A/N: I know this chapter is way overdue and I'm so sorry for that. High school is more stressful than I thought and the homework hasn't been helping. Despite that, I'm going to finish this fanfiction even if it kills me. Which means this weekend will be lots and lots of writing because I want to finish this before Mockingjay Part 1 releases. If you have any ideas for this story at all, comment them in your reviews because that means I can write more chapters. Until then, happy reading!

Johanna

Peeta was so quiet ever since the torture he received and I don't blame him. Whatever Snow did to him got him. He was fragile glass and Snow was a hammer. I hear Peeta arise from sleep at times screaming for Katniss. Nightmares. They can plague your dreams to an awful extent.

I'm in the middle of chewing on my beaten up apple when Ed comes back. Trailing behind him to my surprise is Annie, who looks too okay for a Capitol prisoner, healthy to be exact. Her eyes glimmer with specks of tears.

Ed somehow looks upset too. "President Snow insists that the fellow Capitol prisoners come to view an execution that's occurring in moments to come. I'm here to collect you."

"And why would we do that?" I snarl. "You can tell President Snow that he can go watch his own execution!"

"Johanna..." Peeta hisses under his breath. That's the most he's directly spoken to me in ages.

"Miss Mason," Ed says. He mouthes the words, I wish I could.

I want to say something, but nothing comes out. His response took me by surprise. Omitting Finnick, I don't know any Capitol employees that are disloyal. Which means, Ed isn't working for Snow by choice.

"We should go then," Peeta says, barely audible. "Ye..yeah."

No one debates the idea. Annie comes over to help me up and we depart.

This was the only time I get a sharp glimpse of Peeta. Bruises decorate one side of his face. The other is glazed in whip marks. No rueful smiles in sight. Just a dull frown. One that says, "Help. I'm damaged." He turns away from me and walks ahead.

Ugh. I hate it when I feel sympathy towards others.

Annie taps me on the shoulder lightly. "Is Peeta okay?"

I shake my head. "Can't sugarcoat it, Cresta. Snow did him in."

"How bad?"

"He screams for her."

"Katniss?"

I grunt. "No, for Snow's granddaughter. Yes for Katniss!"

Mixed emotions run over Annie's little face. In the end, she says, "Well I hope he feels okay. It's difficult here."

"Yeah. Kinda feel bad for him. You know?"

I look over to see Annie's eyes locked on the ground. Oh crap. Something got to her mind again. Think, Johanna. What would Finnick do?

I give her a little shove on the shoulder. Annie yelps an "oomph!" and looks up at me.

"Oh, sorry. Thanks," she says.

"Something caught up to you?" I ask.

Annie shrugs. I think it really means yes, but better be safe and not ask. I really don't want to risk it to that point to where she covers her ears with her hands and squeezes her eyes really tight, because comforting her during that is a subject I'm super vague in. Only Finnick has that kind of ability.

I don't have to ask anyway. Ed pulls open a door at the top of the, um, thousandth case of stairs we climb. A gust of wind kicks in my face and I have to crumple it in as a result.

Outside, heaps of people are arranged in a large circle. From the distance, I can make out the tips of tall skyscrapers, and conclude we're on the rooftop of this...place. Snow's mansion? A prison? I don't honestly know.

Peeta, Annie, and I follow Ed as he walks. We finish the hike at the front of the circle. Apparently, stupid Snow has arranged spots for us, and Peeta was placed between Annie and I. As corny as it sounds, I wanted to be next to Annie since I'm the only one at this point who could give her the friendship she needs now. Watching this execution will make her ten times worse than she already is.

North of us is a podium with the Capitol seal on it. Clearly, Snow is going to do some speech there before the actually killing. A few feet away from us is a clan of cameras being set up. Which means that the execution is being televised.

Of course it is.

And at some point, Snow walks up the podium. Every trace of noise mutes as soon as his finger taps the microphone, sending a high-pitched sound flying.

"Good afternoon," he starts. "It is such a day with such an event. Today, you stand to watch the reminder from the Capitol that no one is safe from rebellion, whether it be a fraction of the definition or the whole. Here to pay the consequences are four members of the Capitol who chose to fight against the people who nursed and cared for them, Miss Portia Venaslin, Rosamund Dashner, Maia James, and Crowley Taylor."

In jumpsuits the shade of blood, the three women and single man are escorted to the center of the circle by Peacekeepers. I look over at Peeta and Annie, who struggle to conceal emotions. Peeta especially. Annie says something to Peeta, something I can't make out.

"They were my prep team and stylist," he mumbles back.

Now it all makes sense. Snow wants Peeta to try and get on their side. As if that will work on him. For a sensitive guy, he's pretty smart. He wouldn't fall for his side, especially now. Once again, I can feel sympathy for him.

Before anything can come out of my mouth, I feel a warm hand grasp mine tight. Peeta. I glance up at him, give him a puzzled look, but all I get is a single nod. On his other side, Annie has her hand in his left one. She cocks her head a bit and ruefully grins. I try to reply with an attempt of a smile but somehow feel as if I failed.

Snow was still talking through all this, but it's only now when I pay attention again.

"So without further ado, viewers of Panem, let the ceremony begin."

An abundance of Peacekeepers marches in two lines parallel to each other to the center of the circle, where Portia, Rosamund, Maia, and Crowley are arranged next to each other. They surround the four of them, guns aimed to their heads.

"And in five...four...three..."

I grip onto Peeta's hand a bit tighter for support and squeeze my eyes shut.

"...two...one..."

The sound of multiple gunshots echoes the still air and everything has changed.

Story Question: What do you think of the full Mockingjay trailer?