Return of the Mockingjay

Chapter 33

It's been hours since my dropship left the Capitol with Haymitch, Gale and Rue safely on board and headed back to 12. I guess it must be mid afternoon by the fading light outside as I sit in an armchair in the huge lobby outside the presidential office where Wolfe is. When we arrived this morning Casper was sent straight in to see Wolfe while I was left waiting outside, for what I don't know.
Two guards stand across from me while I sit and wait for my fate, my mind turning over my emotions as I wrestle with me own predicament and my sadness at being pulled away from Peeta.
When I left this morning I'd hoped that this was going to be something to do with a surrender of sorts that Wolfe was actually going to perform some sort of symbolic act to the leader of the rebellion. That he was going to give up graciously and sign some sort of armistice letter or something but as time has gone on my doubts start to build and I've a real sad feeling in my stomach that I'll never see Peeta and Rue again.
The door to the office opens and I see Casper and Wolfe both walk out, Wolfe embraces his son before dismissing him and Casper heads off toward the east wing of the building which I know are the sleeping quarters. Wolfe strides over to me.

"Forgive me Katniss, I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting, please come this way" he says as he places an arm around my shoulder and guides me toward the office door. I shrug him off and make my own way forward, his touch makes my skin crawl and I have no interest in his friendly attitude. You'd of thought we'd been friends for years by the way he's behaving.

I stand in the middle of the room while he makes his way round his desk to the plush chair and takes his seat.
"Sit Katniss, I at least want you to feel welcome now I've finally got you here" he says gesturing his hand to the chair on my side if the desk.

"I'll stand thanks" I say flatly

"So be it" he says chuckling. "We have much to talk about though, please sit" he says sincerely.

I prop my bow against his desk and sit, folding my arms in front of me. "Why am I here?"

Wolfe chuckles slightly and smiles "oh, I have some plans for you, nothing new but plans none the less. But first I wanted to congratulate you and your rebellion Katniss, I've gotta hand it to you, I know when I'm beaten"

"What?" I say with a furrowed brow.

"Your Rebels Katniss, I didn't see them turning my army around and having it March against me, I have to say it was a master stroke"

I fold my arms and just stare at him, I know he's fishing for information, to try and find out what happened to his army. He smiles slightly at my silence and continues.

"Anyway, it's all over bar the shouting, I attempted to start an uprising which failed, I grew thousands of mutts to try and take district 13 by force but you turned them around and used my own army against me"

"Are you saying you want to surrender?" I ask.

Wolfe bursts out laughing. "No Katniss, that'll never happen. I'm not one for surrender and I'll guarantee that you'll never take me alive. When the time comes I'll slip away quietly"

"So, what do you want me for, am I here for your amusement or is it just that you want me to join you, because that'll never happen. I only came to save Rue, nothing else"

"Believe me Katniss, the war is almost over, I lost. But just look how generous I've been, I gave you Rue together with Haymitch and Gale, and with no injuries. No hijacking or torturing"

"Why?"

Wolfe leans forward in his chair and rests his elbows on the desk
"Because I've steadily upped the ante, first I took Haymitch but it became obvious that wouldn't get you to the Capitol. So I took Gale and you still just wanted to win the war, whatever I tried you'd never give yourself up and surrender to me. So I went for broke and took Rue, I knew you couldn't stand back and allow that and losing your baby pushed you over the edge. Once you were here I didn't need any of them anymore and it seemed right to release them, I'm not completely cold hearted Katniss"

"Really, and what about those poor people back on the training ground, burned to death or maimed for life"

"That was different, it was war. Your new army was growing faster than I could grow my mutts and I was genuinely concerned that when the attack came my mutts would be overwhelmed by your army. It was mainly Casper's idea actually although I tweaked a few things"

"Are you saying you planned to have your son captured?"

"Yes, well Casper planned it that way and I planned his release, either by taking district 13 or by kidnapping Rue, which worked"

"So what happens now, you gonna parade me through the streets as your last trophy"

Wolfe leans back I his chair and tents his fingers lost in thought while I wait in silence.

"No, I think I'll use you for something that's far more interesting"
At that moment two guards burst from the door and grab my arms, holding me in the chair. I struggle to get free but they're just too strong. I feel a sharp pain in my neck and I turn to see Casper stepping back with a needle in his hand, smiling at me. I feel incredibly tired, faces blur in and out of my vision as I start to drift off but I see Wolfe move in close, his face just inches from mine.

"You're going back to where you belong girl on fire" he smiles and chuckles slightly before he says the words that will always run a shiver down my spine "and may the odds be ever in your favour"