The second we reached District 12, there was a sense of urgency as we walked. Max rode on Jordan’s back, but the two younger girls struggled to match our pace, jogging on and off. There was no time to waste, and though our muscles burned and our shoulders ached, we had to keep going.

 We managed to reach District 13 a day quicker than Antonia and I had done several weeks earlier. My heart pounded with fear, uncertain what was going on, but also because I knew, that despite all the bad things going on, I’d get to see Pandora again.

 “Is this it?” Jordan asked, gesturing at the one visible floor of District 13.

 “The rest is underground,” I told him “The Capitol don’t know that District 13 still exists. At least, I don’t think they do. If they do, we’re in trouble. Maybe that’s what happened here.”

 We broke into a jog, and someone was already waiting us at the door. They let us through without a word, and then Pandora was there, her arms around me, sobbing softly onto my shoulder.

 “Thank God you made it here,” Grandmother said. As she enfolded me and Pandora in her papery arms, I saw a flicker of fear, of uncertainty, across her face. Something I’d never seen in her before. “There is a lot to tell you,” she said, hardening her features as she pulled away again “And not much time. But I think it’s best that good news comes first. As good as it comes, at least. Follow me.”

 Pandora took my hand, a weary smile on her face as we followed Grandmother, Antonia, Jordan and his family bringing up the rear.

 “Where are we going?” I asked Pandora, but she simply shook her head, a look on her face that told me she was keeping a secret. I found myself too tired to pester her for answers, and simply allowed myself to cherish her soft hand in mine as we walked. It soon became evident where we were headed, anyway. Room 496. To Raven.

 Grandmother told me to go inside, with only Pandora. Apparently, Raven didn’t want to see anyone else. As Pandora and I entered, I heard the wails of a babe. And in the mirrors that surrounded Raven Verona, I could see the children in her arms. But I sensed that something was wrong, though of course, no words came from Raven’s mouth. She looked up to acknowledge my presence, but no smile was on her face. I decided it was best not to ask. I knelt beside her bed, looking at her two beautiful children and trying not to think about how sad Raven looked. She didn’t just look unhappy, though. She was frail, brittle boned, pale skinned. Her hair was limp and her eyes shadowed. She looked like she’d been to hell and back.

 Eddie, Raven’s husband, entered the room then. He too looked somewhat older, his shirt untucked and his hands lazily put in his pockets. His freckled face was worn as he offered me a hand to shake.

 “I see you’ve met the children,” he said, but his voice was heavy “Our boy, Elliott, and our daughter, Karissa. We’ve named you and Pandora Elliott’s God parents. Drew serves as Karissa’s,” he told me. Pandora squeezed my hand and I smiled, touching both the infant’s foreheads in turn.

 “You have beautiful children,” I told her “Such beautiful twins.”

 Raven squeezed her eyes shut, but tears flooded over her cheeks, and I knew then that I’d said something wrong. I reached to touch Raven, but she flinched away. She let out a small gasp, holding her children close to her chest. Karissa cried loudly, but Elliott was quiet, like his mother. I looked at Eddie for guidance, stricken. Pandora’s head was bowed and I could see tears in Eddie’s eyes.

 “We had three,” Eddie said, sniffing “Triplets. But…but one was never truly with us. Still born. We named her Eleanor-” Eddie stopped, sniffing again. He slid onto the bed beside Raven, wrapping himself protectively around her and the babies, a barrier against harm, but the damage had already been done. Raven was still crying, and Pandora kept her distance. There was something quite haunting about Raven’s silent tears and the soft snuffles of her children. Though tears stung my own eyes, I found my hand reaching for her shoulder, rubbing it soothingly.

 “Raven. I know this is a sad time for everybody. The world is cruel to you, my dear, more than most. But consider what you have before you. Two beautiful children, with so much potential. You have Edward too, and Drew, and Pandora and I, to help you through this. You won’t be alone. It won’t be easy, I know that. You can mourn, you have right to be unhappy. But it won’t be the same as it was for you in the Games, Raven. No more death from now. Not for you. I promise,” I said to her softly. She forced a half-hearted smile, kissing the foreheads of both her children, then mine, affectionately as though I was her child too. Her tears stopped, and her breathing slowed. Eddie nodded gratefully to me, and I stood to take my leave. I wanted to give them privacy, and knew that there was a more sinister reason for Grandmother summoning me to District 13 that I had to find out. I turned back one last time, thinking of Elliott’s button nose, so similar to Eddie’s, and Karissa’s eyes. I smiled to Raven, who met my gaze.

 “She has your eyes,” I told her. She smiled properly then, before her eyes returned to her children. Pandora followed me out of the room and I shut the door gently.

 This way she told me, leading me quickly up some stairs. It was difficult for us to communicate on the move because of the complication of Pandora’s hand gestures, but I didn’t mind. She was there, beside me. She was warm, radiating heat, wearing a soft blue sweater that matched her eyes. She looked determined, with drive, as she led me by the hand. She was taking me to the room where we first met, a conference room where both domestic and militaristic decisions were made. When we entered, Drew Harper was there, a hand buried in his curled hair. I’m told he’s more stable these days, much more stable than he was when he and Raven first met, but I’ve never seen evidence of him being particularly steady. I never saw him unmoving, always jittery and active in some way, and sure enough, his foot was tapping rhythmically as I entered the room. He always looked under stress, and that day was no exception. His brow was creased with anxiety, his shoulders tense and his lips drawn. He looked up briefly as I entered.

 “You’re here. Great. What a pleasure it is,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He didn’t offer me his hand to shake, or any other form of greeting. I didn’t expect it from him anyway. I sat down at the table with him, and he clapped his hands.

 “So, here’s the thing. We’re at war. President Snow knows we’re here. He sent us a message, trying to negotiate. He told us we could hand over Raven and I and be done with it. But you know what? Raven and I didn’t really fancy handing ourselves over. Especially not with the triplets…the children. The children arriving, is what I meant. No one here wanted us to go either. So now he’s pretty angry, and he’s going to come with his huge army and blow us to bits. But other than that, all is fine and dandy.”

 “Wait, hang on. How did he find out we were all here?”

 “I forgot to say,” Drew said. Out of his file, he fetched a photograph, and slid it across the table to me. It was a picture of a woman hung from a noose. I felt sick just to look at it.

 “That’s Valeria Grey,” Drew told me “You may have heard of her.”

 “Of course I have. She’s one of the best known Victors ever,” I frowned “What happened?”

 “She was close with Raven and I, before we left. She mentored us both, of course, and she was like a mother to me, in some respects. She knew we were coming here. She was tortured, and President Snow got it out of her that we were here,” Drew told me. He looked sadly at the picture “Poor Val. She was so strong. He tortured her for years, Arrian. She’s been tortured by him since we left District 10. Snow is desperate to find Raven. She humiliated him. But Valeria’s bought us time. Time to build here over the years. And we’re ready to fight now. Can you shoot?”

 “I…I’ve never shot before, no.”

 “You’d better hurry up and learn. I suspect the bullets will start flying any day now. And believe me. President Snow wants us dead. And he tends to get what he wants, doesn’t he?”

***

 I was exhausted. The hike to the District had been hard work, to say the least. Drew wasn’t particularly sympathetic. He said it was good training. But he allowed to me to go and get some rest before learning how to handle a gun. Pandora shyly told me that I could share her room, which was a bit of a shock. We’d always slept separately when I’d visited before, and I couldn’t deny that I’d always longed to sleep by her side. Her room was not far from Raven’s, naturally, but it was plainer, without all the mirrors, and her bed placed against the wall. Of course, she said nothing, but her eyes invited me in. Slipping off my shoes and shirt, I immediately got into bed, too tired to do anything else. Pandora turned away from me as she undressed, putting on a white nightdress. I could see her prominent spine through the nightdress, and she crawled in next to me. Everything around me smelt floral, and I moved closer to her, breathing it in with my eyes closed. I felt her move beside me, and I imagined her propped up on her elbow, smiling. She leaned in and kissed my ear softly, before brushing her lips along my jaw. Then we were kissing properly. Her hands entwined in my hair, pulling me closer and I felt as though I was missing her, even though she was right there beside me. My arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, my hands tracing her spine through her night dress. When the kiss stopped, I allowed myself to open my eyes. She was smiling, serene as her lips moved to kiss my nose.

 “What was that for?” I whispered. She smiled, suddenly shy again.

 Because this is a war. A war we don’t yet know whether we can win. So moments like this are precious and we have to cherish them.

 I smiled and our noses touched. But I wanted to say something more. Something that I’d wanted to tell her for a long time, but I wasn’t sure how she’d react. So I cupped her face in my hands and went for it.

 “Pandora…I love you.”

 Pandora’s eyes widened, and I was scared I’d said the wrong thing, pushed her too far too fast. She was delicate, and I didn’t want her to feel pressured. But to my relief, she smiled. She placed her hands on my waist, caressing my skin gently.

 I love you too, Ari. I will always love you.

Then she kissed me again, just once, but long and hard. Then she closed her eyes and I cuddled her close. We didn’t say anything else that night. We didn’t need to. I fell asleep knowing that I was happy, finally feeling like everything in my heart was complete.

Hey guys! Sorry it's taken me this long to update, and for the poor quality of this chapter. I'm super tired and stuff. Blegh.

 Anyway, I just wanted to clear something up. Before this point, President Snow didn't know about District 13. I know it's different than the books, but technically, it doesn't say how or when he finds out about D13 so...anyway. It's important later on that he only just found out about the District. Hope that makes sense. I'll try and update again soon! ~H