Crap. Crap. Crap. What do we do? We can't just open it and invite whoever is at the door for tea.
"Katniss," He whispered, "There is a closet right across the bathroom. Crawl over there as fast as you can. Pull the clothes off the hangers and wrap yourself in."
"What about you?" I say questioning what he means. "Are you coming too?"
"I'm going to look and see who is there; if it was Capitol people, they wouldn't have knocked."
"Be careful." I get down on my hands and knees to start the crawl. It isn't that far but with a bullet possibly imbedded in your arm, Excruciating pain spreads like fire. Getting in the closet, I open the door with my uninjured arm and a light bulb clicks on. I am blinded by the color in one space. It's more than when the meadow would bloom in the spring; Feather covered dresses, 6 inch neon heels, and orange purple blue green flower accessories everywhere. Pants of the rainbow, jackets with rubies and diamonds and emeralds. Such a waste for these people. Life could easily be sustained without these things.
I frantically pull off clothes, ripping and tearing, ruining and destroying. Not that I care. After a few seconds, I have formed myself into a cocoon of threads.
It is not something uncommon for me, I feel a sense of home thinking back to when Peeta hadn't returned from the Capitol and I would do this daily. Finding small rooms and crevices where I could fold myself into unattainable nothing.
But that is all I hear now. Nothing. Nothing? Beside my heart beat ringing through the sheets from my throbbing arm, its more silent than a rainy day in the woods. So I just sit there rubbing my arm up and down to try to seize the pain. Gale is going to be here any minute. Don't worry.
Minutes pass. Maybe hours. But nothing is there.
In a way of rebirth, I pull my arms out of my makeshift cocoon and open the door, oh so slightly. Maybe the door is a sound barrier.
Which, it is. The walls are padded with sound proof padding. I see through the crack and still hear nothing. Pushing the door open another two inches, I catch a glimpse of Gale. And someone else.
I don't recognize her, and she acts as though she obviously knows him. She has long blonde beautiful hair and the biggest blues I have seen. Wearing a short tight dress, she does not look like a Capitol recruit. He has his hands above his head, being pushed against the wall. Not that he would do anything. Her lips are pressed against his, and he doesn't look to be fighting it off. He is enjoying it; you can see the smile smirk up on his face.
I laugh to myself just picturing Gale doing this to every girl in the Seam. Behind the slag heap, by the lockers, after the school dances, in class. I couldn't blame the girls. He was easily the most handsome boy in his grade. He was handsome, and still is.
Wait. I know her. I really know her. Why would I know someone in the Capitol? Ohmygod. How did she get here? The word was out that her family didn't make it. But it made sense that Snow would target the Mayor's house in the bombing. Madge Undersee. My only friend beside Gale. And now here they both are. Such a special bond happening at the worst possible time.
I cough lightly to break the kiss and it quickly does. They pull away with red rosy cheeks, panting heavily. I roll my eyes at how extremely wrong this is. The timing is horrible. But I thought she was dead too. Everyone did. I run up to Madge and easily wrap my arms around my surprisingly alive friend.
"Katniss, no one knew if you were still alive!"
"Same with you! I thought you were dead?"
" My family and I survived, obviously. My dad thought it would be a good idea to get out of the area and take us with him to one of his trips to visit the mayors in other outlying districts. He snuck my mom and me on the Capitol trains, and we visited District 8, 5 and 10. But the last train scheduled was only to the Capitol, so we took it. Such a coincidence that I would see the lights on from the outside and run into Gale," she blushes again a brighter shade of crimson. "And you Katniss! It's so nice to see someone that knows me more personally other than family." She holds me closer and she has a lone tear rolling down her cheek. I wipe it with my left hand and she smiles. "Thanks. I was thinking of you when my mother didn't survive the train ride to District 8. She was so weak, Katniss. And I couldn't do anything about it."
I looked to Madge with shock. Her mother is dead? I know how it feels to unexpectedly lose a parent. So does Gale. I'm not that good with words, so I stroked her now matted blonde hair like I would do to Prim. Madge was at a point where she needed comfort. What about her dad? He has to be safe. Has to. "I am so sorry, Madge?" She looked up at me with her shiny eyes, "Where is your dad?"
She exhaled deeply, a breath she didn't realize she had inside her, "He is underground in a safe house with some of the other political rulers around Panem. Hopefully the safe in safe house is holding its load." She giggled lightly at her remark.
There is the Madge I knew before.
"Okay. Katniss and I are heading to the Snow's mansion. I don't know if it would be safer for you to stay here, or come with us. There are more activated Pods the deeper you get in the city. So it's your choice." Gale spoke quietly, almost ashamed at his suggestion. Just imagine little Madge in the warzone of the Capitol. Absolutely not. I can't loose a friend that easily.
"I think it would be best if Madge stayed here," I suggest. "This seems like a decent place and the pods have already been activated in this area. You can see the bullet holes in the walls," I motioned to the purple wall to my left.
Madge smiled at the thought of heading into the depths of the capitol. "I think I can stay here. But could you meet back here after you get back? If you can? You are the only friends I have left." She continued, "I can get your supplies ready and fix up your camouflage and outfits. If you want to blend in, you can't look like that." She looks us up and down and smirked.
"Alright, I guess that's fair." Gale said right before giving her a kiss on the cheek, and then the forehead, and then the lips.
I couldn't take this forever. "I'm… leaving to get the… supplies now." They nodded some kind of conjoined nod and continued on. Apparently Madge wasn't helping with the supplies.
I opened the ripped backpacks that were sat on the counter from when we entered through the window earlier before. All that was left was the empty cans of food we received at Tigress' store. I find some thinly sliced Potatoes in a cylinder shaped container and put them in the pack. A few waters are taken from inside the cold box and some apples, strawberries and peaches. I think. I zip the pack up and head for the bathroom to get some first aid supplies. Bandages, gauze, other various products are put in the pack.
I didn't even think of this before, so I check the other rooms in the house. I open the door to the left of the closet and the automatic lights flicker on once again. There is a large bed, the size of my bedroom back at the Seam, and dressers and another closet. I start to rummage through the doors to see of there is anything that could be of use. Well, a gun could easily be of use. I grab it to put in the back pocket of my my overed cargo pants. Then we are off.
Gale says his goodbye to Madge and repeats the safety precautions to Madge. Don't leave under any circumstance, unless in a life or death situation. Stay in the most interior room and have adequate food and water. If we don't come to this house in 2 and half hours, start to head to her father's safe house. Yadda Yadda. I hug Madge once again and we are off on to the mansion.
We climb out the window that we came into and Madge positions the grate back into place. The alley is now free of soldiers so we decide to continue our mission toward the center of all evil. The snowflakes feel that they are crawling under your skin and nesting their cold touch permanently. I look to Gale; he has a look of longing in his eyes. He hates the Capitol. He hates everything about it. But I know he misses Madge.
I knew he liked the girl with Strawberries.
Entering farther and farther into the crowd, moans and labored breathing are coming from every direction. Seeing the children confused and restless in their tattered clothing or footed pajamas, I feel helpless, that I can't do anything about it. At least some of them have their parents for a comfort. I overhear in the crowd a 10 year old boy look up a man with big green eyes that shine like Finnick's, "Where are we going Uncle? I have frostbite on my toes."
The man weighed down with a Burlap sack and a small safe looks down and patiently tells the boy, "We are supposed to get new housing assigning for right now. The faster you walk the faster we will get there."
"STAY TO THE RIGHT!" The intercom screams as we take the motion of sliding right. The voice is acting as a human traffic director.
Up ahead, is the president's mansion. Its white pillars and snow covered green lawn give me no doubt that the largest property of the Capitol comes from the Sick minded, Rose smelling creature named Cornelius Snow; Creator of Evil. Gale must see it too because he gets a skip in his step. Something I noticed from many years of hunting. He knows he is about to get what he wants.
The black gates stand 8 feet tall. Spaces about 6 inches apart prevent intruders. He deserves intruders to stick bamboo under all his finger nails. To have him tortured, hijacked, destroyed. By me. Ohh the joy cascading through my being is unexplainable. It's strong as Peeta's arms after I heard the cannon and thought he was dead. After I injured my tailbone 'falling off a roof', on the beach at the quarter quell. How I wish he was the way before, Before Snow ruined the man who loved me. That is what energy i am running on; love for the fact that Snow will soon be gone. For my arms to wrap around his neck until he will never realize I left. Because he will be gone. Dead, along with all his sick ideas. For all the trouble I have faced, for the tragedy this whole nation has suffered. Gone. Sweet Victory.
If I could use the nuclear power once innovated in District 13, place it deep inside him and slowing let it take its course, I would no questions asked.
Nearing the gate to the mansion, the world seems unbalanced, as though walking on steep hills while hunting. I look to Gale and his feet are quickly mirroring my sidesteps. The path way is starting to swivel as though it's on an axel. Looking down, all that is seen is black. Smelling nothing but rotting flesh, coming from below. Jumping to the covered porches of the businesses surrounding us to save our lives, a sky of acid rain starts to fall down on the citizens.
Then the bullets.
"They're coming from above! It's the rebels!" Gale was right. The bullets were coming for the white uniformed peacekeepers. Red splattered on their uniform matching outfits as their lives are terminated. The mental cannons went off. With all the death around, the sky would be covered 5 times over with the faces of the fallen.
With our allies above, I look directly up and remove my scarf covering my eyes. Just need to catch one soldier's eye. Then they will know to stop with the killing in this general direction. Wouldn't want to kill the Mockingjay. I peek my head over the overhead porch to maybe save my life. There were at least 40 shooters lined on the rooftops. Use your eyes. I am right here, I silently think to myself.
The Ah-Hah moment strikes when, "All weapons down! Cease fire!" A bearded man 3 stories above me screams while motioning for me to cross the street and to climb the fire ladder on the side of the building. I grab Gale's arm and drag him into this. I can't leave him waiting. Once again pulling my scarf over my facial features, we push through the living and dead bodies on the pavement.
An unmarked cemetery above the ground is all this is.
When we are climbing the ladder, I can't help but think back to all the trees Gale and I climbed while hunting. But this was a completely new hunting experience. We were the hunted.
Now I understand why the animals scurried away and looked so terrified when faced with their imminent death.
At the top, three men come to greet us. The one on the left is a husky form fitted blonde haired man with a great amount of facial hair. He grabs my hand and shakes aggressively. "It's such a pleasure Mockingjay." I give him a tight-lipped nod. To think this is an honor. Heh.
A dark haired well shaved man follows after a red haired man who reminds me so much of Darius, it is sickening. They lead us to safety down the stairs of the building. We are safe, but I need to get to the mansion. Fast. "Excuse me," I cough, "Gale and I need to get to Snow."
"Alright Katniss. We have the found the best route available if you would like for us to direct you." The blond haired man speaks again. I explain that Gale and I are doing this alone and if we could just be given the street names we will be fine. The men seem to be deliberating and Gale is looking around most likely thinking about Madge's safety. Good.
Coming out of the huddle they announce, "Katniss, it's dangerous out there. We are suggesting that we come with you." Do they think I can't handle myself? Picking at my brain, I try to find a better excuse than to get the heck out of my way.
"Gale and I work best together. With no one else. I am suggesting as your Mockingjay that you leave it alone." A conflicting war is seen in their eyes and they let us go.
Now at the gates of the mansion, I get a better view of what is inside. You think it would be empty, but rather the opposite. Inside is packed with rows after rows of refugee children. Children; injured, broken, crying Were they assigned to this part? Why aren't they being lead into the house? Rumors had been heard that President Snow was accepting house visitors for the time being. But no. Around the perimeter are white uniformed peacekeepers, blocking all sides; no room for escape. If Snow really did want the residents of the Capitol safe they would be in a bunker underground. But this isn't for the children's protection. Snow has created a human shield.
Absolutely disgustingly smart.
Large massed men are trudging through the littered roads like foot deep quick sand, yelling "The rebels! The rebels!" Momentum brings me to a flagpole that I cling to. They rope is used by me to holster myself above it all. And that is when I see it.
A hovercraft marked with the Capitol seal materializes over the barricade children. Silver parachutes rain down on the, Even in the commotion, the desperate children know that parachutes signal food or water or medicine. They scoop them up eagerly, their frozen fingers struggling with the string. The hovercraft disappears and five seconds later, twenty parachutes simultaneously explode.
The snow is no longer the white as before. Blood is splattered, little body parts scatter the area. Many of the children die on impact while others lay in agony. The whole situation is a chaotic mess. The peacekeepers must have unexpected hearts, rearranging to make a pathway for the children. Did they not expect this? They must have been briefed about an event this major. It was a Capitol seal on the hovercraft, right?
Some rebellious rings in the idea of this. Thinking back to Beetee and Gale's bomb design, I see almost mirrored ideas blown into these bombs. Booby-trapping an area that provides something essential to survival… Endangering offspring in order to draw in the actual desired target, the parent. Luring the victim into what appears to be a safe haven-where death awaits it… A (second) bomb explodes. I can't just stand by and watch. I must get down and help the children.
New white uniforms sweep in through the path. They are not. Peacekeepers. They are medics. Rebel Medics. That's when I see the duck tailed blond haired girl I could pick out of the crowd anywhere. Prim. Is walking into the death trap.
"PRIMMMMM!" I sense the same desperation in my voice likened to the reaping. She can't hear me over the cries. Legs are moving faster than my brain as I run toward her. "Prim! Get out! Leave! Prim!" Then her eyes find me and her instinct has her running toward my way. If only my little duck was in the water. She could've been faster.
The barricade men move out her way as she sprints my way, while I am coming at the same momentum. She is safe. She is safe. She is safe. She's alive. Five feet in front of me.
And that's when the rest of the parachutes go off.