Sorry for the wait of the last and final chapter. I had my own problems going on and I'm in such dark mood, it's proven in this short last chapter. Thank you for waiting two years for it.
Chapter Nine
"What happened to our district? Where is my family?" Alex asks once she is feeling better enough to talk.
"I'm sorry, Alex. Everything is destroyed. President Coin, from District Thirteen only got us out." Haymitch breaks the news to Alex gently.
"They are dead? My family is gone?" Alex starts to cry.
"I'm sorry. I tried to get to them. I really did."
"I know." Alex whimpers. Pulling her to him, Haymitch holds her close.
Over the next while as there is an uprising from all districts, Alex wouldn't speak to anyone. Not even when Katniss accepted the role of the Mockingjay to replace Alex. Watching the screen of the bombing of the hospital, Katniss getting shot, and the rescue mission for the remaining tributes, something inside of Alex snaps awake.
Walking towards the President's headquarters, Alex barges in to see the President of District Thirteen, Haymitch and Beetee.
"Who killed my family?" Alex snaps interrupting a conference.
"Snow." The lady speaks.
"I don't think so. He may want me dead, but why would he kill my family? That's just a waste." Alex glares, "I want to speak to him."
"Are you sure, Alex?" Haymitch asks.
"Yes."
"Very well. Beetee make the call." The lady orders gently. Making the call, the lady speaks to Snow before his face comes on screen.
"Ah, Alex. You're still alive." Snow smiles.
"Leave us." Alex glares at the three people. Once they are gone and Alex locks the door, she turns to face President Snow, "Did you kill my family?"
"I may be cruel, Alex, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do such a thing."
"Did you bomb my District?"
"No."
"Why do people say you did?"
"From what I know, it was a Capitol's hovercraft, but I never ordered the call."
"If, this is a big if, you are telling the truth who did?"
"Coin. Why else would she save you and not your family too? She had the resources, the technology."
"Who is Coin?"
"She left you in the dark after all this time? She is the President of District Thirteen. She made Katniss to become the Mockingjay, Alex. To risk her life for a cause that is possibly worthless."
"Why should I believe you? You killed all those children for the last seventy-five years."
"That was to keep order and keep Panem from being over populated. I would never waste life, Alex, not your family's, not anyone from your district."
"Prove it."
"I'm already dying, Alex. I have cancer. Coin has always wanted power. I have tried so hard to keep it from her. She may see you and Katniss as threats of that power. Be careful and save Katniss. This war is a lost cause for the Capitol. Coin has already won. I'm bringing all citizens to the mansion for safety. With that, you will see who is telling you the truth and who is lying."
Hanging up the call, Alex stands there thinking. Breaking her thoughts, Alex unlocks the door and steps out seeing Haymitch, Beetee and Coin.
"Send me to Katniss." Alex orders.
"I can't. Not with all this going on." Coin admits.
"You obviously don't know, President Snow. He's surrendering."
"How do you know?" Coin wonders.
"Come with me." Walking back into the room, Alex pulls up the map of the Capitol showing the rebels making their way to the mansion, "Snow is bringing everyone to the mansion, for safety. He and the Gamemakers used everything they got. It's over."
"Hmm." Coin nods, "Unless he has one more trick."
"I doubt it. But send me in and put me with Katniss."
"Fine."
Inside the Capitol, Alex is in the army truck being taken to where Katniss is with her hands handcuffed for appearance, or so she was told. Feeling the truck stop, Alex looks out of the window to see Katniss herself along with Prim. No one else is there. Watching the door open, Alex climbs out.
"Alex?" Prim and Katniss whisper at the same time.
"The one and only." Alex grins as the man removes her handcuffs and hands her a gun.
Hearing running footsteps, Prim hugs Alex tightly then Katniss does. Giving Katniss a quick peck on the lips, Alex takes Prim's hand as the truck drives back the way it came.
"Katniss, Prim, can anyone hear us?" Alex whispers.
"No." Prim answers.
"Good. I spoke to Snow. He's surrendering and Coin is planning another attack on the citizens and Snow at the mansion."
"How do you know this?" Katniss wonders.
"You know me, I always find out things I am not supposed to know."
"True."
"Coin isn't who she says she is. Besides, Snow has cancer and is dying. Coin is the threat. Not Snow."
"How do you know this? Did you speak to him?" Prim asks.
"Yes I did. Remember his promise to you Katniss? You both agreed to not lie to each other." Alex reminds her girlfriend.
"I refuse to believe him. He tried to kill you, Alex." Katniss fires back.
"Then you don't believe me." Alex sighs.
"Alex, it's not that. And you know it."
"I believe Snow, and I can't believe I just said that, but I do. I don't know Coin, but even when growing up, I have been reading him, Snow. I can tell when he lies. I just can't explain it."
"And I believe Coin." Katniss whispers.
"Are you going to risk innocent children's' lives because of Coin? The Capitol children? The ones who have no idea what is happening?"
"Katniss, I think we should believe, Alex. She would never lie to us." Prim steps in.
"What is your plan?" Katniss questions nervously.
"Coin's final attack will be on the mansion. Because that is where everyone is going to. When this is over, Coin will want you, Katniss, to kill Snow. In exchange, I will find a way to kill Coin. You might be become the new leader of Panem. I know I will cause a rude awakening and be banished. But if it's to save you from Coin, I'll do it." Alex explains, "Prim, stay close to me until Coin's final attack is over. We don't want you to be hurt or killed. Coin murdered my family. And our district. I want payback. Now which way is the mansion?"
"A few blocks away." Katniss states. Hearing roaring, Katniss, Prim and Alex look up to see the Capitol's hovercrafts heading toward the mansion.
"Coin." Alex mutters before taking off running with Katniss and Prim hot on her heels. Hearing explosions and screaming, Alex stops and tackles Prim and Katniss to the ground as a bomb lands near them. Seeing the people being burned alive and the smell of burning flesh, Alex looks to her legs to see them on fire. Letting out a scream Katniss and Prim move Alex off them carefully before quickly putting out the fire and Prim hurries with the medicine. Looking around them waiting for the medicine to work, everything is a war zone. Way worse than The Hunger Games. This makes The Hunger Games be just that, a game. And innocent game with every few deaths.
Seeing another hovercraft, Alex grabs Katniss' bow and explosive arrow and fires it. As soon as it is hit, the hovercraft explodes with everything inside it.
"How did you know that was Coin's and not help?" Prim questions looking to her best friend.
"No help is coming." Alex states. When her legs feel better, Alex, Katniss and Prim make their way to the mansion with fellow survivors. Breaking the mansion's gate open, they all hurry to get help and safety.
Inside the mansion, the three girls see nightlock in front of Snow. Who is still alive.
"Ah, Prim, Alex and Katniss. Hello survivors of President Coin's attacks. The medics are just down the hall with the remaining Peacekeepers." Snow greets sadly. Once everyone but the three girls are gone, Snow speaks directly to them, "The rebels will be here to capture me and lock me up until Coin is ready to get rid of me. Alex, you are fully aware that Katniss is in danger from Coin."
"I know." Alex nods, "I have a plan but it's pathetic. I'll get caught but it's worth it."
"Love is powerful girls. But can be foolish and dangerous."
"But worth it in the end." Hearing banging and running feet in the mansion, Alex has her gun pointed at Snow, on safety lock. Seeing rebels and Coin come in, Coin looks at Alex in surprise.
"I thought Katniss was going to kill President Snow." Coin speaks. Clicking the safety off, Katniss stops Alex.
"I am." Katniss states, "Lay down your weapons." Doing just that, Alex keeps her gun pointed at Snow, "Alex has her own mission. Complete it, Alex."
"Everyone close your eyes." Meeting Katniss' angry eyes, the rebels do just that. Coin keeps her's open. Prim closes and locks the sliding doors so the rebels can't enter. Once Prim is out of reach from Coin, Alex points her gun at Coin, "You murdered my family and destroyed my district. It's time for you to pay."
Pulling the trigger, Alex's perfect aim hits Coin in the head. Furious, Alex fires one more at her heart.
After killing Snow, Alex is banished while Katniss is worshipped. Because Katniss is the new leader of Panem, she out ruled the banishment for Alex and keeps her as her second in command. Katniss and Alex had arguments over the next few nights about bringing back The Hunger Games, but for the Capitol children for payback, besides Katniss knows deep down that Alex is right, if they did history would be repeating itself and there will probably be another war in who knows how long.
That is why Katniss' vote was a 'no', just like Haymitch, Alex and Rue.
