Chapter 50 – District 12 versus The Capitol

AN: When it rains it pours. I had planned to post this last night but my laptop decided to get wonky on me. I nearly had a heart attack because I thought I had lost this chapter completely. To my relief, there was a back up on my external drive. Whew! I only lost 97% of what was completed. So I apologize this is one day late. This chapter contain Madge's POV and is rated R for violence and strong language. The chapter is shorter than usual but necessary to the storyline. Thank you for those who alerted, favored and reviewed Destiny.

My personal thanks to LACR, pumpkinking5,kelmikmag, Cassie Sharpie, Aqua Rules, pistonsfan75, Brownieangel and guests. I enjoyed reading all your comments and suggestions too. I always look forward to your reactions and comments. I'm glad all of you are enjoying it so far.

Madge POV ––

My heart beat so fast and hard I could hear the cadence in my ears. 'Thump, thump, thump.' The night was anything but quiet as sounds of peacekeeper patrol and hover cars roamed the streets––the patter of boots on the ground and the car engines whirred. It was past midnight and I couldn't sleep. I felt restless, scared and invigorated. I was hot and cold at the same time as the crisp air soothed the perspiration on my heated skin. Since Mockingjay's announcement, there was chaos and unrest as both Merchants and Seam reacted differently.

Merchants were angry at Garrett Everdeen as they perceived his involvement would endanger the district. Little did they realize that it was too late for their concern and observation. District 12 had been a focus and target since Mockingjay's I mean, Mr. Everdeen's video he broadcasted months before. The subsequent attacks in the district and Snow's obsession with Peeta soon followed. As for Seam, they held their heads high with pride and defiance. One of them, a Seam was the leader of the revolution––a rebellion against Snow and the Capitol. It was a proud moment for them. It made me wonder if Katniss knew all this time and never told me.

How would I have reacted had I known that she was the daughter of the Mockingjay? Did Prim and Peeta know as well? It was ironic that a man with two missing limbs was the leader of the rebellion. It was incredible. My mind still spun from the revelation as many of my friends, family and neighbors had a hard time grasping it.

I walked passed the Mellark bakery hiding myself in the dark recesses between the buildings. I had done this a dozen times before as I tried to…I really didn't know where I was headed as my restlessness and insomnia occupied my nights since our first meeting with my classmates. Sleep evaded me.

What I aimed to do and I hoped to accomplish were two different things but the idea and goal was the same––keep the citizens alive and safe from harm. It was a daunting task. Neither Merchant nor Seam got along, had never gotten along for as long as I could remember. My dad was the Mayor of District who was sworn to protect the citizens and that meant both Merchant and Seam regardless how much my blond haired and blue eyed neighbors thought otherwise. Peeta and I and a few Merchants never thought of our dark haired and gray-eyed classmates were any different from us. We just never voiced it. Well over a hundred years of prejudice was ingrained into us from one generation to the next. It was a stigma to hard to break or change, but it had to. The world was changing and if we intend to survive a war we had to work together.

That was why the reveal––that Garrett Everdeen was the Mockingjay surprised me. Who knew the gentle and mild mannered coal miner was the leader of a rebel faction that was determined to fight against Snow. It was impossible, a dream or nightmare in the making; it was suicidal.

How did he manage to give orders and commands all the way from District 12 to the other rebels in the other districts? He didn't have the men or fire power to fire to fight against the mighty Capitol with its advance machines, flying ship and armaments. Soldier bred and trained to kill––Snow's watchdogs. So many questions and thoughts ruminated in my head that I had gotten careless and distracted.

"Halt, you there. Stop!" a voiced filled the air. 'Shit, shit, shit.' My dad was going to kill me. All this time––meeting Merchant and Seam classmates late at night without any incident and I managed to get caught, tonight of all nights. "Hands in the air, turn around and face me," he demanded. It was Peacekeeper Darius, his rifle aimed to my head.

"Darius, it's me. Madge Undersee," I identified myself. His flashlight blinded me as I placed a hand over my eyes. The moon illuminated the night just enough for Darius to see me once he turned off his flashlight. His companion, a man and woman stood behind him rifles cocked as well.

"Madge? I mean Ms. Undersee, what are you doing out at this time?" he queried in a surprised tone as he lowered his gun. "Does father know you're out here?"

"I um…well…" I stumbled to explain myself. Heat rose to my face. Sweat beaded my forehead, my hands clammy.

"The districts are all under Marshall Law," Darius added. "You know better to be running around past curfew. Had anyone else found you, you would have been shot." I knew that, the consequences of my actions but…

"I know but…" I struggled again to find the words why I was out in the middle of the night. "You see um…"

Suddenly there was a sound of movement––footsteps behind me. "You there, stop," Darius yelled. The figure hidden by the shadows stopped. "Don't move or I'll shoot?"

"Darius?" the shadow called out to him as he stepped out of the dark to reveal himself.

"Rye?" he said his eyes grew wide from surprise and I detected––anger. "What the hell are you doing? Where have you been?"

"Madge, why––"

"Rye, I'm sorry," I exclaimed as I launched my body to his wrapping my arms around his waist. He stiffened at my touch. "I just couldn't wait any longer. I was worried…I had…had to see you."

"Madge?" Rye was flabbergasted by my act. 'Just go with it,' I mentally sent to him as I looked into his eyes.

"Rye," Darius said his name with frustration and impatience. "Where have you been?"

"I'm sorry," he said as he placed a hand behind his neck. He looked at me and I stared back feeling helpless and scared. So I did the one thing that popped in my mind.

"Rye," I said his name to catch his attention. "We…"

"What?" Darius looked between us his head swing back and forth. "What are two doing out at this time of night when ––"

"Okay, I'm sorry, Rye but…" I turned to Darius and prayed that Delly would forgive me for what I was about to do. "Rye and I…we've been––"

"Madge, no––" Rye's eyes grew wide and shook his head.

"We've been seeing each other behind Delly's back," I muttered my throat felt dry and my eyes stung. It was a lie but it was better to be caught sneaking around then admit to treason.

Darius eyed us his face in shock and disbelief. "I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it myself," Rye muttered under his breath.

"Listen, Darius," I started as I grabbed Rye's hand. His hands shook as he lowered his head down looking at the ground. "We're not proud of it, okay. Delly and I have been friends for a long time and…what happened to Rye and me, it just happened."

"When?" Darius questioned us his eyes narrow, a hand on his hip while he pointed his rifle upward. I knew that look in his eyes––he was…jealous. I wasn't stupid or unaware of his attraction to me. With guys like Darius it was obvious as like Peeta staring at Katniss. But if I was attracted to him in some rebellious like attraction to the unknown and forbidden, I didn't want the kind of life he had or lived. I wanted what the Cartwrights and Everdeens had, what Peeta and Katniss had––the love and devotion they shared. A relationship with a peacekeeper was a life filled with hardship, prejudice and pain.

I couldn't picture my life as a peacekeeper's wife. I was the mayor's daughter. Maybe I could of had a life as a baker's wife had Peeta not fallen for Katniss so long ago.

"Darius, please," I stated as the lump in my throat formed making it hard to speak. I was lying through my teeth but I had to be convincing. "We both know this is wrong but…it's been difficult and…" I clutched Rye's hand tighter as he was speechless. "We both love Delly but…you love who you love." I looked in him the eye and challenged him.

He winced as he realized my implication and awareness of his attraction to me, letting him know I was with Rye. He was cheating on Delly but I was culpable too.

"Nevertheless, you know it's past curfew," he persisted.

"I was worried for Rye," I said which was half true. Delly was beside herself when Mr. Mellark was taken in for questioning. News spread of his incarceration and imprisonment. I was truly surprised to see Rye back in 12. "You still have Mr. Mellark in your custody and I wanted…to see if Rye…and Delly were okay."

"That doesn't explain Rye wandering in the streets," Darius observed.

"I couldn't sleep as well," Rye said in a sheepish manner. "I'm worried about my dad––"

"Don't lie to me. I both know what you are up to," Darius accused. I held my breath. Did he know that Rye and me met our classmates at the school gym? That we were preparing for an evacuation of our district. That we made plans to pack and run away when we had the chance? I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable.

"Both of you are risking your lives…to have this illicit rendezvous?" Darius sneered in disgust. I gasped in relief and the weight on my shoulders lifted only for a few seconds. Then, my eyes narrowed at his attitude. Who was he to question our lives when he was our keeper and jailer?

"It really is none of your business what we do in our personal life, Darius," I snickered back. "We're beneath you. We're not even people in your eyes." He looked at me as if I slapped him.

"Madge, please don't," Rye uttered soft and low. I realized he didn't know his father's situation. He turned to Darius, "Listen, we both…" he sniffled, "Madge and I don't mean any harm. It was stupid and reckless of us to come out tonight. We're sorry for the deception."

"And for getting caught," Darius added.

"What do you intended to do?" I asked. "Lock us up in your already crowded jail cells, for what? Write us up and put us in jail for having…an affair?"

"That's your business," Darius threatened. "You both broke curfew for your little fling. You broke the law."

"Go ahead," I challenged him as I stood before him.

"Your friend and neighbors…this town is being torn apart because of what happened today. And you two are…cheating––"

"We sought each other for comfort. Who are you to judge us? You who follow a man and do his bidding, herding us like animals and depriving us the basic needs of a life without suppression and control."

"Madge, don't antagonize him," Rye blurted with desperation and panic in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Darius. I…we don't mean to make things hard for you." Darius looked hurt but his pride and ego won over. I was not fragile and delicate girl he dreamt about.

"I would like to think that after all this time," Darius mentioned as he turned to Rye. "That we had an understanding, a friendship based on trust and honesty." I scoffed. Was he kidding? Friendship between a peacekeeper and local was prohibited even when there were reports of soldiers bedding local girls and visa versa.

"Madge, you need to go home and I need to get back to Delly." Rye turned to Darius. He was trying to make peace with the peacekeeper while I was baiting him. Rye was so much like Peeta in some ways. "So what now?" I seen and heard of peacekeepers of how they handled the locals. Everyone assigned to our district resented us. We were one of the poorest and held no regard or respect as a district if it wasn't for the coal that the Capitol needed.

Darius looked us over from head to toe, disgust clear in his eyes. Rye placed a hand around my waist as I leaned into him for support. My knees wobbled but I held my head high. I didn't care. Peacekeeper Darius meant nothing to me. I had a district to protect––family, friends, classmate and citizens under my father's care.

"For Delly, I'll let you go. She doesn't need to know about you two." My stomach roiled as nausea formed in my belly. "I won't say anything for your dad's sake, Rye. I like your dad. He's a decent guy." I knew what he was insinuating that Rye wasn't like his father

"Thank you," Rye turned even though he knew Darius took a jab at his character. He didn't deserve it but…

"You're dad is a great guy," Darius commented. "I'm doing it for him. He…lost enough already. I won't mention this incident to anyone nor report you, yet. It is really none of my business what you do or who you do it with––"

"You're duty and business is to keep us in line," I reminded him. "And, you are right. What we do in our personal life is none of your business. You'd be no better than any Merchant gossiping about us."

"But this isn't gossip, is it?" Darius boasted or threatened us. I didn't know which. Rye grabbed my hand. "Don't let me catch you pass curfew again. I won't be easy on you next time. You…" Darius pointed to me, "I suggest you head home too or else you'll be joining Mr. Mellark in his cell."

"You wouldn't dare," I said in defiance. I was exhausted emotionally and angry as men like Darius told me what to do.

"How long are you intending to keep my dad in jail?" Rye asked.

"I'm making an example of him," Darius informed him. "I've been giving everyone in 12 too much leeway, ignoring things I've seen and heard. I'm a peacekeeper. It is my job not only to protect you." I snorted in disgust. "But I will keep order in his district."

"Come, Madge. Let it go," he said as he dragged me with him to the bakery. It was dark and empty. "Why is my dad in jail, Madge?" Where's Delly?" I had my back turned as I watched Darius and his pals walked down the street. I released a long breath through my mouth. I felt sick and cold like something ran down my spine. "Madge?"

I turned to Rye; I finally took a good look at him. He was disheveled, his hair in disarray and clothes rumpled. I gasped in shook. He had a bruise on his left eye––someone hit him. It was hardly noticeable in the dark but the street lamp that filtered light through the window it illuminated his appearance. "Rye, what happened to your face?"

"I had an argument with a dead man?" he said cryptically.

"What?"

"Never mind, Madge, Where's Delly and Tyler?"

"Oh, now you want to know what's been happening after your field trip!" I blasted him. I was tempted to slap him in the face but someone had already beaten me to the punch. "You shouldn't have taken off with Delly pregnant with your child so you could what?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you, Madge," he sneered.

"You just took off, abandoned Delly and your family," I accused him.

"You just wouldn't understand, Madge. You haven't lost anyone in your family."

I opened my mouth to refute him because it was true that my family was still intact, but it didn't mean Rye didn't have to act irrationally, irresponsibly or selfishly. But the look o f loss and sadness in his eyes stopped me from berating him further.

"Where is my family, Madge?" Rye asked his face drawn and wary. "I need to see Delly."

"They are at my house."

"What happened to my father?" I took a deep breath and explained everything since the moment Garrett Everdeen aka Mockingjay made his announcement to all of Panem. What happened after the monitor turned black then Mockingjay appeared again to reveal Katniss and Peeta running for their lives in the arena.

Rye smiled. A look of joy replaced his weary state. "They did it."

"You knew?" I inquired.

"He told me and my dad about his plans. He wanted to make sure we were okay with it," he informed me. "He was risking so many lives besides Katniss and Peeta's. That was part of reason why I left. I wanted to help him rescue my brother."

I snickered, "You're a baker, not a soldier, Mellark. Leave the dangerous stuff to the professionals." Rye laughed at my attempt to tease him. He was a good man despite Darius's accusations. If only Darius knew the truth?

I had to question Mockingjay's timing. Why chose that moment during Peeta and Katniss's time in the arena. Was it a distraction? We hadn't received any notice or footage of the games. There were rumors that Mockingjay and his rebel destroyed District 8 power plants and sub stations. Were Peeta and Katniss stuck in the arena as the programs malfunctioned?

Seams folks yelled and screamed for justice. A large mass of Seam men and women refused to go home and protested all day. Thus, the justice building jail cells was filled with occupants. One Merchant was housed there for interrogation––Mr. James Mellark. He had not returned home.

Meanwhile Darius ordered his solider to search all the homes in the Seam for Mrs. Lily Everdeen. The Everdeen home was ransacked and plundered to look for further evidence of Mockingjay's existence. In the shed they found his two way radio, maps of District 8 and 5 and written notes of his speeches. Their friend and neighbor Mrs. Hawthorne was searched as well. Her home left in shambles as they turned furniture over and destroyed her home for good measure.

As soon as I was done, Rye ran out of the bakery. I inwardly cursed. "Damnit, Rye," I said to myself. "Didn't just Darius tell you to not break curfew?" I felt silly and stupid, as I stood alone in the dark talking to myself.

Luck was with us as I arrived home to watch Delly crying in Rye's arms. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Rye said. "You knew––"

"I told you it was okay to go," she bawled. "I'm mad because you left without saying goodbye." Snot ran down her nose as her tears wet her blotchy face. Both her hands grasped the front of his shirt like she was afraid he wasn't real. Her knuckles were white from gripping his shirt too tight. Dad stood at the doorway to his office observing in discreet distance.

"I couldn't say goodbye," Rye admitted. "If I did, it felt like I was saying it for the final time." He scrunched his eyes. "I...said good bye to Graham the night before…"

"You're not leaving me again," she seethed in anger. "Dad is in jail because of Mr. Everdeen. Darius closed down the bakery. He's so furious right now. Did you know that Mr. Everdeen was the Mockingjay?" Rye nodded his head.

"Why did you tell me? We…don't have secrets with each other," she accused him, her blue eyes wide in shock and anger. I flinched remembering the ruse Rye and I displayed in front of Darius to hide our other secret. "Did Peeta and Katniss know?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "Even if Peeta knew, he would never tell me." Peeta could have been privy to Mr. Everdeen's identity. He was after all dating his daughter.

She raised her hand and touched his eye. "What happened Rye?" Delly asked her anger abated at the sight of his injury. "Who hurt you?"

"I can't talk about here?" he returned. "It's not my secret to tell you."

"Rye, didn't I just say we don't have secrets between us," she demanded.

"Delly, please. I'm breaking Mr. Everdeen's promise if I said anything."

She relented and let the matter dropped, "Fine, I don't care. You're home; you came back home to me. That is all that matters." She wrapped his arms around his waist and dropped her head on his shoulders. Their reunion was a bittersweet end to a stressful day.

"Rye, any news about Peeta and Katniss?" I asked. "The Capitol has blocked all programs, broadcasts and communication. Are they stuck in the arena? I heard rumors that Mockingjay attacked the power plant in District 8?"

He smiled. "Before I left, Mr. Everdeen discussed the other details of his plans for District 5 and 8. It didn't matter to me, all I wanted to know was his rescue plan to get them out of the arena."

"What?" Delly squealed. "How, when? Are they safe?"

"I don't know," he reported. "All I know is that he had a group of people in tandem rescuing Peeta, attacking and disabling the programming––the Cornucopia and destroying the main energy source for the arena. Other than that, I had a mission of my own to perform."

"A mission? Was it dangerous?" Delly inquired. "Is that how you got the black eye?" Rye smiled. It was an odd reaction.

"I handled myself and I was not in any danger," he confessed. "Mr. Ever…Mockingjay put on security detail for a prisoner I had to drop off at…oh, I'm not supposed to say anything more than I already have." Despite his lack of experience as a soldier I was impressed with Rye. Mockingjay assigned him to escort a prisoner of war and live to tell the tale.

"But why are you back? Not that I'm complaining," Delly smiled at her husband. She was proud of him as well.

"I umm…."

"What?"

"I didn't exactly volunteer to join the rebellion. I mean," he stuttered just a bit like Peeta when he was overly flustered, frustrated or stressed. "When I told Delly I was volunteering it didn't actually mean that Jay was going to let me go with them. As a matter of fact, he refused to take me because of Dad losing Graham and Peeta."

"He was right not to let you go," I agreed. Rye needed to stay home and take care of his family. Besides, though I wouldn't readily admit it, I needed his help, someone to watch my back. I trusted Rye.

"But you don't understand, Madge," he spoke in a low tone. "I'm glad I did. Because as I was gung ho and ready to fight for Mockingjay, being there with Pr…the other rebels. It made me realize I was out of my element, I didn't belong there."

"So you had a taste of what it felt like?"

"Yeah, I mean it was exciting, scary and daunting but, I know my place now. I need to be here with my family. I need to protect my home," Rye said in calm but determined manner. "My place is here. I can admit and let guys like Ga…guys I met there to fight with Mockingjay."

Had I not any responsibility like my family and especially to my little brother Toby, I would have volunteered. However I knew my place as well. It had to stand beside my dad, the mayor of District for the days ahead of us.

The next morning, the roar of cars and people milling street woke me from my slumber. Rays of sunlight seeped through my gauzy curtains sending slanted beams of light to my bedroom floor. The smell of bread and coffee permeated the air. It was one of the perks from having a baker in my house as guests. The other was the unending supply of sweets Delly created as she was nervous and needed something to do to keep her mind occupied. I smiled at the thought of Delly and Rye down stairs preparing breakfast since the bakery was closed. They refused to resume business until Mr. Mellark returned home.

I gazed at my clock on my nightstand. It displayed 7:18am. I groaned in displeasure. One of the few days I could stay in bed and I was disrupted from my sleep. Then my stomach grumbled as the smell of egg and bacon mingled with the fresh aroma of coffee and bread. "I need sleep," I whined as I covered my head with a pillow. After I had settled Rye and Delly in their room I was up half the night wondering what would happen next.

When Mr. Everdeen revealed himself as the Mockingjay I was surprised, shocked but proud of him. I understood his need to hide his identity as Darius had the entire district searched from homes to business and even the mines. Mrs. Everdeen has vanished into thin air. How she left District 12 was a mystery. I pondered about the Everdeen family, their father the Mockingjay, his wife missing, Prim dead and Katniss out there running for life.

Then I thought of the other family––the Mellarks. Graham dead, Mr. Mellark incarcerated for crimes unknown, Rye, Delly and Tyler left to fend for themselves while Peeta was hunted by Snow and his peacekeepers. I counted by blessings.

AN: Thank you for reading this chapter. It's only Madg'es POV but hopefully it didn't disappoint. I cut the other POV since it made the chapter too long. I am currently working on Gale's POV as suggested by one my reviewers. I wrote his POV a little later in the storyline, but decided to place it sooner than I planned. Please leave a review at your leisure.

Thanks again for your interest in reading Destiny. Have a great week.