They hadn't been captured, but the plan didn't go the way they wanted. Snow released parachutes that killed and bombed thousands of children and adults. It resulted in Snow being captured himself, and now they'd been at the Capitol, awaiting Katniss' plan and orders. Peeta crawled into the bed with Zoya as she crossed her legs. "What are you thinking about?"

"How close this is to being over." Zoya stared into his eyes. "It's like...we've been waiting for this to happen for so long now."

"I know." Peeta nodded his head at her. "It doesn't feel real."

"I don't know if it is yet." she admitted, blinking in his direction. "District Five was flooded, did you know?"

Peeta gave a sad nod. Zoya shook her head. "It's like, when this is over, where does that leave us? Here? In the place we suffered the most? There is no home to go back to."

"Do you remember what you told me in the Quarter Quell?" Peeta took her hand in his. "You told me, you'd crawl home to me if you didn't make it."

Zoya nodded as Peeta stared at her. "We're not from the same distract, so what did you mean by that?"

Zoya thought about it. "I meant because you're my home."

He gave her a gentle smile. "Then there is a home to go back to."

Zoya met his eye, shaking her head. "I would have never made it without you, Peeta."

"You would have." he promised her.

"I wouldn't." she shook her head. "I could never get through this world without you. And i'm sorry for always scaring you. Making you think I was gonna leave again, like i'd leave you. It's taken me a lot of time, but I realized that if you're here-"

She stopped to take his hands in hers. "-then i'm here too."

Peeta leaned in to kiss her on the lips, Zoya kissed him back.

"What's this?" Katniss walked into the dining room to see each of them sat around the table.

"The remaining Victors. Wont you join us?" Coin suggested as Katniss hesitantly walked a little closer to sit with Haymitch. "I have invited you all here for several reasons. First, I have an announcement. I have taken the burden and the honor of declaring myself Interim President of Panem."

"Hum." Zoya nodded her head. "How fitting."

Peeta took her hand under the table in hopes of silencing the sarcasm, not sure exactly what they were up against. Haymitch laughed. "Interim? Exactly how long is this interim?"

"We have no way of knowing for certain." Coin shook her head in his direction. "But it's clear that people are far too emotional right now. This afternoon, we will execute Snow."

"About time." Zoya confirmed with a nod.

"Hundreds of his accomplices also await their deaths." Coin nodded alongside her words. "Captain officials, Peackeepers, tortures, Gamemakers. But the danger is, the rebels will not stop calling for retribution. Thirst for blood is a difficult urge to satisfy. So I offer an alternative plan. Majority of five may approve it. No one may abstain."

Coin looked around at each of them, Zoya held Peetas hand a little tighter. "The proposal is this: In line of these barbaric executions, we hold a symbolic Hunger Games."

The entire table hadn't expected that. Joanna started to laugh from nearest Coin. "You want to have another Hunger Games with The Capitols children?"

"You're joking?" Peeta asked in disbelief.

"Not in the slightest." Coin shook her head.

"Which is embarrassing, honestly." Zoya nodded in her direction. "Beyond, actually."

"Is this Plutarch's idea?" Haymitch scoffed.

"It was mine." Coin corrected him. "It balanced the need for revenge with the least loss of human life. You may cast your votes."

"No." Peeta stated immediately. "No. Obviously not, this is crazy.

"No, I think it's more then fair. Snows got a granddaughter." Joanna sat up more with a nod.

"Who has had nothing to do with any of this." Zoya stared in disbelief as she straightened her posture. "People can not help what family they're born into. Isn't that what we're trying to fight for? Fairness. If they haven't done anything, regardless of who they're related to, then they don't deserve to face the trauma and pain we all didn't have a choice in doing."

"So, your vote is no?" Coin asked her.

"Obviously." Zoya snapped at her.

"I agree with Joanna. Let them have a taste of it." Enobaria smiled.

"You guys, this way of thinking is what started these uprisings." Peeta cut in once again. 

"I agree with Peeta and Zoya." Annie spoke up this time, looking toward the couple. "I vote no. So wound Finnick, if he were here."

"Well he's not." Joanna snapped at her. "Because Snow killed him."

"Which is why he's being executed." Zoya pointed out.

"No." Beetee stated. "We need to stop viewing each other as enemies."

Roz sighed, looking down. "Look, I hear all of you. And the good person thing would do exactly what you all are saying. But, the world out there? They aren't all good people. They need to see how serious we are, show that we can think just as violently as they can. I vote yes."

"It's down to Katniss and Haymitch." Coin looked at the remaining pair.

Katniss was silent a moment. "I get to kill Snow."

"I expected no less of you." Coin gave her a single nod.

She was silent again. "Then I vote yes. For Prim."

Zoya exhaled. Coin looked to the blonde. "Haymitch?"

Haymitch took a while to answer, staring at Katniss hard for a moment. "I'm with the Mockingjay."

"That carries the vote." Coin looked around. "Excellent. We'll announce the Games tonight, after the execution."

Peeta and Zoya held hands as they stood outside, watching as Katniss walked down the concrete floors. The capitol was swarmed, Snow tied up as Coin stood a few feet above him. Katniss looked to Roz, getting a little nod. She stood confidently infront of snow, the drums stopped when she made her final stop.

"Welcome to the new Panem!" Coin called from her platform, arms held wide. "Today on the Avenue of the Tributes, all of Panem, of free Panem, will watch more then a mere spectacle. We are gathered to witness a historic moment of justice. Today, the greatest friend of the revolution, will fire the shot to end all wars. May her arrow signify the end of tyranny and the beginning of a new era. Mockingjay, may your sin be as true as your heart is pure."

Peeta tighehend his hold on Zoyas hand as they watched in pure silence, Katniss taking an arrow and holding her bow toward Snow. She was frozen a moment, staring intensely at him. Just as she was about to fire, her sim went up, shooting Coin in the chest. Zoya gasped, leaning forward as the crowd began to yell. Snow laughed loudly as they swarmed him, Zoya looked toward Katniss.

"Katniss!" Roz called when she had the night lock pill in her hands. Zoya ran over, tackling Katniss as Peeta hurried to take the pull from her hand. She was immediately drug away by guards, Peeta helped Zoya off the ground as they watched her go.

•

kylie speaks

after eight months together,
only one chapter left before
we say goodbye