The wait for midnight is agonising, especially because it's almost twelve full hours. Twelve hours filled with interviews and sponsor meetings and a rising sense of impending doom. I still have no idea how we're all supposed to get out of here. There's peace keepers all over the place and cameras in every corner. I don't know who I can trust and I don't know who knows what and how much about what's going on. Hell, I don't even really know what's going on.

I stick to Effie's side every second, not only for the illusion of security this gives me but because I know that I must be the rebels' priority to get out. And as long as she's with me, they have to get out Effie aswell.

"They're on the move!"someone suddenly announces and everyone turns to look at the giant screen mounted on one wall. With everyone looking towards the Games and thus distracted, Effie turns to me, bright smile firmly in place."Darling, would you go find Haymitch? Tell him it's time."

"Come with me,"I say instantly. She shakes her head, as I assumed she would. Her smile never wavers but there's a hint of fear in her eyes."Arguing with your escort is very rude, dear. Can't have the whole team disappearing at once, what would our sponsors think of us? Now, chop-chop, off you go."

I'm about to argue further when Johanna Mason shows up next to me out of nowhere, firmly grasping my elbow and turning me towards the exit pointedly."Go on, find Haymitch. I'll hang around with Trinket."

I hesitate but Johanna and Effie agreeing is a good indicator of things getting serious. And if Jo's staying with her... I turn back to Effie, who just gives me a small smile and makes a shooing motion at me, and decide to do as I am told.

Trying hard to calm my nerves, I make my way to find Haymitch. I go to our mentor room, finding only Terra and Kyla there. The Victor from Two looks up at me with a strained smile."He's asleep. Three doors down from the dining room, I think."

I only nod in response, picking up on the two women's tension that I feel has little to do with the events unfolding on the screens before them. It's all coming to an end, one way or another, I can feel it.

Haymitch is then room Terra told me I'd find him, but he isn't asleep. He's typing into a handheld device and looks up when I walk in. He looks tired and harried, getting to his feet immediately.

"They're on their way to the tree now,"I tell him. Haymitch nods."Let's get going then."

We leave the room and I fiddle with my hairpin, turning on the device."Are we going to get Effie now?"

"We're going straight to the meeting point,"Haymitch says without bothering to ask what I've figured out and how."She and Johanna'll be there, I got Plutarch to switch them to our hovercraft."

"There's more than one, then?"I ask but he gives me a stern, wary look."Not now, Prim. There's time for all this later. And turn the pin back off."

We go to the training centre's elevator, that sadly being the only way to get out. We get in when the hasty clicking of high heels draws nearer. I spin around, half-expecting Effie, only to realise it's Celeste Horan, the Gamemaker."Hold the elevator!"

To my surprise, Haymitch actually leans over and presses the button to keep the doors open. But I guess now is not the time to question his odd behaviour. The woman, this year sporting purple hair twisted into a complicated braided style, smiles as she presses the button for the lobby. That she's going to our floor makes me nervous but it's nothing compared to when she walks along the corridor with us, lightly chatting along. I throw Haymitch a look but he gives a slight shake of his head, which I take to mean we needn't get rid of her. Well, if Plutarch Heavensbee is on our side, then maybe he's not the only Gamemaker. Maybe she's getting us out of here...

And, indeed, when two peacekeepers want to stop us at the exit, she laughs as if they were joking."Now, don't be silly. They are with me, how could you possibly think the curfew applies?"

That's the first I hear of a curfew but judging by Haymitch's slightly guilty look in my direction, he must have known about it. After some hesitating and even calling their boss, the peacekeepers let us go, but only after Celeste Horan threatens to complain about them.

We walk through back alleys for a good twenty minutes until we reach a rather nondescript looking street, both Haymitch and Celeste stopping and looking around expectantly. Almost as if on cue, a car pulls up and stops right next to us. The three of us pile into the back of the car.

Plutarch Heavensbee sits upfront, a Capitol woman, with silver flowers tattooed on her cheek, I don't know behind the wheel. The Gamemaker turns around to us."Miss Everdeen, good to see you again." He gestures to the woman driving."My assistant, Fuliva Cardew. There'll be time for proper introductions later."

I only nod, no one else speaking for the rest of the car ride. We get out at what must be the outskirts of the Capitol. I check my watch to see it's a quarter past ten by now.

Our group gets out of the car and walks a little further, a hovercraft coming into view. Next to it, we're met by Finnick and Cashmere Addlington.

"Effie already on board?"Haymitch asks as soon as we are close enough that he doesn't have to shout. The waiting victors exchange a quick look before Finnick replies."Yeah."

But the second of hesitation was telling. Haymitch stops walking and so do I."Where is she?"

"We don't know,"Cashmere admits,"She'll get out with Gloss and Terra and Mason, it doesn't matter."

Haymitch turns to Heavensbee."You said you could only garantee the first hovercraft getting out. You said you'd switch her to ours."

The Gamemaker has the decency to look embarrassed."She was suppossed to be here. She's late. They're late. We can't wait, as you very well know. They'll go on the second hovercraft. It's no matter."

"To you, maybe,"Haymitch growls and I step closer to my mentor, nodding my agreement. Again, Finnick and Cashmere exchange a quick glance and then, as if agreed upon, Finnick punches Haymitch square in the jaw and drags him onto the hovercraft while Cashmere throws me over her shoulder like a sack of potatos and follows him.

They don't let us go until the hovercraft is in the air.

)o(

um so I fucked over Jo and Effie I guess

whoops my bad

(do not be my faves i'll ruin ur life)