Catching Fire: You and Me

Chapter 35:

Haymitch

"Mr. Abernathy?" one of the attendants says knocking on my door.

"what?"

"a resident at the federal prison has requested your presence." he explains.

"what the hell kind of criminal wants to talk to me?" i ask.

"trust me. this is a very special criminal." he says jokingly.

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***

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walking through halway after halway of barred doors, prison cells, and Peacekeepers i've followed him to a slightly larger door.

"please, dont let her trick you into letting her out. i fell for it twice."

"who is even in here? i'm pretty sure im not close with any invalids." i protest.

"just go in." he says opening the door, revealing the dimly lit room with two cots and a small tv on a worn out old countertop.

"Haymitch!" a girlish voice shrieks.

"Katniss?!" i say blinking hard. "what the hell? you're dead!"

"do i look dead to you?" she asks in that classic Katniss voice.

i quickly take in the moment and embrace her, like if i dont do it now, she'll fade away and never come back.

"why the hell are you in jail!" i question.

"something about being a pure sign of my mother's disloyalty to Snow. i never did anything wrong." she scoffs. "but Haymitch, please. i need you to deliver a message to Peeta." she says with a sudden urgent tone.

"do you think Snow would ever let me tell him you're alive?"

"maybe not, but either way!" she says giddily. "i need you to tell him that i'm doing this for him. and that im coming back for him. tell him i'm alive, but the only way to save me is for him to live."

"i'll try." i say determindedly.

"and tell Prim, that her stepsister is going to be okay. she might not understand but i need her to hear it."

"so what? do you think that if Peeta manages to win, they'll release you?" i ask. "they might not. and then, what happens to Prim?"

"i dont know." she says, "but if i know Peeta, he'll figure it out eventually.

"i hope so." i say and then the Peacekeepers are pulling me out of the room.

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***

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Peeta

"Haymitch?" i ask when he comes in looking very flustered.

"dont talk to me, you have no idea whats going on." he says, he looks as if hes heard news that he doesnt believe.

"what is it? tell me." i press.

"Mr. Abernathy, you're not going to tell him about your morning now, are you?" Snow says stepping into the room.

"i dont know. i think i should tell him. he deserves to know." Haymitch says cunningly.

"dont underestimate my strength. if you as much as think about mentioning what you saw this morning, i'll have both of your necks snapped before Mr. Mellark even has time to process it." and then Snow gets this grin on his face like he's won. "and for the sake of certain people, you should keep my secrets safe." he adds. "i have more power over some people than others." he concludes, before clasping his hands behind his back and walking out.