The Price of Champions and Crowns (Hunger Games)

24

I could feel it. Dread seeping into my stomach like an open wound the more Haymitch talked.

He waved a drunken hand at Liam and I. "Terrance and Victoria Mason. Poppy and Liam Odair.  The new age of star crossed lovers. The both of you, with the way the Capitol and districts adored you both." He tusked. "Both twins find love in the arena and start the second revolution. We knew the Capitol would love it, we knew Snow would hate it. But we had someone inside the control room. We had the okay to let the four of you out. Backfired on us when the two you went rogue".

I didn't know what to say. 

"Why didn't you fucking tell us that before we all entered the arena!?!". Apparently Liam Odair knew what to say.

Haymitch frowned at us. "You we're all being watched by everyone, we couldn't risk it. Terrance and Poppy knew. They were both tasked to find you two".

I turned to my mother. She looked pointedly at me. "That's why you wanted me in that alliance".

She shrugged. "Predominantly why, any idiot would've accepted it".

I huffed in annoyance.

I hate her. I hate her, I hate her!

Peeta rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. Like this conversation was almost too much for him. "What matters is that despite our children not being the star crossed lovers, You two still managed to spark a revolution. The districts are angry. They didn't want to pretend on the victory tour that you'd lost eachother".

 A couple of victors smirked. Others whispered. Definitely picked up on the riots more than once.

Haymitch shook his head. "We didn't believe Snow would let you guys live. We thought after the seventy fourth games he'd kill one of you as soon as you exited the arena. We could get you out but we couldn't help you after that. But he hasn't done anything. We think...".

I don't like this conversation. Haymitch exhaled. "We think, he's planning something to stop this revolution. Before it's even really started".

Beetee then cleared his throat. "It's not uncommon for victors who go against him to mysteriously end up in an accident".

Death. 

I felt Liam's grip on my hand tighten. "No".

One word that echoed around all these victors. Said with so much conviction as if daring Snow to try. 

Finnick bit his lip before he stared down Liam. "We're doing everything we can but the both of you need to be more..." He looked pointedly at me. "Alert".

I nodded in understanding at Finnick, causing Liam to instantly frown. "What does that mean?".

Johanna giggled. "This should be good".

I gulped at those sea green eyes. "B-blights been helping me cope".

Liam looked slightly taken aback. "Cope?".

I tried to smile at him to ease whatever pain was starting to creep into his face. "I won't use it again, now that you're alive. I don't need it. I'll go clean".

Johanna looked over me until her eyes met Liam's. "She's a drug addiction now, hope that's not a problem Liam. You guys love eachother. I'm sure you can be the one to hold her while she goes through withdrawals".

I gulped and turned to her with panic filled eyes. "What?".

Johanna had a mock amusement look. It said she was beyond pissed at me. It made me try to think how long I'd been drug dependent in her presence. "You've been taking what Blight takes, it's...strong. You've seen him try to stay sober. You'll be bed ridden for sure".