CHAPTER TWELVE!
↳ 𝖘𝖊𝖈𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖘

"SO KATNISS— IT'S thirteen is alive and well and so am I", Effie spoke while they made their way up the stairs and towards the surface.

Katniss didn't say anything and Effie tired to get her attention, "Katniss?— Katniss?—" There was still silence, so the woman sighed, "Never one to waste it in rehearsal, I know."

Kathryn could already see the light of day making it's way through some rocks and when she finally stepped foot out of the darkness and into the day she inhaled deeply.

The shock spread over he face when she saw the debris of what was part of thirteen yesterday. The bombers has done some damage to the District. But what was even more disturbing, were the white roses that were spread over the debris.

The brunette watched how Katniss made her way further towards the debris, her eyes on the roses.

The dark haired woman slowly bend down and picked one of them up, eyeing it closely.

Gale had a frown on his face while he eyes the landscape of destruction, "Why would they dropp these?"

The color had drained from Katniss face when she spoke, "For me."

"Ready to go, Katniss?", Cressida suddenly questioned her. "We're gonna do this just like District eight— Tell me about the roses."

Shock and horror was visible on Katniss face while she remained silent.

"Tell Snow thirteen is alive and well!", Cressida instructed her from the side.

Suddenly realization spread over Katniss face and then she said something Kathryn didn't expect. "He's gonna kill Peeta."

"Let's try again — can you please speak up— we don't have a mic on you", Cressida stated, she clearly didn't get what Katniss just said. "Thirteen is alive and well and so am I", the blond woman repeated the sentence for Katniss.

Katniss continued whispering to herself and Kathryn took notice of the fact that the woman grew more and more distressed by the second.

"He's gonna kill Peeta— I can't!"

"You can do it, Katniss", Gale told her and Kathryn scoffed at him for his ignorance. "I can't do this—"

Cressida still tired to get her to say the sentence, "Thirteen is alive and well and so am I."

"He's just gonna keep— he's never gonna stop— as long as I'm the Mockingjay."

Suddenly Haymitch approached Katniss and motioned for Cressida to stop.

"Cressida, we should cut the cameras", Kathryn immediately told her in a firm tone.

Haymitch quickly pulled the woman into a hug, "It's okay, Katniss."

"No, he warned me. He warned me about this. He's doing this because I'm the Mockingjay. He's punishing Peeta to punish me. No— no, I can't do this."

"Katniss!", Cressida tried to reason with her, but Katniss immediately snapped at the woman. "Don't make me do this!"

"Let her go!", Boggs immediately instructed them with authority in his voice.

Katniss immediately made her way back inside, followed by Effie and Haymitch.

"She's never gonna be ready to be the Mockingjay as long as Snow is dangling Peeta over her head", Kathryn spoke to Boggs while she crossed her arms over her chest.

The rest remained silent while they looked at her. "Either Coin rescues Peeta, or Katniss will give up", the woman stated before she spun around and also went back inside.

Little did she know that Coin would agree with her argument. It was the perfect momentum for them. The capitol was without or was running on low electricity, so their systems were out. Coin saw this as an opportunity.

This mission was volunteer only, six soldiers were going in. Gale and Boggs volunteered to go on the mission. But they also needed a distraction for the Capitol. So Coin called Finnick to meet with her and Plutarch.

Kathryn eagerly awaited him back while she remained in his quarter.

She was fiddling with her hand while she laid in his bed and stared at the ceiling. That must be how he was feeling when she was away on a mission or in a meeting with Coin.

The woman then heard the doors open and when Finnick entered she immediately sat up and gave him an expecting look. "And— what did she want?"

The brunette stood up while Finnick came to a stand, "She wants me to be the distraction for the rescue misson. She wants to broadcast me across the capitol and the districts while the other's go in and rescue the tributes."

Kathryn saw that he felt uncomfortable with this. "You don't have to do this— you can always say no." She knew what Finnick had went through in the Capitol. They always upheld the lie that the winner of the games was free— but if you came out of that arena— you were a slave for the rest of your live.
Kathryn was aware that Snow had sold Finnick for his body many times.

She slowly cupped his cheek with her hand, giving him a loving look. There was silence between them before Finnick placed a hand over her's, "No— it's time for me to play my part."

Kathryn slowly got onto her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss onto his lips. Finnick immediately kissed her back and the two immediately melted into each other.

After a moment Kathryn pulled away, "I'm proud of you, Finnick." She then slowly pulled him into a tight hug and the two remained that way for quiet some time.

"Okay— I have to go now. They want me outside in ten minutes", he told her while he pulled back and placed a little kiss on her forehead.

"I'm gonna be with Coin— watching you. I'm with you, okay", the woman told him while she slowly followed him out of his quarters. The man nodded before he disappeared behind the next corner.

Kathryn exhaled deeply before she spun around and made her way to the headquarters.

Entering the room she saw that the screen was parted in many different sections. There was Gale and Boggs and three other soldiers and at the top was Finnick.

He was looking into the camera, no emotion displayed on his face while he spoke calmly, "This is Finnick Odair— Winner of the 65th Hunger Games. And I'm coming to you for District thirteen, alive and well. We've survived an assault from the Capitol. But I'm not here to give you recent news."

Katniss frowned at the screen, "Why is Finnick doing a propo?"

"It's a lot more than that—", Haymitch answered her. "Beetee's commandeered the system—", Coin explained to her before Beetee pointed at the screen infront of him. "Now that they're down to generator power there's a more limited range of frequencies available to them. And I'm filling them all up with Finnick."

Plutarch told them while he watched the screen, "Not many will see, but whoever does will think it's another propo."

The man with glasses smirked at them, "What they don't know is that this broadcast is jamming their entire system with noise. Early defense warning, internal communications, everything. As long as the broadcast goes through, our team should be able to get in and out undetected."

Kathryn's gaze wandered back to Finnick's face on the little screen at the top, "I'm ghere to give the truth— not the myths about a life of luxury. Not the lie about glory for your homeland. You can survive the arena. But the moment you leave, you're a slave. — President Snow used to sell me. Or my body, at least. I wasn't the only one. If a Victor is considered desirable, the President gives them as a reward or allows people to buy them. If you refuse, he killes someone you love."

The brunette felt how her heart sunk while she listened to her love talk about his tragic past.

"Mockingjay one, you are 20 seconds from the perimeter defense."

Then the countdown started from ten and when they were finished a woman spoke, "No response from perimeter defense." Everyone exhaled deeply.

Kathryn's eyes fell back on Finnick's screen, "To make themselves feel better my patrons would make presents of money and jewelry. But I found a much more valuable form of payment— Secrets."

"Switching to Night View." There was a moment of silence before they heard the soldiers once more, "Command, we have visual on the Tribute center. Initiating final approach."

Finnick's voice filled the silence and Kathryn felt how her heart grew heavier by the minute. "See, I know all the depravity, the deceit and the cruelty of the Capitol's pampered elite. But the biggest secrets are about our good President, Coriolanus Snow."

"Command, this is team leader— prepare to deploy gas. We will confirm once inside."

Finnick's eyes narrowed at the camera while he spoke, "Such a young man when he rose to power. Such a clever one to keep it. How, you may aks, did he do it? One word— Poison."

"Get ready to drop."

There was a long silence from the team and they saw how they were dropping onto the Tribute Center. "Clear command were inside. Heading towards target number one. Cell P45 lower level 2C— Gas."

They could watch how the soldiers made their way through the training center. Down some stairs and into the next corridor.

"So many mysterious deaths to adversaries. Even to allies who were threats. Snow would drink from the same cup to deflect suspicion. But antidotes don't always work, which is why he wears roses that reek of perfume. Help to cover the scent of blood from sores in his mouth that will never heal."

Kathryn's eyes darted from screen to screen. "But he can't hide the scent of who he really is. He kills without mercy. He rules with deception and fear. His weapon of choice is the only thing suited to such a man. — Poison. The perfect weapon for a snake."

The soldiers made their way through another room, their light wandering over the torture instruments and vials filled with all kinds of different liquids.  "What is this place?"

Suddenly a bright light went on and the soldiers started screaming. The screens went white and nobody could see or hear anything anymore.

"Beetee—", Coin immediately leaned over the man. Beetee started tapping something into his computer, "I'm losing them—"

Coin gave him a firm look, "Powering back up."

"Ma'am the Capitols air defense system is rebooting. It's coming back online."

Beetee was staring at the monitor infront of him, "Must be diverting power from another source and filtering transmissions. Another 60 seconds and we'll be cut off."

"Madam President, should we call back the hovercraft?", one of the man questioned her.

"Broadcast me!", Katniss suddenly called out, making everyone look at her. "If Snow is watching this, maybe he'll let the signal in, if he sees me. Put me on the air so he can see me."

"Yes, yes— put her on!", Plutarch immediately stated. "Put her on", Coin then instructed immediately.

Haymitch immediately grabbed one of the cameras, "Can we do this. Can we still get in."

"Yes for a moment. The lines open. He will only see you", Beetee explained to them.

Haymitch immediately placed the camera infront of Katniss. "Okay, Katniss. Let go." He gave her a nodd and everyone went quiet.

The woman gluped loudly before she spoke, "President Snow— President Snow— it's Katniss."

"There's no guarantee he's even watching", Coin whispered to Plutarch while they watched the screen in anticipation. "I know, but he might be."

"President Snow— I need to speak with you", Katniss continued to try and get his attention. "Are you there? President Snow it's Katniss. Can you hear me?"

There was still no answer to her callings. "President Snow— it's Katniss. Are you there— can you hear me?"

She exchanged a panicked look with the other's, before she went to try again, "President Snow—"

"Miss Everdeen — what an honor", the man suddenly appeared on the screen infront of them, his voice at first a little distorted. He had a devilish smirk on his face and his eyes showed his evilness. Goosebumps errupted over Kathryn's body. "I don't imagine you calling to thank me for the roses."

Katniss had a determined look on her face while she spoke to him, "I never asked for this. I never asked to be in the Games. I never asked to be the Mockingjay. I just wanted to save my sister and keep Peeta alive— Please just left him go and I will stop being the Mockingjay. I will disappear. You will never have to see me ever again."

Snow seemed calm and collected while he answered her, "Miss Everdeen— you couldn't run from this any more than you could have run from the Games."

"Please, you've won. You've already beaten me. Release Peeta. And take me instead", Katniss tried to make him believe that he had finally broke her.

The man shook his head slowly, "We're long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice."

"Then tell me what to do. I've always kept my promise, haven't I?", Katniss raosed her eyebrows while she questioned him.

"You said you didn't want a war. And that's just what's happened. I told you what a fragile thing peace was. And still, like a child, you took pleasure in breaking it. I know what you are— I know you can't see past you narrowest concerns. But please, Miss Everdeen. I doubt you know what honesty is anymore", Snow said while he looked into her face, the arrogance radiating from him.

"You asked me to convince you that I was in love with Peeta. Haven't I at least done that?", Katniss tried to keep the conversation with him going.

"Miss Everdeen— it's the things we love most that destroy us." The man smirked at her while he said that sentence. "I want you to remember that I said that."

He looked her in the eyes, a large smirk still playing on his face before it suddenly disappeared from his lips, "Don't you think I know your friends are in the Tribute Center?"

With that he slowly turned away from the camera and spoke,  "Cut them off."

The monitor went black and Katniss immediately started looking around in panic. "What happened?— what happened?"

Beetee immediately rose his voice while he spoke into a microphone, "Boggs, come in! Do you read me?"

"He knows that they're in there!— it's a trap!" Katniss yelled at Haymitch while her eyes were starting to tear up.

"Katniss, hold it."

She panicked more and more, "We have to get a hold of them. We have to tell them to get out. He knows!"

"There's no signal. We can't contact them", Plutarch told her while he shook his head in defeat.

"No— Haymitch, he knew the whole time. He was taunting me", Katniss started crying while she hyperventilated. "No, Haymitch. They're in there!"

"No, we don't know that!" Haymitch immediately brought the young woman into a hug and pressed her against him.

Her voice was breaking while she desperately clung to his body, "Did I lose them both tonight? Did I lose them both?" Haymitch tried to calm her down while he stroked her head softly. "Shh."

Katniss was trembling and it was obvious to everyone in that room that she was currently falling apart.

Snow had played them and nobody knew what was coming. And as much as Kathryn hoped that she was wrong, she knew that there was small to no change that they would make it out of the Capitol alive.

The brunette slowly approached Katniss and placed a hand on her shoulders. "Come on— let me get you out of here."

She smoothly grabbed Katniss arm and lead her out of the room, accompanied by Haymitch, who brought them to a room down by the end of the corridor where they could be undisturbed.

A few minutes passed by before Katniss composed herself. The tears had left red marks on her cheeks and her eyes were puffy while she stared at the wall on her opposite.

Kathryn didn't know what she should say, what could she say. There was nothing that could make her feel better. The doors opened and Finnick entered the room.

He was still dressed in the close from his propo video. The man sat silently down besides Kathryn and took her hand in his own before he brought it up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

The three remained sitting in that room for the next hour, waiting for any news to arrive.

President Coin came to speak with Katniss, but she still had no knew for them.

Kathryn had already given up hope when the doors opened and Haymitch stuck his head inside, "They are back!"

The three Victors immediately jumped up and made their way to the hospital station where the rescued were currently examined.

And as soon as they had entered the large room, Kathryn's eyes immediately fell onto Johanna, who sat on one of the beds, screaming at the staff while she ripped off the blood pressure device from her arm. Kathryn looked at her in shock, "Johanna!"

The woman was bald and her arms and neck were so thin Kathryn feared she would break any second. The veins in her eyes were popped and she had bruises all over her head and face. Her eyes were dark while she stared at Kathryn with an expression she couldn't quiet read.

"Kathryn—! Kathryn!", Annie's relived voice suddenly filled her ears and she immediately spun around.

The ginger haired woman immediately jumped from her bed and ran towards Kathryn, who immediately pulled her into a hug.

The woman started sobbing and Kathryn patted her back while she still held her in her arms. "It's okay— you're save now."

The two let go of each other and Kathryn stood besides her while they finished her treatment and her check up.

Suddenly there was a loud commotion in the room next door and a few moments later Boggs came out of the room and called for first aid.

Kathryn rounded the corner and to her shock she saw how Peeta, who was unconscious was dragged away by guards and how Katniss was unconscious on the floor, Haymitch besides her, a concerned look on his face.

"He tried to kill her", the older man only told Kathryn as an explanation before the hospital staff rushed past her and closed the door behind them, shutting her out.

A few minutes later an unconscious Katniss was brought out of the room and into the other wing of the hospital.

She was going to survive, but the shock over Peeta's attack on her still sat in their bones when Kathryn and Finnick accompanied Annie to her new quarters.

"You can always come visit me— I'm just down the hall", Kathryn told her while she pointed down the corridor and smiled.

Annie nodded shortly before they then went to the hall where Coin was giving a speech.

The woman stood on her usual spot, where everyone could see her. A proud smile on her face while she spoke, "Good evening — yesterday I authorized a covert rescue mission inside the Capitol. I am pleased to announce that the Victors have been liberated!"

The crowd cheered for her until she continued. "Let this day mark an historic change. With the Mockingjay and the Victors besides us, we have sent a clear message to the Capitol. That we will never again endure injustice. Today, a day on which we reunited family, friends and loved ones."

Kathryn has never been sure if she was a fan of President Coin. She didn't knew where to place the woman. But hearing her say this, she came to the realization that Coin was not what she was pretending to be. This was not a message to the Capitol. Everyone who had been in that room while the operation was going, knew that the Capitol had let them go. They wouldn't have had survived if President Snow hadn't wanted them to.

"Let all of Panem come together. Not to battle for the amusement of the Capitol. But to join hands in this fight. Let today be the day we promise never to give up, never to give in until we have made a new Panem, where leaders are elected, not imposed upon us. And where the districts are free to share the fruits of their labors and not fight one another for scrapes!"

"This new Panem is on the horizon. But we must take it for ourselves. The road there leads through the sharp mountains and deep ravines of District two. There in the heart of Panem?'s steepest mountain range lies the Capitol's principle military facility. We can conquer this stronghold because we are one people, one army, one voice. Because today is our new beginning. Today we have freed the Victors. Tomorrow, Panem!"

Everyone yanked their fists into the air and they started calling out to her and cheering in celebration.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE ) . . . .
hey guys, please don't be a silent reader! leave some love if you like the book and i hope that you continue reading. <3