『 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡 』𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Victory Tour

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The man has only just crumpled to the ground when a wall of white Peacekeeper uniforms blocks your view. Several of the soldiers have automatic weapons held lengthwise as they push you and Peeta back toward the door.

" We're going!" Peeta says, shoving the Peacekeeper who was pressing on you. "We get it alright? Come on, Y/n." His arm wraps around the small of your back, his hand resting in the curve of your waist, and he somewhat forcefully guides you back into the Justice Building. The Peacekeepers follow a pace or two behind you. The moment you're inside, the doors slam shut and you hear the Peacekeepers' boots moving back toward the crowd.

Haymitch, Effie, Portia, and Cinna wait under a static-filled screen that's mounted on the wall, their faces filled with worry.

Peeta's hand leaves your waist as Effie hurries over, " What happened?" She questions frantically. " We lost the feed just after Y/n's beautiful speech, and then Haymitch said he thought he heard gun fire, and I said it was ridiculous, but who knows? There are lunatics everywhere!"

" Nothing happened, Effie. An old truck backfired," says Peeta calmly.

Two more shots. The door doesn't muffle their sound much. Who was that? Thresh's grandmother? One of Rue's little sisters?

" Both of you. With me," Haymitch says. You and Peeta follow him, leaving the others behind. The Peacekeepers who are stationed around the Justice Building don't seem to care about your movements now that you're safely inside, allowing you to slip away unbothered. The three of you ascend a magnificent curved marble staircase. At the top, there's a long hall with worn carpet on the floor. Double doors stand open, welcoming you into the first room you encounter. The ceiling must be at least twenty feet high. Designs of fruit and flowers are carved into the molding and small, fat children with wings look down at you from every angle. Vases of blossoms give off an excessively sweet aroma that makes your eyes itch. Your evening clothes hang on racks against the wall. This room has been prepared for your use, but you're barely there long enough to drop off your gifts. Then Haymitch yanks the microphones from your and Peeta's chests, stuffs them beneath a couch cushion, and waves you both on.

As far as you know, Haymitch has only been here once, when he was on his Victory Tour decades ago. But he must have a remarkable memory or reliable instincts, because he leads you up through a maze of twisting staircases and increasingly narrow halls. At times he has to stop and force a door. By the protesting squeak of the hinges you can tell it's been a long time since it was opened.

Eventually you climb a ladder to a trapdoor. When Haymitch pushes it aside, you find yourselves in the dome of the Justice Building. It's a huge place filled with broken furniture, piles of books and ledgers, and rusty weapons. The coat of dust blanketing through four grimy square windows set in the sides of the dome. Haymitch kicks the trap door shut and turns on you and Peeta. " What happened?" he asks.

Peeta relates all that occurred in the square. The whistle, the salute, your hesitation on the verandah, the murder of the old man. When he's finished he questions, " What's going on Haymitch?"

" It will be better coming from you," Haymitch says to you.

You disagree. You think it will be a hundred times worse coming from you. But you tell Peeta everything as calmly as you can. About President Snow, the unrest in the districts. You layout how you're all in jeopardy, how the country is in jeopardy because of your trick with the berries. "I was supposed to fix things on this tour. Make everyone who had doubted believe I truly acted out of love. Calm things down. But obviously, all I've done today is get three people killed, and now everyone in the square will be punished." You feel so sick that you have to sit down on a couch, despite the exposed springs and stuffing.