Effie led the tributes back to the floor and dismissed them. She was fuming with anger and knew exactly what she'd find Haymitch doing. Like all the other times. He would be absolutely wrecked and passed out in front of the toilet. "Oliver, how long had you and Tabitha been left alone?"
The boy turned back and offered quietly, "He left about halfway through your interview with Headgamemaker Crane." Effie nodded and crossed her arms, poised to asked another question.
Oliver added, "He drank a lot after you left."
Effie's demeanor softened, "Thank you Oliver. Head off to bed. I'll make sure you're up in the morning."
Oliver headed off and Effie turned to her room. Wrestling Haymitch into his bed from the floor was hard work. She tossed her shoes and accessories on her bed. Mustering her attitude she walked into his room and found what she suspected. The same night every year he would drink himself sick. Bottles and glasses. The door wide open to the bathroom. Haymitch throwing up into the toilet.
"Oh good, you're alive." Effie said snappishly. To which Haymitch grumbled. She peeked in to make sure he was alright and started picking up. Throwing away the bottles and dumping out the glasses of alcohol. While in her room she ordered food for him.
Effie poured a glass of water and brought it to Haymitch. "Here." She handed it to him. He sloshed the liquid down his shirt and dropped the glass with a fumbling grasp.
Effie grabbed a towel with a sigh and knelt down to soak up the mess. He rested his head on his arm and watched her. "You shouldn't be here." He grumbled with his eyes shut.
"On the contrary, Haymitch. I do have to be here. Who else would pick you up off the floor?" Effie sat back on her legs and pushed a stray hair behind her ear.
"You're dead." He grumbled, Effie saw his back heaving again. Dead? What in the world did he drink? Effie narrowed her eyes and stood up. Grabbing a clean cloth to soak in cool water. She placed it on his neck and crossed her arms.
"I'm not dead, Haymitch." Effie corrected and put her hand under his arm. "You need to get up. Let's go." She said firmly.
Haymitch mumbled something but Effie couldn't make it out to be anything she'd recognize. After a struggle Haymitch was off the floor and bracing himself against the sink and Effie's shoulder. She pushed a cup in his hand and made him drink a small bit of it. "Move slowly. You're going to bed now." Effie said firmly, having learned before that he could be playful or stubborn when he drank as much as he did.
"Mari…" He mumbled and looked down at her. "You're not supposed to be here."
Effie nudged him toward the door, "I'm not Mari. I'm Effie. Now walk, that way." She pointed and nudged him again. Succeeding in getting him to move, slowly, but still it was progress. He dropped onto the bed and sighed heavily.
Effie leaned over him to pull the covers over and then he grabbed her wrist. "I told them too much. They're going to use you against me. You have to leave. They're going to kill you." Haymitch said between deep breaths. His eyes were closed and heavy with alcohol.
Effie paused and looked over at him. Not tugging her wrist free, but listening. She remembered what Cinna had said. He was still hurting. Mari… Oh my god. The girl he loved. It was Mari. Effie barely contained the gasp.
He gripped her harder, "Why are you still hear! Marianna go!" He said quickly.
Effie gasped, "Okay.. I'll go." She whispered figuring the only way to appease him would be to play along.
Haymitch settled down at that and Effie quickly left as an Avox was bringing in a sandwich for him. She quickly shut her door and sat on her bed. Her mind was reeling from the night's developments. She breathed deeply and set her alarm for the next morning.
When morning did come Effie was already awake before her alarm. The gut feeling she had told her this game would be ill-favored for District 12. She wanted to think that Seneca wouldn't make an example. Tabitha had done everything wrong from day one. Even if Seneca wanted to be kind Panem was waiting to see what would happen to their tribute. She couldn't go unpunished. Effie's only real concern was for Oliver who had done no wrong and Tabitha probably put a target on his back as well.
Effei dressed in a navy pencil skirt and turquoise shimmering lace shirt. It was by far the most elegant shirt she had ever had from Cinna. Layers of bright lace, crusted with blue sequins and gems. She tucked it into the skirt and found her shoes. Her favorite white blonde wig was tinged with blue accents as was her make-up.
"Haymitch." Effie knocked on his door. "It's almost time."
She heard him grumble and the release of springs on the mattress told her he had been lying down. Please, oh please be dressed already! Effie begged in her mind. The door swung open.
"Morning Princess." He said gruffly, and to her surprise he was already dressed. In a complementing blue shirt and black pants.
"Good morning, Haymitch." She said politely. It was icy between them and Effie couldn't get a read on how much he remember of the past 24 hours. He seemed very put together.
"What are you waiting for?" He asked as he pushed the door open more and moved out into the hallway. Effie realized she had been standing there awkwardly.
"Nothing.. Let's go." She perked up and noticed Oliver and Tabitha already dressed for the arena. The styling teams had dropped by in the morning to dress them.
Tan pants, brown boots and a lightweight sand colored vest and white shirt. Haymitch studied the two of them. "Well what does your outfit tell you about the arena?" He looked sharply at both of them.
Oliver spoke up, "It'll be warm?"
Effie considered that a great observation. Haymitch nodded, "What about you Tabitha?"
She rolled her eyes, "I don't know it's a safari or something."
Effie felt her temper flare up again. Haymitch glanced at Effie and signaled at her to back down. "Tabitha you'd do well to gather as many clues now as you can."
Effie glanced at her tablet in her hands, they had minutes to get to the top floor and get them on the hovercraft. "Well as much as I would love to stand here and dissect these outfits, we have to go. We've got minutes." She motioned to the elevator.
Silence fell upon the group as they rode to the top floor. Other mentors and escorts were dropping off tributes. Effie was closest to Oliver as they neared the door. "Keep your head up, you'll be great." She smiled and smoothed out the collar of his vest. He was silent and nodded. After a minute he spoke, "Thank you Miss Trinket. You've helped a lot."
Effie spotted Tabitha who stormed off toward the hovercraft by herself. Haymitch threw up his hands in disbelief. Every other District sent their tributes on the craft in pairs and there was Tabitha marching toward it by herself. Oliver looked confused, "Wasn't I supposed to walk with her?"
Haymitch muttered something about a headache and needing a drink. Effie clutched her tablet. This was being televised. Once again District 12 was falling apart in the spotlight. "Goodness.. Oliver. Go catch up to her!" She ushered him to the door. "Try to keep her in line on the flight!" Oliver nodded and hurried after Tabitha.
"She'll be lucky if she isn't dead before they get to the launch tubes." Haymitch said darkly.
Effie for once didn't reprimand him for his attitude. "Let's go… I need to drink something." Effie grimaced.
She had turned on the live feed of the hovercraft as the two of them made their way to the viewing lounge for Victors, Escorts and other staff for the games. Tabitha was raising hell over the tracking implant. She refused to sit until Peacekeepers forced her to her seat. All the while Oliver was trying to deescalate the situation. "Put that away, Effie." Haymitch snatched it and put it on the chair next to him in the lounge.
"Haymitch, give it back!" Effie demanded.
"You said yourself you need a drink. What do you want?" He looked at her then the avox waiting to serve them.
Effie glared at him, "Water please."
Haymitch laughed, "Princess here will have a cosmopolitan. I'll have a whiskey sour."
"I'm not drinking that." Effie noted as they Avox walked away.
"Whatever you say." He nodded and looked up at the screens. A countdown was going for the tributes as they were heading for their launch tubes. It wouldn't be long now. The cameras zoomed in on Tabitha and Oliver walking down the hall to their launch area. Extra Peacekeers traveled with them.
Effie could feel the extra eyes in the room burrowing into her back. "This is absolutely embarrassing!"
The Avox came back with the drinks and a water for Effie which she was delighted for. "Thank you!" Effie smiled and reached for her water.
"Take a real drink Effie and loosen up." Haymitch raised his glass.
Effie picked up the delicate glass and considered the red liquid. "Fine." She clinked her glass against his and sipped. She had expected a sweet drink but was overwhelmed by how strong it was. She set it down and reached for the water. "That is atrocious! How can anyone drink it."
"I'd say the same about that water." Haymitch took a large sip of his drink.
"Water is good for you." Effie replied. "You'd do well to try some."
"It rusts your pipes." He commented.
Effie laughed, "Really, Haymitch… And the straight alcohol you drink does nothing to your pipes?"
"Exactly." He tipped his glass back as various tributes were loaded into the launch tubes.
Effie shook her head and frowned as Oliver was secured in his. The camera panned to Tabitha nearby who was shouting expletives at the Peacekeeper.
"God help us." Effie muttered and took a large sip. Pulling a face at the taste but opted for another large sip.
The countdown hit zero and at once the 24 tributes rose into the arena. Under a blazing sun, the tributes appeared into a vast desert. Sand surrounded them as far as they could see. Effie spotted an oasis that held the cornucopia and the supplies. With several clicks the tribute pods clicked into place and an explosion shook the arena. Effie jumped and she scanned the screen.
Before she could identify she heard Caesar Flickerman recount, "That was Tabitha of District 12. Her pod exploded and thus marks the first death in the arena. It comes to no surprise after her wild run antics since her reaping."
Effie felt her heart beating quickly. She looked down at her drink and remembered to breathe. "Everyone bet a Career would have the first kill. I'm not surprised Seneca was the one to draw blood first." Haymitch commented and finished his drink. The Avox was back quickly with another for him.
Effie flashed her eyes toward him, "That was uncalled for."
"I'm stating the obvious Princess."
"You know she had that coming! She could have triggered it herself." Effie responded coolly.
Another explosion rocked the arena in the final seconds of the countdown to the bloodbath. Everyone turned and looked at Effie and Haymitch as it was revealed that Oliver's pod had exploded too.
"With 5 seconds until the bloodbath the games close for District 12. I think it goes to say that behavior can greatly influence a Districts chance at Victory." Caesars voice rang out again.
"You gonna try and tell me that wasn't lover boy either." Haymitch said darkly.
*Sorry for such a long break between chapters! School has started again and I had to get back in teacher mode! As always, please review! I love feedback!*