A/N: Early update! Please review (or PM) especially if you have comments or questions. I hope the pace is okay, I really want this to be realistic and canon-compliant throughout.
Disclaimer: Referencing and paraphrasing The Hunger Games Canon, which belongs to Suzanne Collins.
We've had to get a lot more cautious with those supply trips, but Spinner's strategy still keeps us going. We're always hitting a different part of the Capitol compounds. There are all sorts of tents and buildings erected to support the extra peacekeepers brought in to fight the rebels, creating a labyrinth for us to explore and plunder. We avoid any detectable pattern if we can, and only act after lots of careful watching to be sure we know their routines. That's Johnny's forte, but I've helped too. Even so, we had a pretty close call on our most recent run a couple nights ago.
But the supply trips continue. My new friends are supporting more than just our little group - providing supplies to other rebels, like Adrian, too. We're just one small cog in the rebel movement here, keeping each other alive and supporting the rebellion. Recently, the war has felt like a stalemate, with continued attacks on both sides leading to more deaths but no major ground won or lost. It's exhausting, emotionally and physically. The rebels might be doing better if it weren't for the Capitol bombers. They've destroyed some of the area around the sector 3 shrimp farms, and another occupied area here in sector 1, but oddly haven't hit the rebels occupying Capitol administration buildings. To be honest we're surprised they haven't attacked that area, now that it's under rebel control. Meanwhile, the rebel leaders are doing their best to stay underground, moving their base regularly to keep their location secret from the Capitol. At least one previous base has been bombed; I only hope they can stay ahead of the Capitol. Only an inner circle knows their movements. I'm pretty sure Carlo and Marai know, but they wouldn't admit it. In the meantime, the hot humid weather is becoming more and more of a problem. At least power is still pretty reliable - the Capitol is still in control of the power station, but they usually want the power on so that we don't miss any of the propaganda the Capitol broadcasts.
One night Johnny calls us all in because Caesar Flickerman is on the television. Carlo and Marai are out somewhere in the district with other rebel forces; they stop in regularly but usually don't stay more than a night at a time. Spinner, Bear and I hurry to watch the broadcast. When I get to the room, I can see Peeta sitting with Caesar, just like in the tribute interviews. Peeta! He's alive, and he looks healthy! He looks better than healthy, really, he looks polished like a newly crowned Victor. I had given up hope of ever seeing anyone from home again. Even on the screen, the sight of Peeta is overwhelming.
He and Caesar are bantering in their usual manner, and it takes me a minute to get past my disbelief and hear the words spoken. He must have been captured by the Capitol, but he seems so normal, he doesn't seem like a prisoner at all. Hearing him talk about what it was like to be in the Quell, to be in the arena on that last day, I feel like I am there with him. Everyone is silent. He still loves Katniss, and he blames himself for not protecting her that night. And it's clear, he knew nothing of the rebel plans. He's distraught about the very idea, saying he and Katniss had no idea. Then, Caesar offers to end the interview but instead asks about the war, and Peeta makes a serious plea for a cease-fire. Everyone around me erupts in outrage, and I barely hear Peeta's only reference to his confinement, and the reports that follow of shortages in the Capitol.
Johnny is furious at Peeta, yelling that he's a traitor, but already Spinner has recognized that Peeta's a prisoner, and argues that he was probably forced to say those things by President Snow. Bear hasn't said anything, but I can feel his eyes on me. I try to ignore him, joining Spinner in defending Peeta. We all know we can't have a cease fire. Will anyone believe that the Capitol would let the rebels return to their lives, even if we were willing? We'd be lucky to survive if the war ended now, the Capitol regaining what little ground we've won. I shudder to think of what would happen to me if there was a cease-fire, and the Capitol found me here in district 4.
That night, after we've run out of speculation on what's happening in other districts based on the latest announced shortages, Bear brings up the interview again. "That was some surprise, seeing Peeta Mellark on screen again." As usual, he's on lookout duty, perched in a chair by the window at the edge of the black-out curtain. I'm sitting on the bed, my legs folded in front of me. In some ways I want desperately to talk about seeing Peeta, but not here, where I have to pretend he's another anonymous victor.
I answer warily, "Yeah, I guess it was. It's weird we haven't seen any victors until now." Then I admit, "I guess I believed they all escaped. But they must've had him all this time. Do you think they have the others too?" Bear shrugs and says, "Maybe. Not everyone. If they had Katniss they'd probably have executed her and broadcast it live. But who knows. Maybe the others aren't as agreeable to the Capitol's ideas as Peeta is."
"What?" I explode. "You don't honestly think he's with the Capitol, do you? He's their prisoner. Couldn't you tell that?"
Bear shakes his head and answers, "No, that's not - I mean, yes, you're right. I don't think he's really on their side. But others might. If the other victors escaped and he didn't ... I dunno. It's just, the Capitol definitely wants it to look like he supports them, that's all." I can't believe Bear would even think of Peeta betraying us, and I huff, "Well he's not. He's a victor, for crying out loud. You heard him talk about the games. Who could go through that and want the Capitol in power?"
Bear sits quietly for a few minutes, then comments, "I just hope nobody takes his cease-fire talk too seriously. We're weak enough without his help."
I glare at him, because he's right and I can't think of anything good to say. We are weak enough as it is. I want to storm off to my room, except I don't have one. I settle for throwing myself down on the bed away from Bear and pulling a blanket over my head. As I lay there quietly seething, I soon realize this isn't going to work. I'm too keyed up to sleep, and Bear isn't going anywhere while he's on lookout duty. I lay there a few minutes before I silently slide off the bed, blanket wrapped around me, and stalk out of the room. I don't need the blanket for warmth, but I like having it anyway. Johnny's passed out on the couch, so I settle down on the floor and stare at nothing in particular for awhile.
Maybe Peeta didn't choose the rebellion, but if nothing else, he'd be on whatever side Katniss is on. I think whatever he's doing in the Capitol, it's gotta be for her. I have to hope Bear's right - that if the Capitol had Katniss, or killed her, we'd know. I don't even know if she's alive and in 13 like they say. So how does it help her to call for a cease fire? Wouldn't it be better if the rebellion succeeds? Does Peeta think we can't win? The questions tumble through my thoughts one after the next.
Eventually I curl up there on the floor and try to sleep. In my dreams, Peeta is trying to quiet an angry mob that surrounds him with flaming torches. The crowd melts away and the fire engulfs him harmlessly like his old tribute costume, and he's telling me we have to find Katniss or she'll miss the chariot ride. I try to look for her but every turn I make I run into another tribute. First Rue wants me to sing her a song, then Finnick traps me in one of his nets. I'm trying to get the net off when abruptly I wake. What I thought was a net was just the blanket. Johnny is gone, so it must be morning. Wearily, I fetch a cup of water and a dry ration bar - courtesy of our last visit to the Peacekeepers - from the kitchen, and wonder how Peeta's interview will affect things here in district 4.