The audience staring at me during the interview

Valeria on the roof of the tribute center

Ayla standing in front of Conan defensively when we met in the arena

The Cornucopia - dull in the moonlight

The birds

I open my eyes again and stare at the ceiling. I know exactly what follows when I close them again now. I know that the blood will come back, that Rex will come back - grinning as he spots me walking towards him at that feast.

I know that Ayla will come back - dead eyes and bloody knives. And Val will come back, pale and trails of blood down her chest, blue eyes closed and gone forever.

I draw a shaky breath. And keep laying there, eyes wide open.

The next thing I know is hearing knocking on the door. "Cyo? Are you in your room?"

It's Portia. I sit up in bed. Sometime I must have fallen back asleep. I clear my voice before answering, "Yes! Come in!"

The door swings open and she and one of the prep-team members enter. She grins and says, "Get up and shower, please. We'll be there in about an hour."

I didn't realize it was that late already so I nod and get out of bed and into the bathroom. After my shower, I'm put into dress pants and some sort of shirt without sleeves. The material feels expensive, I can tell that much. As they are trying to make my hair look acceptable I say, "Portia... do you think they will hate me?"

Portia pauses and looks at me. "Who, love? The people of District 2?"

I press my lips together before saying, "No... Valeria's parents."

Portia considers her words before she answers, "No, I don't think so... why would they hate you?"

"Because their daughter is dead and I am not..."

With a sigh, Portia starts styling my hair again, "But that's not your fault. She chose to save you, you never asked."

She's right. But I still shouldn't have survived, she should have down there in that damn tunnel. Instead of saying that I just nod and return to silence. Soon Portia is done and the train slows down.

She smiles and hugs me briefly. "Don't stress about this too much... It's going to be okay."

I hug her back. "Thank you - for everything."

She grins. "It's not a big deal... now go. I'll see you again when your Tour starts."

I nod briefly and say my goodbyes to Portia, the prep-team, and Effie who stay back on the train.

Then I follow the others to the door where the camera crew is the first to get off. Out of a careful reflex, I start smiling again before following Peeta out of the train. There is a crowd of people cheering as I leave the train. This makes me deeply uncomfortable, almost makes me drop the smile.

These are the very people I need to convince that they should rebel against the government, but here they are - acting like this is not in a way, like a funeral.

A middle-aged man steps forward offering me his hand to shake. Peeta says, "This is the mayor of District 2, Plato Corvos."

I take the man's hand. "Nice to meet you..."

He smiles excitedly. "Yes... very nice to meet you too. I didn't expect visitors before the Victory Tour."

"Yes... I'm sorry to announce this so shortly before coming here. But this is important to me."

He nods. "Of course... maybe you want to say something to the people?"

I briefly look at the crowd, before looking at Peeta who only shrugs. What the hell does he expect me to say? I look at the mayor again and am about to answer when someone makes their way through the crowd and calls out, "Okay now! Get lost everyone! This is not some kind of show for you!"

I turn to look, relieved, as the young man walks towards us, sending the people away. He's about 20 years old, tall and athletic, dark skin, dark curls, and grayish-blue eyes. Peeta steps forward and smiles. "Thank you, Nero..."

Ah, so that's one of Val's mentors then. That's maybe why they listened to him - he's a victor of their district. Nero rolls his eyes and briefly hugs Peeta. "Sorry to be late."

Then he briefly talks to the mayor who nods and leaves with the rest of the people. When they are gone he turns to me and we shake hands. "Hello, I'm Nero. Nice to meet you - officially I mean."

I nod and say, "Yes... thank you."

I briefly glance over at the camera crew who is filming everything. They told me earlier that this whole part will be edited down when they leave for the Capitol again. Nero looks at them too for a second before turning back to Peeta and me. "Come on... I'll walk you to Victor's Village."

It's a short walk from the station. The houses in District 2 are much nicer than in our district. Definitely nicer than in the merchant's part and a lot nicer than in the Seam. Victor's Village looks similar to ours but bigger and friendlier. Almost all of the houses are lived-in and it's clear that there have been additions to this part of town over the years.

In some of the gardens, we pass I can see children playing or people chatting on their balconies. They look at us only briefly when we walk by.

Nero stops in front of one of the houses and looks at me. "This is where I live... you need to keep walking to a few houses over..." He raises his hand and points at one of the houses on the other side of the street, "It's this one."

I follow his outstretched finger with my eyes and nod. "Thank you."

Peeta's voice makes me look back to them. "Take as much time as you need. I'll be waiting here with Nero. Just meet me again here when you're ready to leave."

"Okay..." I can see it in the way that he looks at me that he is nervous about this. He knows that if this goes south our families are in danger, that this could end horribly. But he still doesn't stop me.

Nero and Peeta leave me there with the camera team and I continue my way through Victor's Village. With every house I pass I feel my steps grow heavier, my legs feel like jelly. I am not ready for this.

What if they changed their minds and won't even let me in?

I swallow as I stop in front of the house Nero has pointed out. This is the place where Val has lived all her life. This is where she grew up. She played in this garden with her friends and brother. She climbed out of one of those windows at night when she snuck out.

I swallow the lump in my throat and slowly approach the door. Hesitantly, I raise my hand up and press the doorbell. I tap my foot anxiously when I hear movement inside the house. I want nothing more than just turn around and forget about this, but that wouldn't be fair.

It would be terrible to break my promise to Val like that - the only thing she ever asked of me. And it would be terrible to Lysander, to Primrose and to everyone who will be forced into the Hunger Games because I was too much of a coward to stop them from ever happening again.

The door opens up with a slight creaking sound, bringing me back to the here and now. A man and a woman are standing in front of me. I recognize him immediately. It's the same man from the hovercraft. He's holding the hand of a petite woman.

Her blonde hair has grey streaks in it. She has put it into a tight bun on the back of her head. Green eyes stare back at me. I swallow; a million things to say rush through my brain, but when I open my mouth the only thing I manage to choke out is, "Sorry... I'm so... sorry."

A moment later, something unexpected happens. The woman steps forward and wraps her arms around me tightly. She starts sobbing as I carefully hug her back, my hands shaking slightly.

After a few seconds, Valeria's father carefully pulls her away. "Come on, Abby... let's first go inside with our guests."

She hesitantly lets go of me and nods, quickly turning and leading the way inside. She stops in the living room. Valeria's father stops too and turns to face me. He tries a small smile and stretches his hand out for me to shake it. "Let's try this again... hello, I'm Antonius and this is my wife Abigail."

I manage to smile too and shake his hand, it's a firm handshake. "I'm Cypress... but you kind of know that, I guess..."

He nods his head slightly. "Yes, of course... Would you like anything to drink?"

I shake my head and mumble, "No... thank you, I'm okay."

Val's father quickly looks over at his wife who has sat down on the couch and seemingly calmed down a bit again. Then he looks at me again. "Come on... let's sit too and talk for a bit."

I am glad for him taking this over and follow him to the couch. He gestures for me to sit down opposite him as he takes a seat next to Abigail. He pauses before speaking up again, "It's nice that you are visiting..."

I look down on my shoes briefly. "I didn't know if... you'd actually want me to come here or if it would bother you."

"You meant a lot to our daughter, clearly... so we are happy to see you."

I press my lips together and look up again. Looking at him brings back all of the images, the hovercraft, the peacekeepers, blood, and the knife in her chest. I swallow. "I... I loved her."

Now Valeria's mother looks up again and looks at me. "Oh, believe me... she loved you too. More than anything, more than us and... and more than life."

The hurt in her voice is so deep and so obvious that it makes my heart ache. I know there is nothing I can do to make her feel any better. "She should have come home to you... I never wanted any of this."

She pauses, then nods slightly. "I know... she just... it was the way she was - emotional."

I nod and say nothing. I don't really know what to say. The camera team is making me uncomfortable. Luckily, Valeria's father takes the chance to say something, "I saw you on TV with your sister... I'm glad she has you back."

That makes me smile. "Yes... I missed her very much. She's a great person."

"That's what helps a bit - to know that another family is back together."

I briefly look at Abigail - then back at Antonius. "I wish I could make it easier for you."

He smiles. "Knowing that you cared about Val, that you keep her in your heart - that makes it easier. Believe me."

I nod slowly. "Everything I have of her is memories... and scars. I could never forget her."

He raises an eyebrow and hesitates. Then he reaches for something on his neck and pulls lightly. Antonius lifts the golden necklace over his head and lets it dangle from his hand. The little crescent moon is shining in the daylight. "You should have this..."

In disbelief, I stare at the pendant. It's her token, returned to its original owner after her death. I shake my head. "No... I could never take it from you."

He keeps his hand outstretched. "Please... we have so many things here that belonged to our children, that remind us of them. You have nothing of Valeria, you said so yourself."

I start chewing on the insides of my cheeks again. It feels wrong if I take it from him, but I really want it. I remember the day she showed me her token, but I also remember it covered in her blood, dangling from her neck as she lay lifeless in my arms.

I push the image aside forcefully and stretch out my hand, palm facing upward. Antonius places the necklace in my hand and I say, as I close my fingers around it. "It means a lot to me... thank you."

He just nods. I look from him to the camera team who is still filming. "Hey, you guys... do you have enough for... whatever it is that you need to do? This is kind of a private conversation and it makes me uncomfortable. I'm sure it makes them uncomfortable too..."

The cameraman looks at me and then at Val's parents and nods slowly. "Yes... I guess we're good. We can leave."

They switch off the camera, say their goodbyes, and pack up everything. Then they leave the house and I release a breath. "I'm sorry for all this circus... I didn't want to bring them along."

Antonius shakes his head. "It's okay... They were at least nice enough to ask us before this."

I then open my palm again and look down on the necklace briefly before looking up again. "Are you sure about this one?"

He nods again. "Absolutely...please have it."

I hesitantly lift it up to look at it, then put it around my neck. Abigail eyes me up and down, then carefully asks, "Do you... go back home after this? Or do you have to go to the Capitol?"

Ah yes... I remember that she's a victor too. And if she ever was any close to as beautiful as her daughter she for sure didn't have it easy. I think about the right words to say, but then decide to just address it. "No... I can go back to 12. They didn't force me into their world - yet. I hope you aren't still haunted by the things they sure made you do, though..."

She looks shocked by what I just said. She probably didn't think I knew. "I... I didn't..."

Antonius immediately pulls her closer to comfort her and says, "So you do know..."

I nod. "Val told me... and Haymitch told me. It's horrible and I'm afraid for my family."

"I was too..." Abigail speaks very silently, but she has regained her composure again. "I had hoped they stopped this... but when Cato... when we lost Cato, I already knew they hadn't. And he still volunteered. And Val..."

I look down. "She was upset by it too... but not upset enough."

"If only there was a way to stop this... to not let it happen to you. I'm sorry for you." Abigail now has a comforting look in her eyes, still hurt, but softer now, as I look up again.

I am not sure if I should carefully introduce my plans for a rebellion now, but I'm not sure how they will react. But maybe this is my only chance. "I... Can I talk to you about something? And if you don't want to hear about it, we pretend I never told you?"

Now they are looking at each other, unsure. I bite down on my bottom lip. Seconds pass by and I nervously hold onto my legs with my hands. Finally, Antonius nods and they look back at me. "Okay."

I take a deep breath. "I have two little brothers... wonderful, young, and happy children. And only because they are related to me, they'll be reaped for the Hunger Games when they get older - and they'll die on live TV. And the Capitol is going to cheer... Katniss' little sister - she's only 13. If Katniss doesn't act exactly like the president wants her to, then Prim's name will suddenly be pulled out of that bowl once again. Oh no... what bad luck, they will say. But it's not bad luck, it's manipulated."

I swallow before continuing, "And there are many more for sure, also some here in District 2, I guess. The Hunger Games are cruel and horrible! They took your kids away from you - because they were told it was such an honor to win this shit... I bet they weren't told about the circus surrounding it all and the nightmares and that the arena changes you.

"I know there were uprisings in the districts last year... and they could have been a rebellion if only they were more organized, had more supporters. I want those Games to end with me, end now... we need a rebellion."

I study the faces of Val's parents as I end my explanation. I can't exactly tell what they are thinking, but they don't look like they want to arrest me right then and there. Abigail clears her voice. "I'm afraid that's impossible."

Antonius looks at his wife briefly, he looks like he's thinking about this intensely. "Not necessarily... How would you do it?"

"I... I would need to explain that in detail. And I can only do that, if I can count on your help."

They hesitate. Abigail turns to face her husband and quietly says, "We have lost them, Ant... What else do we have to lose? ... We could at least save him - and all those other people he mentioned."

Antonius looks down on their hands but then nods. "You're right..." He turns back to me and says, "I'll do whatever I can."

I smile, relieved, excited in a way. This is really going better than expected. "The attack needs to happen at the same time all over Panem. I thought about the Victory Tour. We would have a sign and since everybody needs to watch it, everyone would see it at the same time. To make that happen, I need someone to travel to each district and recruit people - victors and peacekeepers because they'd be able to lead the revolts. I need you to do that because you are trusted by the Capitol. They wouldn't suspect a thing."

Antonius nods slowly. "I can do that... but what exactly do I tell them?"

"What I told you... and you can ask around who would be a good ally. Peeta is talking to Nero right now. Maybe you can ask him. It's just important that they let me know in some way during the Victory Tour that they are on my side and that there will be a rebellion in their district."

He nods again. "Okay... and when during the Victory Tour would we start exactly?"

I think about it briefly. "I'm not sure... it needs to be close to the end."

Abigail speaks up now, "How about the stop here in District 2? That way you would already know who is with you in the districts. I know some people in District 1, but the following there would be very small... it's saver to start it up here."

I nod. "Yes, that makes sense. She is right."

Antonius looks at Abigail before looking over to the wall above their fireplace. "I know lots of peacekeepers who would take part... most of them are district after all."

I follow his eyes there. It's a wall with photos. "May I look at those?"

He nods and stands up from the couch. "Of course..."

We walk over to the wall. The pictures are of their family. Some with all four of them together. Then there's a picture of a wedding, one with a young Abigail putting the peacekeeper-helmet on Antonius' head. She really did look a lot like Val. Then there are pictures of Val and Cato grinning into the camera, making silly faces.

I recognize the girl who went into the arena with Cato last year on some of the pictures - Clove, I think was her name. There's one where Cato is carrying her on his shoulders as they walk down a hill. And there's also one where Val and Clove sit on the roof of a car together.

I swallow and turn back to Antonius again. "They will never take anyone away from their families ever again if we do this."

He briefly looks at a picture of Cato and Val together and nods. "You're right... Never again."