Return of the Mockingjay

Chapter 22

The elevator doors open on the security level. As we walk out it takes me a moment to recognise where we are but then I recall that this is where my Prep team were held when I first became the Mockingjay. Imprisoned for stealing bread.
At the end of the hall is Lyndon, stood with his back leant against the wall.

"Has he said anything?" asks Plutarch as we approach.

"No, he says he'll only talk to Katniss and Peeta"

"Okay, open the door" Lyndon pushes the door open and stands aside to let us inside. The room is different from what I remember, the stale smell of urine is gone, replaced by the sweet smell of pine disinfectant. In the centre is a square metal table and three chairs. The single occupant of the room sits across the table from us. Dressed in a black jumpsuit that the new recruits wear and with a heavy beard. As we sit I look into an intense pair of brown eyes that I've seen before somewhere. They calmly look at me then switch to Peeta before turning to the ceiling as he yawns, giving the impression of complete boredom. I know who it is, I just can't place them, Peeta on the other hand knows exactly who it is.

"Well, well, well, Odin's taken a big chance on bringing you all the way out here to 13" says Peeta.

I look at him confused, who is this.

"Don't worry Peeta, my father knows what he's doing" says the stranger.

I look back at him open mouthed and in shock. Casper?

"Looks like Katniss has just figured out who I am" he says smirking at me.
My anger starts to build with the thought of all those burned corpses up on the training field.

"I swear you're gonna pay for what you did today, your gonna burn with us!" I spit back at him.

Casper laughs "Ah, there she is, the girl on fire with that temper of hers. Well, we'll see what happens to me shall we, I'm just part of a much larger plan"

Peeta turns to Plutarch who frowns back at him, what is Casper talking about?

"I don't suppose you'll be willing to share that with us" says Peeta

"Yes of course" he says smiling. "This little attack today has been in planning for months now, and yes we took a chance on old information that Campbell gave us before you flushed him out. All I had to do was infiltrate 13 and destroy certain systems to do with your air defence. But, this was all a ruse, to take your eyes off more important developments going on elsewhere"

"What do you mean" says Peeta.

He smiles again at both of us "Well, as we speak our forces are now crossing the border into District 7, the new weapon is ready Peeta, it's time for my father to put it to the test"

Peeta looks deep into Casper's eyes, trying to get some sort of read as to wether he's lying or not. Casper just stares back, slumped nonchalantly in his chair, his fingers on his right hand circling some imaginary object on the table. Peeta says nothing as he gets up, nods at Plutarch and they both leave the room no doubt going too see if Casper is right.

That leaves just the three of us, me, Lyndon and our captive.

"Tell me, why you, why couldn't Odin send someone else to carry out this plan of yours" asks Lyndon.

Casper just leans back, folds his arms and smiles at Lyndon. He's not answering, well not to Lyndon anyway.
Lyndon gives me a casual sideways glance and I repeat the question, Casper laughs out load.

"Amazing, you learn so quickly, and without saying a word to each other!"

"Answer the question!" I yell back.