Epilogue: The 74th Hunger Games
Josie – The Game Room
The arrow flies through the air and hits Cato in the head. He's dead instantly. Haymitch nods slowly as the TV screen from District One turns off. The only two tributes left are the two teens from district Twelve: Peeta Melark and Katniss Everdeen.
"Oh my God," Johanna says. She sounds honestly surprised, "They're gonna make it."
"You think both of them are going to be winners?" I ask Finnick quietly.
Finnick shakes his head. "They can't do it. They're going to..."
"Attention. The previous rule change allowing for two victors has been repealed. There can only be one winner. Good luck."
Haymitch is so still that I wonder if he is dead.
"Haymitch..." Chaff begins.
"Shut up!" He hisses. He turns up the volume on the TV.
"I'd be dead if it wasn't for you," Peeta tells Katniss.
Katniss throws her bow to the ground and reaches for the Hemlock berries.
No one keeps quiet.
"What the hell!"
"Does she know what she's doing?!"
"Damn."
I clutch Finnick's arm, and yank him down so that I can hiss in his ear. "Snow!"
I would know: I spent all night entertaining a group of politicians. Finnick would know: he spent this morning and last night at the home of a well-known artist. Johanna would know: her family is dead for refusing to play Snow's sex-centered game.
And Haymitch would know: his family is dead for changing the rules of the game.
"Damn, stupid girl!" Haymitch roars at the screen.
On the screen, the berries are at their lips.
"Stop!" The game-maker, Seneca Crane, shouts desperately. "Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, the victors of the 74th Hunger Games!"
The Game Room is silent. The main TV cuts to show Cesar Flickerman yapping happily and crowds cheering.
Someone mutes the TV and the room full of past victors is silent except for ragged breathing.
"Shit," breathes Johanna.
We all know the rules. Katniss Everdeen just broke them all.
Haymitch runs out. And, if you're reading this, you know exactly who follows him.
"Haymitch," I tell him breathlessly, "Haymitch! Snow will target her."
"Damn girl," he hisses.
"She opened Pandora's box," Beetee says thoughtfully.
Finnick laughs quietly. The small group stops and stares at him.
"Hey, idiot, anyone home?" Johanna asks. Coming from her, it's almost a term of endearment.
"It's started," Finnick says.
"And so we go," I say. We split up.
We've all got a score to settle with Snow. We can wait.
That girl just set the world on fire and she doesn't even know it.
You would have loved this, Ash.
Authors' Note: And here is where it ends. Thanks for reading! And like always, we don't own Hunger Games or Catching Fire or any of the associated characters. However, Josie, Ash, Coley, are ours!