Disclaimer: The Hunger is not mine...
MOCKINGJAY SPOLIERS!
"Katniss," Effie's shriek pierces my thoughts like a million tiny scratches over a chalkboard. Her fist rapidly knocks at the door from the hallway. How long has it been since she tried to contact me? "Haymitch wishes to speak with you!" The banging discontinues, and the speedy clicking of her ridiculous heels begins. "Right now, Katniss!"
She steps to the next place, damaging the entrance of what must be Peeta's room. "You too, Peeta!" Yep. Peeta's room. "Haymitch needs to see you! You are going to be late!"
Is she in a mad mood because she had to be the one to get us, or because she didn't get enough beauty sleep?
The sound of a door opening overcomes Effie's heels. "It's about time, Peeta!" Her voice is muffled by my scrambling to the feet. "Katniss, come! We'll be waiting with your mentor."
No use in keeping everyone waiting when I'm the only one in need of hurrying.
Last night we had reached the train just in time before it had left. Pure luck. My so called room was tidy, maybe because I didn't have anything to throw around with me. I've actually spent the whole day resting and thinking… I slip on a green t-shirt and jeans, lying on the foot of my bed, and begin to silently make my way through the train. At the end of the long narrow hallway is a small window which provides me an image from the other side. I'm able to see Haymitch chugging down another bottle and Peeta, across from him, watching. His lips are moving but I can't hear what he's saying.
Once I get in the dining area, Haymitch stops drinking to glare at me, "Ah, Sweetheart, sit… we have to talk." Then he chugs down a bottle of white liquor, as if he needed anymore.
I carefully take a seat next to Peeta. "Drunk?" I mouth, covering a small portion of my lips so Haymitch can't read them.
"Drunk," He confirms, also mouthing it. He's wearing the same clothing he had when we arrived. They're still soaking wet, but he doesn't seem to mind; neither does Haymitch. I hear as the remaining rainwater drops from the cloth and hits the wooden floor below us.
Haymitch puts down his drink slowly, breaking the noise. "The Games. You're going back in them within a few days."
Peeta and I wait, expecting him to say something else, but he doesn't.
"Yes, we know, but what did you want to say?" Peeta asks, looking confused and agitated.
Haymitch makes for his liquor again and drinks the little bit of what's left of it. The last of it falls to his tongue, signaling his need for yet another one. "I need you two to have a strategy, before you go back. You don't want to die on the first day do you?" He gives a small laugh, but neither Peeta nor I join in. He wipes his grin from his face. "Careers, you'll need to pretend you're Careers again if you want to live. If you don't… you won't have much of a chance. The tributes know about your skills this time. They keep the both of you away from each other, and any arsenal, you're goners."
Neither Peeta nor I disagree; we know it's true.
"What you're saying is: we need to make allies." I state, feeling confident that I know where this is all going.
Haymitch nods, "Anyone would be better than no one."
Even a weak bow is better than no bow at all. I can almost hear Gale's voice in my head. It's the same advice he had given me when he had come to say goodbye. I begin to wonder if he's actually worried about me. Being so close to the Capitol, he's bound to know about Peeta and me. I'm not sure if we're still best friends or if we're friends at all anymore, but wouldn't he still care? He could be married for all I know, he could have wiped his mind of any memory we had together.
I decide it's better to not know.
"I want you to think about who you want as allies this year. And don't give me an excuse saying that you can't find anyone this year; you did before and you will tomorrow." Haymitch gives me a stern look. "I want you to recruit that little girl from 11, and if you can: her district ally. It looks as if they could be of use."
I nod, knowing Rue will be my partner for certain, but Thresh…he had no one. He had sprint off into a far side of the arena. He might not want to be partners with anyone, but it's worth a shot I presume.
Haymitch doesn't utter anything else, so I assume he's finished for the night. I get up from my chair and almost slip on the water that had fallen from Peeta's jacket. I brush it off, and walk back through the hall until I reach the entrance to my own room. I barge open the door looking around as if someone had tried to sneak their way in here. Once I'm satisfied I close the door behind me and climb on the edge of my bed for no particular reason at all. As if on cue a knock comes from the outside of my room, and Peeta lets himself inside.
When he sees me lying on my bed, he speaks up. "You okay?"
"Yes," I say, not looking at him.
He nods, apparently thoughtful. "Do you want to pass the time until morning then? Decide on the ally situation and all…."
I glance at my clock. 3:36. "What morning?" I say with a chuckle that surprises me. "No, we can now if you want."
He shuts the door behind us. "We might as well." He sits next to me, examining the frown I wear on my olive skin. "We don't have to obtain any allies. Maybe Rue will be okay alone."
"No," I say quickly. "It's not Rue. I want her with us, but it's just everyone else. We don't know them enough to trust them. How can we just… make allies and not expect them to turn on us?"
Peeta shrugs. "District 3 and 10 seem nice. They don't look like they'll turn on anyone... And maybe the tributes from 8 are okay too."
"Doubt it," I say uncontrollably. "The girl from 8 will no doubtfully remember you."
He shrugs, as if he doesn't memorize, but really I can see right through him. I know he feels guilty about killing her, and he can't hide that despite everything else he can.
"District 3, 8, and 10?" I ask. "And Thresh and Rue, well, we have a group going on. And if they disagree?"
"We don't bother them once more." Peeta adds. "You ought to really get some sleep." He says noting my worn features. "After all, we see our old enemies in the dawn." He removes himself from my bed hastily. "First stop: the Capitol…"
I finish for him. "Next: Home."
No rant today. I skimmed over Mockingjay, so when I read it: I didn't pay attention... So, yeah... sure me.
So who should become allies with Katniss and Peeta?