𝐔𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐎𝐝𝐝𝐬²

XIV. Thirteen

°•°•[Thirteen]•°•°

ALICE'S DEPARTURE FROM HER home District was far from peaceful. The hovercraft wasn't unnoticed, but was primarily ignored, even by the Peacekeepers. Alice later figured it was probably because they thought it was Snow sending someone to lead her to the Capitol. It hadn't even occurred to her. 

The hovercraft landed in the middle of the town square, so the citizens of Three were forced to notice it. Alice got the instructions to go there by her parents, but was running late. When the Peacekeepers saw her walk towards it willingly, along with some other people, they started shooting. The blonde started running towards the square, since she wasn't there yet. A few bullets wheezed dangerously close by her head and body, but luckily none hit her. 

She saw a handful of people she knew that were important rebels in her District, and a few she didn't recognise. They were all running beside her to the safety of the hovercraft. 

A pain shot through her abdomen, right where she was stabbed six years ago. Alice stumbled to the stone ground, her hands flying onto her right hip as she cried out in pain. Black spots danced in front of her eyes - she was threatening to pass out.

Fortunately, someone pulled her up and dragged her the rest of the way. She couldn't make out the person due to the black spots dancing in front of her eyes. All Alice could make up was a blond head before passing out.

The hovercraft arrived in District Thirteen in the middle of the morning. Julia was still in bed, eyes directed at the ceiling, fingers playing with the rings on her necklace. She still wasn't sure what she wanted except go back home and rest, but she couldn't do that. It would be a suicidal act if she went back to District Three, so she seated with Thirteen.

"Xavier," she said an hour before they landed. 

He was laying on the other bed, staring at the wall, but when he heard her voice, he turned around. "Yes?"

"Do you think this is worth it?" she turned on her hip to look at him, but directed her gaze at the floor. "The revolution," she paused. "I mean, it's going to be a fucking mess. People will want to follow Katniss, but she's not ready to lead, not really. The Capitol's got Peeta. They've got our friends. People will hurt and they will die. We will hurt. We maybe even die," she finally looked at Xavier. "Will it be worth it?"

Xavier looked at her, at the floor, at the ceiling, and the back at her. "I don't know," he replied sincerely. "I hope it will, but I don't know. I keep telling myself it's for Zeno, Amber, Io, Mike and every tribute there ever was. For anyone that got hurt because of the Hunger Games. But I ask myself, is it really worth it? More people will die, and there is an objective fifty - fifty chance that we will fail or succeed in this. The system will peacefully crumble one day anyway when a better solution is found, maybe when Snow dies."

Julia nodded in agreement. "I wonder, are the odds ever in our favour?" she murmured.

They spent the remaining time on the hovercraft laying in their beds, simply looking at each other. It was nice knowing that they had someone else to doubt the whole idea of the rebellion with.

In Thirteen, a whole dozen of most important people awaited for the arrival of Panem's victors, Alma Coin being among them. They transferred Katniss and Beetee into the hospital. 

Julia immediately noticed Alice in the launch area. "Alice!" she yelled and ran to hug her. Xavier followed suit, and they had a big hug. 

"Oh my gosh! You are okay," Alice breathed as she squeezed them harder. "I thought you'd die," she patted their backs. "You're fucking alive."