Chapter Eighty-Seven; Loved Ones Endangered
(Stephanie's POV)
Stephanie stepped through the door slowly as though in a daze.
Haymitch turned around immediately. A brief look of surprise and incomprehension flashed across his face as he looked towards the dressing room, where he had no doubt thought Stephanie had been.
There was a few second's beats before Haymitch rushed forward, catching Stephanie before she dropped.
Stephanie clung to Haymitch's shoulders as the brief wave of dizziness subsided.
Haymitch held Stephanie up as she struggled to even her breathing.
"Stephanie?" Haymitch called, his voice thick with alarm.
Stephanie looked up at him before she tugged him towards the narrow hallway and the safety of their conversation not being listened to.
He followed her wordlessly, though the confusion was clear on his face.
As soon as they were in the hallway Stephanie spoke hurriedly in a hushed whisper.
"Seneca – he was just here," Stephanie whispered.
Haymitch's expression immediately darkened as his gaze darted around the hall suspiciously, even as Stephanie assured him that Seneca was gone.
"We're leaving now," Haymitch told her firmly.
Stephanie nodded her agreement jerkily as Haymitch half-dragged her back into the training room towards the dressing room.
Hurriedly Stephanie changed, barely having got the buttons on her shirt done up before Haymitch had burst back into the room, hastily shrugging on his own blazer.
"Last night – now – anyway related?" Stephanie recognised as Haymitch spoke as vaguely as he could while still trying to get answers.
Stephanie nodded, giving him a meaningful look as she replied, "Definitely possibly."
Haymitch looked grim as he grasped her hand and they both made for the doorway in the wall that would lead out onto the hallway.
Stephanie gasped sharply as they came straight out onto the hallway and realised that they weren't alone.
"Leaving so soon?" Sterlin inquired genially. It was clear that the man had only just arrived at the apartment himself, given that he was still wearing his coat.
Haymitch recovered swiftly, tugging Stephanie slightly behind him.
"Don't want to tire her out," Haymitch replied with a smirk that Stephanie could tell with even a cursory glance was fake.
Sterlin eyed them curiously still, a small smile on his face though his eyes were sharp and almost knowing.
Stephanie felt a shiver race up her spine and she squeezed Haymitch's hand tightly, their clasped hands concealed behind Haymitch's back.
"There is the matter of…payment?" Sterlin drawled out with a polite smile.
Stephanie felt Haymitch immediately stiffen.
"It's already been taken care of," Haymitch answered tonelessly.
Stephanie gripped Haymitch's hand even tighter, fear rising up in her suddenly.
"May I speak with you Abernathy – in private?" Sterlin asked, his tone ever pleasant, his expression polite almost bordering on bored.
Haymitch returned Stephanie's fierce grip for a moment before he relinquished it.
"Of course – wait here sweetheart," Haymitch said, his words careless but his grey eyes held a loaded warning as they turned to Stephanie.
Stephanie nodded almost imperceptibly as she swallowed nervously.
"Miss Trindlesworth it has been a, brief pleasure," Sterlin said with a slight chuckle as he held a perfectly manicured hand out.
Stephanie reached for it hesitantly as Sterlin shook her hand securely.
Stephanie felt a cold grip seize her heart as Sterlin's hand slipped from hers.
Haymitch sent her a slightly quizzical look as he followed Sterlin down the hall towards the main room, Sterlin chatting away amiably on trivial things.
Stephanie waited until they had disappeared into the room until she looked to her hand and hastily unfolded the note Sterlin had slipped her when he shook her hand.
Go down to the car – now. It is a matter of life & death, especially concerning one you love dearly.
Stephanie's hands shook as she looked at the note, her breathing turned to panicked and short spurts as her heart stuttered unsure.
Stephanie glanced back towards the room, hesitating for a split second before she turned and tore open the apartment door.
Stephanie forwent the lift altogether, instead attacking the stairs two at a time as she raced down them.
As she reached the front door of the apartment building, Stephanie could just make out the distorted image of the car outside through the small frosted window pane beside the door.
The fleeting thought that this could possibly be a trap crossed her mind.
But the pull of – What if it wasn't? One you love dearly – life & death.
It was a risk Stephanie was willing to take, if she had of even stopped for a moment to consider what she was doing.
The cool air of day hit her as Stephanie slowed to a halt on the pavement.
The car door opened.
Stephanie tried to peer into the interior to decipher who it was that was waiting for her, and who it was that had sent her the note.
She distantly realised that the car was the same model that was used to take the tributes everywhere and had taken her to Sterlin's apartment that morning – black out windows; perfect for privacy, and secrecy.
Stephanie stood completely still as those earlier thoughts of possible entrapment began to crowd in again.
If this was a trap – she was walking straight into it.
One you love dearly.
Stephanie looked up towards the apartment block; towards where she knew Haymitch currently was with Sterlin. She wondered if he had noticed she was gone yet.
The car door was still lying open; whoever was in it was waiting extremely patiently for Stephanie.
Stephanie reasoned that if this was just a plan to abduct her for some ridiculous reason, then her 'abductors' would not be waiting around for her to nicely step into the car.
And if it wasn't…then perhaps the note held some truth.
Stephanie gulped visibly. This had to be one of the most idiotic things she had done, Stephanie thought vehemently as she ducked and clambered into the car.
She had barely fallen into an empty seat when the car door slammed shut and the car immediately lurched forward.
Stephanie gasped sharply at the movement, wild panic rising up in her as she straightened.
But Stephanie felt all her breath stolen from her as she looked up and saw her companion sat facing her in the car; a person Stephanie most certainly had not expected.