Hey guys, I have some bad news. This story is really stalling; I have no idea where to go after this chapter, and it could take me a while to get back into it, so this is gonna be the last update for a while, unless any of you have ideas about where I can take it. Believe me, I'm completely open to them, because I have nothing.

Here's chapter 22

Let me know what you think, and sorry again,

viralsfan101

22

Katniss

"I beg your pardon?" Haymitch and I are both absolutely horrified, but before Finnick can go any further, I bark, "Go get Cato. Now." One of the Peacekeepers darts out of the room and Cato arrives within two minutes. He moves over, sits beside me and takes my hand, gripping it tight. Finnick and he assess each other for a moment before settling down and Fin begins to speak,

"Katniss, Cato. Snow's plans are very well developed – almost there in fact. If he succeeds, he can kill us all, wipe all traces of Panem off the planet and make sure it seems like your games never happened. Like you never got reaped. That you never met, or fell in love. That you never even existed… No one would ever know the truth about the girl on fire." Cato shakes his head, growling, "I would never let that happen," and I instantly agree. Finnick raises an eyebrow and asks, "So confident, big boy? How are you gonna stop it then, dude?"

"I don't know, Finnick, but we have to." Their relationship seems strained now, like battle lines have been drawn. "We fight," I say and all of them spin to face me, shaking their heads firmly. "No way, Katniss, you're going to England, to stay safe and away from all this." This makes me angry and I ask, "What? You think you can do this without me? Come on, think clearly, boys, I am the only one Snow is willing to negotiate with, so don't be stupid!" All of them stop for a moment and then begin to shout, over each other so I don't understand any of it. When they eventually shut up, a strange feeling comes over me. And then something bizarre happens. I start to laugh.

Hysterical laughter overcomes me, tears rolling down my cheeks and it must be infectious because soon Fin, Cato and Haymitch are all laughing as well. There's nothing funny about the situation, it's more the fact that we're in it in the first place.

When eventually we manage to compose ourselves, Cato pulls me onto his lap and murmurs, "You need to go away, please babe." I shake my head defiantly and he rolls his eyes but doesn't push it. Haymitch comments, "If you two are done. We need to get into Snow's mansion, steal those plans and destroy them. But how?"

I stand quickly and stick my head out of the door, ordering, "Make me an appointment with President Snow for today at 5."

Cato shakes his head as soon as I come back in and Haymitch says, "NO. No way, that's not happening. I want you kept as far away from him as you can be." Finnick agrees, but I ignore them all and order, "I can buy you about an hour, you need to be out by then. If not, I don't know what I can do." They must see the determination in my eyes, because they all nod, and immediately begin to make plans, drawing diagrams and maps. I watch, narrowing my eyes and occasionally commenting but soon enough, I glaze over, and it's almost 5 when Cato wakes me.

"Katniss, sweetie, you don't have to do this, you know that right?" This makes me angry and I use all my strength to ignore the comment and go and dress. Cinna, amazingly, has laid out a suitable outfit, which I'm changed into in minutes and ready to go. What the hell am I going to say to Snow?

"Ahh, Mrs Hadley, delighted to see you again! Alone this time? I assume you need something?" It seems like a normal greeting, but there is hidden venom and messages behind those words, and I reply carefully, waiting until the door is fully shut before I start to speak.

"Snow, good to see you too. Yes, I'm sorry it's just me, but Cato is rather busy at the moment. Now, I was wondering if we could go over plans for our trip to England next week." He nods, suspicion in his eyes, and for the next 45 minutes, we discuss everything from flight times to hotel ratings. Eventually, we're done and he asks, "Will that be all, Mrs Hadley, or is there some other reason for your visit?"

I glance at the clock and know I have to keep him talking. I'm about to start treading on dangerous turf and I'm afraid, so I start cautiously, but confidently, "Yes, actually, there was something else. I… I'm tired of living in fear. Why haven't you punished us, for everything we've done?" Snow raises one eyebrow and I see a flicker in his eyes, which is him trying to work out whether he should threaten me. Eventually he decides against it and I see him relax as he decides to be honest.

"Because, Mrs Hadley, you're the only reason I'm still in power. You and your husband, that is. My citizens love you, and since you haven't publically condemned me, they like me as well. Rest assured, the second they turn against either of us, you will suffer. So, it would be in your best interests to make sure they remain supportive of the both of us. If you want to enjoy what's left of your life!"

"That was a weird thing to say, Snow. What's left of my life? Why… is it running out?" I say this jokingly but my words are asking a serious question. He hesitates a moment before shrugging his shoulders and saying, "I might as well tell you. My scientists have just perfected a nuclear bomb, which can blow up the whole country, wipe all traces of it off the planet. It will go off in 8 hours. That is why I agreed to send you away – because you will never get there. I'm going to let you go now, say goodbye to your loved ones, because you have no chance of getting away from here in 8 hours. Enjoy these hours. Oh, and Mrs Hadley, for what it is worth, I am sorry. You are very clever, resourceful, and brave. Everything I value in a person. Yours will be a life wasted."