HAYMITCH
I needed to talk to Plutarch, and the only way to do it without arousing suspicion was to meet him at the training center. So, as the good and protective mentor that I am, I decided that from now on I would accompany and go looking for my not so adorable tributes in their training sessions, no one would hold me against it after yesterday's events. That pair gave me a headache. After Leila's very "nice" words, the relationship between those two was more than tense. Yes, she had managed to make a dent, although I knew that sooner rather than later those two would reconcile. They loved and needed each other as the thirsty needed water. Stupid teen dramas I have to deal with!
When I was about to turn into one of the corridors that led to the large training room, I heard a couple of female voices, or should I say whispers. One of them, I didn't understand much of what she was talking about and the other seemed to be crying, although her voice was heard drowned out by something. I tried to get a little closer without being detected and was only able to extract meaningless phrases from the conversation. "I can't anymore...I'm trying...I hope it doesn't happen, I wouldn't do it...I promise...forgive me...everything is so hard", this was the only thing I could hear that came from the muffled voice and I didn't know what the other voice was responding to.
-Hey Haymitch, you're here to get your kids!-Finnick yelled at me from behind, laughing. My heart almost jumped out of fear. I heard the voices immediately quieted down. I turned and saw that Finnick wasn't coming alone, but with Peeta.
-nah! I was just bored and decided to take a walk, plus they still have all afternoon to train. Let's go I walked you to the door- As soon as we turned around I saw Leila with her back to Mags. So it was they who were talking?
-...So if you don't move I'll be merciful, I'll kill you quickly either by sticking a knife in your head or in your chest, which do you prefer?- Leila was saying to Mags with a knife in her hand. Peeta was faster and managed to stop Finnick before he lunged at the girl.
-FUCKING BITCH, I'LL BE THE ONE TO PUT THE KNIFE IN YOU FIRST,- Finnick yelled as he struggled to free himself from Peeta, and I jumped in to help him before a fight started. Leila kept her back turned, not moving a muscle, and Mags just stared at her blankly for a moment longer, before coming over to calm Finnick down. Mags was whispering I don't know what to the boy, calming him down almost instantly.
As Leila turned to go, I thought I saw a trail of tears in her eyes, but I wasn't sure. Peeta was looking at me confused. He had also seen the same thing as me. But it didn't make any sense, because she would be crying and then threatening Mags. Help me, please -Leila begged me. I shook that bitter memory from my head, it had been a long time, she wasn't the same. I accompanied them to the door of the training room, and I would return at the end of the afternoon. My head was in a mess, and now besides Plutarch, I had to get a private word with Finnick so he could find out what Mags was hiding with Leila. Mags knew about the plan and I was sure she wouldn't betray us by telling Leila. Leila who was Snow's hand in the arena. That brat was bringing only trouble. The faster they kill her the better.
At the end of the afternoon I went to pick up "my children". Well only one, apparently I had lost Katniss. Peeta was quick to answer my unspoken question.
-She wanted to go ahead, she said that she didn't need a babysitter to go back to the apartment
-Well at least I have one who appreciates my efforts to take care of them- I replied sarcastically. I started to walk when Peeta stopped me.
-Something strange happened today,- he told me in a whisper. Ok he had my attention, wait for him to continue- After lunch, we were at the bug stand with katniss when Leila showed up again, you know, with her adorable death threats and personal and hurtful comments, Katniss was about to lose her patience, when one of the idiots who take care of her approached, he whispered I don't know what things in her ear and took her away.
-And how important is that?
-for a brief moment I thought I saw her truly scared, no, terrified I would say. I mentioned it to Katniss and she told me that I had imagined it. I think she got mad at me, she asked me if I cared about Leila. Which is ridiculous – interesting, but not very valuable information.
-Maybe Katniss is right. The only concern of the two of you is looking to make allies and train, nothing, and no one else, understood?-I said to Peeta, the boy just nodded and we continued our way to the elevator.
We stopped abruptly when we saw who was waiting for the elevator. Leila. However, there was something different, yes, she was dressed revealingly as if she had just come out of some party, with a flowing black mini dress and deathly high heels, her reddish hair loose, covering her face. But that was not what caught my attention, it seemed that she was going to fall, she was balancing on herself. As soon as she heard us approaching, her posture returned to her usual upright and ready to spring into action. However, she was still hiding her face. When we got into the elevator I got a better look at her. Her lower lip was bleeding, and although she tried to hide it with the tiny dress she was wearing, I saw burn marks on her neck, hands and ankles. Peeta's jaw dropped, he had noticed it too. Leila kept her gaze on the ground. I took off the handkerchief that I was wearing in my blazer and without saying anything I stretched out my hand for her to take it. She took it still without raising her face and put it on her lip. Why was she so hurt? Was this part of the training she was receiving from the Capitol? or maybe this was a punishment? But what could she have done, other than annoy my tributes? The elevator stopped at the victors' floor and Leila's two peacemakers entered there.
-But where have you been?Since they informed us that you had arrived we have been looking for you - said one of them laughing. The girl just ignored him.
-Tell me, Leila, did you have fun? Are you going to entertain us too? - said the other in a "whisper" that reached everyone's ears. The two burst out laughing. Leila was silent. I couldn't help feeling a shudder as I imagined what they were referring to. Gross! I really needed to get answers from Plutarch. The elevator stopped at the 8th floor, and Leila shot out as the doors opened followed by her henchmen. Peeta was going to say something to me but I silenced him with a gesture. It wasn't safe to talk here and I needed to think about what happened today.
The next few days passed without any other mishaps involving the girl from District 8. According to Peeta, she hadn't returned to training, nor did the gamemakers seem to notice. Katniss seemed much calmer without her presence and as I predicted the lovebirds had made up. For my part, I had managed to get the message across to the rebel tributes, regarding the role they were going to play in the arena. Since Katniss wanted Mags, Beetee and Wiress as allies, Finnick would be in charge of making the first approach with Mags, to gain her trust. Johanna and her district partner would be in charge of protecting the tributes of district 3 until they were able to meet the others. The other allied tributes would play the game so as not to arouse suspicion, and they would go after the non-allied tributes. This last thing disturbed me a lot, I had good friends there who were willing to die for the cause. I just hoped, along with Plutarch, to make the plan work and perhaps hopefully save as many lives as possible.
Today was the day of the interviews with Caesar Flickerman, I was nervous and I couldn't deny it. We had come up with a plan with Peeta that would shock the entire Capitol. I just hoped everything would go according to plan. I had decided to go ahead of everyone to go to the place where the interviews were held. Today I had to be lucky and meet Plutarch. I entered the elevator, and when I reached the 8th floor, it stopped. Leila and her team entered. Everyone was talking animatedly except for the girl who was looking absently at the view that the transparent elevator gave us. Although her dress covered her well, the burns were still evident, they had not fully healed. Suddenly she stared at me, frowned and touched her lower lip with her fingertips. That lip that no longer showed any sign of having been hurt. Again she turned her gaze to the landscape
-How fast the days go by, it seems that they run, run and run so fast, always in the opposite direction to me, and they escape from my hands without being able to fight them or do anything to stop them- Leila said in a soft and calm voice. She turned her head slightly in my direction, looking at me sideways. A message. She was giving me a message or should I say a warning. I nodded slightly and she turned her gaze back to the landscape.
-But what beautiful things you say Leila, keep it up and everyone will fall at your feet- a member of her team congratulated her, they all nodded supporting her.
When I'm finally about to reach the place where the interviews take place, I hear a throat clearing behind me. Plutarch. He nods for me to follow him and I obey. He directs me to a dark area, opens a door that I had never seen and we go down the narrow stairs, until we reach a kind of storage room. We had to hurry.
-So you've seen the threat that Leila represents,- he tells me bluntly. I nod and let him continue.- President Snow has taken care of preparing her well. His main target is Katniss. He has explicitly asked her for a show that Panem can never forget, and we know that the girl knows how to put on a good show.
-Maybe it's not too late to put her on our side or at least neutralize her in some way-the girl had just given me a hint, I didn't want to think about the other option.
-Not impossible. Snow has promised her something that she has been craving for a long time.
-What thing?
-her freedom- I shuddered. Yeah, it was a very tempting offer and I knew that even if she wanted to, she couldn't refuse it or someone else would pay the consequences. I knew that better than anyone.
-So killing her is the solution?-
-That is the problem, who will achieve it? I have seen them all train, and the vast majority are not in a position to face her and those who perhaps are, are in charge of protecting the mockingjay- I see the frustration in Plutarch and I feel the same way- I will try to stop her as much as possible with the obstacles in the Arena but I doubt it's enough and I have to be careful not to draw attention to myself. I'm also sure that Snow must have given her clues about possible dangers and how to avoid them without raising suspicions.
-How long has she been training?- Plutarch shifts uncomfortably and scratches his forehead, as if he was trying to get an idea out of his head.
-She has never stopped training, Haymitch- a tremor runs through my back- Snow only intensified her training once the quarter quell was announced. He entrusted me with the preparations for everything and looking for the people who would train her for this arena and he personally checked her progress every two weeks. He doesn't want anything to fail and he is looking forward to these games being the most bloodthirsty. Haymitch, what you saw in the training room is nothing compared to what I've seen her do. Once the tributes are in the arena, those who are not assigned to the protection of Katniss and Beetee, will have to act as an obstacle to Leila, and give the others time to flee -I shudder at the thought- and for our part we have to prepare everything quickly to get them out of there as soon as possible- I just nod
-She has allies among the other non-rebel tributes?
-No, and they hate her as much as the rest of tributes, so that's the only advantage in our favor.- Plutarch ends the talk and we quickly return to where we came from. Each one goes his way, he with the other gamemakers and I with the remaining mentors. I can only hope that everything planned for tonight goes well.