p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I don't know exactly how long I've been thirteen. They've successfully weaned me off of the medication and all the physical injuries are healed. Rue and I got a room between my family and Gale, which we got put into a few days ago. Prim has been working in the hospital wing here with my mom. They've both helped with Rue while I recovered. I've been trying my best to adjust to the new normal I have here. I pick Rue up from her crib and hold her against me, it's just us now. It will only ever be us. Snow has Peeta and for all I know, he could be dead./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"There is a knock on the door and then it opens. I know who it is before I look, only Gale walks into the room like this. He walks over to me, picking Rue's bag up and slinging it over his shoulder. I'm supposed to meet with Coin, Plutarch and some others for the first time today. I know what they're wanting, but I don't know if I'm willing to agree./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""It's time, everyone's waiting," Gale looks over to me, "Want me to take her or are you okay with carrying her?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I've got her. Let's go."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We walk out the door and Gale leads the way down the hall and toward some steps. I follow him onto the staircase, filling with relief as he starts to descend the steps. After a few flights, we step back into a hallway and then he opens a door leading into a type of conference room. I step inside, taking in the setup./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"There is a large oval shaped table in the middle of the room with multiple chairs around it. Large TV screens cover the wall directly in front of the door with a desk full of different keyboards and controls beneath it. A board is mounted on the wall beside that with markers and an eraser on the edge sticking out under it. Other than those few items, the room is empty with gray walls and dim lighting. The only person around the table I recognize is Plutarch. A middle-aged woman sits at the end of the table. I assume this to be President Coin. Gale walks in behind me, pulling out a chair for me then sitting in the one beside me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Welcome Miss Everdeen," the woman at the end of the table speaks, "I'm President Alma Coin. It is so good to finally meet you. I know how disorienting all of this must be for you. We have known loss here too and I do hope you've been able to find some comfort with us. I wish you had more time to recover, but time is a luxury we don't have. Plutarch and Gale have told me about you. So, should we begin?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Begin what exactly?" I ask her as I take a seat. Rue fusses as I sit down and Gale hands me one of her pacifiers from the bag. She takes it quickly and begins to close her eyes again, "Thank you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Are you aware of everything that has happened?" I shake my head, no one has given me many details./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""When you fired your arrow, you electrified Panem. There have been uprisings and strikes in seven of the districts. We want to keep this energy going. We believe that we can unify the districts against the capital."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""What about Peeta? Is he alive?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I don't know," Plutarch answers me, "I can't get ahold of anyone in the capital."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I've managed to break into their system for broadcasts, but now we need the perfect message," Beetee speaks up and I notice him in the corner./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""We need everyone to know that the Mockingjay is alive and well and willing to stand up to join the fight. Every district needs to stand up to the capital. We are going to shoot a series of propaganda clips on the Mockingjay to spread the word."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You left Peeta in that arena to die. Peeta was the one that was supposed to live!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Miss Everdeen!" Coin raises her voice, "This revolution is about everyone, and we need a voice."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Then you should've saved Peeta." I stand up, looking to Gale and heading toward the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Let her see what the capital did to twelve," Plutarch speaks behind me, "There's explaining and showing. Remind her who the enemy is. Let her see it. Let her go home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I turn around and face them, Gale standing up from the table quickly and walking toward me with Rue. They're going to send me home. I hear the words in my head, there is no district twelve. Gale's told me the story multiple times, about the bombs and the ashes. There is no home, but I want to go./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I want to go to twelve," I look at Coin directly, "unless you don't want your Mockingjay."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Coin agrees and we are dismissed to get ready. Gale follows me to my room, laying Rue into her crib as she sleeps. I sit down on the bed, trying to prepare myself for what I'm going to see. There is no district twelve. Gale sits beside me without saying a word and just places his hand on my knee. There is a soft knock on the door and Gales moves from beside me, opening the door and letting Prim in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""They sent me to stay with Rue."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I nod, leaning into her crib and kissing her forehead. Once I let Prim know when she will need to eat, and she assures me they will be fine, Gale leads me to the launchpad, and I follow him into a hovercraft. I sit down beside him, his hand resting back on my knee. Multiple other people enter into the hovercraft and take a seat as well./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'll go down with you when we get there," Gale tries to offer the company./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I want to go alone." He doesn't push the issue; I know he understands. Somethings you just need to do alone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I sit quietly and listen to the others make small talk while we travel. Gale doesn't push conversation with me and I'm thankful for that. We continue to travel for a while before I feel them stop. They give me the orders that I can get out, I will be the only one going. Gale helps me out and my boots step out into the ash. I take a few steps away from the hovercraft and it rises back into the air, following over me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I'm in the seam, or what used to be the seam. I make my way through the rubble, going based on landmarks until I get to my old house. I step inside the pile of rubble and look around. Snow destroyed my home, not just my district. After a few minutes, I decide to make my way toward where the square was. I step through ashes, over bones, combing through an endless sea of grey. Twelve was obliterated. As I walk further toward the square, I notice one place that Snow left untouched, the victors village. Probably so that anyone coming here on capital business has somewhere to stay, but I know that no one is coming back, no one but me. I walk closer to the village, seeing multiple bodies in various stages of decay./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I killed you,/em I think as I continue walking through the rubble, the occasion crunching coming from under my boots as I step on bone burred in ash, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"and I killed you./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I reach my old house in the village as the pain returns to my head. The area where Johanna had knocked me into the rocks still throbs occasionally, the concussion hasn't completely healed. Memories begin to swirl and threaten to overtake me. I kneel down and place my head in my hands, trying to breathe and remember the technique the doctors taught me. Start with the things I know to be true and continue to the bigger things./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is district twelve. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. I have a baby girl with Peeta. The capitol hates me. Peeta is in the capital as a prisoner. He is probably dead. It is better if he is dead./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Do you need me to come down?" I hear Gale radio over my headset. I know how I must look. I take a breath and stand up, moving to walk into my victor house./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""No. I'm fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I turn around to face the mines as I open the door, black smoke still coming from them. I remember the words Snow said to me. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You have started a spark that if left unattended may grow into an inferno that destroys Panem./em He wasn't trying to scare me. It is still burning. But there is no one left in twelve to care. I walk inside my house and hear a hiss as the door opens. I spin toward the kitchen and notice Panem's uglies tomcat standing on the table. I roll my eyes, Buttercup. My sister's stupid cat./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Come here boy," He blinks at me and ignores my words. Of course, he's probably starving and I'm not offering food, "Want to see Prim?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"He finally approaches me; I get my old game bag and shove him into it. I walk up the stairs and into my room, pulling my fathers old hunting jacket from my closet and folding it over my arm. I hear Gale telling me it's time to go. I turn, walking to the door and the smell takes over my senses. I turn around, scanning the room for anything unusual. I see it. In the vase on the nightstand, surrounded by dried flowers in the vase. A fresh, white rose. I know Snow has sent it to me. I make my way out of the house quickly, grabbing the bag with Buttercup and getting outside. The hovercraft is over me and dropping a ladder down the same minute. I climb back up and into the hovercraft, taking my seat back next to Gale./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Yeah, I'm fine." I don't tell him about the Rose. He won't understand what it means. It's a promise of revenge. Snow is reminding me that he can find me, maybe he's even watching me now./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We reach thirteen and disembark the hovercraft. Gale walks back to the room with me, and Buttercup decides to start hissing from inside the bag. He looks down and shakes his head. He knows that I brought Buttercup./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""What do I tell them if they ask about twelve?" I ask as we walk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I don't think they'll ask. They watched it burn. I think they'll be more worried about how you're handling it. Like I am."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'll survive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We get to my room, and I open the door. Prim and my mom are sitting on the floor with Rue, letting her lay on her blanket and stretch out. I walk inside and hang my father's jacket up. I dump the bag on the floor and walk over, picking Rue up from the floor. I hold her close to me, kissing her forehead. I haven't been able to have much time just to hold her, but right now, all I need is to hold my girl./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We stay in my room for the rest of the evening. I hold Rue, rocking her and taking the time just to bond with her. Prim plays with the cat. Gale sits there with us, watching over Rue and I closely. Once dinner comes, he helps get Rue's bag and walks with us to the dining hall. I don't eat, as usual, and sit beside him holding my daughter. My mom sits beside me. Prim went back to the hospital wing to continue working. Gale looks over at me as his communicuff beeps./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""We're needed in command," I give Rue to my mom and follow him down to the same room we were just in earlier./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Gale walks into the room as soon as we open the door. He approaches a group of people, taking a spot between Plutarch and Beetee. I notice Finnick and Coin standing among everyone as well. They're gathering around the screens in the room as the capitol broadcast continues to air its usual propaganda. The screen changes and I see Ceaser Flickerman light up the screen, set up to do an interview./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Whoever you are, whatever it is you are doing, stop doing it. You are going to want to witness this tonight," his voice fills the air in the room. Plutarch notices me standing and motions me over the them and I take a spot beside Gale, "There has been speculation about what happened in the Quarter Quell that night, but here to shine some light on those events for us is a special guest."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I look over to Gale and then down to the other side of the group at Finnick. The capital has Johanna, Peeta, and Annie. Most likely they have killed Peeta and Annie to torture us, this leaves only Johanna left to give an interview. The camera pans out and over to the chair beside Ceaser and I see him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Please welcome, Mr. Peeta Mellark." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"There is a knock on the door and then it opens. I know who it is before I look, only Gale walks into the room like this. He walks over to me, picking Rue's bag up and slinging it over his shoulder. I'm supposed to meet with Coin, Plutarch and some others for the first time today. I know what they're wanting, but I don't know if I'm willing to agree./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""It's time, everyone's waiting," Gale looks over to me, "Want me to take her or are you okay with carrying her?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I've got her. Let's go."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We walk out the door and Gale leads the way down the hall and toward some steps. I follow him onto the staircase, filling with relief as he starts to descend the steps. After a few flights, we step back into a hallway and then he opens a door leading into a type of conference room. I step inside, taking in the setup./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"There is a large oval shaped table in the middle of the room with multiple chairs around it. Large TV screens cover the wall directly in front of the door with a desk full of different keyboards and controls beneath it. A board is mounted on the wall beside that with markers and an eraser on the edge sticking out under it. Other than those few items, the room is empty with gray walls and dim lighting. The only person around the table I recognize is Plutarch. A middle-aged woman sits at the end of the table. I assume this to be President Coin. Gale walks in behind me, pulling out a chair for me then sitting in the one beside me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Welcome Miss Everdeen," the woman at the end of the table speaks, "I'm President Alma Coin. It is so good to finally meet you. I know how disorienting all of this must be for you. We have known loss here too and I do hope you've been able to find some comfort with us. I wish you had more time to recover, but time is a luxury we don't have. Plutarch and Gale have told me about you. So, should we begin?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Begin what exactly?" I ask her as I take a seat. Rue fusses as I sit down and Gale hands me one of her pacifiers from the bag. She takes it quickly and begins to close her eyes again, "Thank you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Are you aware of everything that has happened?" I shake my head, no one has given me many details./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""When you fired your arrow, you electrified Panem. There have been uprisings and strikes in seven of the districts. We want to keep this energy going. We believe that we can unify the districts against the capital."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""What about Peeta? Is he alive?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I don't know," Plutarch answers me, "I can't get ahold of anyone in the capital."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I've managed to break into their system for broadcasts, but now we need the perfect message," Beetee speaks up and I notice him in the corner./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""We need everyone to know that the Mockingjay is alive and well and willing to stand up to join the fight. Every district needs to stand up to the capital. We are going to shoot a series of propaganda clips on the Mockingjay to spread the word."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You left Peeta in that arena to die. Peeta was the one that was supposed to live!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Miss Everdeen!" Coin raises her voice, "This revolution is about everyone, and we need a voice."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Then you should've saved Peeta." I stand up, looking to Gale and heading toward the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Let her see what the capital did to twelve," Plutarch speaks behind me, "There's explaining and showing. Remind her who the enemy is. Let her see it. Let her go home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I turn around and face them, Gale standing up from the table quickly and walking toward me with Rue. They're going to send me home. I hear the words in my head, there is no district twelve. Gale's told me the story multiple times, about the bombs and the ashes. There is no home, but I want to go./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I want to go to twelve," I look at Coin directly, "unless you don't want your Mockingjay."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Coin agrees and we are dismissed to get ready. Gale follows me to my room, laying Rue into her crib as she sleeps. I sit down on the bed, trying to prepare myself for what I'm going to see. There is no district twelve. Gale sits beside me without saying a word and just places his hand on my knee. There is a soft knock on the door and Gales moves from beside me, opening the door and letting Prim in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""They sent me to stay with Rue."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I nod, leaning into her crib and kissing her forehead. Once I let Prim know when she will need to eat, and she assures me they will be fine, Gale leads me to the launchpad, and I follow him into a hovercraft. I sit down beside him, his hand resting back on my knee. Multiple other people enter into the hovercraft and take a seat as well./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'll go down with you when we get there," Gale tries to offer the company./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I want to go alone." He doesn't push the issue; I know he understands. Somethings you just need to do alone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I sit quietly and listen to the others make small talk while we travel. Gale doesn't push conversation with me and I'm thankful for that. We continue to travel for a while before I feel them stop. They give me the orders that I can get out, I will be the only one going. Gale helps me out and my boots step out into the ash. I take a few steps away from the hovercraft and it rises back into the air, following over me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I'm in the seam, or what used to be the seam. I make my way through the rubble, going based on landmarks until I get to my old house. I step inside the pile of rubble and look around. Snow destroyed my home, not just my district. After a few minutes, I decide to make my way toward where the square was. I step through ashes, over bones, combing through an endless sea of grey. Twelve was obliterated. As I walk further toward the square, I notice one place that Snow left untouched, the victors village. Probably so that anyone coming here on capital business has somewhere to stay, but I know that no one is coming back, no one but me. I walk closer to the village, seeing multiple bodies in various stages of decay./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I killed you,/em I think as I continue walking through the rubble, the occasion crunching coming from under my boots as I step on bone burred in ash, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"and I killed you./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I reach my old house in the village as the pain returns to my head. The area where Johanna had knocked me into the rocks still throbs occasionally, the concussion hasn't completely healed. Memories begin to swirl and threaten to overtake me. I kneel down and place my head in my hands, trying to breathe and remember the technique the doctors taught me. Start with the things I know to be true and continue to the bigger things./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is district twelve. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. I have a baby girl with Peeta. The capitol hates me. Peeta is in the capital as a prisoner. He is probably dead. It is better if he is dead./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Do you need me to come down?" I hear Gale radio over my headset. I know how I must look. I take a breath and stand up, moving to walk into my victor house./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""No. I'm fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I turn around to face the mines as I open the door, black smoke still coming from them. I remember the words Snow said to me. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You have started a spark that if left unattended may grow into an inferno that destroys Panem./em He wasn't trying to scare me. It is still burning. But there is no one left in twelve to care. I walk inside my house and hear a hiss as the door opens. I spin toward the kitchen and notice Panem's uglies tomcat standing on the table. I roll my eyes, Buttercup. My sister's stupid cat./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Come here boy," He blinks at me and ignores my words. Of course, he's probably starving and I'm not offering food, "Want to see Prim?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"He finally approaches me; I get my old game bag and shove him into it. I walk up the stairs and into my room, pulling my fathers old hunting jacket from my closet and folding it over my arm. I hear Gale telling me it's time to go. I turn, walking to the door and the smell takes over my senses. I turn around, scanning the room for anything unusual. I see it. In the vase on the nightstand, surrounded by dried flowers in the vase. A fresh, white rose. I know Snow has sent it to me. I make my way out of the house quickly, grabbing the bag with Buttercup and getting outside. The hovercraft is over me and dropping a ladder down the same minute. I climb back up and into the hovercraft, taking my seat back next to Gale./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Yeah, I'm fine." I don't tell him about the Rose. He won't understand what it means. It's a promise of revenge. Snow is reminding me that he can find me, maybe he's even watching me now./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We reach thirteen and disembark the hovercraft. Gale walks back to the room with me, and Buttercup decides to start hissing from inside the bag. He looks down and shakes his head. He knows that I brought Buttercup./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""What do I tell them if they ask about twelve?" I ask as we walk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I don't think they'll ask. They watched it burn. I think they'll be more worried about how you're handling it. Like I am."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""I'll survive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We get to my room, and I open the door. Prim and my mom are sitting on the floor with Rue, letting her lay on her blanket and stretch out. I walk inside and hang my father's jacket up. I dump the bag on the floor and walk over, picking Rue up from the floor. I hold her close to me, kissing her forehead. I haven't been able to have much time just to hold her, but right now, all I need is to hold my girl./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"We stay in my room for the rest of the evening. I hold Rue, rocking her and taking the time just to bond with her. Prim plays with the cat. Gale sits there with us, watching over Rue and I closely. Once dinner comes, he helps get Rue's bag and walks with us to the dining hall. I don't eat, as usual, and sit beside him holding my daughter. My mom sits beside me. Prim went back to the hospital wing to continue working. Gale looks over at me as his communicuff beeps./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""We're needed in command," I give Rue to my mom and follow him down to the same room we were just in earlier./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"Gale walks into the room as soon as we open the door. He approaches a group of people, taking a spot between Plutarch and Beetee. I notice Finnick and Coin standing among everyone as well. They're gathering around the screens in the room as the capitol broadcast continues to air its usual propaganda. The screen changes and I see Ceaser Flickerman light up the screen, set up to do an interview./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Whoever you are, whatever it is you are doing, stop doing it. You are going to want to witness this tonight," his voice fills the air in the room. Plutarch notices me standing and motions me over the them and I take a spot beside Gale, "There has been speculation about what happened in the Quarter Quell that night, but here to shine some light on those events for us is a special guest."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I look over to Gale and then down to the other side of the group at Finnick. The capital has Johanna, Peeta, and Annie. Most likely they have killed Peeta and Annie to torture us, this leaves only Johanna left to give an interview. The camera pans out and over to the chair beside Ceaser and I see him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Please welcome, Mr. Peeta Mellark." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p