ME: Back to Gale's sins.
Gale and Enobaria were no longer in District Thirteen, but rather the former's hometown of Twelve. More specifically, the woods.
"Katniss," Young Gale said to the huntress. "Kiss me now."
As the two made out (with Katniss thinking of Peeta rather than her "cousin" and too mentally confused to give consent), Gale's tastebuds were overwhelmed by what he thought was bile and with good reason.
"Deat God!" He yelled. "Who the hell was I back then, Enobaria?"
The Lieutenant growled. "It's Domitius to you, Butcher, and the same douchebag who buried me and countless others. Honestly, this bullshit isn't surprising."
As the two stopped kissing and began to talk, Gale felt nothing but relief at the fact he had never committed date rape.
"Oh, jealously is so romantic, Hawthorne!" Enobaria commented sarcastically when Young Gale said he minded Darius flirting with Katniss.
"I may have been a little possessive of my friend," Gale said, "but I never hurt her."
"Oh really?"
The Peacekeeper grabbed his forearm, and now they were standing on the roof of the Presidential Mansion. They could see the front yard, packed with Capitolite children by order of the now-deceased Coriolanus Snow to provide a human shield. Some were in their early-to-late teens, while others were newborns who knew nothing of politics. All were vulnerable to the cold and the final battle of the Second Rebellion.
Save for some men and women to keep them calm (as well as the Praetorian Guards on sniper duty and manning machine guns), the majority of the remaining Peacekeepers moved into position to defend the Mansion from the approaching Rebel troops. Some were of the Capitol Garrison, while others were a hodgepodge of soldiers who had retreated from the Districts. Some of the remaining troops had lost fingers, eyes or ears in battle, while others lacked helmets. Although most were born in a Career District, mainly Two, a few were from the Capitol. What united them was their shared goal of protecting the children from a vengeful Rebellion.
A mixture of ragtag continental rebels and more trim, gray-uniformed troops from District Thirteen ran into battle. The Peacekeepers, having the advantage of cover and established defenses, moved down the first wave. A few of the more daunted soldiers attempted to retreat but were shot by political officers hailing from Thirteen. However, this only sealed their own fate; a mixture of "friendly fire" from continental rebels and less obedient District Thirteen soldiers as well as sniper fire from the Praetorians quickly eliminated the commissars.
Suddenly, hovercrafts materialized and released their insidious payloads above the freezing children. Slowed by silver parachutes, Gale flinched when he remembered what had happened that day. The children, particularly the older ones who had watched the Games, recognized them and believed them to be care packages.
Then the bombs detonated, the first explosions killing or maiming many of the young Capitolites outright.
As their wails and screams penetrated air, every soldier in the vicinity ceased firing his or her weapon. Many on both sides dropped their weapons or vomited in sheer horror.
Fortunately (not that it mattered much, Gale realized to his regret and horror), some of the Peacekeepers recovered and removed the barricades. Shortly after medics in white, gray and rags ran in to save the children, along with nearby civilians with medical training. The Peacekeepers merely kept out of the way, as did the rebels; both groups knew ideology and politics were no longer important.
Enobaria grabbed his head and made Gale focus on one rebel medic in particular; Primrose Everdeen, her shirt still untucked.
Then the second explosions occurred, largely slaughtering the remaining children and the medics treating them. Prim, a girl who wasn't even fourteen (the minimal age for Thirteen's military), died like the child she was treating.
"You hurt Katniss, Hawthorne," Enobaria snapped. "She may have walked away only physically burned, but her sister died because of you. If it hadn't been for your Goddamned bombs, Coin wouldn't have been able to kill Primrose Everdeen and all those children for political points. Your desire for revenge cost your supposed best friend her sister-imagine how she feels waking up everyday, knowing if she'll ever have children that they'll never know their Aunt Prim. You. Are. A. Monster!"
ME: As always, reviews and PMs are appreciated, readers.