Mockingjay: Prim [Completed]

Chapter 8: In That Moment (Rory)

Prim cries into my shoulder, sobbing like a young child. In that moment I'm 7 years old again, out in the meadow with Prim in my lap, crying because we had both lost our fathers to the mine explosion. Her voice had been sad as she spoke of him and how it wasn't fair that he was taken from her, that no one should be left without a father. Now, watching the hospital collapse, she spoke in the same melancholic voice. "Being the Mockingjay is hard. Being a medic is harder. Yet...I wish to be a medic."

I don't really get her logic in that one but I give her the emotional support she needed.

The moment was ruined by Boggs, who sported a boot mark on his face made by none other than myself. I had felt bad about it but it was necessary. He tells us all to get back to the landing strip and we start heading there. My knee hurts but I swallow the pain and act like it isn't there. It should get better by tomorrow, at least I hope so. Prim winces and grabs her left cheek, which worries me. I'm about to get her some medical help when Boggs comes and examines her, then scooping her up and leaving before I can protest.

I follow him as he approaches the land strip. There, a small hovercraft awaits us, different than the one that brought us here. It has no chairs or windows like the previous one and so I assume it's for cargo, which makes it totally awesome. The hovercraft takes off immediately after everyone's boarded. I have to hold back the urge to inspect every corner of it. Prim's in pretty bad shape, but thankfully Boggs is patching her up. I just sit there and hold her hand, lending my strength to her. In that moment I'm 12 years old again, lying down on a wooden table in Prim's house, bloody gashes across my back, but still feeling warm as Prim sat next to me, holding my hand. Now, watching Boggs fix her up, the situation was reversed but still made me think back to before the rebellion. Things weren't the best before the Quell, but they were certainly better than things are now.

"Rory! Where have you been?!" Mom chides me when we get back to Thirteen. At first I'm tempted to be all like oh you know, just shooting a few hovercrafts in District 8? But I know she can't bear to lose me after losing Gale. I explain to her about everything that happened, and promise that the next time I go somewhere I'll tell her beforehand.

The next morning, I'm off to Command with Prim, who's in a wheelchair. My knee is wrapped up but it's not too serious. As we enter the room, I'm filled with dread for what I've done, afraid of the repercussions that Prim and I will have to face. We take our seats and I scan the room. Cressida, Messalla and the insects are present.

"Our stars have arrived," Messalla chuckles. Their smiles make us smile.

[They impressed me in 8, following [us] onto the roof during the bombing, making Plutarch back off so they could get the footage they wanted. They more than do their work, they take pride in it. Like Cinna.] (page 103 lines 15 through 19)

Cinna was one cool dude, and these dudes are awesome too. Speaking of dudes...

"I don't know your names," I blurt out.

"What?"

"I don't know you guys' names," I say, gesturing toward the insects. They both have sandy red hair with bright blue eyes.

"I'm Castor, and this is my brother Pollux," the one on the right says. I wait for Pollux to introduce himself but he remains silent. Prim once told me about Lavinia the avox, and in that moment I knew Pollux must be one of them. I also understood why he would want to avenge the Capitol.

Soon the others arrive, like Haymitch, Fulvia, and of course, Coin. Plutarch announces that they aired our Airtime Assault and everyone cheers. He then says, "And In case any of you didn't see the first ever broadcast of our first ever propo, or the seventeen reruns Beetee ran since, we will replay it now."