Chapter 2: Problems and Solutions

Mysterious green archer appears in district 8 fighting off the peacekeepers. That wasn't the first time! The archer has been in battle for almost a week. Then there are reports of other mysterious vignettes in the other districts. Neither Capitol nor Rebels can trust them because they are fighting both fronts and unable to determine if they are friend or foe. What is their purpose in Panem?

Finnick POV

It has been a week since my savior rescued me from peacekeepers hand. I asked Paylor and she has seen our mystery savior but there are reports that he or she has been around other districts. There are other characters like that one. Paylor also agrees with the familiarity sense of the archer. Like we know him or her somewhere but cannot place it. I know we will meet again and hopefully under better circumstance. However I cannot let my guard down because the archer hasn't proven him or herself to be my ally and there's no need to invest if he or she turns out to be faux.

I find district 8 to be boring with really nothing to do unless you count cleanup parties, war meetings, and babysitting Katniss. Katniss is fun at least. She is a great archery teacher. She gets the soldiers in position, helping them with their aim, emphasis the importance of accuracy and precision. She even commented yesterday 'how can you hit focal point with a gun if you cannot do with it a bow?' The theory of precision and accuracy is all the same just with different weapons. If Katniss could increase her speed and strength, and improve her mental game, she'll make a deadly assassin. Those are the type of attributes the league looks for in a recruit. I will not be surprise when the rebellion is over that they'll offer her a position. However Katniss' personality and beliefs doesn't pair with them and she'll never consider it unless extremely desperate. So they will be disappointed!

"Finnick, I need you in 20mins!" Katniss screams. Oh yeah I have become her training partner. This is my 'punishment' for allowing Haymitch to convince me to babysit her. We have already discuss she is on the capitol's high radar and terrible fate awaits her should she be capture. Beside I did well enough during the Quell to keep her alive until 13 rescued us so being here in 8 is no different. With Peeta being unavailable, someone has to watch over the Girl on Fire, so why the handsome devil myself. "Okay Kitten what are we doing this time?" I tease as I dodge her attack "I thought I told you not to call me that!" She yells and I smirk, "Aw but it's so cute and look you're blushing Kitten." "I have no idea how Annie deals with you." "Simple it's love!" I posed in sexy fashion. Johanna is right; Katniss is fun to tease around.

I put on some armor to protect myself from the arrows. Katniss uses paintball arrows for safety precautions. The troops show promise to be great archers or snipers. Katniss spend the first 3 days weeding folks in her opinion you need excellent vision, patience, focus, precision, and accuracy. In all honesty she is a great friend but terrifying teacher as she really has that no nonsense approach. Only 65 students remain out of 250. She would have been a hardball mentor had the games continue without the rebellion. The students sit at the sidelines as we begin an demonstration. Today we will be on motor movement because one needs to shoot clearly to a moving target. So we begin! I run around the field as Katniss pauses before shooting. She then climbs up a tree and when I look up she hits my chest. Then I race to the bushes with 2 arrows following me but dodge them. I move from bush to bush hoping I have escaped her. I forgot one great importance, The Girl on Fire is a hunter and I am the prey so hiding will be rather difficult. Especially since she has pronounced sense of hearing it's crazy in my opinion. No wonder she won her game, she is almost as dangerous as Johanna just more innocent, nonverbal, non-vicious, and long distance threat. Then I was shot in the head and follow by both of my arms.

"Katniss, you got me so can we end class?" She laughs at me,"That is how you get your moving enemies, any questions? No, alright move to the practice station and tomorrow will be your turn. You are dismissed!" Then she turns to me, "Sorry Finnick, looks like I went harder on you're than I plan." "Don't worry about it; I am just glad it is over! They are progressing fast we might get back to 13 sooner. I miss Annie and promise her that I will support her throughout her recovery. Yes we communicate mm through radio but mm it's not enough." "I understand but why did you agree to come to 8 as my bodyguard?" "You need moral support especially what happen with Peeta. Annie thought I should help you because I could be in the same situation as you." "Haymitch did say there was some progress yet he remains further away from me than ever!" "Then fight for him, Kitten! Come on you risk your life for him during the games, had a complete breakdown when he was torture, and now you running away while he battles the darkness from within. If you admit defeat now where Peeta is concern than your actions towards him is vain. You should have left him for dead in your first game if this is the final result." She sighs and looks up in the sky, "Haymitch said I could live 100 lifetimes and never deserve Peeta. I don't understand why he loves me. I am terrible!" I laugh "Hey I don't deserve Annie either. I was an asshole to her and I didn't consider saving her in her games but afterwards we got to know each other until one day she crept up on me I was lovestoned. From what I can the same happen with you and Peeta. Love is worth fighting for, Katniss. Don't fear it but embrace it. It is a powerful weapon that's 10x greater than your bow and my trident."

Haymitch POV

It has been a month since sweetheart and her team fled to district 8. Finnick reports that the soldiers are learning archery well and ready to translate into sniper rifles. There have been some attacks and he made sure that sweetheart kept her head straight. President Snow would do anything to capture her and he still isn't aware that she has return to 8. This is good because we do not need anymore added stress.

What capture my attention besides Peeta are these sightings of 4 strange viligettes. Finnick said the green archer been hovering around 8 for a time. A fellow victor from District 2, Lyme, reports 2 young cloth vignettes helped them against the Capitol supporters. They left her a message 'Heed all warning if you desire less bloodshed because the fire is black but can become orange if believe the tale of green and the followers' I think they were referring to the green archer and themselves. Plutarch mention districts 5 and 3 have evening sightings of a red archer. Whoever these 4 idiots are they better not cause trouble. We cannot declare them friend or foe they could be against Panem as whole regardless of the outcome. I have made calls to uncover their identities. Once we know the people of the hooded shadow we can figure it out from there. Then Effie Tricklet approaches me.

"Haymitch there you are, Dr. Riley wants to see us concerning Peeta." said Effie "Good, and we need to get the boy in shape." We start walking to the medical center. "Do you think he will ever be himself again?" She asks "Sweetheart, we'll be fools to consider otherwise. The capitol messed with his head, pit him against Katniss, and torture the living daylights out of him. Johanna describes some detail of what they have done. He is damage, although he will heal, this affair will forever be his scar to bear." "If only we could have saved him sooner…" "The boy will push through he just needs to keep fighting." "You know Mockingjay or not, I am disappointed in her. Peeta needs her help but she abandon him and rush off to battle! I may have been capitol-born and spoil. However you 3 district 12 victors has taught me something, it's not the big things that matter but the small and simple things that you will treasure in your heart." I smile and turn to her face to face, "We forget the mockingjay is still reckless idiotic teenager. Therefore she is going have to learn the hard way! Her bow and arrow cannot relinquish all her pain and problems. What Peeta needs is her heart the gentlewoman from within and that's what will savage him from this hell Snow put him through not the hunting warrior we are all accustomed to."

We make it to the medical unit outside Peeta's room. There was Dr. Riley, Dr. Aurelius, Delly, and Prim. I look inside his room and see the boy asleep with Johanna next to him on his left. The kid has been an ordeal. I wish I had kept Katniss' deal and save him but there's no point in dwelling in the past. What was done is done and I have to move forward. He is alive and here in 13 where he will receive the best care. Those 2 kids are a pain in the ass but I care for them both almost as if they were my own. Honestly at least in Peeta's case, Katniss and I are all he has left and as his mentor/surrogate father, I will make sure this kid will be able to survive this hell and live in his life to the fullest.

"Haymitch, Effie, oh good you are here so we can explain the stage we are now." said Dr. Riley "Okay we need the good, the bad, and the ugly." I replied "On Aurelius' suggestion began showing him tapes of his games to help him differentiate what is real and not real. It has been hit or miss but he is less angry and fearful each time we play it. Johanna was helpful a few days ago for the Quell portion." Dr. Aurelius starts "I have been reviewing his childhood but avoided conservation concerning his parents for obvious of reasons. I mean he just accepted that Katniss isn't a mutt but his homelife can undo everything." Delly explains. I understand why his mother was a bitch and there's no way around that. His father was a weak man and should have stop his wife and protected his sons instead he acts like a coward. I'm glad they are both dead. It may sound cold but it's the truth and they wouldn't be very helpful in his recovery. I remember Peeta told me about family dinner when his father invited Katniss over after they got engaged. Well… sweetheart had migraine and his mother had a black eye, so obviously dinner went sour and they weren't invited for another dinner session again. "We have tried to reverse hijacking." said Dr. Riley "And how is that going?" asked Effie "This is the difficult part because we are still figuring all the systems and methods they have tried on him. There is no way to truly reverse it because it is bedded in his brain." "So Peeta is stuck?!" I ask worried "Most likely but he is lucky Haymitch! Usually no one survives hijacking especially with the amount he was induced with tracker jacker." said Dr. Aurelius. "When does Katniss return from 8?" Prim asks suddenly "In a month but maybe earlier since 8 is having fast progression. Why do you ask?" I respond questionly as I cross my arms "While looking at Katniss' medical records, she has a remnant of tracker jacker in her head it's very small but still there! Since she's the only person in Hunger Games history to be sting and survive jacker trackers. She was hit by the insects themselves not their venom. So it is something to look into and it may help Peeta." "You're kidding?!" I exclaimed "She's right Haymitch, I looked at yesterday to confirm her suspension. There's more to tracker jackers than we know. Katniss wasn't hijack but she does suffer minor side effects. What those are I cannot say until we examine her." explains "How will this help Peeta? I am glad you found scientific research agenda but how does this help my victor!" yells Effie "It can help us figure out a vaccine to help Peeta. We may not be able to eliminate the effect of the venom 100% but we can lessen the damage as I notice the problem is more psychological. Should Peeta develop a strong mind and powerful mental will power he will be able to subdue the venom effect alone with medical intervention." Dr. Aurelius adds as Delly claps her hand to her mouth, "Really doctor?" "Yes! I am sure of it! Peeta Mellark will be on his way to a full recovery!" I glance at Peeta again then to the group in front of me and turn around to leave the medical unit "Perfect, I'll inform the Mockingjay while you guys get on that."

I contacted Katniss in 8 and her reply was expressive. She refuses to play lab rat and that lead to hour of argument because it is for the boy's sake. After some threats from me and Finnick in the background she complies. Finnick promise he will take care of it. That girl is troublesome and stubborn. I don't care if she hates me but she needs tough love and open her eyes and quit running away. This is one of the reasons I send Odair to 8. Having similar predicaments he might the only person who can knock sense to our Mockingjay.

I am in front of my quarter until Plutarch approaches me. "Greetings there Haymitch, you got mail!" "What, since when? As a matter of fact does anyone in 13 even get mail?" "Not often but here you go, I have to meet Alma in 5 mins and I am going to be late." "Thanks!" He takes off and I enter my room.

I wonder who this is from; I rarely answer my mail in 12 so why change the pattern in 13. However too much is happening and it could be my guys from the vigilette ordeal. I open the package and see a disc. Then I open and turned on my computer and insert the disc. What I see disturbs me. There was a group of people I do not recognize just killing people. Some scenes show Panem and other scenes in places that I do not recognize. I believe those are foreign lands that Effie tells me about. The districts are given very limited information on foreign countries and were forbidden to leave the district and nation. The Capitol didn't want alien invaders interfering in their dictatorship. I hear screams and cries as the sky changes color occasionally. Now I am wondering what the hell this is! This thing is going to give me nightmares and I have been avoiding having night terrors like sweetheart. Before I turned off the computer a voice comes in. "Scary isn't this will be the fate of the world if precaution isn't made. The civil war of Panem is minor to this terror of darkness. This era although shorter than the hunger games era it was devastating!" This brings chill to my bones in a way I cannot explain it. What it is and scaring me but the voice it sounds familiar. "You see here Haymitch in these footages are pools of death and carnage. There things and situations bigger than citizens of Panem. You are blinded to the dangers around you but that's because it was made hidden since most of humanity cannot handle the truth." What on earth is this person talking about? Is it the world? What does he or she mean of hidden dangers and we are blind. Like there's alternative universe we cannot get to because of blinders. "You have transition into the season of spring and finally summer will hit but it shall not last." Then I see rally of fighters and armies attacking this vicious group and deaths on both sides occur. "Winter shall return but the time period will depend upon you and the others." Then I see the person behind the voice, it's the green archer Finnick told me about. What I am observing looks to be of the future but time travel isn't possible. There's no way you can travel through time and let's say for some stupid reason you could there are dire consequences. "Time waits for no man! Whether the world is ready or not a global winter will take and terrorize us all! Only the return age of heroes can free earth of this madness. Remember forever goal in time of death rester en vie Haymitch, rester en vie!" Then the video fades out. What the hell is rester en vie? Now I have 2 jobs to accomplish: ask Effie to translate this phrase and ask Beetee about time travel. This is really ridiculous but the damn green vigilante sent me a message for reason and I need to crack this code. However I need more infor on that fool's friends first. A good night's rest will do for me. Times like this I really need a drink, screw 13 and their sober laws.

This chapter was really hard to write because I am stuck in between from where I want to be. It's just getting there! Don't worry about the vigentes once they are revealed and come to the scene the story can really jump.

So let's review: Finnick sees Katniss as hardball trainer and is comforting her about Peeta. We get update on Peeta's road to recovery. Haymitch receives a strange message from the vigilante while the other 3 have been spotted elsewhere. Are they even worth to be trusted?

Before anyone complains I want to point things out

Yes, Katniss is being annoying and leaving Peeta when he needs her the most. In character, Katniss can handle the rough patches she is the warrior of the two and being in warfare and the games is a lot easier than dealing with emotional baggage. She has shown this in the canon.

Why Finnick not Gale? Honestly Gale and Katniss had been having issues in their relationship since she return from the games. You can even see the cracks in Catching Fire it just exploded in Mockingjay. Honestly the only people she can connect with are the victors. After Peeta and Haymitch, Finnick is the closest victor towards her especially when Annie and Peeta captured by the capitol

Still no Peeta! Peeta will be more in name than appearance for a while. 13 is trying to help him overcome his hijacking. The path to his recovery will play a big role in this story so just be patient.

Who is the League of Assassins? If any watched or read Batman then you'll know just google it. They have ties to the story as it is more foreshadow of what's to come.

On the side note I already have plans for chapter 3 & 4 so tell me in the review what you would like to see for chapter 5. Btw the gang will be back in 13 by the end of next chapter.