It was 1 O'clock in the morning when Effie finally reached the training centre, freezing cold, no wig and barely any makeup apart from her obvious smudged mascara and smoking a cigarette. Her night had been hell, she'd been called by president snow to "entertain" a game maker, he was not gentle, he had hurt her and abused her body and Effie felt disgusted like she just wanted to scrub all of her skin off, there were multiple bruises covering her, including obvious handprints on her neck and wrists.
Effie was disoriented, so she just stood in the lobby staring into space, that was until the one other person present in the lobby, Johanna came up to her "Jeez Trinket you're back late." She said and when Effie didn't respond she stared at her, now noticing the bruises covering the escort and the dead look behind her eyes. "Shit Effie what happened to you." She said helping the other woman sit down. Effie continued to stare into space for a few minutes. "Effie, did somebody hurt you." Jo asked again.
"I… I… I'm fine, I was asked to entertain a game maker." Effie said truthfully, probably because she was still in shock "Fuck snow is selling escorts now too." She said, she hadn't really meant it but it had slipped out, and Effie just nodded. "Are you okay?" She asked knowing the answer was no "I'm not sure, I think something might be broken." She said and looked at the mentor with fear in her eyes "He… hit me pretty hard in the ribs…" she admitted. "Come on, let's get you back upstairs to the penthouse." She said helping her up and to the elevator "Why are you helping me? You hate me…" she pointed out "You need help, nobody deserves this, you should speak to Finnick." She said and Effie nodded.
The elevator dinged for the penthouse and Jo walked in first "Haymitch, I've got your girl." He was about to reply with his usual she's not my girl, until she stepped out from behind Jo "Oh god, Princess what happened." He asked and when Effie didn't respond Johanna answered "snow sent her a male client." She explained and Haymitch looked at her knowingly. "Thanks for bringing her up Jo."
"No problem, says she thinks she's broken something, just look after her." She told him and he nodded, with that she left. He approached her slowly "What hurts sweetheart?" He asked her gently "Everything." Was her simple answer "What do you think you've broken?" He asked this time "One of my ribs."
So he sat her on the couch, she was indeed bruised all over her ribs which were sore to the touch "I think it's broken too princess, but no doctor will do anything for a broken rib, so I might as well look after you here." He said before going and running her a bath. Once it was ready he helped her remove her dress and step in the bathtub, then he came back for her once she was finished, taking her to her bedroom and helping her dress for bed. "I'll get you some painkillers princess." He promised and left her to get into bed whilst he got the pills and a glass of water.
"You got everything you need?" He asked and she nodded he looked as though he was about to turn away when she stopped him "Please don't leave." She said in a quiet voice and she had never sounded so vulnerable, so he slipped into bed beside her, not right next to her so she wasn't uncomfortable, but she quickly drifted closer and closer until she was safely wrapped in his arms "No one's ever going to hurt you like this again Princess, I promise." He said and in response she curled up closer to him, eventually falling into an uneasy, but much needed sleep.