24.

Effie was leaning against the side of the truck, checking her reflection in the wing mirror – everything not to look at the Capitol looming behind her – Haymitch had judged her outfit ridiculous as he often did but she liked the heart-shaped sunglasses Katniss had brought her back from a raid a few weeks earlier; it fitted nicely with the glittering hair clip keeping her blond curls out of her face and her pink and green coat.

"You're good to go?" Johanna asked her when she exited the building with her backpack.

Effie glanced at the inside of the truck in which Katniss and Prim were browsing through their growing CDs collection and arguing good-heartedly with each other. The trunk was full to the rim as was the rebels' SUV but that was nothing compared to the pick-up Johanna had claimed as hers. It was stocked with gas, food and camping gear, leaving only enough room for two people. Annie was already inside, waiting for them to leave.

It was sooner than Haymitch had hoped, the cold was still sharp at night, but zombies and mutts had started to wander back north and as much as they had tried to pretend it wasn't happening, it had appeared clear they couldn't linger any longer when the last rebel soldier had fallen prey to a pack of zombies. Johanna and Gale had escaped only miraculously that day, Effie still had nightmares about it.

"Yes." she finally replied even though it was hesitant. Too late. Johanna was already gone, slamming the pick-up door shut. It had been decided they would only take three cars and Annie's old truck was to be left behind. It was probably a good thing, every time any of them looked at her car all they saw was Finnick joking… They didn't need the daily reminder.

Nevertheless, Effie sometimes felt the only thing they were doing was leaving things behind.

She had enjoyed her time in the Capitol. She had enjoyed the safety of a roof above her head and walls around them.

Her eyes met Peeta's who was hovering uncertainly next to the rebels SUV and who looked as sad as she was to leave their safe haven. She forced a cheerful grin on her lips that elicited a small smile from the boy and she mentally scolded herself. She couldn't let herself wallow in that fashion, she needed to lead by example and keep everyone's spirits up.

She climbed behind the wheel with a new determination and turned around to join the girls' discussion. After much deliberation and a debate upon which pop singer in their meager collection would annoy Haymitch the most, it was decided that Britney Spears was a good choice. Spying Haymitch and Coin finally exiting the building, she put the CD in discreetly and did her best to look innocent. Prim was trying hard to disguise her giggles with a fake cough.

"We're taking point." Haymitch declared as soon as he was in the truck, without another word of greeting. "Let's go."

He was all business, grim face and hard eyes that were too busy to roam on the map in his hands to even look at her or even comment on her outfit like he usually did – not that she appreciated to be called ridiculous but she appreciated being looked at. If Effie had felt a tad guilty at the idea of imposing him the teenagers' choice of music, it quickly disappeared after that.

She turned the engine on with a huff and grinned like the cat who ate the canary when the first notes of Oops… I did it again started and he jumped in surprise. The string of profanities that left his mouth was fortunately covered by Prim and Katniss' laughter.

"You're kidding me." he whined as she drove away in the direction they had agreed to take beforehand. It only made the girls laugh harder. "You have giant hearts on your face, sweetheart." He shook his head and mumbled. "I'm surrounded by crazy people." Her only answer was to start singing along with the CD player which prompted Haymitch to cringe further. "Please, don't sing." he grumbled. "If zombies are like dogs they can probably hear your annoying voice three miles away."

She glared.

He sulked.

She sang louder.

The girls joined in and for a while it was actually fun. She was always surprised by how easy it was to sometimes forget about the end of the world – until something reminded her like a wayward zombie on the side of the road.

Being on the road was familiar which was strange in itself because even though she had traveled a lot when she was a model, Effie had never spent so much time behind the wheel. She had grown used to it though and the truck felt more like home now than any building ever would, she thought. She was glad they didn't have to leave that behind… Her mind wandered to Annie and she wondered how she felt about giving up the last piece of Finnick she had – well, it wasn't the last, soon enough there would be a baby after all.

They drove all day, taking turns behind the wheel and only stopping when they came across an abandoned car in hope of siphoning some more gas. They ate while driving and, after a few hours, even Effie's best attempts at being cheerful were starting to fall short. By nightfall, everybody was tensed and snappish, it didn't improve when Coin decided they shouldn't stop to camp.

The music had long been turned off and the radio was only giving statics when Effie finally stopped pouting about a nasty comment Haymitch had made a bit earlier and slid closer to him on the bench seat. The girls were fast asleep on the back seat, Prim's head in Katniss' lap.

"This system won't work." Effie sighed, snuggling against him. She loosely wrapped an arm around his waist, he immediately placed his around her shoulders and brought her closer until she could rest her head on his shoulder and bury her face in his neck. He dropped a kiss on her hair but never took his eyes off the road. It was dark and the landscapes seemed treacherous for someone unfamiliar with the place. "We will kill each other. We should establish a rotation schedule… People should switch car more often."

"You're the schedule freak, Princess, you work it out." he shrugged. "But I want you in the same car as me at all times."

That meant he didn't trust anyone else to keep her safe. She wanted to argue she could keep herself out of danger but she wasn't sure anyone could nowadays, even people better equipped than she was to deal with that new world.

"I will do it first thing tomorrow morning." she vowed, stifling a yawn behind her hand.

It didn't escape Haymitch's notice. "Get some sleep."

She wanted nothing else but slumber was slow to come. She dozed off mostly, lulled by Haymitch's breathing but still painfully aware of the purring of the engine and the radio's static noise. Haymitch kept wriggling, she sluggishly realized his arm was probably getting numb and she curled on the bench seat, her head cushioned on his thigh. It didn't stop him from rubbing his eyes every so often. It was close to dawn, he should wake up Katniss and switch driver, Effie mused, half-asleep.

The screeching in the radio took her by surprise and made her startle. Haymitch turned the volume down with a frown but played with buttons. Strange sounds came out, broken hisses and echoes.

"What is it?" she asked, giving up on the idea of sleep to sit up properly.

"A voice, I think." Haymitch muttered, trying to keep his eyes on the road and tinker with the radio at the same time. "Someone's broadcasting."

"Switch with me." she sighed, glancing at the rear-view mirror.

She didn't know who was driving the pick-up but they were far enough behind that they barely slowed down when Haymitch stopped the car. Effie didn't have any intention to wander outside in the dark so she pulled and manhandled him to exchange their place. His hands held her in place briefly when she straddle him.

"If you wanted to do that, you should have said." he teased.

"The children are here." she scowled him, slapping his hands away. She drove on just as the pick-up was catching up and for a while, there was nothing in the car but the broken voice on the radio and Haymitch trying to get a clear signal.

"… help…" was the first full word they got. Haymitch stopped fumbling with the buttons.

"I can't get a better read." he shrugged. "It must be a short distance broadcast. That guy must be close."

"… wounded…" the voice said, between two flare of statics. It sounded familiar for some reason and, unconsciously, Effie slowed down, ignoring Haymitch's questioning glance. "… Help… Motel…. On the 47th… Please…"

The nagging feeling wouldn't leave her. She knew the voice. She hadn't heard it in a long time now, but she knew the voice…

"… Danger… People… Ambushing… Cars…"

"That doesn't sound good." Haymitch mumbled, already grabbing the maps. "We should avoid the area and…"

She didn't listen to what he was saying, she was focused on the voice. She was so focused she simply stopped the car.

"… Please… I'm… Crane… I… Help… "

Was it her loud gasp or the truck coming to a stop that woke up the children? Effie was aware of them asking questions but she couldn't hear anything but the broken voice, the painfully familiar broken voice. Seneca's voice.

"Effie, what's wrong?" Haymitch's hand fell on her shoulder, squeezing not so gently to bring her back to earth.

"We need to help him." she heard herself say, turning to him with a pleading face. "We need to help him, please. Where is the 47th?" She tried to get the map but he held it out of her reach. "We need to…"

"We don't need to do anything." Haymitch cut her off. "He says he's wounded. It might be a zombie bite, by the time we reach him he might be dead. Besides, I don't like the ambushing thing."

"It might be a trap. We can't trust a stranger…" Katniss agreed, glancing at Prim.

"But he's not…" Effie stammered. "He's not… I know him."

"What?" Katniss and Haymitch asked at the same time.

She was dimly aware the pick-up and the SUV had stopped too and that people were getting out, probably not understanding what the problem was. Effie didn't care, her whole mind was on Seneca. What were the odds? What were the odds?

"I recognize his voice. He… He said his name is Crane. It's him, I'm sure it's him…" she babbled, trying to turn the volume up but all she got was statics and a vague rumble of words she couldn't decipher. It was maddening to know Seneca was on the other side of that damned machine and she couldn't hear him, couldn't answer him…

"Who?" Prim asked gently. "Who is it?"

"My boyfriend." It was a reflex born from years introducing him as such. They had been going out on and off for so long… But Seneca was so much more than that. He was a dear friend, probably the best she had before the apocalypse and if there was any chance at all she could find him…

She didn't realize the girls were watching Haymitch warily.

"Yeah?" he snorted with a detachment too casual to be sincere. "How many of us are there?"

She didn't have time to explain herself, the door was opened on her side and Johanna glared at her.

"Any reason you decided to take a nap in the middle of the road?" the young woman sneered. "'Cause, you know, it's not like we have anywhere to be or…"

"We need to go to a motel on the 47th." Effie interrupted her.

"Effie…" Haymitch tried but she didn't want to listen. She pushed Johanna to get out and frantically summed up the situation for the others.

No need to say the reactions were divided.

"We won't risk everything for a single man who might already be dead." Coin decided. "Our mission is to reach Thirteen and…"

"I don't have a mission." Effie glared at the President and at almost everyone in turn because it hadn't escaped her notice that no one was speaking up in favor of helping Seneca. "And I will go alone if I have to."

"You won't go alone." Peeta said at once. "I will go with you."

"And you will be so useful, limping after zombies…" Gale muttered, loud enough that everyone heard.

"Don't." Katniss warned her best friend as Peeta's cheeks flushed red either in embarrassment or anger.

"Let's take a vote." Annie suggested, rubbing her baby bump. "I think we should help. And so would Finnick if he were here."

"But he's not. This is suicide, there is no need to vote." Coin snapped.

"I want to help." Prim offered, ignoring the President.

"Count me in." Peeta smiled. "I will happily limp after zombies."

"Against." Johanna spat but it wasn't a surprise.

"Against." Gale added.

Plutarch refused too and everyone turned to Katniss who shuffled on her feet, ill-at-ease. Her eyes darted from Effie to Prim and she winced. "I'm sorry, no, it's too dangerous."

Effie walked closer to Haymitch, the only one who hadn't yet voted and grabbed his hand.

"Please." she begged. "He's my friend."

"You're not even sure it's him." he replied.

"Even if it's not…" Peeta shrugged. "Is that what we came down to? Having to vote to decide if we help another human being or not? How are we better than zombies? How are we going to sleep tonight knowing we let someone die when we could save him?"

Effie's heart swell with pride for that boy who had lost so much and was still so ready to give.

"I will sleep just fine as long as I'm alive." Johanna retorted.

"I'm with Katniss. It's too dangerous." Haymitch said at last, squeezing her hand to soften the blow. It didn't help. Effie tore it away angrily and marched to the trunk where her backpack was stocked.

"Then I will go on my own." she declared.

"Like hell, you are!" Haymitch grumbled, going after her and slamming the trunk shut before she could grab her bag. "Look, if you're so desperate to go find your boyfriend…"

"It's not like that…" she winced. "It's…"

"Why did we even vote?" Johanna sighed, flicking her brown hair over her shoulder in irritation. "Either we let her go and get killed and lover boy and the kid will moan and cry all the way to Thirteen…" She nodded to Peeta and Prim who were standing together next to Katniss "And I'm not even talking about Haymitch… Or we don't go and then lover boy, the kid and Miss Fashion will fucking moan all the way to Thirteen and remind us every day what bad people we are." She rolled her eyes. "I changed my mind, I vote yes. I hate moaning. Let's go check the guy out. Who knows, maybe he's hot. We're lacking a hot guy."

Effie sighed with relief. "Thank you."

Johanna shrugged. "I'm not doing it for you. I just want a sex-friend."

That was a lie, Effie knew, but Johanna hated showing any weakness so she let it pass.

"The guy used to sleep with a model, you think he would go for you?" Gale snorted.

Johanna didn't like the comment. "You've become a very bitter man since you got dumped, Hawthorne."

"Okay." Haymitch grumbled, bringing the argument to a stop before it could fully blow out. "I guess we can try. If we're careful."

"Thank you!" Effie threw her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He didn't seem happy with that, though, because he leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth. They didn't often do that in public and it felt more like a claim than a loving gesture. Nobody was fooled.

"Yeah, yeah, we got it, Haymitch, she's yours." Johanna taunted. "Wanna piss on her to mark your territory too?"

"Language." Effie shrieked, horrified by such vulgarity. "And in front of Prim, too! Oh, I don't know what we're going to do with you, Johanna…"

Some of them laughed and tension seemed to dissolve a bit. However, the new decision didn't settle well with Coin. While Plutarch and Peeta were consulting the maps to find the exact location of the motel and the others mingled, Effie spied the President and Haymitch wandering slightly away from the cars to the edge of the woods.

She didn't like that.

"Come on. Time to relieve natural needs, Trinket." Johanna appeared at her shoulder suddenly and nudged her towards the woods. Obviously, she had noticed the aside conversation too and wasn't any happier than Effie.

Effie followed Johanna into the forest, trying to be as quiet as possible. It wasn't hard to get close enough to hear the discussion without being seen. Coin was obviously angry because even though she kept her voice low, it was clipped and harsh.

"… have to see how stupid this is!" the President was saying. "Talk her out if it. That man is dead."

"Or wounded." Haymitch argued, shrugging. "Effie and the boy have a point. If we start ignoring people who need help…"

"Wounded!" Coin spat, ignoring the rest. "We already have three useless mouth to feed and protect. Now you want to add a fourth one? We have enough liabilities as it is."

Her cold grey eyes darted to the cars and more precisely to the place where Prim and Peeta were talking to Annie.

Outraged, Effie opened her mouth but Johanna gripped her arm and squeezed in warning.

"I don't like what you're implying." Haymitch growled.

"I'm not asking you to like it." Coin replied. "Just keep your people in line. We're slowed down enough as it is, I need to get back to Thirteen."

She turned on her heels and walked away before Haymitch could reply, leaving him to walk back to the others. Johanna waited until he was far enough before trekking back to where they had entered the woods.

"What do you think it means?" Effie asked because Johanna's silence was unnerving. She knew what Coin meant of course but she was less certain about what it meant for them in general. She didn't like the way the President had looked at their friends or her comments about useless mouths to feed.

"It means you keep Peeta and Annie in the truck. I will get Katniss to take Prim in the pick-up and I will go in the SUV to find out more." Johanna ordered with a scowl. "Keep your fucking mouth shut for once and don't babble to the others about it."

She nodded grimly just as they left the haven of trees. Effie felt Haymitch's eyes on her at once, tracking her progress until she was back to his side. He didn't say anything but she knew he didn't like it when she wandered too far from him.

"Alright…" Plutarch said, a finger on the map. "Here's the plan…"

A word of update: given that the movie comes out next week, I won't be updating on Sunday. So next update will be not next Sunday but the one after that on the 30th by my account.

Thanks for your support on this story, I enjoy your comments. Keep them coming! Love to all