One Last Game -Haymitch Abernathy-

Chapter 41

"You're supposed to be our mentor?" Those were the first words Amelia ever spoke to Haymitch. "What? Expecting someone else?" That's what he responded with. Looking back on the day he met her was hard. Haymitch never expected to fall in love with her. She was younger then. Still naive. She matured quickly after her games. She changed, but her heart didn't. It was always the same. Full of love for others. Amelia was selfless. Always had been. She would always be selfless.

Haymitch watched the games. Every minute of his life was spent in front of a screen. He rarely slept. He rarely ate. He wanted to experience every moment. It didn't matter that he was helping Plutarch plan a revolution. Haymitch couldn't think about anyone but Amelia.

He watched her suffer from the Jabberjays. That was when he realized that Snow knew more than he was letting on. It was hard to watch her afterward. He could already see the change.

He was on the hovercraft when Amelia chose to stay behind and fight the Careers. He was screaming at her to run. He was screaming that he was on his way. Of course, she couldn't hear him. Haymitch watched as Brutus stabbed her in the stomach. His legs nearly crumbled out from under him. Luckily, Peeta and Johanna came to her aid.

But luck wasn't on his side. They recused Katniss, which was the plan. They also got Beetee and Finnick. By the time they got them on the craft, the Capitol had hovercrafts on their way to stop them. They made a choice. They had to leave them behind.

Not long after, Amelia's tracker had indicated that she was on her way to the Capitol. Peeta and Johanna were with her. Her tracker was the only one deactivated.

She was gone. Haymitch had put Katniss first. That was the mission, but he hated himself for it. Amelia was gone. It wasn't clear if she was alive or not. Haymitch wanted to have hope, but he couldn't imagine what they were doing to her.

Why did she leave Katniss? Haymitch asked himself that question a million times. She had one job. Do not leave Katniss. It was the only way he thought he could guarantee her survival.

He should have known. Amelia never listened to him.

Haymitch hated thinking about her. He made a promise to never get close to anyone again. He never meant to fall in love, especially with Amelia. They were opposites in every way imaginable. Still, it happened.

He was sober now—something Amelia always wanted to see. Now she may never get the chance. She could already be gone. A single tear rolled down his cheek. The last image he had of her was Peeta holding her dying body in his arms.

The Capitol may have saved her for future use. Or they let her bleed out. Haymitch feared he would never know. They only used Peeta in the pop-up propaganda. Peeta looked weak. His eyes were hollow, deprived of all life. It wasn't the person Haymitch knew. He didn't want that for Amelia. It was torture. But still, the idea that she was dead terrified him.

It had been four weeks since the Quarter Quell. Haymitch spent a majority of the time getting sober. It wasn't easy, but he survived. He did it for Amelia. She would have wanted him to continue. Katniss bargained with President Coin for their rescue at the earliest convince. The deal covered Amelia, but President Coin believed she was dead. However, Katniss refused to accept that belief. Therefore, she was covered in the deal. If Amelia was alive, she would be rescued with the others and granted a full pardon.

Haymitch didn't believe she needed a pardon, any of them. It wasn't their fault they were left behind. They had to make a tough choice. His brain told him it was the right choice, but his heart said otherwise.

He left Amelia behind. It was his choice. What happened to her inside the Capitol was on him. It would always be on him. "Haymitch," a voice called for him. The blond man looked over his shoulder to see Katniss walking towards him. "What are you doing? You weren't at the meeting."

He was sitting in the cafeteria alone. "Yeah, I've never been a big fan of crowds." Amelia always hated crowds. She wouldn't have been able to do it. "Amelia wouldn't have gone." Katniss stood straighter, clutching the item in her hand tightly.

"We'll get her back."

"Unless she's already gone." The words were like acid on her skin. Amelia was her mentor, but also her friend. The reason she was in the arena, to begin with, was because of her. Katniss was responsible for whatever happened to her. "I hope she's gone."

"Haymitch."

He knew it was wrong, but there was no telling what torture she was going through. He had seen the videos of Peeta. Each time they were worse. Amelia wasn't shown in any of the videos. If she was alive, there was no telling what she was going through. "She was the only person I had left."

"I know."

Katniss stepped forward and placed something down on the table. It was in a crumpled napkin. "What's this?"

"A gift." Katniss let her arms fall to her sides.

Haymitch unfolded the napkin and grabbed the item inside. Instantly, he stood up. His hand was trembling. "Where did you get this?" It was the ring he gave Amelia. "How-"

"President Snow left it for me at my house in District 12." It was around a vase containing a single white rose. It was a message meant for her. They had Amelia. She was alive.

Amelia was alive. It was unclear what they were doing to her, but she was alive. Haymitch gripped the necklace tightly, his emotions getting the better of him. He took a shaky breath and slipped the chain over his head. This was all he had left of her now. "She's alive." The gold material reflected in the light. It stood out amongst the greyness that plagued District 13. "You know," he began. "Amelia was a lot like you when I first met her." Katniss turned to look at him. "She had such an attitude in the start. At least, with me."

Katniss smiled slightly at the revelation. "It's hard to imagine Amelia being rude to anyone." That wasn't the Amelia she knew. The Amelia she knew was selfless, caring, and kind. She was always smiling. Katniss could always rely on Amelia to make her smile. There was something about her that radiated happiness.

"Not rude," he corrected. "I would call it a crude honesty."

"Sounds like me."

"Yeah, I didn't like her much then."

"What changed?"

He thought for a moment. "I don't know." Haymitch never got overly close with the people he mentored. Amelia was the first Tribute he ever had that seemed to have a chance. She was kind but brave. Equally smart as she was skilled. That was why he helped her in the arena. When she won, he was proud. However, she was different when she returned. That seemed to happen to Victors, but she always took care of him. "She always believed in you, you know? Thought the two of you were different."

"I know." Katniss walked towards him. "She's alive. We'll get her back." Haymitch only stared at her, offering a faint nod in response. Silently he turned around and walked away.