Alright, this chapter has been a long time in the making, and I know I said it would go up sometime in June, but...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be late, my computer legitimately deleted my manuscript that I had like...half of done. But it's alright, now it's here, and I am sure you are all going to adore it. And if not...well, you're going to have to tell me that, because I can't keep writing crap that you don't like. Make sure to review, and thank you again for staying with me. OOH, AND THE NEW TEASER FOR MOCKINGJAY WAS INCREDIBLE, WASN'T IT? Let me know in the reviews what you thought!

PS. To the reviewer who said it was "the writer's job to come up with the story," I could not agree more. I'm sorry, I was in a funk and I wanted to get myself back on track in a way that would make sense, and I literally forgot why a character existed. I asked for some audience participation to get that character back in, and now HE HAS A PURPOSE THAT IS GOING TO BLOW PEOPLE'S MINDS. It is astonishing, and I really hope that you will still be here to read another chapter. Thank you for caring enough to criticize. :D You are lovely.

Liz POV-

"Let go of me! Let go now!" I exclaim, trying to pummel the hell out of the Peacekeepers that are holding me above the ground. How embarrassing can this get? I can't even walk. And god, do these assholes know it. They chuckle and make jokes, trying to make me feel bad, try to make me feel uncomfortable, but they do not understand me. They don't get that I am going to rip their goddamn faces off like an angry bear. If given the chance, I will kill them.

"Look at little miss lonely Victor." The first says, squeezing my arm so tight I wonder if it will pop.

"I can make her less lonely." the second says. "That pathetic bread boy has nothing on my guns, babe."

"Go to hell," I reply automatically. "If you need directions, I can put my foot in your ass." I make sure to be as sweet as I can.

"Oh, you're going to wish you were in hell when you find out what's happening to you and the District 12 trash."

I can't imagine what they mean, but I do know one thing-if the big one doesn't let go of me, he's going to get cut with the knife in my bra.

President Snow POV-

"I want them to suffer." I say. "I do not care how we do it, but I want them to suffer."

I look at the boy sitting across from me, looking at me so eagerly, so willing to serve.

Dylan is absolutely appalling. I appreciate his serving me with his whole heart...but I have no heart, and he needs to want to kill whoever I want to kill. And as of recently, that would be Elizabeth and Luke Mellark. I will make them fall apart. And I have numerous ideas of how to do it. Of course, they have become symbols, so I have to be careful.

They are going to wreck themselves.

"What do you want me to do, sir?" Dylan asked, craning his neck, eyes bugging out of his head like a dog eyeing a treat.

"I need you to create something, Dylan." I say. "I need to find a way that we can bring their whole world down."

He looks a bit confused, and I rub my temples. "Elizabeth and Luke Mellark, you incompetent little idiot!"

His face turns bright red, and I can't help but think about how his blood would look soaking into the white carpet.

"I apologize, sir. I...I have lots of ideas." He stammers.

"Oh? Like what?"

"We could...create a cheating scandal..."

And just as I start to stop listening, the pathetic waste of space starts speaking a language I understand.

"Yes, that could work...how would we create the scandal..."

"We would have to add some pressure to whoever we want to look like they're cheating..." he starts. "And...and we would have to make it look very convincing...so no using Capitol men..."

"Men?" I echo. I see he thinks we will have an easier time taking down Ms. Hirsch.

"Yes, I imagine we would want to take down Elizabeth Hirsch..."

"No, I think that I would like to take down Luke Mellark...let's make it look like he's the sensitive little baker that broke the ice queen's heart."

Dylan smiles. "Shall I find Alice Dawson?"

And suddenly it hits me. I know exactly what I am going to do.

"No, Dylan. I have a much, much better plan."

Michael POV-

Ever since Snow brought me back, things have been going incredibly. I mean, I'm back with Maryann, which is the only thing I ever want ever, and I'm a respectable member of the Capitol, as a Peacekeeper. Not to mention the fact that I am simply alive, which is a definite plus.

I have everything I could ask for, including a few Peacekeepers to order around. Which is pretty lucky, seeing as I am there when two of my charges, Patrick and Owen, quite literally drag Liz in.

She is a gorgeous girl, don't get me wrong, but god, she looks like she's been through ten rounds of a fight, with an entire side of her face reddened, and her left cheek looking like she's been slapped about a million times. That would be Owen. He has a lack of respect for women, and even less for intelligent, smart-mouthed women, which is Liz in the most perfect description. She has blood dripping from one side of her mouth, and a cut along her jawline.

But instead of looking defeated and upset, and pissed off, like she should, she is smirking insanely. It takes me a moment to figure out why, but when I do, it is quite hilarious.

Patrick is sporting a cut similar to Liz's, from next to his right eye down to almost the top of his lips.

"Rough evening?" I ask him.

"Shove off, pipsqueak!"

The comment stings, but it is not the worst thing I have heard, not to mention Patrick has yet again forgotten that I am his superior officer, and he will be paying for his insolence later.

"You hurt our precious cargo." I say. "President Snow will not be pleased."

"It was an act of self defense!" Patrick shouts, and I click my tongue. This man always has to find a way to defend himself, and can't leave well enough alone.

"She had a knife." Owen offers up.

I clap slowly. "Brilliant. And to think, I actually thought the two of you would be able to handle a teenage girl without violence. I was wrong. I'll sign you two up for latrine duty for the next week, see how that suits you and your violent, mediocre tendencies." I sigh. "I was just starting to like you two..."

"But-" Owen tries, but Patrick puts a hand up, being the smarter of the duo, and knowing neither of them can fight it.

Liz is smirking still, at the verge of laughing. I notice, and so does Patrick. One hard punch to the stomach, and Liz is crumpled up on the floor, taking deep breaths, tears in her eyes.

"Hey!" I shout. "That wasn't necessary." I say. "Out! Out, both of you!"

The two leave, and I'm left with Liz. I kneel down. "Liz...are you alright?"

"Get away from me, you Capitol mongrel!"

I frown. She doesn't recognize me.

"Liz...it's me. It's Michael. Just look at me."

She looks up, her eyes widening. "Oh, god...oh my god, what are you doing here?"

"Working." I say simply. "Snow told me he was bringing someone in. I didn't even consider to think about it being you."

She wraps an arm around her stomach. "It's nothing." she said. "Don't worry about it. Snow invited Luke and I for dinner...guess he knew I didn't want to come."

I smile at her, helping her to her feet, which she allows, and even seems a bit grateful for.

"Do you know why he had Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Damn-He-Punches-Hard drag me away from my husband?"

If only. Snow may have told me someone was coming, but he did not tell me what he wanted, especially since it was Liz he was talking about. "No. I don't know anything, except that someone was coming. But I'm sure it won't be that-"

My phone rings before I can finish my sentence. I look at the call ID. "Speak of the devil..."

I answer the phone, pressing it to my ear and saying nothing, knowing the president does not wait to see if you are listening to him before starting to talk.

"Please take Ms. Mellark back with you to the house." Snow says, and I look at Liz, like she is hearing the same thing I am.

"The house, sir?" I ask. "I thought the order was to bring her to you."

The man chuckles, and a chill runs down my spine. "No, Mr. Deluna. I do not intend to bring her here yet. The plan has changed."

I gulp and try not to look too panicked, for Liz's sake. She's started to look at me, no doubt wondering what is happening and what is being talked about with the most evil man on Earth.

"Yes, sir. It will be done." I say, and then hang up. "Come on, Liz. We'll go somewhere safer."

Liz POV-

One week later...

'Somewhere safer' turned out to be the house where all the ex tributes lived. Together. Oh my god, it was the strangest thing I have ever seen. Michael and Maryann were cuddling all the time, Alice and Miklisho argued over who needed to be the one to take the punishments Snow wanted to dish out, and Silke...why the hell was she even there? That wasn't necessary.

I could see that her blue skin did make her feel uncomfortable, so that gives her a few points back in the respect meter, but not much. I loved most of the people in the house, but at the same time...

I wanted them to go back to being dead. Them being alive was not for their benefit. It was for Snow's, and he didn't care about any of them. He had created an army, that much was clear. And I knew that just like I loved them and wanted them dead, they were all thinking the same thing.

Even if they hated Snow and the Capitol to start(which none of them probably did, being from Career districts), they were brainwashed now, and not at all the people I knew, besides for fragments of their original personalities.

"Liz, you alright?" Alice asks, coming and sitting next to me. "You're looking a little pale."

I nod, but truthfully, I feel so sick. The food here is atrocious. Even foods I like are absolutely horrible. I don't get it. I've been puking every morning since I got here, and for once, it's not because I'm forcing myself to, which was the normal habit before the Games.

I haven't heard anything from Luke, and Snow hasn't sent word with Michael about when I'm leaving. I don't understand why he wants me here. What benefit does that have for him? And how long am I going to be here? I just want to see Luke. Our honeymoon is absolutely trashed at this point, to the level where I am supposed to be moving into his house right now.

Yet again, Snow has no respect that I have a life.

The doorbell rings for the first time in the week that I have been here, and everyone looks up, looking around, confused, like this is a mystery none of them knew could exist.

"Let me guess...you don't get visitors that often." I say.

Michael just shakes his head.

"Nobody ever wants to come and visit us...hardly anyone knows where we live." Silke says.

I roll my eyes. "Alright, I'll get it." I say, and get up, feeling a lurch in my stomach I will figure out later. Trying not to be sick right there, I head to the door, flinging it open because I need to get to a bathroom as soon as possible.

Haymitch is standing on the other side, looking grim. "Come with me. Luke's missing." he says.

And suddenly the contents of my stomach are on the ground, and after that's taken care of, I guess my body decided to topple down and follow for good measure.

A few hours later...

I open my eyes, seeing Haymitch leaning over me, placing a cool washcloth on my forehead.

"You're pretty sick." he said. "Your fever is lower than it was before though...100.3 degrees."

I sit up, groaning.

"Guess your body realizes how hotheaded you are." Haymitch says.

"Where are my parents?" I ask, with no regard to replying to his joke. I need to find Luke. Luke is gone. We need to find Luke now.

"They're out with Katniss and Peeta looking. They think he's with Snow."

"We were on our way to Snow's when I got taken." I whisper, thinking of nothing but what could be happening to Luke right now. He could be hurt, being tortured. What was Snow doing to him? I had to know. I had to save him. And I could.

"I'm going after him." I say, swinging my legs out of bed, and instantly feeling like I am about to collapse.

"Yeah, that would be cute. You and your inability to stand are going to take down the Capitol. I swear, you and Katniss are the same, and I question your lineage."

I give him a confused look. What the hell is he prattling on about? I need to get to Luke.

"You and her, you always think you can beat the Capitol. You think you are so strong that you can take down Snow and rescue the boy you love. Well, sweetheart, sorry to burst your bubble. But you are a child. And you are not going-"

I've stopped listening to what he says, trying to think straight with the sickness that keeps creeping up on me. I have no appetite. I've been vomiting all the time. And as of two days ago, I am late on my monthly present.

But that...that couldn't be. I am not pregnant. I can't be. Not yet...but I guess I could. Stupid honeymoon, stupid me. Oh god, why did I do this? Why did I go and have sex? I wanted to, that's why, but now my life is over. I'm pregnant.

Shoot me now.

I do not want to have a baby. I don't want to get fat and ugly and sick and have to carry and deliver a baby.

Oh my god. Don't tell anyone. There are ways to deal with this. You're a Victor. You can get your hands on anything you need.

Oh dear lord, I need to tell Luke. I can't do this without Luke. And he'll know what to do about this. He'll help me hide the secret until we can figure out how to get away from all this.

"I am going to find Luke." I say again, cutting off whatever it is Haymitch was trying to say. "I am not going to get controlled by Snow again, and I sure as hell am not going to let Luke be treated like that, either." I take a few migraine pills, fast acting, naturally, and swallow them for emphasis.

He shakes his head. "You are going to do what Snow wants. And if Snow wants Luke right now, then he has him. You can't fight like this, Liz. I know it makes you upset, but you have to do what he wants. You got married, and now you're going to continue the way he wants. You will have a baby with Luke, all when Snow wants you to. And I'm sorry, but that's just-"

"SHUT UP!" I scream. "Shut up, stop telling me what to do! You're not my father! You can't tell me how to live my life like this!"

Haymitch's eyes narrow. He's obviously pissed. But do I care? No. Zero effs given. "You have to do what Snow says. Any of us can tell you that, I'm just the only one who's willing to ruin your honeymoon to say it. You need to have a baby. So hike up your skirt, and open your eyes. Think a little."

I sigh, the breath coming out my nose in a hot, angry rush. "I can't have a baby, Haymitch..." I'm too hormonal to try and act strong. There's no hope of me being my mom right now. I am also on a medicine high, from the migraine pills, and I don't care to try and make the effort to fight him much more on this.

He doesn't have any sympathy when he answers.

"You have to." he says simply. "And when that day comes, when you are going to have to have a baby, we will all be there. You are never going to be alone. You can do this, Liz. And you will."

I look down, nod, try and not look at him or let him see my eyes are starting to blur with the water from my tears, trying to make him not see the lie I am telling by not saying anything.

He doesn't know that the day has already come. Nobody does.

And I don't intend for anyone to ever know.

Except Luke, maybe. I don't know what I am going to do, but I do not, under any circumstances, want a baby right now.

Luke POV-

For a week, Snow has been trying to break me down. He's tried to make me say something I'll regret. But what he doesn't know is that I have done all of this before. I've practiced these questions in my head, I've planned my answers to not lie, but not tell the truth, and be sarcastic, but not offend. I can't get in trouble here, because I'm not saying anything they don't know already, just in a way they haven't heard.

I know that Snow wants Liz and I to be miserable, and he doesn't want us to be together happily. He wants us to only be together because society demands it. I could be a liar, a fraud, and a cheater, and Liz would have to stay with me, and vice versa.

Sadly, Snow intends for me to be set up as just that- a cheater. And this time, not with Alice.

Dylan sits across from me, wearing no shirt and looking quite uncomfortable. I know that Snow has something over him, but I can't tell what. I recognize him as one of the people Liz was dancing with at the wedding. I know his name is Dylan. But that's about all.

"Why do you have no shirt?" I asked innocently.

"Don't know." he snaps. "Just shut up and do what you're told."

I've been told to sit here and be quiet, until Snow gets here. I don't know what this is supposed to be, but I wonder if he's going to start beating the kid until I give in and go with some woman I don't know.

I don't know the guy much, but I think I would cheat on Liz, fakely, if it meant saving him. He seems like an alright enough guy, and I'd hate to see Snow hurt him.

Snow comes in a minute later, looking first at Dylan, who looks down, like he can't stand his eyes on him, and wants to hide. Then he looks over at me, expecting I'll do the same. Because I'm Elizabeth Hirsch's pathetic, weak husband. But I'm not, and he can't throw me. I smirk.

"Hello, mister president." I say, slathering on the flattery.

"Mr. Mellark. How glad I am to see you." he looks over. "And Dylan...don't look so frightened, it is only me. And you are not the one who is going to be hurt." he looks back at me. "He is."

Dylan nods. "Yes, sir. What do you need me to do, again?"

Snow smirks, still looking at me, and I realize that the scared boy across from me is not just a boy. He works for Snow. And now I start to get worried. What does he want with me? Why is there a random, shirtless member of Snow's staff here? None of this makes any sense.

"Mr. Mellark, we can do this two ways. I can make it bad...or I can make in absolutely unbearable."

"Try me." I hiss. Shit. That wasn't what I meant to say.

"I do not think you want to know how bad this can really be. I can make it so Elizabeth wants nothing to do with you ever again. You will never be able to kiss her again, never hold her, never, ever touch her."

"I would not like that, sir." I force myself to say. Do what he says. You can get through this. You can do this. And you will see Liz again. Do what he says, and you get to see Liz again. You're strong. You are brave.

"Then take off your shirt, and we can get this over with." Snow says.

I look at Dylan, to see if he is any more shocked at this proclamation than I am, but he has the same smirk Snow has.

Feeling like a piece of meat on display, my shirt gets unbuttoned and taken off, creating a dull ache through my body. The physical torture has not been kind, but it is nothing compared to what could happen. I mean, it could have been me watching Liz get tortured.

"Do you know what you are to do, Dylan?" Snow asks.

Dylan nods. "Yes, sir." he's staring at me with a stiff amount of intensity. "Make Luke Mellark's poster for the trade look entertaining."

Before I can really think about his words, Dylan has crossed to where I am, and is on my lap, kissing me so forcefully I almost can't breathe. I pull back instantly, shoving the kid away from me.

"What the hell? I am a married man! And not gay!"

"Prostitutes do not get to choose." Snow says.

I blink, confused. "I am not one of those, either..."

Dylan rolls his eyes, getting to his feet. "Get it through your thick skull! You are now. DUH!"

Snow smacks him so hard across the face I can see the handprint from where I'm sitting. I wince, even if it wasn't me.

"Welcome to the trade, Luke Mellark." Snow says. "May the odds be ever in your favor."