"After interest in the Games drops to an all time low, President Snow is determined to regain the once amazing popularity. Twelve tributes. One 'arena.' And one game-changing twist. Welcome to the 80th Hunger Games, the Rebirth."

~ The Rebirth Games ~

Chapter Twenty-One:

I'm No Murderer

I see them in my dreams. They stare at me. I stare back. I'm on fire. Like a bird. Like a Mockingjay. She opened the box. The box that sealed her fate. Both of their fates. I watched as they disappeared into the smoke and as they went up in flames.

My eyes spring open and I'm blinded by the brightness. My sight adjusts and I form the outline of the lamp beside me. I lean over and flick it off. I pull the bed sheets further up to my chin and I'm startled by the people sitting beside me. On a small wooden stool, the girl has her arms crossed and an irritated look on her face.

"I don't want to keep holding grudges," says Celia. "So I'd like to say this.. You're no longer up for trial. I'm sorry for your loss."

Of course they don't know. It's not just a loss. It's losses.

"Are," I choke out, my voice raspy and clogged.

He sniffs and speaks after a few seconds. "I wanted to save her, Danix. But I- I.. couldn't move. The first arrow knocked me back into a dark pit.. All I remember was blood. Bodies. There were so many bodies... I tried climbing out. Once I saw the final explosion and her face... the Mockingjay was gone and the fighting had ended."

"I'm not dead," I say.

Are gives a slight smile. "I carried you all this way.. Well, half-dragged."

"And where's Livvy?"

Are and Celia both exchanges looks.

"This time, I'm certain I know who the Mockingjay is..." Celia says calmly, unusual for her. "It's Livvy. Livvy's the Mockingjay. She's nowhere to be found."

I struggle to get out of the bed in pain. Aches run through my spine and I feel an odd coldness in my upper body. Are helps me stand up while Celia looks at me in disgust. I hear a few bones crack, but I'm able to start walking - maybe even run - but the aching is still there. We leave my bedroom and head into the living room where Obedience, Destiny and Crazy are.

"Well, well, well, Danny boy!" exclaims Destiny. "Lookin' good, I tell ya! Ha!"

"Livvy's the Mockingjay," I spit out. "She escaped from the basement and Are and I were attacked by the Mockingjay.. It's gotta be her."

"Where's Tren?" Obedience asks.

I pause, my mind going completely blank. I'm flashing straight back to that night on the train. We're looking over the edge of the cart, admiring the fireworks blast over District 2. The fireworks. Exploding with a bang. I see her in the village, holding a firework of her own in her hand. It explodes and she shatters like glass into pieces and blows away in the wind. Fire covers me and I smack down on the paved pathway. My body is frozen. All I can do is stare up at the sky and watch as the smoke drifts away in ashy swirls.

"She's not coming back," I say. Everybody in the room turns and stares at me. "So..." I quickly change the subject. "We need to think of a plan. A plan to outsmart Livvy. Any ideas?"

"We each arm ourselves with weapons and hide around the house," Celia suggests.

"Sounds good," I say, an unsettling tone in my voice.

"Thanks," Celia adds with a puzzled look on her face. We both stop and glare at each other for a few seconds, then realize the sudden mood change. We're finally agreeing on something for once.

"Okay... I'll patrol the north bedroom hall. Celia, you patrol the one straight opposite. Obedience, you take the living room. Crazy, the kitchen. Are, the other upstairs hallway, and Destiny, the entrance hall."

"Perfecto! Haha!" shouts Destiny. "That way if any Mockingbirdy gon' come an kill some of us, I be the first to get the hell outta here! Haha!"

"You do realize that we're all trapped in the arena, right?" Celia snaps.

"Oh, it don't matter not a thingy!" Destiny responds. "I'mma explode that arena like that Catnip Everbean done did it which caused that huge rebellion! I'mma be the Mockingjay for the fourth rebellion! Haha!"

Celia sighs.

"But you know what?" Destiny continues, pointing her finger at each and every one of us. "If my plans don't go to plan too well, I'm gonna go and catch that bitchin' killer!"

"Destiny, I think that's enough.." says Are. "Let's get down to work."

"Oh! You will all see! Y'all all see it all!" she yells, walking towards the entrance hall. "Y'all all follow me all!"

We each stack ourselves with weapons; Celia with a bow, Are with a shotgun, Destiny with a gun of her own, - but she doesn't know we slid out the ammo cartridges in case she goes nutty and shoots us all - Crazy with exploding throwing knives and Obedience with a sword. We get into our positions around the house and start the defense... But we barely do anything. I roam back and forth down the hall, watching as Celia does the same in the hall across from me. I scan out the window at the end of the hallway, and I see a shadow form behind me through my reflection. I spin around and point my spear right up to Celia's chin.

"Do you mind?"

"You move quickly," I say. "You were at the end of the other hall literally seconds ago."

"I guess I've got skills," she boasts. "I need to talk to you about.. something."

"What is it?"

"You'll see." She tightly clutches my arm and pushes open the nearest door; Obedience's bedroom. She slams the door behind us and I instantly think it's a trap. I break free from her grasp and point my spear straight at her face.

"I'm not going to kill you!" she moans. "Calm yourself!"

"You're being too nice all of a sudden.. You're up to something."

She makes a sarcastically shocked face. "Up to something?! No... Not me! Not me, little miss perfect on a platter with a cherry on top me! How could I do such a thing?!"

"Speak up," I say. "Do it now. Now or else.."

"Or else what?"

"I kill you."

Her cheery face suddenly falls and she gives me a serious look. "That's what I've brought you here to discuss."

"Discuss what?"

"If you want me to speak, you need to put down the spear."

I raise my spear even higher.

"Do it!" she squeals. Frustrated, I drop it and it lands on the floor.

"Okay.." she begins, her face full of worry. "You need to be gentle when I tell you this.."

"What is it?" I ask.

She rolls her eyes down and tilts her head to the floor.

"Danix... You are the Mockingjay."

Author's Note:

...

Okay.

Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Thank you all so much for reading, byeeeee! :D