Disclaimer: Referencing and quoting Mockingjay, which belongs to Suzanne Collins.

I pry out a few more details about the girl, Rose, from Spinner, before letting him off the hook - for now. But I don't sleep well that night. I start off thinking about Spinner and Rose, and wondering if he'll get his chance with her. But I can't keep my mind off Peeta.

Somehow ever since he and Katniss came home from the games, he's seemed so fragile. It's not just the artificial leg, though that's part of it. It's also the whole thing with Katniss and Gale, and the Capitol.

In other circumstances, I might have been jealous of Katniss. Maybe I had been anyway, back in district 12 on days when things had felt almost normal, and I'd been just a girl pining over a guy who was pining over my friend. Sigh. But I was the Mayor's daughter, and Katniss was the Victor, and we were both trapped in roles they didn't want.

I knew Katniss really cared for Peeta and Gale, even if she couldn't see it herself. She had just never had a chance to really figure out what that meant, or what she wanted with either of them, as long as she was being forced to pretend with Peeta for the Capitol. Now, seeing Gale with Katniss in the propos – well, it just seemed natural. I'd sort of assumed they'd wind up together, before that reaping day. But to think of Peeta being tortured in the Capitol … I can't bear to think of it. I can only imagine it's worse for Katniss. Nothing would ever be simple for them, would it?

The next morning after breakfast, I report to the food distribution group while Spinner goes to get the communicuff fixed. I haven't seen Mick, now that I know he's getting out on a fishing boat, I don't worry about it. Someone has brought a television to our provisions center so we won't miss any rebel broadcasts. Last night, Wils mentioned that every group should be keeping records of it's progress and activities, so I agree to take notes for our group. It's an easy enough thing to do even if no one else volunteered. I'm given an electronic tablet to use so that everything will be digital and can be referenced later. It's similar to something daddy had in 12 for district business, but is newer and works more intuitively. The hardest part including the right names in the right places, since I just met these people. There's a lot of disagreement too; it takes all morning for them to agree on locations of provision centers around the sector.

When we break for lunch, Spinner is pacing outside. "What's wrong?" I ask.

"The communicuff. They reprogrammed it."

"Yeah, wasn't that the plan? You mean you still can't reach Marai?"

"No, thanks to the rebels. They made it so the communicators send messages through the rebel command structure. They're supposed to be kept only for 'official business'. Hell, I'm lucky they didn't take it from me altogether, but technically it's a sector one cuff so they have no right to it."

"What? Can we change it?"

"I already tried. Hopefully Marai can fix it when I get back."

It catches me off guard. I had never expected Spinner to be staying here, but when we left sector one I hadn't thought I'd still be with him. With everything that's happened, I hadn't thought about him going back, but of course he's going to.

"Oh." I say, for lack of real words.

"I've gotta go back, Maddie. You know that, right?" And he expects me to stay here, I bet.

"Yeah … "

"Are you gonna stay here? With Mick?"

"Uhh, I don't know. Can we talk about it at dinner?"

I take my time walking back to the provisions center, and by the time I get there I've made up my mind to go back with Spinner. There's no real reason to stay here – just Mick, and he'll probably be out on the boats all the time. At least in sector one I've got my friends. Maybe Mick will go with us. It seems unlikely though, given his excitement about the boats.

Around 14:00 that afternoon, the regular Capitol broadcast is broken into by the rebels. I'm not watching the screen, but look up when some of the others start shushing people. My eyes go wide when I see Katniss sitting on a fallen pillar in the wreckage of bombed out district 13. She's alive! In the background, you can see a giant crater in the earth. She talks about the rebellion and how the Capitol depends on the districts for everything. She looks ... hollow, but determined. Once she's established that district 13 survived the bombing and is still leading the fight, the screen switches to show Finnick, and shouts of relief echo around me.

Then he starts talking. Everyone is shocked into silence when we hear, "President Snow used to ... sell me. My body, that is." Gasps and hushed whispers echo through the otherwise silent room.

Finnick goes on to explain how President Snow systematic prostituted him and other victors. No wonder he's working with the rebels. I knew President Snow was basically evil but this … I feel sick. I lower my head to my lap, closing my eyes and trying for deep breaths. It doesn't block the sound, though. He's telling a horrific story of betrayals and backstabbing by people who from the sound of it must be high level Capitol citizens, when the feed is interrupted and the Capitol broadcast flickers back on screen. But it's only a moment before Finnick is back onscreen.

Soon, after a couple more Capitol interruptions, Finnick turns his attention to President Snow.
"Such a young man when he rose to power. Such a clever one to keep it," he begins dully. I don't know much about President Snow. I've seen his appearances in the broadcasts, of course, his role in the games. I met him once, but all I really remembered after was his cold eyes, and that disgusting smell of blood and roses. Those eyes haunted me for a week.

On screen, Finnick continues calmly, "How, you must ask yourself, did he do it? One word, that's all you really need to know. Poison." Everyone is listening with rapt attention. He even talks about those roses, says they're to cover the smell of blood sores, from drinking the poison himself to divert suspicion. I shudder, thinking of that meeting long ago. Occasionally the capitol broadcast breaks in, or the screen blacks out, but never for long. Each time, Finnick pops back on the screen within minutes and continues weaving his tale.

I look around at the others, seeing my own shock reflected back in the eyes of several of the others. By the end, we're all stunned and silent. Several minutes pass, before one of the rebels leading the provisions group announces, "Finnick just made himself public enemy #1. Anyone think there won't be retaliation? We need to be prepared. Back to work, folks."

By the time I leave the provisions center, we've worked out a plan for distributing provisions for the time being. Trucks will be used to distribute food to the locations throughout the sector at night, starting tonight. They're even sending provisions to sector one, which doesn't have the same access to the water. At the same time, I've worked out my own plan. I find some paper and scribble a note I've written out in my head. I take it down to the Marina, before heading to dinner. The day boats, including Mick and his crew, are still out to sea. By the time I get back, I find Spinner waiting for me outside our regular dining hall.

Before he has a chance to say anything, I tell him, "I'm coming with you."

"What about Mick?" he asks.

"He'll be fine. He's got his crew on the day boat."

Spinner takes it in stride. "Alright. When will you be ready?"

"There's a truck taking provisions tonight. We can catch a ride with them," I explain. "We have to be at the Port at 22:00."

"Maddie, you're the best!" Spinner says. Neither of us brings up Finnick's interview. I don't want to think about it.

A/N: Little does Madge know that Peeta is being rescued!