The Return of the Hunger Games [FALLEN ASHES] Book II

(17)

We all wait in the living room for a good half and hour. For who? I have no idea, we're just standing and sitting here. I guess waiting for a miracle.

Haymitch appears at the door, drunk. "Woah, why the long faces?" He slurs.

We all just stare at him and he grows even more confussed. "Is there something on my face?" He touches his face. "Christ can somebody explain?" I can tell he's beginning to get aggravated, but so am I.

Behind him appears Kal and I jump up. "Kal!" I run past Haymitch and throw my arms around him. "Oh my god your safe!" I exclaim. I let go of him and see a bright smile on him. I almost kiss him, but then I realize now is not a good time. I remember about Effie, and my serious face returns.

Kal looks around and takes notice of everyone else's facial expressions and is quickly concerned. "What happened?" He asks.

My mother and father appear behind him with Gale, Anderson, and Johanna once Kal steps inside the house. I give them all a silent hug, and once they're all inside, they grow concerned as well. Everyone's asking whats wrong and nobody is really able to answer.

"Can you just, explain? Please?" I ask Trey's mother.

She nods and clears her throat. "I ran some tests on Effie and asked her questions. I noticed that her memory wasn't very well, and neither was her health. She has a loss of appetite, from what Haymitch has told me she's been sleeping a lot, it's very difficult for her to breath sometimes. From what I've noticed she's tried to hide her illness for a while but it's only made things more complicated." She explains.

"So what does all that mean?" Haymitch asks.

Trey's mother looks deep in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Haymitch. But I don't think Effie is going to get through this anytime soon."

My mother lays her head on my fathers shoulder and he holds her as she begins to cry. I look to Anderson who has his arms wrapped around both Johanna and Annabell, and then to Kal who was sitting with Gale by his side. When I looked over to Rayla, she was crying in Trey's arms, hand on her stomach. Then I finally look at Haymitch. I'm not sure if it's the alcohol, or the news thats left him in such a blank mode. But he just stands there quiet, as if paralyzed.

I never expected so much to happen so soon and all at once. I look down at my fingers and re-live the amazing memories with Effie and soon stop myself. She's not gone yet, she's not dead. I would raher her die in peace, die here, with her family instead of in the hands of an enemy.

"I'm guessing now isn't a very good time?" I hear his voice from the front door. We turn around and there he is with two peacekeepers behind him. Fallon.

"You're guessing right." I say, facing him.

"May I come in?" He asks Trey's mother.

"Of course." She says.

He steps in and looks at me. "I'm sure your father mentioned to you my plans." He says.

How is it he's so calm and polite when he never talks to me like that. "Yes he has and I'm sorry but I'm not very interested in the idea."

"Well that's a very nice opinion but I wasn't asking for your permission. You and Kal WILL be named victors." He says.

"You don't decide for me. I do." I say.

"That may be true Elissa, but when I want something to happen it does. And I'm sure you don't want to see me when something doesn't go my way."

"Trust me, I have." I say.