Riven

Chapter 2

I sit in the chair and look at Coin as she grabs  a thick packet out of a desk. I cross my legs and crack my knuckles. She places the packet in front of me. I snarl at her and flip through it, skimming it. 

"You have this as a packet? Umm... why?" I ask as I skim the words in front of me.

"It's to make things very clear for you, Clove." Coin says using my first name for the first time. 

"Guess you don't have much of a life if you have the time to do this." I mumble under my breath. Coin shakes her head in disgust as I read over the packet. I close it and throw it to the floor. It hits the floor with a thud.

"Excuse me. What are you doing Soldier Kemmings?" Coin growls at me. I stand up from my seat and look at her. 

"Look, all I have to deal with my entire life is people telling me what to do. I am done with that. You may have run a district for all these years under secrecy, but you have never faced someone like Sara. She is ruthless and will do anything to defeat us. If you really want to win this war, you're going to have to change your policy." I say crossing my arms over my chest. 

"My policy has worked for all these years. Why would I need to change it now?" She asks. 

"Because, Sara will pinpoint that and take advantage of it. I promise you. So, here is what I propose. You allow me to make my own rules for being your face, so to speak." I say as a sly smile comes to my face. 

"No. I can't sanction you to run the asylum." Coin says. 

"I'm not asking to run this place. I am asking to make my own conditions to be your face. The reason is to make sure, you don't turn on me. I might have some trust issues, and for good reason if I say so myself." I say. 

"Okay, fine. What are your conditions?" Coin asks. I try not to laugh at her speedy thoughts.

"You actually think I know them myself? I've been here what? One day? Got to give me more time than that." I say. 

"You are certainly a little pain, aren't you?" Coin says to me.

"I try my best." I snap back. 

"You're dismissed Soldier Hazreth. Both of you." Coin says to me and my husband. I flash her a grin before I exit the room. I lean against the wall as Cato walks out of command. He stands next to me and looks at me.

"What's on your mind?" He asks.

"A lot.  I just don't know how to process all of this. You know?" I say rubbing my temples slowly.

"Yeah, I understand. It's a hell of a change from two. But, it's all for a good cause." Cato tells me as I see Coin approach me. 

"What's up?" I ask.

"Myself and Plutarch have an idea. You've agreed to be our leader for this rebellion. But, we feel like you need some added motivation. So, we are sending you to District 2. Along with your husband, Prim, and Cassi." Coin says to me.

"Sounds like a plan to me. I was going to ask anyway. I want to see what that evil woman did to my home." 

"Good. You leave in half an hour. A warming gift is waiting back in your compartment." Coin says to me before walking back into command. I reach my hand out and Cato intertwines our fingers together. We make our way from command back to our compartment. 

I peek my head in, and see Mi and Braden sound asleep. I smile and I see a package on my bunk. I walk up to it and it's a multitude of the knives that Beetee made for me back when we escaped the capitol. Each with their own custom handle. I divide them out and place them in the pockets of the jumpsuit I am wearing. I see Cato with a custom sheath and sword. 

As soon as I a done, a knock comes to my compartment door. I turn my head around and see two guards standing there armed with handguns. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Hazreth. We're here to escort you to the hovercraft." The older man says. I nod my head and we follow them out of the compartment. They lead us to one of the elevators. It takes us to the bottom part of the underground district. 

Waiting on us is Cassi, Prim, and the same black man I saw in command standing next to Coin. Cassi is armed with the same sword Cato has. Prim has the same mace that she used in the Renegade Games. 

The guards nod at the black man before walking away. I exchange glances with Cass and Prim before looking at the man.

"Soldier Hazreth. My name is Commander Boggs. I am Coin's second in command. I'm here to make sure you don't pull any fast one's, and that this will be an easy mission. Let's go." He says boarding the hovercraft.

Cato, Prim, Cassi, and myself follow suit and sit down on the seats I have become familiar with over the past ten years. I strap in and without warning, the hovercraft takes off. 

Since District 2 is so far off from 13, it takes a little over an hour to get there. I can feel the hovercraft starting to lower to the ground. I unstrap my belt from the seat, and stand up. I feel the wind hitting my face harshly as the ramp lowers to the ground.

"We will be right above. You have one hour." Boggs says as the ramp hits the ground with a loud bang. I walk down the ramp and I gasp in horror at the sight that lies in front of me.

The district I love and called home for 26 years has been turned to rubble. Dark smoke and ash. Sara has shown me her own message. A message that says she isn't afraid to hit home to make me weak.