Time had passed before they knew it, and noon arrived sooner than anyone had expected. Katniss started to hear lightning strikes in the back of her mind. Twelve times.
"Katniss," Plutarch smiled rubbing his hands together warmly "Good to see you out of hibernation" he nodded obviously pleased that Katniss made the effort to join them. Well Gale made the effort. He practically had to pull her across half the hallway.
Katniss simply nodded at his words, slightly offended of the context of 'hibernation'.
Johanna, Finnick, Beetee and a few others hardly filled the large room. Shelves were lined against the walls with foreign books and important documents surrounding the large glass tabletop placed in the centre. The flooring was tiled with creamy marble and decorated with four matching pillars in each corner. A large television was plastered onto the far back wall in between two automatic doors.
"I've called you all here, for a revolution" Plutarch starts. "A rebellion against the Capitol" his eyes flicker over to Katniss and she nods again, not exactly sure how to react. Rebellion against the Capitol…
"All districts, expect for Two, are at war. They're not suppling the Capitol any of their goods, so they are slowly starting to fall."
"You will be travelling to District Eight, one of the poorest Districts in Panem. They are struggling to stay alive with the wounded, dead and traitors" he explains. "I assume Beetee can hack in the Capitol's televised systems and we would be able to broadcast propos for the rest of Panem to show you're still alive and active"
Katniss looks over to her right, watching her allies' expressions. Gale stood tall with an unreadable expression; he was most likely used to this by now. Back at District 12 miners were strictly trained and commanded. Johanna was smiling, as her arms were tightly folded against her chest and if you looked closely you could see her fingers twitch. Beetee had his hand slapped at the back of his neck as he massaged parts of his sore shoulders. Finnick seemed to be concentrating, well it may have been concentrating or just a simple frown.
"So you're sending us back in to the 'battlefield'? Right after we risked our lives, twice, in the Hunger Games?"
Plutarch chuckles as if it was all a joke, "Finnick" he shakes his head "This is not the Hunger Games anymore"
Finnick's frown fades slightly and he looks at the floor as Plutarch speaks to him. "The Hunger Games… Just a show. Now this, this is what you call reality. I'm not so sure you will like it" Plutarch sighs facing the truth.
"That goes for all you" Plutarch frowns watching Johanna snicker and she quickly collects herself and bites the insides of her cheeks.
Plutarch withdrawals a deep breath and continues, "Now-"
"Hush, hush, hush" Effie busts through the door suddenly, clutching onto some important looking papers and looking frantic.
She was taking twice as much steps than a normal person would in a short distance. She wore white stockings printed with ice blue snowflakes and glossy blue pumps. Effie wore a tight pencil skirt with frills at the ends and an oversized beige winter coat with faux fur lining the collar and sleeves. Her wig was white and accessorised with blue snowflakes similar to her stockings.
Effie was still alive, somehow.
"Effie!" Plutarch insists
"Hush!" she almost yells and lunges over to the television remote. "Just watch! My, my, this is quite important" she breathes and shakes her head in disappointment as the screen flickers to a burst of color.
Others rush in behind her, all chattering with excitement maybe and gossiping among themselves. Most were obviously from the Capitol and others were from the Districts. The room flickered into darkness.
Nothing could be important at this moment. It may have been important, but all just the same sort of 'important'. For instance: more Capitol bombings. War footage. Propaganda. An ominous message from President Snow.
So it's almost entertaining to see Ceaser Flickerman's, the eternal host of the Hunger Games, with his painted face and sparkly suit, preparing to give an interview.
The camera slowly pulls back to reveal the regular stage and two plush seats and two people seated in them.
Katniss and Finnick step forward suddenly more interested in the television now.
Katniss creates a strange sound, a mixture of a gasp and yell. Peeta Mellark sat beside none other than Annie Cresta. "Annie" Finnick mutters desperately making his way closer to the screen.
Katniss's eyes flickered over to Finnick and it started to transform into a contest. She quickly made her way closer to the television as well, watching anxiously and scanned Peeta's face for any hurt, or any reflection of agony and torture. There was a simple smile upon his face.
"Welcome back Peeta… and Annie we haven't seen you in a while" Ceaser says.
"I bet you thought you've done the last interview with me Ceaser" Peeta smiles. Katniss smiles as well, although it may have been crazy but at least he was alright. At least he seemed alright.
"I confess I did. And I certainly didn't expect Miss Odair joining us either" Ceaser chuckles, looking over to Annie who sat still and watched the camera with no expression or maybe it was just hard to read. "Me either" Annie whispers with a hint of hurt in her voice, frantically playing around with her hands, flexing her wrists.
"Now your plan, didn't exactly… follow out. Did it now?" Ceaser asks turning his attention back to Peeta.
Peeta chuckles, resting his hands against the arm rests trying to ignore Annie's constant fidgeting. "It was simple" Peeta nods slowly.
"Sacrifice myself for Katniss and the baby. But now…" he trails off. "She lost the baby"
"I'm sorry to hear that Peeta" Ceaser shakes his head and looked down at the floor.
Peeta continues, "In the arena it's much more than the viewer's think. You could find your best friend in there, or even your lover. But no matter how it turns out, one of you are going to die. Then you start to appreciate the small things that arena. The pink the skies, hot sand, even the monsters. As bad as it makes you feel you're going to have to kill people in that arena. People who have lives, who have families and friends. And you're a tribute thrown into a place where you're forced to torture…"
Peeta explains then stops to look over to Annie who's fiddling had gotten worse and her breathing has started pace quicker.
"It costs you everything" Peeta says finally staring down at his polished shoes.
"It costs you your life" Ceaser nods as if he understood.
"No" Peeta says and shakes his head. "It costs you everything you are"
"Everything you are" Ceaser repeats quietly.
"Anything to add, Annie? Anything you want to say to Finnick" Ceaser asks.
Finnick leans forward into the television more, if that's even possible.
It takes time for Annie to realise that Ceaser was speaking to her. "Yeah" she says quietly, skimming a hand through her ginger waves. Annie looks into the camera and her hands shake as she swallows "Finnick, I love you" Annie says then looks in to her lap.
A pang of jealously hits Katniss, it was quite strange really.
"They're going to bomb District Eight! You have to go! Run!" she yells as Peeta's hand flies onto her mouth and the television buzzes into a quick blur.
"Annie!" Finnick yells, knowing they were going to hurt her.
"Finnick, relax!" Johanna rushes over to comfort him and he only pushes her away.
People in the room started to panic. Finnick and Katniss were pulled away into another room. It was Haymitch who had escorted them away from the drama. "Hi there, sweetheart" Haymitch smiles at Katniss. Katniss wanted to slap him, but it obviously wasn't the right moment. She hasn't seen him in days, the particular time where she dragged her nails into his bare flesh. There were still marks across his face and neck and she couldn't help but feel just a little guilty.
Finnick was pacing across the room, and started to mutter crazy and strange things. "Finnick, it'll be okay" Katniss says quietly.
"You don't understand" Finnick mutters under his breath among the other strange sentences. "I actually love her!" he yells turning to face Katniss, obvious anger and hurt flashing through his eyes.
Katniss swallowed and looked down at her feet. So that's who Finnick Odair loved, not his fancy string of lovers back in the Capitol. But a poor mad girl back at home. Not Johanna Mason. Not even Katniss Everdeen. Maybe he did but no one could tell.
"She's right Odair" Haymitch sighed, leaning against the wall. "We're getting her out"
"W-what about Peeta?" Katniss asks desperately. Haymitch sighs and shakes his head, "Peeta is a little harder to get out. He stays with President Snow. He is important to them Katniss"
Katniss turns oblivious. What if they kill him?! Or worse, torture him for stuff he doesn't even know about?!
"I have to talk to Plutarch" Haymitch says quietly and exits the room, just about fed up with the commotions of Katniss and Finnick.
Finnick has his head in his hands, muttering some more things over and over. Some things Katniss couldn't make out. Others she could comprehend clearly. "Finnick" Katniss coos softly, coming over to comfort him.
He looks up and stops muttering, but breathes heavily. Katniss stands close to him, and blushes slightly not meaning to stand too close. "Annie will be alright"
"Yeah" he nods trying to convince himself. "But are you?" he asks. At first Katniss is confused then she nods herself, "Yeah, thanks"
Finnick studies her face, and then reaches for her hand. His hands her warm while hers were cold, and he slowly caresses his thumb over her palm. His touch was warm and provided Katniss more flames.
"Kiss me" Katniss whispered