My Undying Love

Chapter 4: The So-Called Extinct District.

He continues to hold my hands, my grip tightening on his. I looked at him, taking in what he had just said. My eyes are wide with shock, my face pale with fear. For a moment, I feel the urge to pull him closer...

"District 13 is gone.." I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "We can't be going to District 13?"

He hesitates for a moment, and now his grip on my hands tightened slightly as if to keep himself tethered to me, to reality. Like he knows this is going to be tough for me to hear.

"Sweetheart.." He begins, his voice gentle but firm. "I wish it wasn't true, but District 13 is very much alive and functioning. And that's where we're headed. For now, just get some rest, please?"

I nod, and I lean into his body, and he wraps his arms around me, holding me close as I lean into him. I can feel the tension in his body, the fear and uncertainty coursing through him.

"It's going to be okay, right?" I murmur, my voice low and soothing. He lifts my face up by my chin, so I look at him, and he nods. "Yes, and I'll be right there with you the entire time."
That comforted me...

(4 hours later) Haymitch's POV:

I'm shaken awake by Effie, "Love, we're here.. we're in District 13..." I can see the sorrow in her face as she says this, "Thank you, Sweetheart. Let's go."

I get up, and we grab our small amount of things, and I wrap my hand around Effies waist, then I kiss the top of her head, and I squeeze her waist gently, reassuringly, as we step off the aircraft and onto the ruined landscape of District 13. I can feel the tension in her body, the fear and uncertainty that comes with being pushed into a completely unfamiliar and dangerous situation. 

"Haymitch...?" She says quietly..  "Yeah, sweetheart?" I answer, my voice low and calm as I look down at her.
"If District 13 is alive and functioning... where is it?"

I chuckle softly at her question, appreciating her curiosity and intelligence. I pull her toward me, hugging her, and gesture towards the surrounding area.    "District 13 is underground," I explain. "They constructed their underground facilities during the First Rebellion. It's a maze of tunnels and compartments down there."

She looks around, her expression shocked.. "Oh." She then turns to me.. "Snow, and the Capitol did this, didn't they?"

I nod slowly, my expression hardening at the mention of Snow. "Yeah, sweetheart. Snow and the Capitol are responsible for all of this. For everything that's happened."
I can see the anger and determination in her expression, and I can't help but feel a pang of worry for her.

"And they did this to District 12, too. That's why we left?" She asks, her eyes watering..
I nod again, a sombre expression on my face. "Yeah, sweetheart. They did this to District 12, too. And that's why we had to leave. It wasn't safe for us to stay there."

I can see the sorrow and anger on her face, and I reach out to squeeze her hand again.

"And Peeta, Katniss, made it out of the arena? Her adoptive mother and younger sister are okay. They survived the bombings right?"

Sorrow crosses my face. "Katniss made it out alive. Katniss made it out of the arena, and the Everdeens survived the bombings too. They're in District 13 now."
"And Peeta...?"

I hesitate for a moment, the weight of my next words heavy in the air. "Peeta was captured by the Capitol. He's being held prisoner, sweetheart."

"No!" She shouts, I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her to try to soothe her. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I wish it wasn't true."
Effie falls to her knees, she was heartbroken for Katniss, her daughter..  I knew she knew how much our daughter loved that boy..

I kneel down beside her, wrapping my arms around her as she falls to her knees. I can feel the weight of her grief and sorrow, and my heart aches for her. I know how much she cares for Katniss and Peeta and how much she loves them both.

"Hey, Hey.." I murmur, my voice low and gentle. "It's going to be okay, sweetie. We'll get him back. I promise."