The Nem Panem

Chapter 18

*Katniss

Were walking outside the mansion now. God I forgot how big it was. I hadn't been here in ages. I remember Effie Trinket. How she always made sure we were taken care of so we could enter a big moment like this. She was so excited when she could finally come to this. At first I though Effie was for sure never gonna be our friend in any way and that she would just use us to get a better district to support for the games. But Effie Trinket did grow on me. I will always miss her. Sadly she's dead and her death is too sad to even think about so I push it out of my head.

Here I am. I look towards Peeta. His jaw is set hard. I think he remembers the same thing I did. Remembers the great party we went to. How they would have so much food they had to puke it up to eat more while people were starving. It was sick. So why do the Snowflakes want it back so desperately?

I look towards Joshua. He stands in amazement at it. His jaw dropped and he's kind of in a trance. I guess it makes sense. They don't build big buildings like this anymore. Certainly not District 12. The biggest building he's ever seen is probably H.A.D.S.

We walk up the great big steps and into a marble room. This is not how I expected it to look. They've made a few renovations trust me but before I can take it all in. A man approaches. He's not wearing a hood over his head. Instead it's hanging lightly to his back. He's young. About twenty. And is wearing the same boots that have the Snowflakes symbol.

"Welcome," he says with such a cold voice I scowl at him.

Apparently he notices my scowl because right then he says," Try any funny business and you're dead."

I look around a hundred bows and guns are pointed at Peeta, Joshua, and I.

Now he smiles with a sly smirk that I want to slap off his face as soon as I see it.

"This way Mellarks," he says as he's walking off gesturing behind him.

I already hate him. He has a cold charm about him that is so displeasing. We follow him because no one else has communicated to us and if he didn't ask I still would've followed him.

He leads us to a room upstairs. As we walk in it's a gigantic office. With a desk and one person is seated at the desk. I've never seen this woman before. She's young probably not even thirty yet.

"Hello," she's says lightly, "it's about time you got here. I was beginning to think you didn't get my message.

"Oh we got it alright. Where is she?" I say louder.

"Now, now we'll get to that soon. But please sit down we have some things to discuss." She says and gestures her hand to the three leather seats in front of her desk.

Carefully we all sit down.

"Now," she says, "where to begin, where to begin-ah yes- so you're probably wondering what you're doing here."

"I'm here to get my daughter back," I reply.

"Yes, well you see it doesn't exactly work just like that."

I glare at her. I knew it couldn't just be this easy. What does she want that we have?

"I'll make a trade," she says,"your daughter and your whole family can go but you stay."

I look at her even longer. She knows I'd give up myself for my family. I don't know what to think. The first thing I blur out is,"who even are you?"

She smiles so big and says," I'm President Snows granddaughter. Yes didn't think he had one did you? You may know my daughter. Tara. I had her when I was very young."

Tara. That was one of Fay's best friends. She always said she was the easiest friend to make. Tara. Betrayal.

"Tara's been over to your house. She's been with Fay since she was just a toddler. And boy the things that I know." She replies.

I won't answer her she doesn't deserve my answer. Instead I shoot a video camera I saw when I walked in. I did it so fast she doesn't have time to think. I shoot at her but she dived. I know I at least scratched her face. Were out the door and heading down the hallways when were dropped by the Snowflakes. They pick up their swords and Peeta and I draw our weapons.

"Joshua," I saw in hushed tone so only he can hear me, "go find your sister."

It took him a second to register it and then he ran off away from the fight. The Snowflakes start coming closer to us. Here we go I think.