One Last Game -Haymitch Abernathy-

Chapter 58

Amelia kept her head down as they left the building. Mitchell's body was still hung up in the barbed wire, and Boggs's body was pushed against a wall, covered in the oil. "Come on," Gale waves his hand. They start jogging towards the other side of the building. The doors weren't open yet, but they needed to stay clear of the approaching Peacekeepers.

Gale slammed the bottom of the crossbow into the glass. It shattered upon impact. They ran inside and up the stairs into the first apartment. Amelia's eyes scanned the area. The apartment looked exactly as expected and showcased how many of the Capitol citizens lived. Lavishly and with items they didn't need. There were four rugs made of animal fur—multiple couches, and tables full of glass figurines. "Close the curtains," Lieutenant Jackson demanded. Katniss and Pollux closed the curtains. Amelia glanced at Gale, watching his reaction. This was his first time in the Capitol. He had never seen how they lived before. It wasn't easy. Amelia remembered her first encounter with the Capitol. Even the train ride was full of luxuries, many unneeded.

Outside, a truck could be heard. She rushed towards the window, pulling it open just enough to look out. Lieutenant Jackson and Holmes joined her. There were dozens of Peacekeepers outside, approaching the building they had left the Leeg sisters. One of the sisters began firing at the Peacekeepers. "It's the Leegs," Finnick whispered. The Peacekeepers began firing back. Amelia watched as one of them grabbed a bazooka. They fired it into the building, causing the entire structure to explode. She stepped away from the window, pressing her back against the wall. 

The Leegs were dead. They left them behind. They should have carried the injured sister. At least she would be alive.

Suddenly, the TV chimed as a broadcast started. There was an announcement from the Capitol. The Panem national anthem began playing, and Caesar Flickerman appeared. "Hello, I am Caesar Flickerman." They all stared at the man. "I am here with the continuous coverage of the defense of the Capitol." Katniss stood up, slowly approaching the screen. "Today, our Peacekeepers courageously hold off the rebels, but our story takes a surprising twist. Katniss Everdeen, our once favorite daughter," the screen plays the security footage of them running from the oil. "Has infiltrated the city with some of the Victors whose names you're all too familiar with. Amelia Sawyer. Finnick Odair. And Peeta Mellark."

The video then shows Peeta attacking Katniss and attempting to kill her. Peeta stares at the screen with wide eyes, not believing those were his actions. In a way, they weren't. He wasn't in control. "I guess some alliances don't last forever." Amelia sighed, rubbing her jaw. "Take a look at what happened moments ago when Peacekeepers cornered Katniss and her band of foolish rebels." The footage showed the Leegs firing back at the Peacekeepers. The problem was that not all of them were inside. It was just the Leeg sisters, but the Capitol didn't know that. "Whatever arrogance brought this traitorous girl back to us, you are about to witness a great victory for the Capitol and Panem." A Peacekeeper fired the bazooka. The building caved in the video. Watching it again was hard for all of them. "There you have it. Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire who inspired so much brutality, seems to have met a violent end. Stay tuned for more information. Caesar Flickerman. Thank you." The video ended.

"So," Gale said from his spot on the couch. "Now that everyone thinks we're dead, what are we going to do?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Peeta spoke. "You have to kill me." They all stared at him. "I'm not in control. I murdered one of our squad members." That was true. Peeta killed Mitchell. Amelia sat down beside Finnick. "Katniss is right. I'm a mutt." It was hard for her to hear. She knew Peeta well. He was her Tribute, turned Victor, but also her friend. "It's only a matter of time before I snap again. I'm not in control." Amelia continued to stare at Peeta. "I need a nightlock pill so that I can die when I need to." That was the last thing any of them wanted to do.

"If it gets to that point, I will kill you myself," Gale said. He stood up, dusting off his pants. "I'm going to find some food."

"Good idea," Lieutenant Jackson said. "We'll make camp here." Amelia leaned against the wall, but her eyes remained on Peeta the entire time.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Amelia took a large bite from her sandwich, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. She sat beside Finnick, who had taken on the job of watching over Peeta. It was too much for Katniss. That was understandable. The situation was overwhelming for all of them. Everyone thought they were dead. That meant Haymitch thought the same. Amelia wondered what he was going through.

Suddenly, the Panem anthem began playing again. Images start appearing. Cressida appears first, with her name. Then Castor. Pollux. Messalla. Finnick Odair is next. At the sight of his picture, he smiles. Amelia is next. Her full name and picture appear. Peeta and Katniss followed directly behind her. It's the same type of broadcast that happens in the games at night to announce who is dead. To Snow, this is a game. He is playing a game.

"So," President Snow appears on the screen. "Katniss Everdeen. A poor, unstable girl with nothing but a small talent with a bow and arrow is dead." His voice is void of all emotion. It's as if he doesn't care. Amelia knows he does. "Not a thinker, not a leader. Merely a face plucked from the masses. Was she valuable?" He paused as if someone was going to answer. "She was incredibly valuable to your revolution because you have no vision, no true leader among you. You call yourselves an alliance, but we saw what that means. Your soldiers are at each other's throats."

The screen begins to cut out. Amelia sat up straighter as President Coin appeared. "Good evening. For those of you who don't know me, please, allow me to introduce myself. I am president Alma Coin, leader of the rebellion. I have interrupted a broadcast from your president in which he tried to slander a courageous young woman. A face picked from the masses, he called her. As if a leader, a real leader, could be anything else. I had the honor of knowing a small-town girl from the Seam in District 12 who survived the Hunger Games and the Quarter Quell and rose up and turned a nation of enslaved people into an army! Dead or alive, Katniss Everdeen will continue to be the face of this revolution." Coin's voice cracked as her emotions took over. "She will not have died for nothing."

"I didn't realize I meant so much to her," Katniss muttered sarcastically.

"Her vision and ours will be realized. A free Panem with self-determination for all. We will all find the strength to rid Panem of its oppressors in her memory. Thank you, and be safe." The broadcast ended with a picture of Katniss titled, Remember the Mockingjay.

Katniss stood up, "Snow's in his mansion." She tapped the screen of the Holo. "Where is that?" Amelia pushed off the couch, moving closer to inspect the map.

"That's us," Cressida pointed at the map. She then pointed across the map. "That's the city circle." They weren't close. "At least seventy, maybe seventy-five blocks north."

Finnick's eyebrows shot up. "Seventy-five blocks?"

"Yeah."

"Nobody knows we are alive," Katniss argued. "This is our chance." Amelia knew this was their only chance. "These buildings." Katniss pointed at a few different buildings. "Do these look over Snow's garden?"

Cressida wasn't sure, but Castor was. "They do."

"If he goes outside, I could get a clear shot."

Lieutenant Jackson waved her hand. "We are getting ahead of ourselves. Whether they are looking for us or not, we're pinned down." Amelia agreed with her. "Scan for pods." Katniss pressed the button. Suddenly, hundreds of dots appeared. They would have to encounter lots of pods on their journey. If they were as dangerous as the last, they would never make it.

"It's like every fifteen steps," Holmes commented.

"And that doesn't include the new ones."

"We'll never make it," Amelia added. "And we have the risk of getting caught by security cameras."

Finnick sighed, "we can't go anywhere in the streets."

"The rooftops are just as bad." They had no options.

Pollux tapped his brother's arm. He pointed below them. "There may be another way." Amelia tilted her head to the side, confused about what the other way was. What was the other way into the city circle?