Zoya wasn't completely sure how she ended up at some random tiger-ladies apartment. She couldn't remember what happened between the space from leaving the tunnels to now. Peeta rubbed the side of her face, her head leaned against him. Roz watched her in worry, fear that she was slipping away again. She was, Zoya knew she was. She was going back and forth from reality to the plain white room.

Katniss kneeled infront of Zoya after the hatch closed, the group under the basement now. Polux cried in Cresidas arms. Katniss cupped Zoya face. "Look at me. You're still here."

Zoya stared into her eyes as she blinked, nodding her head. Katniss frowned. "I am so sorry, Zoya."

Zoya looked down with a small head shake. "I don't think I can do this anymore, Katniss."

Peeta nodded to Katniss, letting her go to Roz. He took her place, leaning down some to hold her face. "Z. Look at me."

She moved her gaze up, meeting his eye. Peeta nodded his head. "Non of this is fair. And i'm sorry all this is happening. But you have to hold on just a little longer, okay? It'll be done and things will be better. I promise."

"It won't be better without him." her voice broke as her lip trembled.

"Can I ask you something?" he nodded to her. "You told me that when you met Finnick, he was the reason you continued to live. Do you think he'd want that to change?"

"What does it matter now? He's gone." she shook her head, not understanding anything Peeta was trying to stay.

"He's not gone." he promised her. "He is with you, always. And I know that he believed in you more then he ever believed in anyone else. Finnick would want you to keep going. I want you to keep going."

Zoya leaned in so her forehead pressed against his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her.

"I made it up." Katniss' voice rung. "All of it. There is no special mission from Coin. Only my plan. Everyone that's dead is dead because of me. I...I lied."

"We know. We all knew." Cressida said in return, tending to Gales wound. Roz rubbed Katniss' back from how she stood.

"The soldiers from thirteen?" Katniss looked in confusion.

"They knew too." she nodded her head. "Do you really think that Jackson believed that you had orders from Coin? She trusted Boggs and he clearly wanted you to go on."

Katniss looked like she was holding back tears. "I never meant for this to happen. I failed, I-I killed them- I killed them- I killed Finnick. I'm sorry, Pollux."

Zoya squeezed the bridge of her nose as she looked down, Peeta leaned against her to try and provide as much comfort as he could. He took a moment before leaning off his lover. "Glimmer. Marvel. Maggs. Clove. Wiress. Rue. What do all those deaths mean? They mean that our lives were never ours. There was no real life because we didn't have any choice. Our lives belonged to Snow and our deaths do too. But if you kill him, Katniss, if you end all of this, all those deaths, they mean something. Cinna. Boggs. Caster. Jackson. Finnick. They chose this. They chose you."

Zoya breathed in as silence fell over them. "So did I."

Katniss looked down at her, Zoya nodded as she took a breath. "I chose you too. I'm here."

"You're here." Katniss whispered to her.

There had been some time between that moment and for everyone to breath. Peeta cleaned and bandaged a small cut on Zoyas head. "There. It shouldn't get infected now."

She gave a little smile, Peeta touched the side of her face. "I think you should cuff me."

"What?" her voice was a whisper. "You're doing better."

"But it's not completely safe yet." he shook his head, his eyes staring right back into hers. "I have these moments when i'm here with you, and my memories are coming back. But, other times it's like i'm sleep walking."

Zoya touched the side of his face like he'd done her. He nodded. "You should cuff me."

"You doing okay over here?" Roz came to Zoyas side after everyone tried to get some sleep. She wasn't though, Roz knew so. She was in a little corner, wanting a moment alone.

"Something like that." Zoya said in return as Roz sat infront of her. "I just keep thinking about Finnick. It doesn't seem like it actually happened."

"I know." Roz frowned. She loved Finnick. He'd always be around somehow, he'd became her friend in the process of them sharing a best friend. It wasn't nearly as hard on her as it was Zoya, but she was starting to miss him. "What Peeta said was true though. Finnick....he loved you more then he loved himself. He'd want you to stay strong, Z."

"I know." she looked like she wanted to laugh. "He'd probably smack me upside the head and try to tell me some stupid joke about a stupid fish. Then he'd make fun of me for not swimming as well as he would."

"Yeah." Roz smiled.

"I should be the one to tell them." Zoya took a breath, the guilt on her chest just sitting there. "Annie and Joanna. They're close to me like they are- were Finnick. I should be the one to tell them."

Roz took her hand in hers. "I'll be with you the entire time."

Thumping noises came from above, like faint explosions. Katniss sat up quickly as the girls followed. Zoya walked to help Peeta to his feet. Gale shook his head. "Mortar shells. It's not ours. Peace keepers must be shooting the rebels outside the city."

"That's not outside the city." Cressida spoke up as she listened closely.

The familiar alarm rung as Katniss got her weapons ready, the group all turned to the projector that lit up before them. Snow's face appeared, Peeta held Zoyas waist as she continued to stand infront of him. "To all Capitol citizens more than a half mile outside the City Circle, i'm announcing a mandatory evacuation. Come to the Mansion. I am promising you shelter and sanctuary. All refugees, come to my home. There you will be provided with food, medicine, safety for your children, and you will have my solemn oath to protect you until my dying breath."

"Wish he'd hurry up with that last part." Katniss mocked.

"Our enemy is not like us. They do not share our values." Snow went on over the hologram. "They have never known our comfort and our sophistication. And they despise us for  it. Make no mistake. They are not coming to liberate us. They are coming to destroy our way of life. They are coming to bury us."

"Is he still in the mansion?" Katniss asked as the projector faded away.

"I recognize the wallpaper." Zoya nodded her head. "He's there."

"The room too." Peeta nodded, holding onto Zoyas hand.

"Where's that?" Roz opened up the map.

"About five blocks away." Cressida walked closer, pointing down. "We're right here. Off the Avenues. Mansions here."

"What about the pods?" Katniss looked her way.

"They'll probably deactivate the pods around here for the residents safety." she informed her, pointing down to the map again.

"That could work. I could get close enough." Katniss had a hint of confidence.

"You're a good shot from afar." Zoya nodded in agreement. "You wouldn't have to get that close."

"Every Peacekeeper's gonna be waiting." Gale spoke up.

"Next to our faces on every billboard." Cressida agreed with him.

"Snows offered shelter for all the refugees." Katniss got their attention once more. Cressida looks her way.

"You sure you don't want me to come?" Zoya asked Katniss as they stood near the front door. "I can protect you. Gale and Roz too."

"I know." Katniss nodded. "But, I need you here. Without me...someone is gonna need to lead."

"I don't know how good I am at that." Zoya forced a laugh as her eyes casted down.

"You're the best leader i've ever known, Zoya." Katniss held her face. "I learned everything from you."

She gave her a sad smile, pressing her forehead onto hers for just a moment. Cressida held the map. "Head straight north. There's gonna be thousands of refugees. And get into that steam and don't look up."

Katniss nodded as Tigris wrapped the trio in jackets to conceal them as much as possible. "We have one shot."

"Make it count." Zoya gave a tight lipped smile, hugging Roz. "Make it back fo us."

"I will." she promised her. "Keep Peeta safe."

"She's good at that sort of thing." Peeta nodded, taking Zoya hand.

"Good luck, Katniss." Cressida spoke as she hugged her. Katniss turned to Pollux, he signed to her as Cressida nodded. Katniss didn't know what he said, but she hugged him anyways. "Tigris, thank you for everything you've done."

"What if peacekeepers are searching houses?" Gale spoke up as he looked over at Peeta and Zoya. "What if they're captured?"

"No." Zoya shook her head quickly.

"Then give us a nightlock pill. We're not going back." Peeta shook his head quickly.

"Katniss." Zoya dropped her voice, staring at her sadly as she nodded. "You weren't there....you have to give us this choice."

Katniss looked to Roz, they both stared in fear and worry. Gale pulled the two capsules from his jacket, placing one in each of their hands. Katniss uncuffed Peeta, hugging hugging him. "Stay alive."

"If I see you again it's gonna be a different world." Peeta hugged her back. Zoya wanted to smile, but seeing them together brought nothing but pain onto her. Finnick. Peeta was Katniss' Finnick.

"He'll be safe with me." Zoya promised Katniss as she got herself together.

"Always." Peeta agreed with her, looking over as Zoya met his eye.

•

kylie speaks

pain