A/N: I'm sorry that it has taken this long to give you guys this next chapter. I was hoping for more of a response to my last chapter...alas I didn't get one single review. :-( I hope this one will give you guys something to review. It's hard to keep going when I don't know if you still like the story or not. With that said, I give you the next chapter of Rebirth of a Mockingjay
Chapter Seven: Small Surprises and Cruel Tricks
Katniss POV
I walk back and forth waiting for Peeta's train to arrive. Even with both my mother and Haymitch here, I quickly realize just how much I depend on Peeta. I didn't have even one good night sleep the whole time my husband has been gone. I hadn't spoken to him since he left the Capitol yesterday afternoon, but I could hear the disappointment in his voice. He felt like he had failed me, but he didn't need to feel that way. I would never be disappointed in him.
How could I be when he succeeded where I failed? He never became anything other then who he has always been. But what he didn't know was his efforts were not in vain. Josh and Miranda were found deep in the mountains of District Two. They were all ready on a train heading for home. They actually should arrive fifteen minutes after Peeta and Effie.
"Sweetheart, he will be here soon so relax."
"I know, but I can't relax until Peeta and the kids are here."
Haymitch shook his head at me. "Sweetheart, you have been not only running yourself ragged but me and your mother as well."
"It did you good to sober up a bit, Haymitch. Your liver can take only so much alcohol before it kills you," I say as an emergency broadcast cuts into the show on the screen near the train platform.
"It's handled it very well so far thank you very much," Haymitch snapped.
"What's happening?"
"I don't know," Haymitch said moving to stand beside me on the platform.
"We interrupt our regular program to bring this breaking news. About an hour ago a massive explosion along the train tracks has caused a train to derail. It is not known what caused the explosion, but what we do know is the train's final destination was District Twelve."
"Haymitch," I say clutching the older man's arm.
"Sweetheart, you know there are more than two trains that travel here on any given day," Haymitch said patting my hand.
"We are now learning the derailed train was carrying two very special passengers. We take you now to live coverage of the scene."
I gasp at the scene in front of me. The train cars are mangled and twisted around a burning forest of trees. Peacekeepers and medical staff are all running around pulling people from the wreck. I watch as person after person escapes the train, but the two people I care about are no where to be found. The scene widens out and it's then I see the whole picture. The people being rescued are from the back of the train.
The engine compartment and the first three cars are completely engulfed in flames. The sight breaks my heart. I knew no one at the front of the train could have survived. In that moment I felt the blood drain from my face. It all made sense to me why I haven't seen Josh or Miranda being pulled from the train. They never were in the back of the train.
My babies were dead. It appeared Thatcher had succeeded in breaking me when others failed. I lose my grip on Haymitch's arm and my knees buckle out from under me. I land on the cold stone bench and can hear my mother and Haymitch trying to talk to me, but I couldn't respond. My eyes are the only thing that moves as the reporter returns to give Panem the news I all ready knew to be true.
"I can't believe this, but I've just been told that two of the lost souls are in fact Joshua and Miranda Mellark. We will continue our coverage as we try to get to the bottom of this tragedy."
"Katniss!"
"Peeta," I mumble feeling hot tears slide down my cheeks.
"Katniss, look at me," Peeta said placing his hands on my cheeks.
I close my eyes and shake my head. "He has killed them, Peeta."
"No, Katniss, don't do this to me. Kat, it's a trick. It's a cruel one, but a trick from Thatcher. He wants us to think the kids are dead. He wants us to stop looking for them."
My eyes open and I look up into Peeta's intense blue eyes. "Where are they then?" I ask in a weak whisper.
"I'm not sure, but I have a pretty good idea," he whispers before glancing over his shoulder. "Damn...I need to get you out of here. Haymitch, will you help me get her to the Meadow?"
"Sure, Peeta," Haymitch said helping Peeta pull me to my feet. "What's wrong?" he asked once we were out of ear shot of all the people on the platform.
"I've been followed by two of Thatcher's men from the moment I left District Twelve. I can't chance them finding her."
"Who...Katniss?"
"No, you'll see when we get to the lake," Peeta said smiling slightly.
"What lake?"
The mention of my father's lake brings on another round of tears. The next thing I know I'm in Peeta's strong arms. I bury my nose in his neck all the while he continues to say it would be all right. How can he be so confident when everyone I love is being taken from me? My father, Cinna, Prim, Josh, and Miranda were just the tip of the ever growing ice berg. How long would I have to wait until I lost Haymitch or Peeta?
"It's going to be all right, Kat. You'll see when we get to the lake," Peeta promised.
We get to the hill leading down to the lake and Peeta stops. He puts me back on my feet and I take a deep breath before looking down. Standing outside the small concrete house is Effie. I can't stop the smile that creeps across my face. She looked absolutely ridicules standing in the mud with her expensive clothes, shoes, and hair.
"What is Effie doing out here in the woods, Peeta?"
"She brought you a surprise, Kat."
"Peeta, I'm in no mood for any surprise," I say frowning at him.
"You will be for this one, Kat. Trust me," Peeta said extending his hand toward me.
"I trust you, Peeta. It's everyone else I don't trust," I say smiling slightly.
"I resent that Sweetheart, but I love you too," Haymitch said walking beside me, Peeta, and my mother.
The closer we get to the small house the more anxious I become. I have no idea why, but my gut tells me whatever is inside will change my life. We finally reach Effie and I take a deep breath as she gently pats my arm. Its little comfort, but I smile anyway before I open the door and step inside. I gasp at the sight before me and stumble backwards into Peeta's arms. This wasn't possible my mind screams while I shake my head denying what my eyes see.
"It's not her, Peeta. It's a MUTT!"
"Kat, I promise you. It is her," Peeta assures me, but how does he know?
"How?" I ask keeping my eyes glued on the thing in front of me.
"It was Coin," Peeta said rubbing my shoulders. "The Mutts we run into in Thatcher's arena were the second generation. Apparently Coin was dabbing in cloning as a way of keeping her army supplied with men. When she succeeded she separated Prim from your mother, so no one would suspect her ultimate goal."
"That's right, Katniss. It wasn't long after you, Gale, and Peeta left for the Capitol that Prim was relocated. The men said it was because of the medical training she would be receiving it was vital for her to be moved. I hardly saw her after that. I didn't even know she was dead until after you got back to thirteen."
I shake my head in denial. I know what I saw. I watched my sister die. This was just another one of Thatcher's cruel tricks to torment me with. There was no way this Mutt would be able to convince me she was my sister.
"It's her, Kat. She's 100% human. There's no nanites in her blood," Peeta said.
"The first generation may never have had nanites. That doesn't prove she's my sister," I spat in disgust.
"Katniss, I had her DNA tested. I was there through the whole procedure to make sure nothing was tampered with," Effie said holding out a report to me. "I don't know anything about genetics, but what my lab tech contact told me was DNA doesn't lie. If she was a Mutt then there would be errors in her DNA make-up. Our DNA is like our finger prints. It's unique to each of us. No two strands are alike."
"It's Prim, Katniss," Peeta said. "You know I would never put you through this if I wasn't sure. What we saw die that day in the Capitol was the Mutt. Coin was going to use Prim against you if you stepped out of line," Peeta continued.
I glance down at the report in my hands. Could it really be true? Peeta and Effie would never lie to me, but it's so hard to believe when all I see is Prim being blown up over and over in my head. How could I know for sure when the Mutt version would have all of Prim's memories? The moment the thought crossed my mind the answer came to me.
"Peeta, we need the cat," I whisper keeping my eyes on the girl in front of me.
Peeta smiled as he nodded his head. "I'll go get him," he said kissing my forehead.
Time seemed to slow as I waited for Peeta to return. Buttercup was the only fool proof weapon I had. If this wasn't Prim, he would know. Tests can be forged in the blink of an eye. I have to be sure. My heart wouldn't stand for another heartbreak.
I heard the hiss as Peeta approached me. I smile at the cat before my attention is drawn to the girl's startled gasp. "Take him to her, Peeta. He'll know if it's really her," I say wincing hearing my voice crack. I raise my eye brows hearing Buttercup hiss at the girl. At least this one time we agree.
"Buttercup, it's me."
I watch the girl slowly extend her hand toward the cat in Peeta's arms. The cat quickly glances at me obviously remembering my last comment about Prim never coming back. He glanced back at the offered hand, sniffed it, and then licked it. I hold my breath then slowly sink to my knees hearing Buttercup's pain filled meow. I knew even before he leaped out of Peeta's arms this was my sister. She was alive, but had been a prisoner first of Coin then Thatcher.
Hot tears slide down my face, but I can't wrap my mind around the new development. How did she escape without Thatcher knowing? I feel Peeta's arms wrap around me and I lean into them. I look up watching Prim kneel down in front of me. "I saw you the day of our wedding."
Prim smiled and nodded her head. "You weren't supposed to see me, but how could I not be at my big sister's wedding?"
"Thatcher could have seen you," I scold. "But I'm glad you're here now," I say pulling her into a big hug.
"Me too," Prim said once we released each other.
"How did you get away?" I ask accepting Peeta's help back to my feet.
"I think he let me go after he was elected as a Representative."
"What? Why would he...he wanted you to find me. This is all apart of his master plan."
"Sweetheart, what are you talking about?"
"It's so obvious, Haymitch. What is the best way to completely break me then to take away everyone that I love? He gives me Prim back only to kill her later. Josh and Miranda's fake deaths are phase one. What I don't understand is why stop after Prim? Why let us have Rue and Finn before killing me and Peeta?"
"Maybe Paylor stops him for a while and we think everything is fine," Peeta suggested.
"Maybe," I agree. "Peeta, you said you had a good idea where Josh and Miranda are."
"Yeah, I do, but I think I'm going to let Prim tell you."
"I overheard Thatcher one night talking to a woman. He wanted to make sure everything was ready for the coming weeks ahead. She told him everything was ready, and that they would soon avenge their mother's death."
"Thatcher has a sister? She must be married."
"She is married to a man named Jackson."
"Jackson...Please tell me it's not Gale's second in command Jackson."
"One in the same," Peeta said. "The whole time I was gone I kept asking myself what happened to Miranda."
"Yeah," I say not liking where this conversation was going.
"She was there in thirteen the whole time with her 'father.'"
My baby girl was there in the future with me and Peeta, but we had no idea. If we did know, would that have changed anything? I rub my forehead as I take in all this new information. "Well, at least his attitude toward us and Josh makes sense now. So, where are we going?"
"Katniss, remember what Paylor said," Peeta said shaking his head.
"I don't care what Paylor said, Peeta. I can't stay here waiting for word. This time I'm coming with you. Now, where are we going?"
"District One," Prim said answering my question. "That's where she said she'd be when the time came for the plan to be put into action."
"Then that's where I'm going."
"That's where we're all going, Sweetheart," Haymitch said.
"No, Prim and my mother are staying here."
"Katniss..."
"No, Prim, I just got you back. I'm not about to risk your life. I want you to stay here with Effie and Mom where you'll be safe. Please, Prim, I'm begging you."
"All right, I'll stay here with Mom and Effie," Prim promised.
"Thank you, Little Duck," I say kissing the side of her cheek.
"You're welcome," she said giving me a big smile.
"How soon can we leave?" I ask making a mental note of things I need to collect from the house.
"As soon as my contact from the Capitol can arrive with our needed supplies," Peeta said smiling.
"You knew I was going to leave the district before you even got back home didn't you?"
"I know you, Katniss," Peeta said. "I hate to cut this reunion short, but we need to head back. We are supposed to be in mourning after all."
I nod my head as I pull Prim into another big hug. "You're right we are. You stay safe until we get back with Josh and Miranda."
"I will. I promise, Katniss. I can't wait to meet my niece and nephew," she replied returning my hug. "You guys be careful."
"We will," I promise before giving Effie and my mother a hug.
My mind is a jumble of thoughts on the walk back to the fence. How was I going to successfully leave the district without being recognized? Peeta clearly had a plan and knowing my husband it was a good one. I push all thoughts of escape out of my mind as we reenter the district through the Meadow. I had another performance to put on for Darius Thatcher. I had to make him believe he succeeded in convincing me my children were dead.
When we arrive at Victor's Village the place is filled with people and cameras. It's not hard bringing back the emotions from earlier to the surface. My tears flow freely and I not here and there, but I leave the talking to Peeta. It takes no time at all for the reporters to have their story and for everyone else to leave us alone.
The next morning I wake up to find the bed empty. Where was Peeta? I quickly jump to my feet, get dressed, then head down stairs. I enter the living room and my feet instantly glue themselves to the floor. This can't be possible...not two days in a row. I saw him die. They killed him right in front of me.
"Cinna..."
"Hello, my Girl on Fire," Cinna said smiling slightly. "I know you have a million questions. Peeta has the answers. Right now I need to get you ready for your escape," he said motioning me to a chair.
"Peeta," I say after I sit down. He knows what is worrying me because he nods his head.
"The house is clean. During my stop in District Three, Beetee provided me with a little debugger device. I just finished sweeping the house when Cinna arrived."
I sigh and nod my head. The last thing we needed was for Thatcher to know our next move. "So, what are you going to do to me, Cinna?"
"Turn you into Effie," Cinna said holding up a pink wig that matched Effie's hair perfectly.
"How will dressing me like Effie help?"
"The train attendants saw me with Effie, so they won't think twice when they see you dressed like her," Peeta said.
"But what about you? You just got back home, Peeta."
"To learn of my children's death. Since you can't leave the district and Caesar won't come here for an interview, Cinna has been sent to bring me back to the Capitol for an interview," Peeta explained.
"But instead of going to the Capitol, we're going to District One," I say liking the plan.
"Exactly," Cinna said pulling my hair back into a ponytail.
"Then let's get started. The sooner you are finished with me the sooner I get my children back."
"There's my fire, Katniss. I'm still betting on you," Cinna said. "Just wait until you see the new suits I have made for both of you," he continued as he put the pink wig in place.
"Both of us," Peeta said turning a light shade of pink. ghghg
"You were on fire in that chariot too, Peeta. Katniss may be the symbol of the Mockingjay, but you are her voice."