Author's Notes~

Here we are yet again! :) This chapter took a while for me to complete, so feedback will be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks! :D

Rise From Ashes

Chapter Four

The sun wasn't even up yet, and already Katniss Everdeen was smoothing down her outfit for the day – her Mockingjay outfit created with Cinna's talented hand. On the inside Katniss felt all kinds of emotions swimming around, emotions of nervousness, anxiety, determination, fear, anger, concern…she didn't know what to feel.

Just be confident!

Katniss looked at herself through the cracked mirror before her. It was like a reflection of all she had been through, everything she had survived and what she now symbolized. In the mirror was a girl who survived the Hunger Games twice, who unintentionally was the spark of a rebellion, and who now was caught in the mix of leadership and confused love between Gale feelings and Peeta's feelings. And my own feelings….She added mentally with a sigh.

She was grateful that at least she and Gale had gone back to their normal relationship, or at least for the most part. But right now, her goal was to get Peeta back, not worry about things like love until she was through this war.

"Ready, Katniss?" asked Hughes who was standing at the doorway.

Katniss looked over to him, giving Hughes a nod, "Yes," she answered simply.

"Then come this way," Hughes said with a motion of his hand. Katniss followed him out from the room she stayed in and down the dreary passageway and rickety stairwell to the main living area. Waiting downstairs was Brooks, sitting casually in one of the chairs. Upon catching sight of Katniss, Brooks looked to Willow in the seat next to him, muttering a few words to her before she got up and left to the adjacent room.

Willow smiled and gave Katniss a small good morning to her as she passed before vanishing into the next room. Katniss had returned a small nod and faint smile to Willow in return, then looked to Brooks and approached him, "Did you….need something?"

"You're the one in need of something." Brooks corrected with a grin. This only made Katniss confused, though just then did Willow return into the room, carrying items in her arms.

"You didn't think we'd have you go in there unarmed did you?" Brooks questioned, referring to the weapons Willow carried.

"I'd hope not at least," Katniss responded, eyeing the bow in the other girl's arms.

Seeing Katniss eyeing the bow, Brooks took it from Willow's arms and into his hands, "You'll of course need this. Do you recognize this bow?"

"It's mine…the one I used when I went hunting with Gale in District Twelve." Katniss realized, reaching out and taking the bow from him to hold it in her own hands, "You sure this can get the job done?"

"It served you well in the past years, why not now?" Brooks grinned, "It was Winslet's idea, not mine I assure you. She said that you ought to be with a familiar friend for a weapon rather than a stranger one. Though I didn't exactly agree…I suppose I'll let her have her way on this."

"I think she's right," Katniss said, looking up at Brooks, "I know this bow's strengths and limits,"

"But that's not all," Brooks took something else from Willow's grasp and held it out to Katniss. It was a small blade, "There are situations a bow just won't work will it? Consider this my little gift to you."

Katniss took the blade from Brooks, looking it over and giving a small nod to him, "Are we going to leave or what?" she suddenly asked, feeling somewhat agitated by the lack of urgency Brooks had about the rescue mission.

"Don't speak so harshly, we'll be leaving in a matter of moments. All that was needed was weapons." Brooks said, rising to his feet.

"Then let's go-" Katniss began hurrying towards the entrance when she was held back by Brooks, "You might be the Mockingjay, but you do what I say here." He said sharply. "And I want you to grab something to eat, it's going to be a long day."

Katniss was left with little choice but to do as he said.

The sun was barley peeking over the horizon by the time the rebels had set out through the Capitol streets, weaving their way towards the structure where the hostages were supposed to be. The group consisted of Katniss herself, Brooks, Gale, Hughes, and Finnick.

Brooks stopped by one of the sewer plates, lowering down and lifting the plate up, "Let's move quickly now, preferably before we're noticed."

Katniss took the honors of sliding into the sewer first, disgusted by the fowl smell lingering inside. There was a small splash as she landed, for the sewer was just past the ankles in water level. Or was it water? Katniss wasn't sure if she wanted to know.

Gale wasn't far behind her, and soon Finnick, Hughes, and Brooks all followed behind. Brooks at once took lead and silently they all followed him down the sewer, trying not to make too much splashing sounds with their feet.

Katniss had her bow and arrow ready in case stumbling upon unwanted company. It was dark in the sewer with only subtle lighting, just barley enough to see a few feet before them.

Suddenly Katniss brought herself to a halt, her eyes squinting ahead. Gale beside her paused, looking to her with a frown, "Something the matter…?" Brooks and the rest all looked back at her with a similar curious gaze.

Katniss raised her bow, aiming her arrow at the faint silhouette ahead. It was then did the others see it too. Katniss was ready to let go though Brooks had placed his hand in front, "Wait…" he said in a hushed voice.

Then a faint gasp was heard from the figure, and at that very instant Katniss let go of the arrow, sending it to spear the figure's heart, causing him to recoil, stumble, before falling into the sewer water. It was a silent death save the splash the body made when it landed.

Brooks looked back at Katniss with a glare, "I said-"

"He was about to get help, did we need more trouble?" Katniss shot back. Though she knew that it was reckless to kill as she did, it was more than likely not releasing the arrow would have brought more issues.

"What's done is done regardless," Hughes stepped in, "Now let's keep our voices down and continue on."

Katniss looked to Hughes, giving him a small thankful nod. Brooks only stared at Hughes before turning and silently continuing on leading. They made their way around the dead body where a pool of scarlet began to form.

Brooks came to a stop under another sewer plate, looking up at the light that streamed through the small hole.

"There's not as many people patrolling down here than I would have thought," commented Finnick in a suspicious tone.

"They're up there," explained Brooks, referring to sewer plate above. "It's not the sewers to be careful of you know." He looked to Katniss, "I suppose that bow and arrow will be coming in handy here."

Katniss got her bow and arrow ready, looking through the hole. "You can't expect me to reach that."

"Then how about some help?" Finnick grinned, grabbing Katniss by the waist and lifting her up. Katniss gasped in surprise, glaring down at Finnick, "Hey!" she scolded, "This is a violation of privacy and space you know!"

"Don't alert the guards now," smirked Finnick, "Hurry up."

Katniss sighed, deciding to go with it. She looked through the hole to observe exactly where the guards were. She got her arrow ready at the hole to take out the guard standing just before the sewer plate. Katniss released the arrow, sending it to pierce the guard's neck. He had no time to even gasp and was dead before he hit the ground.

"Let's move quickly." Brooks spoke just as Katniss made the kill.

Katniss didn't hesitate to hastily lift the plate and move it to the side before climbing out of the sewer. She aided in getting Finnick out who in turn helped the rest. During the short moment that everyone else took to get out, Katniss looked over the guard she had murdered.

Murdered…..

And she felt such little regret for what she did. Or did she? Had the Hunger Games really scarred her enough to be able to kill with more ease? She didn't know who this person was, what family he had, what his life was like, to her he was just somebody in the way, somebody who had to be taken care of.

She felt somebody grab her arm, causing her to whip around with her knife ready, though she stopped herself instantly upon recognizing Gale. He flinched slightly at the knife, "Come on, we have to keep moving."

Katniss glared at Gale and he let her go, "Sorry,"

She sighed, "It's fine…let's go." Katniss felt somewhat bad for snapping at Gale the way she did, but she decided not to feel too guilty about it – after all they were on enemy terrain so long as they were in the Capitol.

Taking a better look around the area, Katniss noted a few guards not far, but who took no notice of them. Silently she followed after Gale and the others down a narrow, lifeless-looking hall that descended in a spiral motion.

At the bottom was thick door and Katniss could tell that getting through it won't be easy.

Brooks then slid something from up his sleeve; it was a white blank card, "Searching the pockets of people you kill is always a smart move." He grinned, sliding the card through the scanner. The green light flashed and the door let them in.

Behind the door, just as was expected, were cells. It felt hot and sticky, the smell was awful, and the place looked filthy. Katniss felt her heart pick up again, knowing what could be down here. Without hesitation she quickly ran down the line of cells, the rest of the team doing the same as they began to search for any familiar faces.

"Peeta!" Katniss called anxiously, skimming through the cells.

"Katniss…?" the voice was familiar, it was dry and cracked. It was Peeta.

Katniss whipped about at the sound, rushing towards the cell it came from. It was almost too real to believe...her heart was pounding as she ran to the source Through the bars she saw Peeta leaning against the wall, and she was relieved to see he had subtle injuries. But he needs food and water! she thought in alarm.

Using one of her arrows, Katniss picked at the lock, succeeding and then pushing the door open. As soon as that was done she rushed over to Peeta, kneeling beside him. She grabbed her water sac on her side, opening it and helped Peeta drink it down. Peeta took it gratefully, gasping a little and looking to Katniss. He managed a smile, "You're here…" he rasped.

"You didn't think I was going to let the Capitol have you, did you?" Katniss grinned, helping Peeta rise to his feet by taking one of his arms around her shoulder, "I'm surprised how easy it was to get into your cell," She gave a million thanks to God that Peeta was alright, that he was here with her once more.

Peeta chuckled weakly, murmuring to her, "I love you…"

Katniss stiffened at the words, not responding right away. It was like what Gale did when they were along in the forest at District Twelve, after the first Hunger Games, and made her feel trapped.

"Let's get you out of here," Katniss said in response, not wanting to even talk about the subject of love. She aided Peeta out of the cell, the bread boy had fallen silent after his three word sentence, and Katniss didn't want to look at his expression.

Gale was quick to come to her aid, taking Peeta to his own grasp.

"He'll be alright, won't he?" Katniss demanded, worry visible in her eyes. Ever since the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss was devoted to protecting Peeta as he did her.

"After some good meals, water, and rest, he ought to be alright," Hughes noted as Gale gently set Peeta down against one of the cell doors.

Finnick was ignoring all of them. He was with Annie, cradling her I his arms and rubbing a soothing hand along her back. Annie looked nearly passed out, there was a gash on her cheek, and likely in other places on her body. Katniss could see the mixed emotions of worry and anger blazing in Finnick's eyes.

Johanna was with Hughes and she was holding her head as though she had a severe headache. Katniss felt guilty for the fact that she didn't have too much care that Johanna was alright. Remember who the enemy is and where you need friends… she reminded herself.

Her eyes then widened when she saw three familiar figures crouched on the floor. Her prep team! They look like they've been more abused than Peeta or Johanna. They've been here longer.

"Octavia! Flavius! Venia!" she gasped, crouching down beside them, her emotional, quirky prep team…alive and beaten. Katniss never was a fan of her prep team, but they didn't deserve any of this! And Katniss had grown more compassionate towards them after their reaction to the Quarter Quell. Though it was annoying.

"K-Katniss…" Octavia smiled hopefully at Katniss.

Katniss smiled back at her, "We're getting you out of here," She then looked up at Brooks, "Have all the cells been checked?"

"Not quite," responded Brooks, "The cells in the back we haven't gone through, but I think we have everybody we came for anyway."

"I'll check anyway," Katniss insisted, "We'll need to think of a plan of action to get out of here first before we do anything anyway."

Before anybody could make an objection, Katniss whipped around and bolted down the row of cells, looking in all of them for signs of life, of a familiar face. She tried to ignore the decaying corpses that were left to rot.

Finally she reached the last cell, looking inside and expecting to see nobody. But there was life inside it, barley life.

Katniss's eyes widened and at once she began to whack and pick at the lock with trembling hands, wanting do desperately to get in. Lying in a heap in the corner of the cell, covered in gashes on a bloodstained ground, was Cinna.

Author's Notes~

For you KatnissxPeeta fans, I apologize for the lack of fluff. ^^' I'm not a PeetaxKatniss fan myself, so writing fluff for it isn't exactly easy. (I'm not a fan of much romance in the Hunger Games at all actually...)

Just keep in mind for future chapters that romance will NOT be a centric focus for this story. I'm building it more on friendship and other kinds of bonds.

Reviews are loved~ :)