kill for your love - the hunger games

(081) what makes this fragile world go 'round?

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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act three.

(chapter eighty-one, what makes this fragile world go 'round?)

command / the collective / the presidential mansion, 75 ADD.

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TWO BURLY SOLDIERS FLANKED either side of Juniper Hale's and Johanna Mason's beings, escorting them towards Command. It was silent except for the thudding of their boots and a sense of seriousness flashed across their faces as the two men marched through the hallways of District Thirteen, the Victors' following slightly behind them. 

Juniper had been discharged that morning, but still remained under the watchful eye of Dr. Aurelius and the nurses. They were intent on extending her sessions with the former, who looked even more exhausted than ever before, and they had instructed Johanna Mason to care for her. But Johanna Mason had the ghosts of tears streaking down her cheeks to even begin looking out for her. 

But as they walked to Command, the woman from Seven seemed to stare at her face. She too had tears running down her cheeks and looked wildly dishevelled, hair knotted from tossing and turning throughout the night and eyes bloodshot. Johanna looked the same. 

The two weren't told why they were being marched to Command. No-one went to Command. Plutarch, Coin, and Orion Hale had barricaded themselves within the high-tech room the minute Finnick Odair's death went public. Whispers of the war turning to the tide of the rebels spread through the district like wildfire. People were getting their hopes up whilst others decided to bury themselves in their schedules to ignore the looming sensation that the rebellion brought onto them. 

But when Dr. Aurelius rushed into Juniper's hospital room, Johanna sitting in the plastic chair, something was different. The man had obviously been running due to him panting heavily, clutching his heart. Something had happened. The air was different. Something had happened in the Capitol. 

Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead.

"President Coin," one of the soldiers said as they entered Command. "They're here." 

Juniper tried to examine the computerised talking walls, the electronic maps showing troop movement, and the giant rectangular table with the control panels to ignore the mantras that waltzed around her hollow head. 

Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead. 

Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant. 

"What's this?" Johanna croaked out, causing Juniper to snap back to reality.

"Ah, Miss Mason... Miss Hale..." Coin greeted. Both Victors' felt their guts recoil with anger at the sight of the middle-aged woman. 

The leader of the rebellion was not looking well. She too looked dishevelled. Not as bad as the two Victors', but the war had taken a toll on her too. There were bags underneath her eyes, looking as if they were carved by a knife, and she looked more soulless than she usually did. But there was a sense of relief within her. Juniper felt her fingers twitch.