A/N: Sorry, there was a bit of a typo. That was supposed to be President Coin's voice over the PA system. I was so eager to post the new chapter, I forgot to revise it! Whoops. Thanks to Fianna Hira & Bride Of Spock for pointing that out! :)

The next few weeks go by slowly. Johanna, Gloss, Adrienne, Finnick, Gale, Rory and I join the beginner level of the military in thirteen, so we can fight in the Capitol. Most of the fourteen year olds are in a lot better shape than us. Five mile runs in fake mud are not fun, especially for Rory and Finnick, who are surprisingly the most out of shape. We wake up at six sharp, and don't get to bed until ten thirty every day. The three meals we get are enough to keep us running until the next meal, but it's not enough to ever feel full. I've had worse, but being rich for the past few years has spoiled me.

During dinner, we're all at our usual table when the televisions in the cafeteria flash on. This is one of the Capitol's mandatory viewings. The anthem plays, the seal is shown, and President Snow comes on. "Citizens of Panem, greetings, and good evening." I look around nervously. Everyone seems to be as confused as I am. This doesn't happen.

President Snow continues in his slow, thoughtful monotone: "This message is not for the Capitol citizens, or those of Districts One through Eleven. This message is for the rebels in the ruins of District Thirteen. Yes, we know where you are, and we know your plans. We, the Capitol, would not like to resort to war."

Johanna scoffs. "Pssh. He's not fooling anyone." Someone shushes her, and I focus back on the television.

"We shall let you back into the districts you came from, with no fines or imprisonment. You may also choose to stay in the toxic wasteland that is the remains of District Thirteen if you let us be. We will not attack unless provoked. Under one condition, that is. Bring me Katniss Everdeen." The screens go black.

All eyes are on me. Finnick squeezes my hand. I know what everyone's wondering. Is she gonna do it? It seems to good to be true - one life sacrificed to spare thousands. But it seems too good to be true. Since when did President Snow negotiate? I feel like they're gonna get rid of me and then kill everyone here. I don't know. It couldn't hurt really. Besides, I'm probably better for the rebellion dead. I can become a martyr figure, and they can paint my face on banners. I can save them in death.I don't have the time to plan this, because Boggs comes over to me a moment later. "President Coin wanted to see you in her office." He informs me. I stand up, and follow him.

As soon as I sit down, President Coin starts speaking immediately. I know she's a no-nonsense woman and she doesn't sugar coat things, but it would be nice if she waited a minute before attacking me with her demands. "You're going to go to the Capitol, and you're gonna go to Snow."

I cut her off, annoyed. She doesn't see me as a human being, only a pawn or another disposable soldier. "What if I don't want to die? Don't I get any choice in this?"

"You choose to do whatever was necessary when you agreed to be the Mockingjay. Katniss, listen. District Thirteen has waited seventy-five years to bring down the Capitol. Letting all the District-people suffer for any longer is cruel. You're gonna speak to President Snow, but you'' do so armed. While you two are talking about whatever, you need to drag it along for as long as you can. The troops will take down the Peacekeepers, which is the Capitol's only armed forces. Then we'll try Snow for crimes against humanity, and someone new will rule Panem. It wil still be Panem, but different. No Hunger Games. Equality, and enough food for everyone. Like how we do it here."

My eyes widen. "You're not doing this because you want peace and equality, you just want power."

President Alma Coin shrugs. "What's it to you? I'd be a fantastic ruler of Panem. And you get what you want - you'll get to kill him and go home. It's a win-win situation."

I hate her so much. I despise her, maybe even as much as I despise Snow. Even more. She does make a good point though. And regardless of what I say, I'm going to the Capitol. I'll have to agree for now, I guess. "Fine. Know this. I don't like you, Coin. I don't respect you as a leader. You think you're better than the rest of us. You don't want to lead, you want to rule. That's a terrible thing. But nobody will believe me if I say it. So I'll do what you want me to, but I will not like it."

Coin looks stunned for a split second, but she quickly regains her masked, cool and calm demeanor. She waits a moment before speaking, her cold gray eyes unreadable. "Very well. Close the door behind you on your way out."

I slam the door so hard I hear a few things rattle on the walls. I curse under my breath. I hate her so much.

I flop down on my bed as soon I set foot in my room. I want to cry, but I can't. I scream into my pillow until my throat is raw. It's not until Johanna speaks that I realize there are other people in the room. I sit up and she wraps her arms around me, kissing my forehead. "You have to kill him." She tells me quietly.

"Obviously." I whisper. "I just want to kill her first."

"What happened?" Finnick asks, quietly. He's worried about upsetting me.

"Coin wants me to go in to Snow, to distract him while you guys take down the Capitol. Then she wants to try Snow and make herself the new President."

"I liked the first part of that." Johanna admits. "I don't like Coin any more than you do. But seriously, who else would lead the nation?"

"Boggs. Boggs would." I point out. "He's friendly, smart, and wise. That's all a leader needs to be. Also, he's not power-hungry."

"We could hold elections." Finnick suggests, "Like they used to in a place called Greece thousands of years ago. Democracy, I think it was called. Everyone over the legal age - in our case, sixteen, can vote for a leader, who would lead for four years." It sounds like a good idea. He looks at me weirdly for a second. "Hey. It's gonna be alright."

"Let's go to Haymitch's room. I wanna know what he would say about this." I suggest, standing up. "Also, I really need a drink."

Two weeks later, it's time to go to the Capitol. Johanna, Gloss, Boggs, Finnick, Gale, Thomas, Leevy and a few others are forming a squad that's being followed for cameras. I'm connected to their radios so I can tell what's going on.

We've all been given a small purple pill, with juices extracted from the nightlock berry. If we bite down on it, we'll die in a matter of seconds. If we get captured, we're supposed to kill ourselves. It's better than enduring torture, and we can't risk letting the Capitol know anything about District 13. I know exactly who the Capitol will try to get first, and those are my friends and family. Everyone will leave tomorrow morning, myself included. But I will be on a different hovercraft by myself.

There's a good chance I may never see some of these people again.

Prim and Rory are hanging out, and so are Gale and Madge. The rest of us - meaning Johanna, Gloss, Annie, Adrienne, Finnick, Thomas, Leevy and Haymitch - are cramped into Thomas' room. Annie's out of it, again. She's playing cards with Leevy on the bed, not quite sure what's going on. I wonder if they've told her. It used to bother me how Finnick would always hide stuff from her to protect her, it seemed like they were treating her like a child. Now I know why they do it. The rest of us are sitting on the floor - Adrienne curled up with Thomas (apparently they're a thing now, to Finnick's dismay), Haymitch drinking out of the bottle on the chair, and the rest of us just chatting. For some idea, telling war stories seemed like a good idea. "Hey everyone! What was the hardest and best part of your games." Gloss asks out loud, trying to bring everyone together.

Finnick goes first. "The worst? For me, it was probably the first day. The best - getting that trident."

Johanna goes next. She thinks hard for a second, before coming up with an answer. "The worst was probably acting weak. And the best? Killing bitches." Leevy and Adrienne look uncomfortable at the way she says it. They don't get it.

Annie, who seemed to be spacing out, goes next, to everyone's surprised. "I liked being teamed up with my district partner, and swimming was pretty fun. I didn't like seeing him die." She focuses back on some point that none of us can see, and she's lost again. Finnick shakes his head and sighs. I squeeze his hand supportively.

"I liked being teamed up in the Careers. I didn't like when I had to kill people though. Yeah, I'm good at it, but it didn't seem right. I didn't want it to be that way. But obviously, I wanted to survive. I guess I am pretty glad I'm alive..." Gloss sighs, frowning. His games weren't anything out of the ordinary - Careers dominate, and then one kills the others in their sleep, and then finished everyone off.

Haymitch puts down the bottle with a large sigh and a quiet burp. "I liked the shit I pulled with the force field. Getting my intestines cut out wasn't that pleasant. Alright, you go, sweetheart." He tells me.

I have to think for a second. Obviously, I didn't like my Games. "Well, the worst for me was when Rue - the girl from District Eleven - died. And the best... being in that cave." I admit. Haymitch hoots and Johanna falls over laughing. Finnick smiles a little but wraps his arm around me protectively. "Are you jealous of a dead guy?" I ask, jokingly.

"Possibly." He winks at me, and then shakes his head. "Nope, not really. I'm just not too keen over the idea of other people doing anything with you."

"Oh please, Odair." Johanna scoffs, laughing. "I speak for all of us when we say that she's devoted to you. And seriously, you're deadly. Not many people would want to cross you." I smile at Jo warmly. She took the words right out of my mouth. Speaking of mouths, Finnick being jealous is the cutest thing ever, so I kiss him lightly, the type of kiss that makes people go aw. Nothing as deep or passionate as I'd like it to be.

It's Annie who says the next thing, and I think she speaks for all of us. "I wish I could freeze this moment and live in it forever. If that makes any sense. I just don't want anything to change. We're all so happy right now, and you guys are my family. I love you all."

None of us say anything. "She used to be very... thoughtful. Before her Games. Sometimes, she has those moments from time to time. It makes me sadder. You would have loved to talk to her before all of the crap happened."

"Finnick, I still do." I respond quietly. "We can't change what happened to Annie, to you, to me or to anyone else."

There's no formal goodbye. People file out of the room as it gets later. When Johanna hugs me goodbye she whispers, "You have to kill him. You have to." And I know I will. Finnick and I walk back to the room hand in hand. We stay awake almost the whole night, drifting in and out of consciousness, and holding each other. This is what love must be like. I know I'll die if I lose him. And we can't let that happen.

A/N: So sorry for not posting sooner. I know this is shorter than usual, but I wanted to put something up.

Did you guys see the teaser trailer for Catching Fire? I'm super-excited!