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Chapter Twenty Three

"What makes it burn? Is it alcohol?" Katniss asks, looking over at the silent girl. She doesn't respond, and Katniss seems to have a sudden revelation. "I wa- oh! I know you!" she says drunkenly. I'm glad I dismissed the wine because I can see what less than a glass has already done to Katniss. Effie, shocked by this, replies with, "Don't be ridiculous, Katniss. How could you possibly know an Avox? The very thought," She scoffs and rolls her eyes as the Avox girl skitters away. After Effie's comment, Katniss looks both ashamed and confused.

"What's an Avox?" she says, voicing my thoughts but sounding a tad bit stupid while doing so. I hate drunk Katniss. I hope she never ends up like Haymitch; I couldn't stand it.

I picture a house full of spirits— just like Haymitch's— bottles lining the wall but more lying on the floor, empty and shattered. I shake the thought away, knowing that even if it gets that tough, Katniss would never do such a thing. After all, she'll have her family there to help her through anything. And Gale. I'd forgotten about him until now, which was nice, but Katniss cares about him, and I have to accept that, even if their relationship isn't just platonic. I rejoin the conversation and luckily haven't missed much.

"Someone who committed a crime. They cut her tongue so she can't speak." Haymitch replies, quite frankly, as if this is common knowledge. "She's probably a traitor of some sort. Not likely you'd know her,"

I think of the pain associated with this act; never being able to speak again. I can't imagine not saying a word to Katniss after tonight. My heart sinks, but suddenly I have a rush of motivation. I have to tell Katniss. The chances of me surviving in the arena are low; I can't die without telling her. Adrenaline rushes through my veins, and I smile contently at my plan but slowly drop it, considering we as a group are discussing traitors and tongue removal.

"And even if you did, you are not to speak to one of them unless it's to give an order," Effie says. "Of course, you don't really know her,"

But something in Katniss's eyes tells me she does, that she's not lying to Effie. I have to cover for her, knowing Effie would snap if she found out Katniss had relations with a traitor.