The Hunger Games: Extended Epilogue

Chapter 30: Cobblestone

The very early morning was cold and brisk.
I never truly fell asleep, my mind ran a marathon with the thought process that never ended. And, by the time the sun began to peak over the distant trees, I was too mentally tired to sleep any longer.
I packed lite, however I am not sure how long my stay in the capital with be. But I was ready to leave with a small bag within the hour I woke. But trying to stay hidden while achieving to be warm, I layered myself with jackets, scarves, and hats.
Not that I am no longer the reigning Mockingjay, I just decided the less confrontation of my where a bouts without Peeta the better.
So, hidden under many layers of my self pity and carrying a small bag, I took one of the few trains and left for the capital that morning.
I did not have a direct plan as to when I did arrive, just to seek Effie in the place I believed she lived and be taken in by her warmth and love.
Effie and I possess an interesting relationship, sometimes her over bearing tendencies led to annoyance, but other times the only company I craved. She is so gentle, full of love. We are her victors, her children in a small sense.
The train, not similar to the many I have traveled on during the Games and Quell, was practical rather than luxurious. I tucked into a corner of bench by a window and watched as I left twelve for the first time since the war.
Though, I felt no regret in leaving, perhaps only a small knot as a result of some guilt. However, this guilt is mostly pacified under the motivation to give Peeta his space to heal without the distraction of facing me in the process.

The trip took an entire day to complete. We pulled to depart in the same train station we pulled into around 2 years ago in the beginning ceremonies of the 74th Hunger Games. I recall the hundreds of brightly colored capital citizens crowded to get a glimpse of the new sacrifices from the districts that would partake in their entertainment for the year. Peeta waving. Me watching in disgust. Haymitch stating my likely possibility to not gain any sponsors with my unfriendly ego.
I smile to myself, thinking how nothing of my personality has changed.
The station is crowded, and I try to move through the masses towards the direction guided by my memory.
The capital citizens, with their unnatural hair color and tattoos, have yet to change their ways of fashion after the war. I must stand out in the sea of such loud colors.
And, as I walk, in my peripheral view, see a man and, I'm assuming, his wife staring at me with blank faces. He turns to the women, quietly says something, and looks back. I only continue through the station.
I put my hood over my head and tuck my braid into my collar.
The faster I walk, the faster I can get to Effie, and the faster I can leave this.
However, the idea of waking faster led to more stares, more blank faces, more whispering. Keep walking.
I'm almost to the end of the station when I hear a women yell out, "Seems the Girl of Fire has been extinguished!" Few laugh.
No part of me has anything to say, I feel I am not the person I was. Say, if had to, give speeches again and stand for a cause, i know I would fail. Reason being, I am broken and, frankly, am extinguished.
Though this comment lead to even more stares, blank faces, and now discussions arose.
I keep walking. I'm almost out.
They huddle around the door and almost completely cut off my exit, they yell "Its Katniss!" "The Mockingjay!"
I don't dare to react, that will fuel their mob.
I silently attempt to only slip through the people and finally, with slight force, exit into the city. Some try to follow but I go into the even larger crowd of neons, pushing deep enough to be lost in sight.
I look down, and begin the short walk in the capital to Effie's.
I recognize a cobble pavement that must have replaced the torn up cement left by the last stages of war against the rebels only a mile radius of Snows mansion and I turn, see it still standing and get a dawning sense of Snows presence still encircling the residency.
My body shivers, and mentally block all those memories of the rebels, bombs, and roses that try to penetrate my self conscious.
While I walk through these streets, I feel on edge. These are the same streets I saw pods enabled, and where I watched my friends die. My eyes follow up and down the buildings, searching/ waiting for something to explode or catch fire.
However, it was not an inexistent pod that made me pause my walk to Effie's, nor was it a hatful confrontation by a capital citizen.
No, it was the same digital billboard that once had my face plastered with the words WANTED, that also included Peeta, Gale, Finnick, and others.
But now it has a different message.
The picture displays a girl possessing a staged ora of courage but with eyes filled in terror that I only understand. And, underneath her it reads:

THE 76th HUNGER GAMES
Landing the recognition of there influences before them

And I then realize the girl on the poster is Snow's granddaughter. Also, the games are set to being in 2 days.