Chapter three: Meet the Districts
"I don't care that you were up half the night, but its eight o clock. You have an hour before Effie will be here reminding you that we have a "tight tight schedule that we must stick to," Haymitch comes into my room and says. His attempts at mocking Effie Trinktet in the way that District 12's kids usually do sounds a lot funnier than I'm sure it was meant.
Peeta rolls over on his back, arms still holding me tightly which then ends up with me half on top of him. I open one of my eyes to look up at him. His eyes are such a very pretty blue.
"Morning," he says kissing my nose.
"Morning," I reply with a smile closing my eye and just simply enjoying being close to him.
"I'm serious you two. I want you up and ready to go so she doesn't complain," Haymitch says. I sigh.
"Go away. We'll be ready," I reply, wishing I could throw my pillow at him. In order to do that though it would mean that I would have to roll over and reach for it and it really isn't worth it.
"Get up and I will," he replies. I change my mind. Maybe throwing the pillow is worth it. I reluctantly roll over away from Peeta to grab the pillow but he seemed to have been reading my mind and he takes my pillow before I can grab it.
"There isnt any need to make anyone else upset Katniss," he says when I glare at him. He's smiling though; I know for now, its okay.
After we've both gotten up, showered, and gotten ready for the day proving that we aren't going to go back to sleep as much as I know I want to, Haymitch leaves and goes to his own house to get ready, leaving Peeta and I with some of Greasy Sae's warm breakfast.
"So, now that he's finally gone, if you want to talk to me about yesterday I'm listining," Peeta says. I know he's still really upset and hurt about my comment. I don't blame him though. I feel bad for even saying it.
"I meant what I said, but I didn't mean it in the way that I said it," I tell him, "I realize that this probably isnt very fair to you, because I don't know if you'll remember it or not, but when you proposed to me in the Capitol for the sake of our act, someone told me that it had to have been really hard for you to do that. They told me that though you probably wanted to marry me, you didn't want it to be like that. You wanted it to be real." He nods his head.
"They didn't really mess with that memory much. They just made me forget that I love you," he says.
"Well, I believe that that's really how you felt, and if it is, then I want this to be right. I didn't mean that I don't want to be your girlfriend. I do, and I realize now that I love you and it isn't an act, I really mean that, but it needs to be done right." I look down at the table because I can't even bare to look at him.
"Right, as in, you want me to officially ask you to be my girlfriend?" he asks. I nod my head. I hear the smile behind his sigh.
I look up and see him shake his head, but he's smiling, so I'm not really sure what's going through his mind. He gets up and walks around the table and sits in the chair beside me.
"Will you stop being rediculous and be my girlfriend then?" he asks. This brings a smile to my face. I don't really put much thought behind my actions before I lean over and kiss him. We're still in the middle of kissing when Haymitch walks in, Effie Trinket traling behind him.
"We cant be late, we have a tight tight schedule that we must follow and I don't want to deal with what happens if we're…" Effie stops when she sees us. Her words and their entrance made us jump apart.
"Worked out the whole "not his girlfriend" deal now have we?" Haymitch smiles mocking me. I feel my face grow hot and match the shade of Peeta and Effie's faces.
"I'll be outside. Two minutes," Effie says as she turns around and walks out.
"If you're all done getting it out of your systems, go get your things and lets go," Haymitch says. I could hit him. I should have thrown my pillow at him this morning. I'm almost positive that he enjoys making my life difficult.
Once we're in the hovercraft leaving 12 heading for the Capitol, Effie starts going over her to-do list.
"We're supposed to be at the Justice Building at ten fifteen which is only about fifteen minutes after we arrive in the Capitol," she states. I'm looking out the window only half paying attention to her when Peeta's hand finds mine. I look at him and smile. I know that no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay.
"Katniss, are you even listining to me?" Effie says bringing me out of my own mind.
"Yes, I'm listining. You're just telling us what we have to do once we get to the Capitol. Justice Building at ten fifteen, meeting with one of the officials who are going to show and explain to us the rebuilding of each District after the war at ten thirty, break for lunch around noon, meet the President at one." I recite showing her that I have been paying attention to what she's said, but not focusing on the details. She sighs. Theres nothing more she can do.
When we reach the Capitol, my heart starts to race. I'm suddenly more nervous than I have been in a long time. I squeeze Peeta's hand. He seems to understand my feelings because he squeezes back.
"Welcome, I'm Madeline. You must be the District 12 Victors," a small but bright and springy little girl says as we enter the Justice Building. "If you'll follow me this way I'll take you into the conference room where your meeting will start," she says. In looks, the girl cant be any older than Peeta and I who are just over eighteen, but the way she talks, the way she acts, maybe she's just short for her age.
We enter the conference room where on the larger two walls, there are four maps, and on the smaller two walls there are only three. I look closer, under each map are lables. Each map is one of the thirteen Districts and then the Capitol it's self.
"Good morning," Commander Paylor greets us. She smiles when she sees Peeta and I holding hands. "Most of you know who I am. I'm afraid that it's only you Peeta, who doesn't," she says, "I'm Commander Paylor. Hunger Games 66 Victor from District 8." Peeta's eyes light up. His hand tightens in mine before he lets go completely and walks out of the room. I shoot a worried glance at Haymitch who swiftly takes off after him.
"You probably shouldn't have said that. I think he remembers watching your video," I say sadly.
"That bothers him?" Paylor asks.
"It's a long and complicated story, but yes, it bothers him," I say, "Can we go on without him? I can fill him in later when he's calmed down," Paylor is confused, but doesn't make any comments.
"I can fill Haymitch in myself while you and Peeta are with the President,"
"No, Haymitch will need to go with them there too," Effie speaks up. She understands about Peeta's hijacking, she knows he's not better.
"Well, then, we'll have to wait for them to come back. I don't know that you'll be able to explain everything correctly Katniss," she says, "Have a seat then. I can tell you a little." She gestures to the table in the center of the room.
"I'm sure you can see that on the walls are maps of each of the Districts as well as the Capitol its self. This is how they keep track of what goes on in each one." I look around. I can see in the District 2 map that the mountain never fully recovered from our attack. District 8 looks better than when I left it. District 12 is still in the works of rebuilding, and District 13 still looks like it always has. Destroyed. No attempts at rebuilding. Though we know that isn't the case, everything there is under ground.
"They're satalite maps. They show what goes on in each District in real time," Paylor says.
"Can I look at them better?" I ask.
"If you want. I can try to answer any questions that you might have," she says.
District 1. I'm not really sure what they're good for other than I know that they're one of the Districts that Career Tributes come from.
"What does District 1 do?" I ask.
"They're good for making jewlery and other valuable items similar to that," Paylor says. I guess I can see that. Theres a small looking mine, but mostly its just a normal city. I move my eyes to District 2. I can see that they've rebuilt their town since we were there, but the entrances to the Mountain we closed off haven't been reopened.
District 3 is still flourishing as it always has with the making of their electronics. I wonder if Beetee reurned there or stayed in 13. District 4. It almost hurts to look at knowing that that's where my mother is. Even though I'm upset with her doesn't mean I don't love and miss her. They look fine to me.
District's 5 and 6 don't look harmed much either. They seem to be doing just fine. The electricity in the Districts is still working and transportation seems to be running just fine.
I can see District 7's lumber plants and the trees that surround the District. A lot of those trees died in the war, but there are still enough standing that I'm sure District 7's productivity is still running at least. District 8 looks a lot like District 12 looks right now. Slowly rebuilding from the bombing and attacks from the Capitol. I can see that a few of their major fabric and textile factories look like they're up and running again. Seeing District 8 makes me sad too. I cant help but think of the poor innocent people who lost their lives there that day simply because the Capitol was run by mean and foul people.
District 9's steel factories were never really touched, but apparently the city was bombed pretty heavily. I can see that they're having to rebuild everything there too.
District 10's fields were hevily destroyed. I can see where they had fields full of grass where they kept the livestock. I can see where there used to be barns and chicken coops that exist no longer. I wonder how they're dealing with that. I wonder how many animal's survied whatever happened there.
District 11 is another one it hurts to look at. I can't help but remember Rue, sweet sweet Rue, as I see remaining trees. Some of the ones on the outskirts of 11 were destroyed simply because of the heavy bombing that happened in 12 that fateful day. Lastly, District 13 looks the same as it always has. Bare, empty, but I can tell, now that I've been and lived there, where the entrance to the underground world is.
"Are you alright? You've been silent a while," Paylor asks me. Seeing these maps, and how destroyed the Districts were during the war that I was a major part of hurts.
"I'm okay," I tell her. The only one who would understand my pain is Haymitch. Not even Peeta would be able to understand me. Not this time. Peeta and Haymitch haven't returned yet. I'm a little worried. I don't stay worried for long because about a minute after I wonder where they are, they walk back in the room.
"Sorry about that Commander," Peeta says like the gentleman he is. I can see Effie looks pretty wary about being close to him now, as if he'd attack her. It's me who should be causious, but it's me who loves him so dearly I don't know how to stay away.
"Can I explain to you what you're supposed to know now?" Paylor asks, "Kanitss has already seen the maps of the Districts," she points to the walls. Peeta looks at them now.
"I cant make any promises Commander," he says, "you're welcome to go on."
"Alright then, if you'll look to this first map," Paylor begins, "these are satalite maps that show the Districts in real time. This one is District 1. Katniss asked me what they do here. They make jewlery and other valuable items alike," she looks at Peeta. Of course, he's paying close attention.
"As you can see, they weren't too badly messed up from the war. There were a few places around here…" she points at some dark region that I over looked,"they turned on one another, but for the most part District 1 was on rebel side.
"District 2 however never made an attempt to try to reopen the entrances into the rock. I'm sure you both remember the distruction there and realize how valuble turing the tide in 2 helped win the war."
"I wasn't healed completely then, but I think I do remember that. It was Gale's idea right?" Peeta asks. Gale and his ideas. Prim. I hate how everything reminds me of how much I'm mad at him and how much I miss my sister.
"Yes. It was," I said sadly. Anything that was ruined is either Gale's fault or mine.
"He's rather bright. I heard he's moved to 2. Been a huge help in picking up the pieces of what you guys destroyed," Paylor mentions.
"Can we not talk about Gale?" I ask bitterly. "It's a sore topic for me,"
"No problem. We can move on to District 3. District 3, like 1, attacked one another until they were all on the rebel side. As you can see, there wasn't much damage done, and in the six months that its been since the war ended, they've rebuilt and regrouped faster than anyone else has."
"What about Beetee?" I look more at Haymitch for this one.
"He's back in 3," Haymitch says after it was apparent Paylor didn't know what I was talking about.
"Annie went back to 4 right?" I ask. Haymitch answers this too.
"Yes she did. But let Paylor explain what happened in 4 and then I'll tell you.
"District 4, like 1 and 3, wasn't too harmed and mostly attacked one another until they heard about the capture of Annie. Finnick wasn't the only one who was protective of her. When they realized they way she changed so drastically after becoming a Victor for their District, there isnt a single person who would do anything for her. They finally banned together and joined us." District 4 was touchy too because it made me miss my mom.
"Now that you know that," Haymitch begins, "your mom writes every now and then. She says Annie may not live long after she has her baby. Finding out she was pregnant to begin with has been hard on her since Finnick never returned," First, I know my mom writes I just can't bring myself to read her letters. Second, I now feel really bad, and the images of Finnick's head leaving his body are enough to bring tears to my eyes.
"Its okay Kantniss. You wouldn't have been able to save him," Peeta says as he touches my arm gently. He understands this. He was there, he saw the same images that I'm seeing now. I want nothing more than to curl up in Peeta's lap and cry. This war has caused so much pain and suffering that seems to collapse on me all at once.
"I'm sorry," Paylor says, "I never really realized exactly how hard this is for you. The President just wanted to make sure you were informed on the restoration process of Panem. She'll explain more why when you meet her later," Paylor says really sincerely and theres a hint that she really does feel bad about upsetting me.
"It's okay," I say wiping my eyes, "Districts 2, 4, and 11 have some painful memories associated with them," I explain.
"I'll try not to upset you when we get to talking about 11 then," Paylor says. I don't know that it will work, but I let her move on.
"Moving on to Districts 5 and 6, they were on our side from the moment that they heard about the first rebellion in 8. As you can see the only damage that was done was what the Capitol did, but they didn't do anything too bad since 5 and 6 control most of Panem's electricity and transportation. The Capitol wasn't going to cut off everything. The Districts cut off a good majority of the Capitol supply, however 5 and 6 were both worried about being obliterated that they only cut back on the supply that the Capitol had instead of cutting theem off enterly.
"District 7, as many of you can see here..." she moves to the District 7 map, "Many of their trees didn't survive when they were bombed. There are enough to get them through until their most recent trees grow, but they may never catch back up to where they were because trees take a very long time to grow and mature."
"Sorry to interrupt commander, but is there any way we can be done soon?" Peeta asks. This surprises us all a bit. He's usually the most patient person in the world.
"I'm sorry, I just can't concentrate," he explains.
"There are only two more Districts to get through because you know the state of District 12, you were in District 13 not long ago and if you look District 8 is in almost the same condition as 12." Paylor says.
"I know. It's just more than I care to know. Bottom line is that all the Districts had some degree of distruction that can be seen from these maps." Peeta says.
"It's only eleven forty-three There's still seventeen more minutes before they'll come get us for lunch," Effie interjects.
"Two more Districts Peeta," Haymitch says as I place my hand over top his hand that hasn't left my arm to say the same thing as the others.
"Sorry, we can go on. It was just a question," he says. Paylor studies his face for a minute before nodding her head and moving on.
"District 9 doesn't have to rebuild their factories because the factories were located on the outskirts and the Capitol knew that bombing the steel plants would take out all of District 9 as well as half of District 8 and 10. As you can see the center city of 9 was bombed and people took refuge in the factories. Until their city is rebuilt they'll stay in the factories and they won't be able to use them as factories.
"District 10, as you can see, had their fields burned down and most of the animals that they worked with were killed. District 10 is another District that may never be able to fully recover. Entire species of some animals they had will never be seen again." This shouldn't have shocked me as much as it did. Didn't they have more than one place where a species was kept? I looked at the map again closer. Of course they had more than one place, but it was more than one place that was destroyed.
"I'll try not to upset you Katniss. I'm not entirely sure what will trigger it, but as you can see District 11 wasn't hurt that badly unlike some of the previous Districts. Their main resource is their crops. If you can see, part of the bombings of fields in 10 also spread to the trees in 11. Then when they tried to wipe out District 12, it spread to the trees as well." Paylor looked at me. I admire her for actually caring enough to try not to hurt my feelings, but the trees in District 11 remind me of Rue and my face reflects sadness anyways. She doesn't ask why.
"I know this was long and hard to hear and get through, but it had to be done. Is there any thing you want to say or ask?"
I can't think of anything I want to ask Paylor but I do have some questions for the President. I want to know the changes she's making. I want to be sure that the Capitol Games will be the last and that Panem is going to change for the better. I understood Coin wasn't going to do any good change and that's why I killed her instead. I knew Snow was going to die but in the end I knew it couldn't be me who did it.
There is a silence in which I simply take Peeta's hand in mine and hold it. I can feel him relax to my touch and didn't realize he was stressing out.
"I think we're done Commander," Haymitch says.
"It's almost time to move on anyways," Effie adds. I wonder exactly what she's doing here anyways. Why didn't she busy herself with Madeline?
"Some things never change," Haymitch mutters hearing my thoughts.
AUTHORS NOTE: If you've looked at any of my other stories you know I'm a HUGE Harry Potter nerd and this is the first non Harry Potter story I have written. I really hope that I do this some justice because I am NO good with formal writing using a first person perspective unless its about myself which this is not. This chapter, I kinda feel as though its redundant and repetitive and long and boring and I dragged it out because lets face it who cares about district 5? its not important to the story line. BUT. I care about district 5 because its just the way my brain works with organization skills. The Districts that Susanne Collins doesnt tell us in the book (Districts 1,5, 6 and 9)I had a fellow friend of mine help me look up online where she did mention them so what those districts do IS cannon. And just so we all know though I think I just made that obvious I am not Susanne Collins. These are her characters and places and I'm just simply playing with them. :) Please Please Please tell me what you think (especially of this chapter)