Chapter 84: Gifts
Ottilia has remained by Lorcan's side and covered him as best she can as night begins to descend. His breathing is less shallow and he seems to be resting peacefully, but is still unconscious. Peeta arrived home to the drama of Lorcan's collapse and both he and Katniss are captivated by the tender care Ottilia is showing him in the Arena. Ottilia has discovered so much strength in adversity, and those watching on their screens can't believe how much she has changed in such a short space of time. A week ago, and for most of the lead up to the Games, she was a blubbering mess. Now, Ottilia is a warrior, fighting to save the life of her fellow tribute. The audience can't take their eyes off the screen. It goes beyond popular fascination for Katniss and Peeta who know both of their tributes deserve to live. They also know, according to Plutarch's design, only one of them can. It is torture of a very different kind for the brave Victors and Mentors of the Capitol tributes tonight.
Ebony has remained in the entrance of what appears to be a tunnel, unsure about moving forward because she doesn't know what lies ahead. She knows there is a second arena and this tunnel must be leading her there, but she also knows there will be weapons in the next arena and Ebony has no idea who her opponents will be. The tunnel is dark and Ebony begins to feel her way along its walls as she takes her first steps on the journey toward home. She has only walked a few feet when her foot nudges something hard and bulky in the dark space. Ebony kicks it softly to make sure it isn't alive…another invention of the Gamemakers to terrify or trick her. There is no movement from whatever is lying at her feet so she hesitantly places her hands on it, feeling a large bag of some kind containing items of various shapes and sizes. Ebony hopes it is food and tears at the offering left by the Gamemakers as adrenaline surges through her body again. She hasn't eaten since before beginning her climb and her body is becoming emaciated. Hopefully, there is something here that will give her the energy she needs to go on and see the Games through to the end.
Feeling her way through the items in the pack, Ebony finds packaged meals ready to eat. They are small meals, but her stomach wouldn't tolerate anything larger right now. There are packets of what feel like nuts, maybe dried fruits, there are bars of chocolate and some full drinking bottles, but she doesn't know what type of liquid they contain. Ebony decides she will sip them slowly and carefully when she opens them, just to be on the safe side. Next, she feels something hard. It is a long cylindrical shaped item that Ebony knows is not food of any kind. She can tell because it doesn't have any type of opening and as she shakes it, the item begins to glow. It emits both light and heat. Ebony decides to shake it more vigorously and it lights up her temporary shelter, creating warmth and giving her the opportunity to see what else the Gamemakers have gifted to the sole victor of the arctic landscape. As well as the food and clean clothes, Ebony finds a small blanket and soft pillow at the bottom of the bag. These might be the last luxuries she has the opportunity to enjoy before the Games, or her life, come to an end.
Ebony rests the cylinder against the wall of the tunnel and begins to set out a meal for herself. She has one of the dinners, finishes off with a handful of dried fruit and nuts which she washes down with what she knows now is a creamy protein shake. Taking the last little luxury in her hand, at least for tonight, Ebony bites into a piece of chocolate as she nestles her head into the soft pillow and pulls the blanket up around her shoulders. She can finally rest without fear of any of the original Tributes coming to disturb her. There was one thing, though, Ebony hadn't counted on. She hadn't counted on them disturbing her dreams. Ebony spends the rest of the night in a mix of peaceful slumber and terrifying nightmares…of dead and dying tributes.
The following morning Haymitch alights from the train and makes his way back to the Victors Village. He will have to wait for Peeta to come calling in order to pass on the message Gale has given him. Effie has engineered a soft toy for Prim with the note sown into its back. Haymitch hopes the Peacekeepers won't suspect anything and that Katniss and Peeta will know there are many ways to hide communications from prying eyes.
Haymitch settles down to wait for Peeta to come knocking. He is actually looking forward to a decent feed after his long journey and, when Peeta heads back to the Village at lunchtime, he doesn't disappoint. Under his arm are the two obligatory loaves of bread and Haymitch can almost taste the warm, freshly baked bread as his mouth beings to water. He is at the door when Peeta knocks and greets him with a big smile and the doll in his hand.
"Peeta! So good to see you" he says cheerfully.
The Peacekeeper eyes Haymitch with suspicion and Haymitch decides to tone it down a bit, just to be on the safe side.
"How is Effie, Haymitch?" Peeta asks.
"She's feeling much better now" Haymitch replies. "She asked me to bring you this doll for Prim so you would know she has been thinking about you".
Peeta knows that this is no ordinary doll as he and Haymitch exchange their gifts.
"Effie's always so generous" says Peeta as he tucks the doll under his arm. "Hopefully we'll be able to thank her properly soon".
"She has invited me to come back to the Capitol to help with some work she needs to get done in her apartment. I told her I would come back when she is fully recovered and help her out then" says Haymitch.
"That will be good for both of you" says Peeta and thanks Haymitch again as he takes his leave and heads back to the house where Katniss is waiting. Peeta has ensured that the Peacekeeper has his fill of goodies to bring back for his comrades, which will help to distract them while he and Katniss search for the note Peeta is sure is contained somewhere inside the doll. The trick will be hiding it from Prim as she always rushes out to meet him when he gets home.
Peeta discreetly tucks the doll inside his jacket as he and the Peacekeeper head back to the house. Prim can have it later, once they have found the note and Katniss has sown it back together. After leaving the Peacekeeper at the door, and offering Prim a little treat to share with Pik, Peeta finds Katniss in the kitchen with coffee on the stove. He puts the bread on the table and pulls the doll out from under his jacket.
"Is that for Prim?" Katniss asks innocently as she pours Peeta a cup of coffee.
"It's from Gale" says Peeta, taking a knife and carefully cutting some of the stitches in the dolls back.
Katniss crosses to the table and watches Peeta place two fingers into the doll's back in an effort to search for the hidden treasure. It doesn't take him long to feel the edges of a folded note which he pulls out quickly and begins to unwrap. Katniss looks over his shoulder and they read what Gale has written together.
"No word on Snow. Riots in the prison. Paylor wants to set up another interrogation with them. Districts getting restless with the Games and Govt. Situation coming to a head. Stay safe. Gale."
Katniss looks at Peeta. If the prisoners are rioting, it could mean they are ready to give up Snow, or they are angry at the Government, or both. Gale had gotten information out of a prisoner before. Maybe he could do it again. The people in the Districts obviously aren't happy either. Snow is still out there and the Games make the Government look like hypocrites as well. The more tributes that die, the less effective their plan looks and the more opportunity for Snow to win people over with his propaganda. Katniss shakes her head. That wasn't possible, surely? Not after everything they had been through. What was possible was the overthrow of Paylor's government if they couldn't achieve their aim of bringing Snow to justice. Things weren't happening as quickly as Katniss had hoped and that meant more tributes were going to lose their lives. It was becoming unbearable for her, for Peeta and for the tributes still in the Arena.