One Last Game -Haymitch Abernathy-

Chapter 61

Haymitch had tried to remain optimistic while Amelia was gone, but he struggled. He felt as if a piece of him was missing the entire time. He was terrified. Then, it was announced she was dead. That the entire group was killed. For a while, Haymitch thought he had lost her. That this time she wasn't coming back to him. It was hard for him for a long time. He loved her more than a life, and she was gone.

Haymitch left District 13 with Plutarch the day before the bombs went off. He was just about to take a drink when he heard the news. They were alive. Someone had radioed them, Haymitch wasn't sure who, informing them that the group needed emergency evacuation from the Capitol. He wanted to go with but wasn't allowed. As one of the few remaining Victors, he had to stay behind. Not long after learning of their survival, the bombs went off. Two bombs only minutes apart. Many were dead. Katniss arrived at the medical tent first. She had been at the mansion. She was alone. Haymitch began to fear the worst. So many people were killed. Katniss was unconscious and couldn't speak.

A little while later, he discovered after speaking with Gale that Amelia never went with them to the mansion. She stayed behind. Haymitch searched every tent, every room, but found nothing. No sign of her or any of them.

He started to lose hope, but not for long. The first person he saw was Peeta. Plutarch was escorting him. Soon after, he saw Pollux and Cressida. But Amelia wasn't anywhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Amelia was sitting on a bench. Her head in her hands as she finally took a moment to process everything. The war was over. Snow was in custody. Everything was going to be okay. But she wasn't okay. She thought that achieving justice would fix how she felt inside. It didn't. Amelia only felt worse inside. A few tears streamed down her cheeks. Finnick is dead. He is dead, and he wasn't ever coming back. He died. Messalla died. Castor died. Boggs died. Jackson died. Everyone is dead.

"My name is Amelia Swayer," she whispers only to herself. "I'm from District 12. Don't forget. Don't forget again."

She sniffled, wiping her tears. The world around her is moving fast. Amelia felt as if she was being left in the past. All she wanted was to go home. To be anywhere but here. She wanted to be alone and figure out how to move forward. The war was over, but the battle inside her mind was still raging.

Amelia stood up, taking a deep breath as she tried to figure out what to do next. Part of her thought about visiting Katniss in the infirmary but wasn't ready to face her. The other part of her wanted to find the only thing that brought her comfort, Haymitch. But Amelia knew that he would hate her. He would never forgive her for leaving. That's what she deserved. The negative thoughts didn't last long.

Amelia noticed a blond man approaching quickly. Not just any blond man. It was Haymitch. "Haymitch, I'm-" she was cut off by the force of his body colliding with hers. His arms wrap around her, desperately clinging to her.

"Are you okay?" He pulls away and places his hands on her cheeks. Haymitch's eyes scan her body for any injuries. He sees several—a few cuts on her face and arm. There's dust all over her clothes. "God, I was so worried about you." Her lip begins to quiver as she releases all of the emotion building inside of her. 

Amelia holds onto him, sobbing into his shoulder. She cries for her lost family. She cries because of what the Capitol did to her for those eight weeks. She cries for the friends she lost along the way. She cries because life is hard, and she realizes for the first time how broken she is. Amelia cries in the arms of the person she loves the most. Haymitch soothingly rubs her back, whispering in her ear how everything will be all right. 

Amelia wants to believe him. She isn't sure she does.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amelia needed a few stitches on her right arm from an injury sustained by a mutt that she had entirely forgotten about. However, that wasn't what the morphling was for. The medicine was for the pain inside her mind. The recent events had sent her back to the original starting point. She felt like the scared girl that Boggs had found in the Tribute Center. Amelia had to learn to live with what happened. It wasn't going to be easy. It would take a lot of time and a lot of energy.

But that was a plan for the future. Right now, they had to wrap up the war. Snow was alive. Nobody was leading the people. Everything was in shambles. They needed to fix Panem. Amelia needed to help fix Panem before she could focus on bettering herself.

Her eyes fluttered open. They scanned the room. She was in a medical tent. The location was unknown. Morphling could act as a sedative if given at a high enough dose. That wasn't the original purpose for her, but it appeared someone had upped the dosage. She glanced to her left, noticing Haymitch. He's reading a book. A grey beanie pulled over his blond hair. He's wearing a thick winter jacket.

There's still a heaviness in her eyelids. On top of her is a purple blanket, hand-made by someone recently. It still smells fresh. "You look good with the beanie," Amelia says. Her voice is raspier than expected. It's unclear how long she's been asleep.

Haymitch turns to look at her, closing the book. "Hey, gorgeous." He sets the book on the floor before scooting closer. "How are you feeling?" There's a gentleness in his voice. His fingers rest on her cheek, tilting her head slightly.

Amelia hums, thinking carefully. The morphling is still coursing through her body, and it makes everything easier. The pain inside is dull. "I understand why District 6 likes this stuff. It makes me feel better." He smiles sadly, wishing more than anything he could ease her pain. "Was it your idea to drug me?"

There's no point in lying. "Yes." Haymitch didn't do it to hurt her. He just wanted her to rest.

"Good." Amelia likes how it makes her feel. She's too tired to think about all the terrible things that happened to her. She's not angry with Haymitch. She could never be angry with him.

Amelia stares at him. Haymitch can't tell what she's thinking. "What?"

"You're not mad at me?" She's still suffering the effects of the morphling. "No lecture about recklessness or stupidity?"

He sighs. "No." He wasn't going to lecture her. He didn't need to.

"Really? Nothing you want to say?" Haymitch always had something to say.

There were many things he wanted to say, but they didn't matter anymore. "Trust me. I would have lectured you days ago." Amelia stared at him. "But then the Capitol reported you as dead, and everyone believed you were gone." He paused, "and I thought maybe you really were gone this time." She said nothing. "And I kept thinking, if she's alive, I promise not to be angry anymore. Just let her be alive."

Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I'm sorry."

"I know." He did know. He knew Amelia better than anyone ever would. "But I am never letting you out of my sight again."

A faint smile appeared on her face. "What happens now?"

For a moment, he hesitated. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her, but Haymitch worried for her mental stability. He stressed that the slightest stressor would break her completely. "Snow's going to be executed soon. We'll figure out what happens next. Call an election."

"Good." Amelia wants him gone. She knows it won't bring her peace. Nothing will. But she has to try. "Haymitch," she whispers.

He stares at her with loving eyes. Amelia wonders what she did to deserve that type of love. "Yeah, darling?"

"I think," she licks her bottom lip. "That I might need some help."

It's a big step for her. One that Haymitch appreciated her taking rather than him. "Yeah." He grabs her hand, his warmth spreading through her. Amelia wasn't okay, but for the first time, she had faith she would be.