I'm escorted to a private room and it doesn't take long before the door flies open and Lila runs to jump into my arms. I catch her and she squeezes me like her life depends on it as my mother enters the room looking pale as a sheet and a face frozen in shock.
"Shhhhh… it's alright squirt. It's alright." I say trying to comfort my sister who hasn't stopped crying since they entered.
"NO! NOT IT'S NOT ALRIGHT! WE CAN'T LOSE YOU!""
"Hey, do you even know who you're talking to? I'm the strongest boy this side of the Capitol and big sis Kat will be right there with me." I say with a grin, trying to lift her mood.
It works and she calms down a little, sniffling as she says "yeah… yeah you're right. You can win. You have to win! You have to come home." It comes out more like a beg rather than a statement.
"I'll do what I can."
I turn my attention to Mom and walk up to gently take her hand.
"You have to be strong now Mom. Lila needs you now more than ever. You still have your group and the job at the shop too. Just… just please promise you won't spiral again."
The tears that were threatening to fall this whole time finally do and she shakily holds my hands. She can't seem to let the words out so just nods her head.
The peacekeepers come to escort them away, their time is up. I give Mom one last bear hug and Lila does the same to me as they are dragged out.
Before I can let my emotions settle, the door is once again opened and in walks Old Man Greg. He looks about the same as my mother did, but where she had a hint of resignation in her eyes, he has a hint of hope. It's tiny, barely recognizable but I've known the man long enough to tell what he's feeling - not the best poker face that guy.
"Sigh I'm so sorry kid. I wish there was something - anything - that I could do." He says with a trembling voice.
"I know Greg. I'm sorry too. I want you to know how thankful I am for everything you've done for me and my family. It truly helped more than you could ever know and for that I will be eternally grateful. I'm sorry I won't be around to inherit your shop, but Rory is doing great and you seem to like him."
"I should be the one thanking you, kid. What started out as just a quiet, hard-working boy turned into a man I'm proud to call family. You've changed my life just as much and I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you." His trembling voice begins to break down as he pulls me into a hug. Lots of hugs today.
As he calms himself, still holding me, he says "And don't say anything more about not coming back! You can win. You're strong, a great hunter, and you're smarter than you know."
"That may be the case." I say, barely audible. "But the woman I love is coming with me… and I'm going to do everything I can to help her."
He pulls back, looking at me with pure shock on his face, searching my face to see if I'm telling the truth. Once he sees the genuineness in my expression, his shoulders slacken. The resignation I had expected came over his face as well as a good dose of understanding - and perhaps a hint of pride?
"Ah…" is all he says
After a moment of silence, he rips off his necklace that has been around his neck for as long as I've known him.
"Nothing in life is certain, Liam Blackstone. This was my brother's when we were kids. I've kept it all these years as a reminder of my failures in life." He extends his hand towards me, in it I see a necklace with a metal leaf pendant.
Any blacksmith worth his salt would know what this was. A leaf was almost always the first thing a smith learns to make in the forge. I turn it over and see the initials 'G.F.' punched into the back with what was probably a stamp of some sorts.
(A/N: Image in the comments)
"It was our first true day as apprentices when he made that… now, I give it to you. I am proud to have called you my heir and I know you can make it through what is ahead of you with the strength and ability I know you are capable of."
I grasp the leaf necklace tightly and tears threaten to fall down my face now.
The peacekeepers take that moment to come in and escort Greg out of the room. Before they reach him, he outstretches his hand. Grasping it, he says "It has been an honor Liam."
"Likewise Mr. Ferrero."
With a final nod, he leaves the door. I wait a few more minutes, thinking that will be all the visitors I have until the door opens once more and in walks Gale.
"Well… that was unexpected." I say with a 'joie de vivre' I didn't truly feel in a poor attempt to lighten my mood.
He just stares at me for a second before rolling his eyes slightly and coming over to hug me.
Again with all the fucking hugs.
"Your plan was stupid anyways. I was fully prepared to yell at you when I next saw you, but when I heard your name being announced it felt like the world flipped upside down." I can't blame him for that. For over 4 years now we 3 have been inseparable, each leaning on the other to survive. To see both of his best friends be thrown into the fire would overwhelm anyone, no matter how tough or old they are.
"I'm sorry Gale, but this is for the best. You remember what I said before. Why I was so prepared to volunteer. I will do anything it takes for her to come back. Her family needs her more than mine needs me. Rory can take my place at the shop and you and Katniss will have to look after Lila and Mom…"
"STOP! Just… shut up! Stop talking like that. We need you here too, your FAMILY needs you here."
"I know… but there's only one winner and if it comes down to it… it's going to be her. I'll make sure of it. You would do the same."
"Sigh I hate that you're right. Just remember what you told me that night we were out trying some new snare setups. No plan survives contact with the enemy." He says with an upturned grin.
"Ha! I don't know if that applies both then or now, but thanks Gale. I promise to do everything I can." With one last bro-hug, he takes his leave from my room.
After around 10 minutes I am escorted to the back of the building, where I meet up with Katniss before being corralled into a car to head to the train.
As we see each other again, her frozen expression seems to fade and her eyes light up. We don't exchange any words, just taking the other's hand in our own.
As we arrive at the train station, we are surrounded by residents of District 12, every eye on us and our hands held together for all to see, both here and in the Capitol through the dozens of film cameras surrounding the place. Some have faces of sorrow, some resigned, and a few actually seem to have hope in their eyes when their gazes meet mine. When we climb the steps together, we take one last look back at all our townsfolk and again receive the 3 finger salute. I don't remember this happening in the books or the movie but we both give our own salute in response. I can see the peacekeepers and Capitolites unfamiliar with our District tense up a little, but things move along once we enter the train.
Stepping inside we are blasted directly in the face with the smell of rose, meat, and pastries. Sitting on what I guess in a dining table is more food than I have seen in one place in all my years in this world. Things I've never seen before in either life are front and center, some sort of white pudding like goop and what looks to be unicorn vomit take up most of my attention.
Both of us are shocked. If any of the people outside these very doors saw what was just sitting here there would be a riot for every scrap.
Not ones to stand idle, we both hesitantly sit at the table as Effie joins us.
"Ah you two are in for a real treat! This train travels at over 200 miles per hour (~322 kph) and you can hardly feel a thing! Once we get moving soon it'll only take 2 days to get to the Capitol! I think it's amazing how even though you're here, and even though it's just for a little while, you get to enjoy all of this!" Effie says, not seeming to hear how condescending what she said was.
Katniss both glance at each other with a subtle 'what in the fuck?' face.
"Well, I'm going to go fetch Haymitch then." She announces as she stands up "he's probably in the bar cart." We hear her mutter under her breath.
Once we are alone in the cabin, we turn to each other and sit in silence for a few moments. Eventually she breaks it when she asks "What did you say earlier?"
"What?" I ask, unsure what she was referring to.
"I said, what did you say earlier? On the stage?" She clarifies, an intenseness in her gaze.
I rub my neck and gain a faint blush as I say "oh. Uhhh, nothing, don't worry about it." Now feeling a little awkward that I just told her I loved her for the first time and she didn't remember it. Maybe I was a little hasty in that.
"Liam."
"Really, it was nothing. Let's tal -" I was interrupted before I could finish saying that I meant what I said.
"Nothing? It was nothing?"
"No, that's not what I meant. I was trying to say that I'll tell you lat - " I'm interrupted again when the door to the cart in front of us opens up and in stumbles Haymitch Abernathy, 1 of 2 victors of District 12 and the only one still alive today. He won the 50th Games, the second Quarter Quell in which instead of 2 tributes from each district there were 4.
Fun fact not many know, he wasn't even technically reaped either. When one of the male tributes decided to make a run for it, and was shot in the head for doing so, there was pandemonium. Instead of waiting for things to calm down, the then escort for District 12 Drusilla Sickle spotted Haymitch in the chaos and selected him to be the last tribute.
He stumbles into the room and when he sees us, takes a deep breath. With sarcasm thick enough to carve with a knife says "Congratulations" before continuing his stumbling to the cart of booze.
"Where's the ice?" He slurs out.
I cock my eyebrow and shrug my shoulders while saying "Not sure."
He nods for a couple seconds before slamming the lid back onto the container that I now know is for ice.
"May I?" He asks and before waiting for a response he plops himself in the seat in front of the two of us.
Katniss and I exchange looks of befuddlement and slight disappointment. We honestly should have expected this. Haymitch might be respected in 12 but everyone knew he was a drunken slob who spent more time passed out drunk than awake and sober.
He doesn't start the conversation so the room fills with an awkward silence. Eventually I can't take it anymore and say
"Well, this is fun isn't it?"
They both look at me like I've grown a second head.
"What are you so chirpy for? Most of you aren't so excited to be here." He stares at me.
"What's not to be excited about? We have great food, nice scenery, and such honored company." I say humbly yet obviously sarcastically. Katniss gives a quiet snort of amusement before trying to play it off. Haymitch's eye twitches and shoots me a slight glare.
"Well for one, your life's been forfeited. You are no longer the little junior blacksmith, you're a prop for others' entertainment. Things are more serious than you even realize." He says in his sarcastic tone that carries some condescension at the moment.
"So, what do we do then?" Katniss asks, annoyed at the back and forth sarcasm. She is still as tense as the moment they called Prim's name. I wish there was something I could say or do to help her but there won't be any moments alone until after the Tribute parade. I have no doubt there are listening devices on the train somewhere.
"Well, it would be best for you to…. embrace the probability of your imminent death and know, in your heart, that there's nothing I can do to save you." He responds in faux comfort.
"Well… that's encouraging. Glad to see we're in such good hands. Why are you even here?" I chirp back.
"The refreshments." He responds with giddiness.
The cabin returns to awkward silence until Haymitch stands back up and says "I think I'll finish this in my room." as he stumbles out of the cabin, after nicking a pastry of course.
Katniss gives out a long exhale and stands up saying she wants to prepare for bed. We arrive in the Capitol tomorrow and this might be the last time for us to get any true rest. I nod and watch her leave.
I contemplate going to talk to Haymitch but I think it's best to leave it for the morning.
I head to my own room and stand in mild surprise when I see the luxury that is my shower. I understand why Peeta was so confused by it, there are like 5 different knobs on it and I gave up trying to get it to spew hot water after 10 minutes pushing and pulling damn near everything.
After taking a quick cold shower, I went to bed. Tomorrow is the day we arrive at the Capitol and the day we show ourselves to the world in the parade.