While before the war seemed to be moving along at a snail's pace, Peeta's interview seems to have marked the beginning of the end. A few days after the airing, Daphne tells me that Katniss has flown into District 8 to help in the war efforts there. It wasn't much, but she and her team did help take down a few hovercrafts, though they were unable to prevent the loss of a hospital. The tragedies of war.
Daphne also informs me that a team of rebels have made propos of the incident and have been airing them throughout the Districts and asks me to air them here.
Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of power or technical know how and refuse. It's vexing, knowing that Katniss and other rebels are doing so much to help in the cause and all I can do is watch and make reports. I wish I could see the propos because as much as I don't want to admit it, I'm starting to become disillusioned about all this.
I have no one to talk to about this, again. Aella and her family quickly moved up the ranks, doing things that she doesn't have access to tell me, but Daphne firmly keeps me at the bottom. To protect me, she says, but maybe it's because she doesn't fully trust me?
Not long after the propos, my uncle tells me at work about them himself. He says the President has scheduled another interview with Peeta to try and persuade the Districts to cease this futile and baseless war.
I ask him if I can go to the studio with him and he agrees, saying it'll be good field work and just look at me, so eager to be in the middle of everything. I'll probably take over after him.
At the studio, I stand back stage, staring out. I came here a few times with my friends, to watch the Tributes plead with us to love them so we'd save them in the arena. It was loud and bright and full of eager fans and expectations. Now there are just peacekeepers and government officials and one Victor.
I can't help but stare at him. He's so pale and thin. I can't imagine that anyone in the Capitol could believe that it's for fashion. He looks awful and terrified. Like that crazy Victor, Annie. No one took a word she said seriously. So how can anyone listen to him?
It's short and to the point. Peeta reiterates the same thing as before. He tells his wife to try and stop all this, he tries to make her doubt the cause. I don't know if she's breaking down in a District 13 bunker, but his pathetic mimicry of the President's sentiments reaffirm my decision to continue with this to the end.
My uncle nods beside me.
"Remarkably reasonable young man."
I try to tune him out. Peeta is handcuffed and marched past me. I want to do something to reassure him that he has friends even here, maybe a light pat on the shoulder or a squeeze of the hand, but I'm afraid in his surprise he'd give me away as a sympathizer.
There have been countless arrests already and there are more avoxes than ever before. Luckily for us, most of them are not actual rebels.
The next day I report that Districts 3 and 11 have taken their districts back. This is good news for all of us, since now the Districts and even us rebels in the Capitol will now have access to more food. Of course, that means the rest of the Capitol will continue languishing, but I neither have the luxury nor heart to concern myself with their plight. I still want the Capitol to come out of this alright, but I think a little suffering is necessary for us right now.
But of course my sentiment only backfires on me. The Capitol is in an uproar. They despise the Districts. They hate Katniss. They even hate Peeta. All they understand is that all their rights have been revoked and for what?
At home I receive a message from Daphne that Katniss and her cousin Gale are going back to District 12 to make more propos. She tells me to make sure no one sees them. It won't be a problem. No one is interested in District 12 anymore. Too many still living Districts to keep an eye on. Including District 13.
Although it started off small we started spreading rumors that District 13 still existed. It was successful and the President had to make an awkward speech about why he withheld that information from us and lied to us, but he did an excellent job, and everyone's too afraid about the rebellion and the shortages to be too angry at the government. They need something to cling to, they need hope. And President Snow has always been there. And everyone is further comforted with the announcement that he'll make a live appearance to try and dissuade the rebels from continuing, again. I look forward to his third attempt.
In the morning, I go in to work early and slip into the Observation Room unnoticed. A couple of my team are there, and I ask if they need any help, they tell me that there's no need and allow me to go to my station in the far corner of the room in peace. As everyone else files in later, I check if anyone's watching, but they're not. Once I know that everyone's busy with their own tasks, I go to District 12.
And there's Katniss. It's the first time I've seen her since the Fiasco. There's a camera crew with her and, of all people, Plutarch Heavensbee. A few seats away from me, my fellow employees stare at their own screens. If they only knew.
Although nothing much happens, I'm struck by the tragedy. She doesn't cry or collapse or faint. She just stands where her old home used to be, but it's hard to watch, even for me. The toll Peeta and everything has had on her is written all over her face. I avert my eyes as they walk through the rest of the District, but that's a mistake, because they go past the perimeter and into the forest and after that I'm left in the dark. They stay in there for hours. In the time they're gone, I manage to get some work done, but it's not much. I keep switching back to them and once I'm almost caught. After that, I leave it alone, deciding to wait to check out the footage when most everyone's gone.
When I do, I follow the group with my eyes as they walk to a different part of town. I don't recognize the area, but it must mean something to Katniss, because she stands there, talking to the camera about something important. I wish I could hear what she's saying. After that she goes to the Victor's Village where she spends a few minutes in her newer old house, and then they all pack up and leave.
All in all, most everything was done off screen, but that's probably a good thing. Watching them made me feel like a Capitol lackey and Katniss no doubt needed some privacy, though with all those people around her, I'm not sure how much of that she got.
The next day is the day for the President's onscreen appearance. I'm at home with my mother. My father is out somewhere trying to piece his business back together. Other than him and his partners, the streets are even more deserted than usual. Everyone is in their homes, glued to their screens. I don't know about everyone else, but to me, this feels like a last ditch effort. The Capitol will still have their propos, which they air 24/7, but after today, I think for everyone the war will feel real, that a nice little chat, won't solve anything.
When Peeta comes on, I know he's not doing himself any favors. He looks crazed and sick and I'm sure if there weren't a million guards posted, he'd attack someone. But still he's able to talk. My mother listens intently and nods along to every incrimination he speaks of. I clench my jaw and try to bear through it until all of a sudden Katniss appears on screen. She's standing at that last place she was before she went to the Victor's Village.
"Peeta, this is your home."
I'm so shocked, I barely make out the first part of what she says.
My mother screams and the rest is lost before the original program is back on.
Even so, she trembles, and I wrap my arms around her, but both our eyes remain fixed on the screen. Soon enough, another rebel propo switches on, this time of Finnick. He looks awful too, but nowhere near as bad as Peeta, but then anyone would look better next to him.
Over and over again, the Capitol watches a battle take place before our very eyes. I wonder if this is as far as the war will come here. I doubt it. I smile as I hear Finnick and Katniss talk about their former friends, all dead now. It's sad, of course, but I'm just too happy that the rebels have made it onto the airwaves here to be disheartened by the message. In one shot, Katniss is singing a strange song as one of her camera crewmen watches her, transfixed. Above them sit a multitude of birds that looks familiar, but I can't place. She's wonderful.
I get so caught up in it, that I ignore Peeta and the frantic looking President, just waiting for the next propo, until Peeta is asked to say something to Katniss.
It's hard for him, I wonder why. He's said everything so well up to now. Then I realize he isn't repeating lines that he'd been forced to memorize. He's trying to speak his own words.
"...No one is safe. Not in the Capitol. Not in the districts. And you... in Thirteen... Dead by morning!"
The rebels switch back soon after, but not before we hear the President shouting to turn off the camera. The two programs switch back and forth faster than before, no doubt causing panic and confusion everywhere. For the first time today I'm more interested in Peeta than the propos. Apparently no one's thought to turn off the camera, because all of Panem can see and hear him being beaten. I don't know if it's to either side's advantage.
My mother sobs outright and I keep holding her and rocking her. She has real fear now for the Districts. If they can take over the airwaves, what else can they do? I sigh and do my best to calm her down. But then there's hope. She admits that she's starting to be afraid of the Capitol too. Just one word was enough to kill Peeta.
I don't know what to think. Peeta was murdered on camera, but he was able to warn District 13 about an attack. But would that be enough? It wouldn't take the Capitol long at all to get hovercrafts there. They were probably there already! I tried to look on the bright side. Maybe they'll all get to safety in time. But even if they don't, we'll still keep fighting. Katniss is the Mockingjay, whatever that means, but there are other leaders!
And then of all things, I remember those birds that were listening to her sing. Mockingjays. They were mockingjays.
Later, after she's calmed down, I leave her sleeping on the couch. Cassie comes by with a blanket and we smile sadly at each other before I pass her. I want to talk to Daphne or Aella, but it's too risky to communicate now unless it's in person. And with the broadcast breach, they'll probably be looking for a mole. I'll have to lay low indefinitely. I guess I'm back to sitting and waiting.