Chapter six already? I didn't expect anyone to read this, but oh my god! I never expected to get this much interest. I must admit, I do smile when my iPod explodes with messages. So, thank you to the guys who made my iPod blow up – Gentlefurable (I wish I could hug her too, here, have some more Haymitch and Effie), TheAllySue (Thanks so much, enjoy this next chapter), MissEffieTrinket (Yes we are! And thanks. I hope this update didn't take too long), SilensFlos (*Hands a tissue* enjoy this new chapter), District11tribute (Oh wow, thanks so much! And I'm glad you like Prim, I'll try and put a bit more of her in the story), Savysnape7 (Guys… I'm running out of tissues. I don't mean to upset you every update! *Hands tissue anyway* Thanks for the lovely review), Scyfy girl (Wow, thanks for the compliment. Could you tell my English teacher for me? I hope you like this!), McMuffin (Thanks so much, I'd give you a tissue too, but I haven't got any left. Enjoy chapter six), flawedprotagonist (Thanks a lot! And thanks, I was originally going to have it be Haymitch, but the idea of Prim popped into my head and wouldn't disappear), lindseylikesyourface (Well, you said please… so here's the next chapter), illyna (Thanks, I hope you like there interaction in this too), DoCtOrWhOlUvEr11 (Here is another emotion involved chapter, there will be more to follow. Thanks for the review!), Chris (Thanks so much, I'm glad you like how I've written them!)
So, let's continue on with the story.
I honestly can't believe that Haymitch thinks the blame lands on his shoulders. After all, it isn't him who started this rebellion. The rebellion that led to Effie been locked up and left vulnerable to inhuman brutality. Inhuman yes, but ever so common. It sickens me to think Effie is one of thousands submitted to this. It sickens me even more to think that the man who did this to her will get away with it. I can only hope Haymitch stumbles across him another time.
"I'm sorry Effie, I'm so sorry" Haymitch is saying. Repeating the apology over and over again. It's unneeded, well, unneeded from his mouth anyway.
"W-what for?" Effie asks, sounding even more vulnerable than the last time. She sounds even younger than Prim too. It's scary, how much she has changed. She is no longer the confidant woman from the Capitol. Instead she is a shivering wreak.
"This" Is all Haymitch tells her. It makes Effie's eyes widen, her mouth starts to twitch. I think she is going to start crying. It's this that makes me finally speak up.
"It's not your fault Haymitch. It's mine"
It's the first time since he's been sat by her side that he tears his gaze away from her. His eyes are focused entirely on me. Demanding to know more. Effie is slower in turning to face me, but she manages to look at me. Thankfully I keep my gaze on Haymitch. I don't think I could manage looking at Effie, I feel guilty enough as it is.
"What are you talking about girl?" Haymitch asks me. I think if his hands weren't around Effie's they would be clenched tight. Instead his eyes have taken on a harder, icy state. Not the affectionate, maybe loving, appearance they take on when talking to Effie.
"You know its true Haymitch" Is all I say. I think Effie is shaking her head in protest but I ignore her. "If I hadn't destroyed the arena-"
"Then we would have gotten you out of there anyway" Haymitch says, cutting me of.
"You would have also had more time to get Effie to safety!" I reply, taking him aback slightly.
"That's a lie Katniss" Is the first sentence to break the silence after my outburst. It doesn't come from Haymitch, but from Effie. Her eyes are still wide, unblinking. But for the first time I see a glint of something in them, something that tells me she isn't empty. That somewhere she is still there. Damaged, broken, but still there.
"It's not Effie. I'm sorry, but it's not" I tell her, trying to ignore the growing pain around my waist. Prim is hugging me, her grip gradually getting tighter.
"Katniss, Effie's right" Haymitch tells me, in a finalising matter. He won't hear any argument against this statement. I'm annoyed at him for not agreeing with me. As far as I'm concerned, it is entirely my fault. After all, it appears that all I can do is cause trouble. But there is something else I feel, something alongside my annoyance at Haymitch.
Guilt. And it is growing every time I feel Effie's eyes land on me. I don't know what to say. Neither does Haymitch or Effie. Prim, even if she did know, wouldn't speak up at all. The silence is growing, and yet it feels welcome. But this is broken when Gale walks into the room. He looks at each of us in turn, before dragging a chair over to the side of the bed.
"Hello Effie" He says with a smile. They have never met, but the smile on his face would convince anyone otherwise. I think he is putting an effort in to appear warm towards her. Ever since we went hunting in the woods, he has been more accommodating to my prep-team, and it seems that he is putting extra effort in with Effie. Maybe it's because I yelled at him about not understanding why I cared about her wellbeing. Maybe it's because he wants to keep on Haymitch's good side. But either way, I'm grateful for the way he is acting. "Do you feel any better?" He asks. I've changed my mind about been grateful. I could kick him for asking such a stupid question, but I manage to restrain myself. Instead I glare at him.
"A little" Effie says in something I wouldn't even call a whisper.
"That's good" Gale says, and I think he is genuinely melting a little at how intimidated she sounds.
"Yes it is" A voice behind Gale says. Unlike mine, Haymitch's or Gale's tone, this one is steely. Unaffected by the sight of Effie. I look up to see who it is, and totally horrified to see it is President Coin. Arms crossed, smile playing on her lips cruelly. She doesn't care about Effie; she didn't care about her suffering. She shouldn't be here. None of us want her here.
We all react differently to this unwelcome arrival. Prim tightens her grip around my waist; I'm close to losing blood flow due to the tightness of her arms around me. Her head, which was on my shoulder before, remains unmoved though. I know I can't look away from Coin, so like my younger sister I don't. I do catch Effie moving away slightly, her head sinking into the pillow. I think her hands are shaking too, but Haymitch's are covering them so it is hard to tell. Speaking of Haymitch, whilst Effie as tried to hide herself, he as sat up as straight as possible. Staring at Coin like I would a deer in the woods that I'm about to send an arrow at. It's like he is acting like a shield between Effie and Coin. He looks more impressive doing this act than I have ever seen him before.
"How can we help you president?" Gale asks, the only one of us who hasn't been shocked by her appearance. I wonder if he knew she would be visiting, so decided it would look good to show up. I hope this isn't his motive behind visiting, but I can't help but think it is.
"Just checking up on our patient" She says "Just making sure there's no lasting damage"
Well, she'll be disappointed. I know for a fact there will be lasting damage on Effie. The scars may fade overtime, but the nightmares will always be with her. After the games, I tried to forget, but that didn't work. So I know that Effie can try all she wants to forget, but you can't keep your shields up during the night. Haymitch must be thinking this too, he suffers from the nightmares as well. You can't escape it, ever. The way Coin says the last two words of the sentence makes me think that she isn't here to check up on Effie at all. But because she finds it appealing to see her suffer.
"She's resting at the moment" Haymitch says, ensuring Effie doesn't need to reply to Coin. Good, I don't want Effie to have to speak to her. "She can talk to you later"
Later… she shouldn't have to talk to her at all. Coin's slightly visible smile disappears, and she gives us a nod before leaving. It is only when we can no longer hear her footsteps that we dare to move. We all let out a sigh of relief at the same time, and finally Prim releases her grip on me.
"Why does she want to talk to me Haymitch?" Effie asks. It's the question I want answered too.
"I don't know, but it'll be okay" He tells her. Lying to her. Of course he knows, he's Haymitch. Even if he hasn't been told he'll know what's happening. "Katniss, can I have a word in private?" He says next. I nod and stand up. Walking outside without looking behind me to check he is following, he will. And he does, but not before he has run his hand along the side of Effie's face, stopping at her chin, telling her something I can't hear.
"Well?" He asks when he finally joins me outside.
"I don't know, you're the one who wanted to talk" I tell him.
"What do you want to know? I know you Katniss, and you know me. So come on, what do you want me to tell you?" He asks.
"Why did you lie to Effie?" I ask him, "Why didn't you tell her why Coin wants to talk to her?"
"I would hardly call that a lie" Is all he says. This manages to frustrate me, not give me an answer to my question. "Why do you think I didn't tell her?" He asks me.
"To protect her" Is the answer I arrive at. He nods at me, in a slightly mocking manner.
"Well done Katniss" He says, his fake tone of voice frustrates me further. "Why do you think I want to protect her?"
"Why don't you just tell me straight instead of playing this stupid game?" I ask. He didn't expect that at all. But he answers, his tone no longer mocking. It is serious.
"Coin isn't happy; she didn't want us to find Effie. I'm certain of it. But we did, so she can't have her lying around until we finally get our hands on Snow can she?" Haymitch tells me. The fact he is saying it so quickly, so quietly, gives me the impression he thinks we are been watched. We probably are.
"What is she going to do then?" I ask, not too sure if I want the answer.
"Well, she isn't going to let Effie get of lightly" He tells me, placing his hand on my shoulder and squeezing it for a second. "We have to protect her Katniss, I'm certain this isn't going to end soon" He says. I have no idea what this is, but I nod. Of course we will protect Effie; it was practically an unspoken agreement before we had this conversation. He is right though, Coin isn't happy that her plan to use Effie against Haymitch as failed.
Or has it? Is this what she wanted? After all, if Haymitch is around to see Effie suffer, it will still have the desired effect on him. Coin knows what she is doing, and she won't let us get away with what we have done to this sick plan to use Effie as a weapon. I think Haymitch is thinking along the same lines as me, we usually are.
"Remember Katniss, Effie isn't the enemy in all this. I think your friend will need to be reminded of this fact too" He tells me, before walking back to Effie. I knew this already, does he think over time I'll revert back to my old way of thinking? I mean, I never thought she was the enemy, but I didn't exactly enjoy putting up with her either. He's right about Gale though, I know that I will need to tell him what Haymitch as told me.
I join the group once more, Gale looks at me curiously but I shake it off. He can be informed later, or when it is necessary. "Do you want anything Effie? We can get you a bite to eat or something" I ask her, putting the best smile I can summon on my face.
"No thanks…" Effie replies, "I'm just tired"
"Go to sleep then sweetheart, we'll still be here when you wake up" Haymitch tells her. She nods, and in about five minutes she is in slumber. None of us leave. We all stick to Haymitch's promise. And we will be there when she awakes. Because for now, the rebellion is at the back of our minds, all we are worried about is Effie's safety. I can only hope that previous events don't replay in her mind whilst she is peacefully asleep. No one deserves to have nightmares. And the ones Effie will suffer from will only make her state even worse. She'll need us when she wakes up, because sleeping doesn't stay peaceful for too long.