Chapter 24: The Rebel Life of a District 8 Commander, Part 2
President Paylor sat in the lounge off of the Gamemakers control room. She continued to think of her life as a rebel that led up to Amanda Snow fighting for her life and freedom in the Hunger Games.
Flashback:
2 years and 8 months earlier, District 8, Paylor's living room:
'Katniss Everdeen took the lash of a whip to the face in defense of another for defiance to a Head Peacekeeper?' thought Paylor. 'She really is our Mockingjay. We will continue to oppose the Capitol in her name, but just like the last time we shall need to wait for the right moment.'
Paylor then determined that Katniss Everdeen, in her attire was not immediately recognizable, and then the Capitol had to cut off the transmission because the whipping of Gale Hawthorne was supposed to demoralize the district rebels and take the fight out of them. Katniss Everdeen's family openly committing criminal crimes such as poaching would discredit Katniss, but her interfering with a flogging backfires the Capitol's whole plan on that, and only strengthens the rebels resolve.
This went on for another five days, until there was an order saying that the curfew and lockdown was now lifted, and that all operations within the textile factories were to resume as normal. And about time too. The Capitol must have known that the workers would not be able to work very hard without food so they allowed the businesses in the market to open and allowed the textile workers to walk free, and go grocery shopping with what little money they had. Most of the people in their homes had been out of food for several days. Though the Peacekeepers still hauled away the bodies of several people that had died of malnutrition, though the official reports still said that they died of some more common and unavoidable disease.
A few days later, one of the factories was destroyed in a massive explosion, killing everyone inside, including Twill, her husband Joe, and one of her pupils Bonnie.
It took a while, but eventually Paylor was able to meet with some of her friends. They determined that they must have been ratted out by one of their fellows, under torture, that the spreading of information started in the factories. Of course the Capitol needed the textile factories in operation so they couldn't exactly destroy all of them. They destroyed only one of them and let it be a lesson to the rebels. Fortunately the rebels had been working in cells. Resistance cells. While they had been planning the rebellion, they felt that it was imperative that most of the rebels should believe that most of the other rebels were not rebels, which was the purpose of the masks, not just protect their identities from the Peacekeepers but protect their identities from each other. Each resistance cell would consist of only so many rebels that would coordinate with other cells, that would then coordinate with other cells, that would then coordinate with other cells, that would then coordinate with other cells, and so on and so forth. But no one rebel would know the identities of all of their leaders or fighters; that way if they were captured and forced to name names under torture, their ability to compromise the entire rebel organization is limited.
The bombing of the factories didn't stop them though. They continued to plan for months. They received rumors of uprisings in most of the other districts.
It was then around mid April that Caesar Flickerman was doing just a regular episode of his talk show in the Capitol, and showing off the photographs of Katniss Everdeen's wedding dresses that the people in the Capitol were supposed to vote on.
"Let's get Katniss Everdeen to her wedding in style!" said Caesar Flickerman. "And now ladies and gentlemen, this year is the 75th year of the Hunger Games, meaning that this year is a Quarter Quell, meaning that this year's Games are going to have a special theme."
And then President Snow walked out onto the stage followed by a young boy who held a small wooden box. President Snow takes the key that he is holding in his hand, unlocks the wooden box, and opens the lid. The camera focuses on the inside of the box, and there is a long stack of sealed envelopes, the first two have been torn open.
President Snow then takes the first torn envelope and reads the card inside.
"On the first quarter quell," said President Snow, "to remind the people of the districts that for their choice to rebel, they chose to cause the death of their children during the war, for that, there will be no reaping bowls. The people of the districts will hold an election to decide which boy and which girl they will choose to send to the Games."
Snow then put the card back in the torn envelope and put it back in the box. He then took the second envelope.
"On the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, to remind the people of the districts that their choice to rebel caused the deaths of twice the population of the Capitol, there will be reaped twice as many tributes from each district, than in a regular year."
President Snow put the second card and envelope back, and then reached into the box and pulled out the third envelope. He tore open the sealed flap and pulled out the card that was inside, and read it that had been written 75 years earlier by a Capitol Official who created the Games.
"For the Third Quarter Quell, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them can not survive the power of the Capitol, the tributes during the reaping, shall be reaped from their existing pool of Victors in each district."
It took a moment for Paylor and everyone else in her house to realize what exactly it meant, but when it did sink in, she was outraged.
'Can they do that?' thought Paylor. 'No, they can't do that! The victors are supposed to be under the Capitol's protection. Out of the running for life.'
But what could they do about it? The answer was that there was nothing that they could do about it. They would need to do another uprising before the Quell. They would have to strike the new and improved Peacekeepers Force hard and fast. But easier said than done. Paylor had no opportunity to meet and consult with any of her friends, and the very next day and additional thousand Peacekeepers had arrived.
For the next three months, security was so tight that there would be no chance for another uprising.
It was July. The day of the reaping. 75-year-old Woof being the only male tribute, along with 30-year-old Cecelia, and 45-year-old Alicia who had won the Games a few years before the Second Quarter Quell. All three of them stood in front. The District 8 escort in her weird and bizarre fashion styles stepped up to the microphone. She had tears in her eyes as she looked at the three Hunger Games victors that were in front of the crowd. She had come to love them, and now her knowing what was about to happen.
"Ladies first." said the escort.
She then walked over to the reaping bowl for the girls. Reach to the bottom of the ball and the tips of her fingers hovered over the two pieces of folded paper for several moments, her hand moved back and forth as though she was deciding which one she would pick up, having no idea which name was on which. She then just took one of them. Walked back to the microphone, and opened the piece of paper.
"And our female tribute will be… Cecelia Albuquerque." said the escort.
Everyone in the crowd looked at the Peacekeepers with the utmost anger and defiance while Cecelia's three children ran up to her and wrapped their arms around her waist and legs as tightly as they could. She bent down and struggled to detach them. Several Peacekeepers walked over to the children threateningly, didn't hurt them or poke them with their guns, but grabbed hold of the children, roughly yanked them away from their mother, and dragged them back to the crowd.
The escort asked for any volunteers, merely as a formality. Alicia could have volunteered but she didn't, and she was under no obligation to, and no one really blamed her that she didn't.
"And our male tribute for this year shall be, Woof Honacon."
No surprise there, and she did not even bother asking for volunteers as there was clearly no one to volunteer. The Head Peacekeeper then said that there was a new protocol that there would be no visits from family and friends. Tributes and the mentors would simply be taken straight to the train station.
Unbeknownst to the Peacekeepers. Some spies from District 13 had managed to sneak in to District 8 and contact the rebels without arousing any suspicion from the Peacekeepers. The District 8 victors then agreed to a plan for a mass countrywide uprising in all 12 districts, and to assist in extracting Katniss Everdeen from the arena.
The Head Peacekeeper then ordered everyone in the crowd back to their homes.
Paylor, her daughters, and her houseguests, had been watching the television and were watching the replays of the other reapings. The beautiful and famous brother and sister from District 1, Cashmere and Gloss who had won back to back Games two years in a row.
Volunteers, mighty and strong Brutus and Enobaria from District 2.
Smart and brilliant but a little eccentric and crazy, Beetee and Wiress from District 3.
Famous, handsome Finnick Odair, and Annie Cresta from District 4, though Annie Cresta was quickly replaced by old Mags.
Two drug addicts from District 6.
Axe wielding Joanna Mason (the only girl in her category), and middle aged Blight, from District 7.
And it went on and on all the way up to District 12. Katniss Everdeen was of course the only girl in her category. And then Haymitch Abernathy was drawn from the boys bowl, but was quickly replaced by Peeta Mellark.
Later that night, the District 8 rebel leaders convened in secret. Their spy from District 13, who was a forged registered citizen of District 8, sat there with a coded communications device disguised as an old beaten up watch that the Peacekeepers would have no interest in.
"Well, it has been confirmed." said the spy. "When the clock strikes 12 in the arena, and the power goes out in the arena, every District 8 citizen as possible must attack every Peacekeeper simultaneously."
"They will just retake the District again." said Bill, not convinced. "How will this be any different from when we tried it seven months ago?"
"Because every district is in on it except District 2 and 12. Not just in District 8, but every Peacekeeper in Districts 1 through to 11 will be attacked at the same time. And the victors are going to subtly try to persuade the Capitol to rebel against Snow, and maybe stop the Games."
"That will never happen." said Bill.
"It's a long shot that we don't expect to work. But we will try it anyway. Also, if it doesn't work on the Capitol citizens, what the victors have in mind will strengthen the resolve of the District citizens."
"Why isn't District 2 in on it?" Fred asked the spy. "They mine minerals from the ground."
"They mine some minerals. But the Capitol gives them more food and better living conditions for the mass breeding and training of District Peacekeepers."
"What!" shouted Bill.
The spy explained the details of the deal and partnership between District 2 and the Capitol.
"And why isn't District 12 in on it?" asked Fred.
"Their population is too low. And too many of them will cower in their homes. It will do them no good to fight because they don't have enough fighters. They don't rebel, and they stay out of the fighting. Once we've driven the Capitol out of the other Districts, we then move in and take District 12 and liberate the slave coal miners from Capitol rule."
"What about District 13?"
"After we have engaged the Capitol air forces with our own. We will give you medical supplies, weapons, and troops."
"What about food?" asked Paylor.
"Unfortunately, District 13 can't spare any food, or at least not enough to feed all the Districts. However, food is what the Districts rebellion is for; once we've taken Districts 4, 9, 10, and 11 we can give you all the food you want."
They talked on about the planned attack.
"It… WILL NOT… be a quick and surgical strike this time." said Paylor. "It will be a much longer, drawn out, fire fight."
"But if every District rebels at once then when the Peacekeepers here call the Capitol for help, they won't get any." said Fred confidently.
"And for every dead Peacekeeper, we steal their weapons." said Bill, a little more confident this time.
"Spread word! Meeting adjourned." said Paylor.
"Paylor, one more thing." said Fred.
Fred walked over Paylor and takes out a document signed by all the leaders of the District 8 resistance cells. The document bore Katniss Everdeen's symbol of the Mockingjay.
"We the leaders of the resistance cells have unanimously agreed to refer to you as, 'Commander'. And you have all our votes for President of Panem when we win the war."
Paylor was at a loss for words. This was a huge honor, that she felt she did not deserve. She was not a military officer, or a politician, she was just a loving mother and textile-maker. She was merely a malcontent, and all she did was invite some friends over and convince them to fight for freedom, and now her people look to her as an elected leader to administrate them. But if her having the troops call her by her 'Commander', emboldens their confidence and strengthens their resolve, then she'll take it gladly.
The following evening, she was watching the television with her children and houseguests. It was the tributes parade. They were dressed in complementary colors for their Districts just as they were every year. It did not look more attractive, at all. Costumes on kids were just silly, and silly is fun. Katniss and Peeta were young enough to still be regular year aged tributes. Other victors that were still young like Cecilia, or Finnick Odair, or Joanna Mason, Cashmere, and Gloss were still fine as well. Even those who were middle aged who hadn't fallen to seed such as Brutus, Enobaria, and Blight could still pull it off with dignity. Even Old Woof, for age 75, didn't drink, or do drugs, but took in lots of protein, took a very heavy dose of Health Vitamins, and exercised daily in his private weight room in his house in the Victor's Village, still looked remarkably younger and healthy. But the Morphlings from District 6, the grey-haired wrinkled-skinned drunkards, and the elderly like old Mags, looked pitifully grotesque.
For District 8, Old Woof, and Cecilia were dressed as seamstresses.
Halfway down the street in the Capitol during the tributes parade, Katniss and Peeta's costumes burst into flame, and it was spectacular. As the cameras focused on them they had defiant angry looks on their faces as they kept their eyes on President Snow when he came in view.
He gave his usual speech about honoring and saluting them for their courage and sacrifice. And then sent them on their way to the training center.
The announcer seemed to lack his usual verve as he did the whole thing, but pulled it together saying this would be the best Games ever.
Three days later, Paylor was watching the television with her girls, it was the training scores.
From District 1; Gloss, and Cashmere, each pulled a 10.
From District 2; Brutus, and Enobaria each pulled an 11.
From District 3; Beetee pulled an 8, while Wiress received only a 4.
From District 4; Finnick Odair got an 11, while Old Mags received a 1.
From District 5; their boy and girl scored a 7 and an 8.
From District 6; the Morphlings each received a 3.
From District 7; Blight pulled a 7, while Joanna Mason pulled a 10.
Cecilia and Woof did not disappoint their district as Old Wolf scored a 9, and Cecilia managed an 8.
From District 9; the boy and girl each pull a 6.
From District 10; the boy pulled a 7, while his female district partner got an 8.
From District 11; Chaff and Seeder each get an 8.
And the most biggest shock to everyone, Katniss and Peeta each pull a 12.
Two days later there were the tributes TV Interviews. As Paylor watched the TV, she knew this would rally up the Districts.
'May President Snow rue the day he made District 8 suffer so much.' thought Paylor maniacally.
Unbeknownst to President Snow, it was now impossible to scare the people any more. Any scare attempt he makes will only get the people more angry and strengthen their resolve.
Caesar Flickerman walked out onto the stage smiling.
"Welcome!" shouted Caesar Flickerman excitedly. "Welcome! Welcome, to the 75th Hunger Games!"
The crowd exploded with cheers and applause.
"24, not tributes, but former tributes, now Hunger Games Victors, will face off in the ultimate showdown! Are you excited!?"
Another round of applause and cheers from half the audience in the studio. But the other half had worried faces and did not applaud. They clearly did not like the idea that the Victors that they had come to love were being sent back into the arena.
"Tonight is not just any ordinary night of TV interviews for Hunger Games tributes. Tonight is a night where the Victors that we have come to love so much... 24 of Panem's brightest stars, will vie for the ultimate crown. Tonight will be their final opportunity to express their thoughts… Our final opportunity to express our love… and heartbreakingly… we will be saying goodbye... to all... but one. What a night." Caesar Flickerman's professionalism faltered as he himself seemed to show disappointment.
But clearly under orders and threat from President Snow he quickly restored his professionalism and acted excited for the Games for the benefit of the audience.
"Now let us invite onto the stage, for the first time ever, two tributes at the same time. From District 1, Gloss and his sister Cashmere."
The beautiful brother and sister from District 1 walked onto the stage. Gloss exuded confidence while Cashmere smiled but had tears in her eyes.
"You two made, 'Being Hunger Games Victors', a family affair." said Caesar Flickerman affectionately. "I don't know how we are going to let you both go?"
Gloss spoke with encouragement to the audience but had a look of defiance on a face.
"We're not going by choice!" said Gloss in a matter-of-fact tone. "You… the people of the Capitol, are our family. You have treated me and my sister with kindness, respect, and love. But it is unfortunate that me and my sister must go back into the arena, because I have one-hundred percent complete confidence in you, that you the people of the Capitol, that if it was with in your collective power, you would make sure that my sister and I would stay out of the arena tomorrow, and forever."
A look of worry and concern came over Caesar's face as the crowd in the audience began wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs and some of them began murmuring with angry faces.
Brutus and Enobaria had their interviews that went off without a hitch because clearly neither of them were there for the rebellion, they were just there for another Games.
From District 3, Wiress answered her questions as easily she could, but was unable to finish a single sentence as her eyes and mind seemed to keep drifting off and the space.
Beetee from District 3 was then invited onto the stage and sat in the armchair.
"Beetee." said Caesar Flickerman, "You have done so much for science for the Capitol over the years. I don't know what we are going to miss more? You or your brain?"
But rather than Beetee comment on Caesar's comment, he completely change the subject going completely off topic from Caesar's scripted questions.
"If the rules of the Third Quarter Quell could be written into law by men, for surely they could be… unwritten?" said Beetee, not a question, but a statement of fact.
The people in the audience looked at each other with frowns on their faces, then raised their eyebrows in comprehension, and nodded in approval of Beetee's words.
"That is an interesting concept?" said Caesar in confusion and embarrassment, in a worried tone of voice that he clearly was nervous about getting into the subject.
It was then that a few random people in the audience shouted angrily saying that the Third Quarter Quell was illegal.
Then there was old Mags from District 4. She apparently was completely incapable of saying so much as a single word for the entire interview which made the interview rather dull. She just did a lot of head nods and hand gestures.
"And now ladies and gentlemen," said Caesar, "from District 4. One of the greatest Hunger Games legends in Hunger Games history. Finnick Odair!"
Every woman in the entire audience screamed at the top of their lungs as he walked onto the stage smiling and waving.
"Finnick." said Caesar, "I think that within the Capitol you will be missed most of all."
Caesar was about to say something more but Finnick then cut him off before Caesar could start his next sentence.
"Caesar I apologize for interrupting but there is something I would like to say."
"Oh?" said Caesar in surprise.
Finnick then spoke into the camera.
"There is one woman, a special someone. The one woman that I love. And I would like to read this to her." He pulled out of his pocket a piece of paper, unfolded it and read from it. "My love, I love you with all of my soul, and all of my being, you are in my heart.
To spend the rest of my life with you would be what anyone would see when they look up the word 'happiness' in the dictionary.
I think flowers are the most beautiful things on Earth, and if you were standing in a field of flowers I would not be able to see you because you'd be completely camouflaged.
I wish that I could hold your hand at all times just so that I knew that you were with me. But I think that you are with me in spirit.
My love, you have my heart, and if I die in the arena, my last thoughts will be of your lips."
There were groans and sighs of sadness from the crowd, and women clutching their hearts with looks of hopeless longing on their faces.
"That was beautiful Finnick." said Caesar with tenderness in his voice.
"I'm not a very good poet." said Finnick, "But I didn't need it to rhyme, or be pure-poetry. The whole thing was sincerity from the heart." He then turned to the audience. "And to you the people of the Capitol. I only wish that there was some way, you, the people who love me so much, can work together as a collective to pull any and all strings that you can pull and do something so that I don't have to go into that arena tomorrow, so that I can be with the woman to whom my poem was directed towards."
Caesar had another worried look on his face as people in the audience started shouting, saying that the Third Quarter Quell was unfair.
The interviews from District 5 and 6 went by without a hitch, though the Morphlings were a little jittery.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, let us bring out from District 7, The winner of the 71st Hunger Games, Joanna Mason."
She walked out onto the stage and then took a seat in the armchair. She had a look on her face of amused disappointment, her mouth couldn't seem to decide whether or not it wanted to frown in anger or smile maniacally.
"So, Joanna?" said Caesar. Caesar surveyed Joanna's face for a few moments before he said more. "There has been a lot of tears shed on this stage here today. But I don't see any tears coming out of your eyes. No, you are angry?" It was in a matter-of-fact tone of voice but it felt like a question.
And then Joanna laughed with amused disappointment as though she felt that the question was stupid.
"Yes Caesar, I am angry! Because I am getting totally screwed over here! You see four years ago, my name was drawn out of the reaping bowl! You see that was the Capitol signing a legal contract with me, making a deal with me saying that if I won the Hunger Games, that I get to live in peace, money, and luxury in my home district for the rest of my life! And now, after I won Games, and was supposed to be in the clear from having to participate in the Games again…" she paused and gave the audience a look as though they were stupid, waiting for them to grasp the obvious hint of what she was trying to say. She continued, "and now I'm being sent back into the arena to go through all that hard work all over again to ensure that I stay alive!" Joanna Mason then got to her feet and took several steps towards the audience and shouted at the top of her lungs. "WELL, I JUST HAVE TO SAY! F…("beep") THIS! F…("beep") ALL OF YOU! F…("beep") THE CAPITOL! F…("beep") THE PEACEKEEPERS! F…("beep") PRESIDENT SNOW WITH A LONG, HARD, SLIMY, SH…("beep") COVERED, ERECT PENI…("beep") RIGHT UP HIS FAT HAIRY A…("beep")! F…("beep") EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS!"
She then walked off of the stage with out being dismissed. She paused, and turned back to the audience.
"And may the rebellion in the Districts BURN THIS CITY TO THE GROUND!"
Paylor looked at her television screen with jaw agape. Such a bold, straightforward, direct, and aggressive Anti-Capitol statement on television. It was extraordinary. And it strengthen the resolve across the districts of several undecided rebels.
Everyone in the audience, as well as Caesar Flickerman, was stunned into a moment of shock. And Caesar's face had also gone pale white. He took out a handkerchief and dabbed at his forehead and around his cheeks.
"Well, ladies and gentlemen," said Caesar nervously, "one woman's opinion folks. One... woman's... opinion." trying to brush Joanna's statement off as though it meant nothing. "And now I would like to introduce to the stage from District 7, Blight."
The District 7 male expressed his disappointment in the high ranking officials of the Capitol, and openly condemned The Quarter Quell, but was calm and tame in comparison to Joanna.
For District 8, Caesar called out Cecilia. She was crying. Tears poured down her face, and every one of her own words was interrupted by a hard hitch and sob in her throat.
"Cecilia!" said Caesar with a tone of tender concern in his voice as he rubbed her back. "Are you alright?"
"No, Caesar!" said Cecilia as she had taken a deep breath and calmed herself just enough. "I just don't know what I will do! I'm going to die in that arena, and I will never see my babies again!"
"Oh." said Caesar sorrowfully. "Can you tell us about them?"
Cecilia went on.
"Danielo, my oldest, he's 8. Marcelina, she's 6. And Starelica, she's 4."
She pulled out photographs and held them out to Caesar, but subtly angled them to face the camera. The camera man focused on them and the audience affectionately sighed in adoration.
"And the Peacekeepers said there was a new protocol that we would be taken straight to the train station, so I didn't get to say goodbye to them!" and she broke out into more crying. "If only you the people of the Capitol could persuade the people in charge to let me not participate, so I can be with my children!"
The audience was now saying words of disapproval at the Capitol.
Old Woof was invited onto the stage. He took a seat in the armchair.
"So, Woof? You look in remarkably good health for age 75, if I do say so myself." complemented Caesar.
"Thank you Caesar." said Woof.
Caesar was about to go on with his next question, but Woof cut him off.
"Caesar, I would just like to say to the audience that I am a huge fan of The Hunger Games, seriously. Aren't all of you?"
Wolf had directed his last question towards the audience and they all cheered and applauded.
"I think that the Hunger Games are a very exciting sporting event and very entertaining. However, I am opposed to the Third Quarter Quell. And not for the reasons you think; I personally am not opposed to going back into the arena, no, I would love to go back into the arena just for the fun of it. No, the reason I am opposed to the Third Quarter Quell is because... Caesar, are you aware that the Third Quarter Quell is illegal?"
Caesar Flickerman was put on the spot and faltered with silence because he didn't know how to respond, but Woof went on without Caesar's response.
"My good friend Beetee from District 3 made a good argument in his interview with you tonight. But I would like to elaborate on it."
Woof then pulled out some folded papers from his breast pocket.
"I hold here in my hand a legal copy of the 'Treaty of Treason', signed by both the rebel leaders and the President of Panem of the time, 75 years ago. And it says right here, in paragraph three. 'No person over the age of 18 will have their names put into the reaping bowl.' And also... 'All winners of the Hunger Games are excused of their ancestors past crimes and are exempt from having their names put into the reaping bowls ever again.'
"That is two... count'em two... Reaping violations of the law in the 'Treaty of Treason'. It also violates the Capitol's generosity. If the Capitol was generous to us, the Victors, would not that generosity extend to our choice to not participate in the Games. It also violates the Capitol's forgiveness. Would not the Capitol's forgiveness extend to we, the Victors, not having to participate in the Hunger Games? If we the Victors are forgiven, why would the Quarter Quell send Victors, forgiven people, into the arena? It is right here in black and white, by law, in every form; the Capitol can not send a Victor into the Games."
Old Wolf then looked into the camera.
"President Snow? This is a mistake… a mistake that I'm sure is just an honest misunderstanding that was easily overlooked by the experts of late. When the people who created the Hunger Games 75 years ago wrote the cards in the envelopes in the little wooden box for all of the future Quarter Quells, the moment they wrote the card for the Third Quarter Quell, this," he held up his copy of the Treaty of treason, and touched his finger to it, "is a 'PROMISE', and a 'LAW', that was broken the moment the card for the Third Quarter Quell was written."
Woof paused to allow the full weight of the dishonor of the situation sink in.
"President Snow, 'I CHALLENGE YOU'! … I challenge you, to correct this mistake, to correct this illegality before the gong sounds at the cornucopia tomorrow." He then directed his words to the audience. "And you, the people of the Capitol, I challenge you to hold your President to his honor." And then with a sudden change of subject, "Caesar my three minutes are up in 10 seconds." he then stood up from the armchair and raised his arms up in the air to offer praise to the audience. "Long live the Capitol, and long live the Hunger Games!"
He then walked off of the stage without being dismissed.
As Paylor watched the television she thought.
'That was a clever game that Old Woof just played.' thought Paylor, 'Like a lawyer in a courtroom exploiting loopholes and legal technicalities to shame President Snow into owing the Victors to the people of the Capitol.'
The Victors from Districts 9 and 10 went by.
Seeder and Chaff from District 11, also opposed the Quell.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen!" said Caesar excitedly. "The one you've all been waiting for! She has made legend beyond legend! The winner of last year's Games! Let us invite onto the stage, Katniss Everdeen, The Girl On Fire!"
Everyone had seen Katniss sitting it her chair with the rest of the tributes throughout the interviews, but now the camera focused on her as she got to her feet and walked to Caesar, everyone focused on what she was wearing. It was the winning wedding dress that the Capitol citizens had voted on.
Caesar began, "Katniss. If I might say, you look stunning in that wedding dress."
"Thank you Caesar. I'm glad you like it." said Katniss.
"I would also like to express my disappointment that there will be no wedding." said Caesar with tone of voice of offering her comfort.
"Yeah, that was a bit of a setback when the Quell was announced. But President Snow spun the idea to my stylist that maybe I should wear the dress for this interview." said Katniss. "Even though there won't be a wedding, he thought that everyone would like to see it at least once."
"Well Katniss, as always, President Snow, was right." Caesar turned to the audience and smiled and nodded excitedly. "Wasn't he right folks?"
The audience cheered and applauded at the matter of fact statement. Without another word Katniss stepped forward and then began to twirl as she raised her arms.
Her dress burst into flame and she was engulfed by smoke and fire. Then a few moments later the flames were gone but Katniss appeared unharmed and she was then standing in a full length black dress similar to the wedding dress, only it had feathers and giant wings as she held her arms out to the side.
Paylor was in awe as she looked at the TV screen.
'No!' thought Paylor in disbelief, 'It couldn't be?!'
"Katniss!" said Caesar Flickerman, with awe. He then began jabbering incoherently with a look of confusion on his face, "Your dress has changed? It... it... looks like... a... feathers, or like... you're a... a bird of some sort..."
"A Mockingjay." Katniss finished for Caesar.
The whole audience was in shock as they looked at her in disbelief.
"Ladies and gentlemen." said Caesar with a tone of fear. "This is extraordinary! What we have just witnessed, is something we have never witnessed before! And I think we are all one hundred percent positive... we will... never... witness... again! Your stylist has really out done himself this time! Cinna, take a bow!"
Katniss Everdeen's stylist stood up and smiled and waved to everyone.
Everyone smiled and applauded.
Paylor then knew that President Snow would now never be able to hold back the affect that this would have on the country.
It was then guessed that Cinna must be part of some kind of underground resistance in the Capitol.
Caesar excused Katniss from the stage and then Peeta Mellark took the stage.
Caesar remained professional and tried to keep everything as though the last interview never happened.
"So Peeta." said Caesar. "You and Katniss? It must be just such bad luck for the wedding, what with the Quell and all?"
Peeta paused and had a look on his face as though was trying to decide to do something difficult.
"Caesar? ... can you and everyone here keep a secret?" asked Peeta.
Caesar raised his eyebrows in interest. What could possibly be said on live television that would still be a secret among the studio audience.
"I think we all can." said Caesar confidently.
"Well, you see, me and Katniss are already married."
Paylor saw everyone on TV put on confused faces, turn to eachother and start muttering.
'Well, that is interesting?' thought Paylor.
"What? Peeta? When did this happen?" asked Caesar with surprise.
"About four months ago. Just prior to the announcement of the Quell." said Peeta. "Initially, at the time we just thought we were going to be mentors, not tributes. We wouldn't have gotten married if we knew."
"Well, that is bad luck." said Caesar consolingly.
"Yeah, it is." said Peeta in a sorrowful tone of voice.
"You see, we knew that if we got married here in the Capitol, it just wouldn't be the same as getting married back in District 12. You see, back in District 12, when a couple wants to get married, like in any district they go to justice building and the mayor has them sign some papers and then they are assigned a house together, and that's it, it's done, the marriage is legal. However in District 12 after the signing of the papers and the assigning of the house, that is when the actual wedding takes place, and there is a little something we do. The clothing shop in District 12 has a single white wedding dress that has been worn thousands of times just once by thousands of women over the decades, the dress is rented for just a few hours, the groom will wear something clean that is not coal miners clothes. A cake will be bought if one can be afforded, and then friends and family gather at the happy couple's house where we then do something called, 'a toasting', its where the bride and the groom toast bread together for the first time. It's an old and rather silly tradition, but it's our tradition that we always do. Anyway, I knew that we wouldn't get to do the toasting if we got married here in the Capitol so we thought we'd do it ourselves, in private, just the two of us back at home. We didn't go to justice building and sign the papers or anything. And that's it, Katniss and I feel like we are truly married and closer than ever."
The crowd sighed with adoration. They thought that the silly little local District 12 custom was charming and romantic.
But Caesar then perked up with enthusiasm.
"Well. At least you and her got to be together for at least a little while. Right folks?"
There was applause and approval at Caesar's words.
"Well," said Peeta, "it would be, but now I wish that we hadn't got married at all."
There were then looks of disapproval from everyone.
"And why is that?" said Caesar in disbelief.
"Well. Our short marriage would have been worth it... if... if..." Peeta had a look of strain on his face as though he didn't want to say it.
"If what, Peeta?" Caesar urged him on.
Peeta took a deep breath and just let it out.
"Our short marriage would be worth it... if it weren't for the baby."
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