A/N: One more for right now. :)

I stop short. "Uh, Peeta? Thirteen was blown up a really long time ago." A very long time ago. Before either of us were born. "Elaborate?" ~

"Told you." I sigh. "Since I've been young, people in Twelve have always heard rumors about Thirteen still being out there, somewhere. In the woods. That's why they don't want us out here. I've seen people out here, Cato. People who don't look like us in Twelve. I know they say it's gone, but...I've just never believed it." Thinking about my logic, I realize that I must be crazy. ~

"But wouldn't the Capitol realize it's still there? I mean, it's a whole District that was supposedly blown off the map. And how far off would it even be?" Like I said before, it's possible. But highly unlikely. "It's worth a shot, but I don't know..." ~

"Because, Cato, they want it there. Thirteen and Twelve were supposed to be right next to each other. We can't be too far." I insist as we make it out into a clearing...the ruins of District Thirteen. Damnit. ~

I sigh. Didn't I tell him? "I'm sorry." ~

"No, no..." I run out into the clearing. I was so sure. "It had to be here. I saw..." I run a little farther ahead toward a ruined building. "This was supposed to be..." I look all around at all of the nothingness around me. "Goddamnit!" I scream. There's nowhere for us. ~

"Peeta! It'll be alright. We'll...we'll work something out." I walk forward and put my hand on his shoulder. "We can look somewhere else." ~

"Don't you get it?" I turn to him quickly. "There is nowhere else. They're going to find me. Torture me again, probably..longer. So much I'll probably go insane permanently." I'm getting hysterical thinking about it. "I can't go back there, Cato. You've got to kill me." ~

"What?!" I yell and slap his arm. "Snap out of it! I'm not going to kill you!" ~

"What else are we going to do?!" I grab my other arm tightly. "I..." I drop to my knees. "I was so sure." ~

"You were just hopeful...which is good for you. You just can't let your imagination get too crazy. Then, you'd just be disappointing yourself." I take his hand. "Besides, I promised your dad I wouldn't mistreat you. Killing falls under that category." ~

I stand with his help. "Even if I ask nicely?" I mutter. ~

"No matter what you do. I won't let them do anything bad to you, Peeta. You're safe with me, no matter where we are. Okay?" ~

"...Okay." I'm still horribly disappointed. Still holding onto his hand, I begin walking through the ruins, seeing as we have the time. The only thing that's really standing besides the old Justice Building is a warehouse. There's a few random walls, too. But nothing to show that anyone's been here in over 74 years. ~

"I know, it sucks. But we'll find somewhere to hide."

Then, I hear a vaguely familiar voice behind us. Not one that I'm used to hearing every day, or even once a week. One I heard quite a lot of during-or, before-the Games. "Hello?" he says. ~

I know that voice. But it's way too clear and sober sounding to be who I think it is, so I don't turn. I keep the clothing and helmet on, because if someone sees me, and I don't know who it is, we could both be in huge trouble. ~

Against my basic instinct, I turn around. Slowly, but I do it. "Hi?" In the distance, I see an older man walking towards us. He looks familiar, but I can't tell at this distance who it is exactly.

"You, from District Two...Cato?" He asks.

"...Yeah?" Good or bad, I don't know. Just don't hurt Peeta. ~

I take a step away from the pair, just listening and acting like a typical Peacekeeper escort to the recent victor. That voice definitely sounds like Haymitch, but he's already being too logical. Maybe it's what Haymitch would sound like if he was ever sober. But why he'd have a reason to be-and out here, of all places-is beyond me. ~

"Weren't you Peeta's mentor?" I ask, as he comes closer. No, it definitely is.

He holds his hand out for me to shake it. "Haymitch." He pauses for a second, then asks, "What brings you here?"

"You know...just..." Peeta brings me here. "Just travelling, you know. Taking in the...beauty of this area. Whatever the hell it is." ~

I laugh lightly at Cato's comment and poor attempt at covering himself to Haymitch of all people. What was he doing here, anyway? I turn to face the pair while still keeping my composure and getup on. Yeah, it was Haymitch Abernathy. With a likely 0% blood alcohol content. I'd remember this moment. I nod to him in recognition, just out of respect as I think a Peacekeeper would. He did always say I was a great actor. ~

"Travelling? Sightseeing?" He raises an eyebrow and laughs at me in a slightly condescending matter. "There's nothing to see out here, is there?"

I look over to Peeta and think about what he told me he thought was going to be here. "Nope, nothing. Although, I do quite like the piles of wall and the scorched ground. Lovely decor." ~

Smooth, Cato. He doesn't really know how well Haymitch can see the truth through bullshit, and how much of a bullshit artist Haymitch himself was. But now, I'm just testing myself. Seeing how long I can hold out on my old mentor being showing him that I was still here. He's definitely next on the list of people who could know about this. ~

"What's your real reason for being here?" Okay, so he can see right through me. I hate when people can do that.

"I..." Maybe I can trust him. Peeta seemed to trust him. "I left Two because it was terrible there. I thought I'd get punished even more, especially after what they did to Peeta...so I came all the way here. Looking for something-anything-that I could escape to." ~

Once again, Cato tells a smooth story. Haymitch'll probably buy it this time, just because he doesn't want to force anything out of Cato. He doesn't really have a reason to care, now that he's back to just moping around District Twelve again. I cross my arms and examine my old mentor's face. He looks stressed, but not from the drinking. From real stress. I've always been good at reading people, too. It's what helps me when I have to play parts. ~

"Mhm." He nods. It seems like he believes me. But then, he turns his direction to Peeta. "Who's...your friend?" ~

I nod at him once more. I'll see if Cato can pull off some bull about me being his escort guard or something like that. Haymitch was the one that told me that popular victors got those, anyway. Either way, I'll show myself to Haymitch soon. It's just funny to me, seeing a battle of who can lie and detect the other person's lies best. ~

Does Peeta not want to reveal himself? Whatever the reason is, I won't question it, because he usually has an idea of what he's doing. Even if he's out of his mind. "Just a friend. I was pretty tight with some of the people in District Two, so I...requested that someone bring me here. Or, anywhere, I mean. I didn't want my dad to know, so...he doesn't."

"Is that so?" God, that sounds familiar. ~

I glance over at Haymitch. He knows something's up, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't suspect that I'm alive. Just that Cato isn't being completely honest. I'm really just in this to see him shocked for once. ~

"Yes." I glance at Peeta. "That's so. Would it ever be anything else?" Yes, it would.

"People make me out to be some drunken idiot." He smiles. "When I'm sober, I'm actually pretty sharp. I thought you would understand that, of all people."

"Yes, sir, you're a very intelligent man. I don't doubt that." I shrug.

"Then would you or your friend care to tell the truth?" ~

Some people never change. "I would." I say simply, taking another step forward, my voice still peculiar sounding from the lack of food. Great, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm really hungry. ~

Haymitch looks over to Peeta, who finally spoke. "Go on." He seems genuinely intrigued. Good. ~

"We've met before, Haymitch Abernathy." I smirk beneath the helmet's mask. "You have no reason to...distrust me, persay. But I'll say this. You never thought you'd see me again." ~

"Mom? Dad? President Snow? Peeta Mellark?" He pauses. "Finnick Odair?" He laughs. "Really, this is serious. I need to know who you are. No tricks." ~

"Well, you've got me." I lift the helmet off of my head and shake quickly, just to make sure my hair isn't in some horrible shape because of the helmet, taking a few steps forward. ~

"Peeta?" He honestly looks surprised, so I'm assuming he really didn't know anything.

"Surprise." For the second time today. ~

"Don't act so excited to see me alive or anything, Haymitch. Jeez." I smirk at him. Even though we didn't get off on the right foot, Haymitch was really my main support during the Games, and beforehand. He honestly did everything he could to try to keep Katniss and I alive. ~

He walks over to Peeta and touches his face. "Back from the dead again, I see?" ~

"You know me. I could never miss an opportunity to screw with the Capitol." I laugh. ~

"What'd you do this time? Fake your death again with berries?" ~

"Actually, this time, I never died in the first place. We escaped, so they lied so they wouldn't make fools of themselves." Haymitch of all people would appreciate that. ~

"Sounds like the Capitol. But they must be beating themselves up over there trying to figure out how you escaped from them twice." He laughs quietly at the Capitol's mistake. "I have to give you credit for that one. I taught you well." ~

"Learned from the best, didn't I?" I'm not even sucking up. Over this course of time, I've come to realize how important and vital the advice Haymitch gave me has been. "I figured you'd want to hear about that." ~

"Well, that certainly turns this week around. I should've known the second they said you'd been privately executed, that you were able to escape. They wouldn't just change it like that."

"Hey, you don't suck up to me like that anymore!" I whine. Mood killer. ~

"No, they wouldn't. But only you or I would recognize that." I look to Cato. "I'm not sucking up, relax. Haymitch just gets it." I laugh. "You were having a bad week?" ~

"Most of us have been having a bad week. When people found out you were alive, things changed around District Twelve," he says. "Now, what brings you two here? And don't say sightseeing again." ~

"What do you mean, things changed?" I question. "Here, like District Twelve?" ~

"You know we aren't in District Twelve, Peeta." But the question is, where are we if it isn't Twelve? "And some people were...startled, I suppose, when they found out you were alive and well and in District Two. I heard talk of a rebellion." ~

"I mean, the general area of Twelve." I sigh, still frustrated. "I...thought Thirteen could still be out here, and we could be safe there. But then, all we found was this." I refer to the ruins. "A rebellion?" I question. "Why on earth would people rebel?" I pause. "...Me?" ~

He doesn't mention anything about the possibility of District Thirteen at all. Instead, he says, "Yes, you! Whether you meant to or not, you beat their Games."

"And they're pretty pissed off about that, I might add." I remind him. "Who would dare start a rebellion after that? They must be insane!"

Haymitch looks me once over. "People like you would probably understand the least because you're on the Capitol's lap."

"Not anymore," I mutter.

"People have been in rebellion for a while now," he turns back to Peeta, "but it wasn't until you came back that they became more active, so speak. They think you're dead, so you're their martyr." ~

A martyr? Me? Why? "Are you sure, Haymitch?" I look at the both of them. "I mean...why me? There are plenty who died for the Games. Plenty who, in their own ways, defied." I look at Haymitch. "Besides, I may be alive now, but they're going to find me." ~

"You're the only one of them who made it out alive! That's when people started realizing how faulty the Capitol is...and if they ever find out you escaped again, there isn't a doubt in my mind that they'll be looking up to you for that."

"He's right." They both turn to look at me, to make sure I'm saying something serious for once. "Peeta, you played their Games on your own terms. People probably like that." ~

"But if anyone finds out, I'll be dead for sure. It won't be worth anything. Would it?" This is so sudden. Minutes ago, I was sure I was going to die because I had nowhere to go. Now...there's a rebellion? Because of me? "What do you want me to do about it?" ~

"What do you think should be done about it?" He seems to have an idea in his head, but asks Peeta anyway. ~

"I...I don't know." I look to Haymitch. "I would say that...that I could help. But...everyone would know I'm alive. There's no safe place for us to hide already." I mutter the last part, kicking a brick. ~

"What if there is?" ~

I raise an eyebrow. "Haymitch..." I begin, but realizing he won't tell me anything until I answer him first, I say, "Then...I would be more than happy to help the rebellion...and take down the Capitol. In any way I could." They were the ones who did this to the people I cared about, after all. ~

"We already have people working on it." He says. "You mentioned District Thirteen earlier?" ~

My eyes widen. "I knew it!" I turn to Cato. "I told you I wasn't crazy!" I go back to Haymitch. "It exists, doesn't it?" ~

"Peeta, we're standing on it!" I say. "You know there's nothing here." ~

"But, Haymitch just..." I look at my mentor. "Haymitch?" ~

"We're standing on it."

"Ha! He's agreeing with me!" I laugh, but then I feel bad because Peeta's right. We have nowhere to go. ~

My face hardens. "Then what was the point of bringing it up? Thanks for the false hope, Haymitch." I mutter. This is the dead, nuclear end of the road. "I might as well hand myself in. Nowhere is safe, don't you get that?!" ~

"It's still here, though." What? "Like I said, we're standing on it." ~

"There's nothing here but ruins, Haymitch!" I cry out. He confuses the hell out of me sometimes. "You must be drunk." ~

"I've been sober for days. I know, hard to believe. Come over here, both of you."

I look to Peeta before stepping forward. I think Haymitch can be trusted. ~

I step forward. "You, sober? Why...?" I get a bit nervous. "Thirteen?" I take a deep breath. ~

He whispers, "Thirteen is beneath us." ~

I look to Cato as my eyes widen. "You mean...underground?" ~

"To stay hidden, yes. The Capitol knows about it, but they can't touch you here."

That means Peeta would be safe here. Which means, if it's true, he can finally stop running. ~

A/N: Now starts all the new characters coming in. HOORAY. :D Review please!