The Hunger Games: Death of the Mockingjay

Chapter 20

Steph and I wait in the tunnel entrance. We both sit with our backs against the tunnel wall looking toward the wreck, the light is failing and soon we'll lose sight of the old ship. If the Brotherhood try to reach the it after dark we'll never see them.

"What do you think our chances are?" asks Steph.

"I really don't know, even when Plutarch briefed us earlier I wasn't convinced, and now that they're armed....well?

"So why did you agree to come then?"

"We're here just for our kids, if we do nothing then they'll live a life like we used to have back when Snow was President. If beating the Brotherhood costs us our lives so Rue and Kyler can live then so be it"

We sit in silence for a while, just listening to the soft sound of the waves breaking on the beach.

"I don't know why I agreed to this, I did it for Alek I guess"

"Why, both of you could be killed"

"We did discuss things, about why we should do it. He explained that if we didn't do this then it would only be a matter of time before the Brotherhood came for us"

"And what about you, how do you feel about this?" I ask

"Part of me understands what the Brotherhood want, not the revenge thing about killing us but wanting the games. I trained in the academy, I was told that I was one of the best tributes they ever trained. You've seen what I can do, when Dad took me from the academy I was relieved for Jess but I did feel kinda cheated"

"That you didn't get your chance?"

"Yeah I guess. All those things I learnt I never got to use, until I met you and joined your squad that is, you gave me a purpose and a tool for me to use my abilities. The Brotherhood don't have that"

"Well, maybe when all this is over we'll have to try and find something to replace the games, something not quite so bloody"

Suddenly the Presidential welcome booms out from the skies and the image of Steph's adopted father, Caesar Flickerman appears above us. It must be the first broadcast to the nation about the new games.

"Greetings fellow citizens of Panem, apologies for interrupting your evening but an exciting development is taking place at this very moment. A final Hunger Games has begun, a battle between the Brotherhood of Retribution and the victors and those responsible for the successful liberation of the country. Our favourite tributes from the past are
already in the arena. Haymitch Abernathy, Annie Cresta are both there together with the Mockingjay herself and the President of Panem Peeta Mellark. We have fourteen brave souls fighting near impossible odds against some 42 members of the Brotherhood. The games will continue until either team has won, stay tuned for more information"

And with that the screen starts to go dark but as the light diminishes I quickly glimpse a figure cautiously making their way out onto the beach. In an instant they're gone, the returning darkness concealing them.

"Someone's out there" I say as I get to my feet.

Steph leaps up and touches her earpiece, calling in the news to the others back in the bunker. I take a tentative step out into the beach, mindful of the mines that could kill me at any minute. As my eyes become more accustomed to the dark I see them, a single individual, slowly making their way across toward the wreck, every few feet I see them crouch down and look around for any threats but fortunately for me I'm concealed under the overhang of the dunes. I string an arrow and take aim but as I'm about to release it there's a huge explosion on the beach. The bright light of the blast blinds me but I see the body of the poor tribute flying through the air and landing just a few feet from the tunnel entrance. It's a man of no more than 20 years old maybe and he's lost both his legs in the blast, he screams in agony as the blood drains from his wounds. Once my ears stop ringing I can hear shouting from up on the dunes from other members of the Brotherhood, obviously this poor soul was a scout, sent ahead to check on the wreck. Fortunately the tunnel is concealed by the steep dunes so the Brotherhood have no idea that we're here. I pull back the string on my bow to silence the poor man but a hand reaches from behind and stops me.