IV: Falling Action

...

A cannon goes off later that morning, and we all know that it's probably Peeta. None of us have heard of anything going wrong with Cato, Clove, or Thresh. Peeta has been hurt for days.

No one says this out loud; rather, we go awkwardly silent for a really long time. Through breakfast and most of the morning, Katniss retreats into her thoughts and neither Marvel and I have the heart to disturb her.

It isn't until after we've started walking, not heading in any particular direction but simply making an effort not to stay put for too long, that a little of the depressing atmosphere lifts. Soon after, Marvel evaporates it completely when he stops and points at something in the trees, his eyes lit up with almost childish excitement.

"Is that a mockingjay?" he breathes, as though mockingjays are amazing mythical creatures. Although I can see why he's excited to see one, with how highly I've spoken about them.

I follow his gaze, and smile as I tell him that it is.

"They're everywhere in here," I add.

"And if I sing something… they'll instantly sing the same thing back?"

"Every time."

Katniss shakes her head.

"When my dad used to sing, the mockingjays would go silent. They'd take up the tune eventually, but it wasn't for a long while after he stopped." She smiles sadly. "He had a beautiful voice."

"Do you sing?" Marvel asks. I'm surprised by how genuinely interested he sounds.

"Not anymore."

"That's too bad." He smiles charmingly. "I bet you have a beautiful voice."

Katniss turns red and shifts uncomfortably, and I decide to say something before she starts feeling awkward.

"I can make the mockingjays sing." I smile at Katniss. "They don't go silent for me."

"It's because they know you want them to sing with you," Marvel says lightly. He ruffles my hair, and I smile at him, wishing that this could last forever.

"Either way, they do copy me. Wanna hear?"

Marvel nods with over-exaggerated enthusiasm, so I sing four soft notes. The mockingjays pick up the tune, and the whole forest is soon alive with sound. Marvel tosses an arm around my shoulder and says that it's beautiful. He tries it himself, this time with a slightly longer string of notes, and his eyes shine in amazement when the mockingjays copy him too.

Both of us look expectantly towards Katniss. After a moment of hesitation, she sings her own short tune.

The forest goes silent. She blushes when she notices Marvel and I staring.

"That was beautiful," I whisper. I want to ask if she couldn't sing something real, instead of just notes, but it isn't the time or the place. I don't want to put her on the spot like that anyway.

"You are pretty amazing, Girl on Fire," says Marvel. He reaches out and flicks Katniss's braid and there's something in his eyes that makes it look like he's seeing her for the first time. He smiles crookedly and drops his eyes to his feet. "I would've liked to get to know you better."

"We're not dead yet," says Katniss slowly, as though something's just dawning on her. "I think… I think maybe we should get to know each other. As friends. Not allies."

Marvel's eyes sparkle, and he says, "You're brilliant."

…

We're still far enough away from the Cornucopia that we can talk while we're walking, so there is no immediate danger in going along with Katniss's idea. All three of us know the deeper implications of what she's suggesting, but Marvel has gotten it into his head that he's a rebel anyway, and I like the idea too much to turn it down, so we ignore the potential consequences and start talking.

Marvel goes first.

He begins by going into detail about why he volunteered. In addition to his sister, he has two older brothers. Both of them are better at everything than he is, and his father always overlooked him because of it. His mother died when he was eight, and no one really paid much attention to him at all after that.

"I told you I wanted his respect," says Marvel. "I would've settled for less. I just wanted him to look at me."

He says more, too. He tells us about how amazing Gemma, his sister is. He talks about training and how many hours he spent working out at the Academy, about how he'd stay there even longer than he had to, because he was the best, and he liked that at least the instructors paid attention to him, that at least they didn't think he was a failure.

He adds that he grew up in a really well-off family. His father was a big perfume producer, so they had a big house and lots of stuff, but he was almost always lonely anyway. The size of his house only made it feel emptier when no one was there, and what few friends he had really only cared about his money.

He looks at me after he says that, and then he smiles sadly and says, "Actually, Rue… I think you're probably the best friend I've ever had."

I can't quite keep tears from welling up in my eyes at his words.

…

Katniss mostly tells us about Prim, about how much she loves her sister and how kind the younger girl is. She talks about how her sister healed Buttercup the cat and Lady the goat, and says that she would have volunteered for a lot worse than the Hunger Games if it meant keeping her safe.

She briefly mentions her father's death, and how her family almost died of starvation, and then she talks in-depth about how Peeta Mellark saved her life. She talks about Gale and Madge, and the Seam and her small house and how the people never had enough to eat, but everyone looked out for each other as best they could.

She says that she's going to miss all of them, and when the words leave her lips, the air seems to be sucked out of the arena because it is very obvious that she is expecting to die.

I know why. I know what she's thinking, and I open my mouth to tell her no, but Marvel cuts me off. He asks if she's ever had a boyfriend, and when she says that she's never had time for guys, he tells her that it'd be a shame if she died without her first kiss.

He swoops forward and lightly pecks her on the lips, and as he's pulling away, I don't miss how he brushes his lips against her ear and whispers something that sounds a lot like, "Thank you."

He sees it too, sees how resigned she is, and he's grateful for it. He… he just did that as a gift, because he's glad that she just implied what she did, that she knows she's going to die… because she's going to be trying to get me out first, before herself.

I want to snap at both of them and tell them not to do this, but Katniss doesn't let me.

"What about you, Rue?" she asks. Her face is red from Marvel's kiss and I can see him regarding her with amused affection. I wonder vaguely if they would ever come to really like each other with time, but don't let myself speculate. No use dwelling on something that can never happen. "Tell us about yourself."

"No," I say. "Not until you promise not to do anything stupid."

"You overheard Marvel last night. He doesn't have a chance anymore anyway."

"And you, Katniss?" I demand.

She smiles sadly.

"Prim will understand."

"Now start talking," says Marvel quickly, before I can protest. "I want to know everything about you."

And because I don't feel like I really have any choice, I begin to speak.

I tell them about each and every one of my siblings. About working in the orchards and jumping through the trees and how I liked to imagine I was flying. I tell them about Willow, who has been my best friend for as long as I can remember, and how on our days off, we go to the meadows and watch the clouds and sing to the mockingjays.

I talk about the bonfires we sometimes have on special holidays. I tell them about how I met Thresh before the Games, when he helped me pick up my books after I tripped and fell and dropped them one day on my way home from school. I talk about my parents and my neighbors and how everyone eats together and works together during the harvests.

I tell them things that I haven't told anyone else because I know that these two people intend to die for me, and even though I'm going to try to keep them from going through with their stupid plan, I know that I might not succeed.

If I can't keep them from sacrificing themselves, I at least want them to know who it is they're dying for.

…

Peeta's face appears in the sky that evening, and even though we all kind of expected it, Katniss goes pale anyway.

"I'm sorry," says Marvel.

"It's not your fault."

She says it in a way that leaves no doubt as to whose fault she thinks it is.

I wonder if we are being shown at all anymore, or if we've been deemed dangerous and rebellious and have lost all our screen time.

…

We get really close to the Cornucopia the next day, and I climb a tree to try to get an idea of what's down there.

Cato and Clove are both sitting near the lake, and I imagine that Thresh is close now too. When I look at the sea of grain, it is smoldering. There's been a fire there recently—they've chased him out.

"We'll wait one more day," says Marvel, when I tell them all of this. "See if Thresh doesn't make an appearance."

None of us are eager to end this, because we all know what it means.

"Okay," Katniss agrees. "We'll wait."

…

The three of us lay close together that night. Marvel is on one side of me and Katniss is on the other, and each of them has one of my hands in both of theirs. No one is given guard duty because we all know that none of us will actually sleep.

It's nice, lying there with them. I feel warm and safe, and I can almost imagine that everything's going to be alright.

After a while, Katniss starts singing softly. It's a lullaby about meadows and safety and dreams coming true. I don't know if she's singing it to me or Marvel or herself, but it's sad and beautiful and I start crying before it's over.

"I'm scared," Marvel admits when she's done. His voice is hoarse, and when I look, there are tears in his eyes. "More scared than I've ever been in my life."

"So am I," says Katniss.

I don't say anything, because what right do I have to be scared when they're the ones expecting to die?

…

A cannon goes off some time later.

I worry that it's Thresh, but I can't save everyone. Can't save anyone.

So I tell myself that I'll mourn him later, if there is a later.

…

"If I die today," says Marvel the next morning, "at least I'll have spent my last night sleeping with two beautiful girls."

Katniss blushes and I manage a smile, and it lightens the mood just a little.

…

"I don't want you two to die for me," I repeat as we walk towards the Cornucopia. "Please don't die for me. I wouldn't be able to stand it."

"It won't just be for you," says Marvel. "Something like this… it's like a little spark that might just start a big-ass fire."

"Marvel the revolutionary. Never would've expected that," mutters Katniss.

But his words make me feel better.

He's right. Nothing like this has ever happened before, and if I do win because of him and Katniss… it'll be big.

…

"Take this," says Marvel as we come to a stop at the edge of the Cornucopia. He presses a throwing knife into my hand. "Just in case."

"Keep your distance," Katniss adds.

Because if I go with them, they'll be distracted trying to protect me. I know that and nothing I say will change it, so I nod and tell her I will.

We all three hug each other.

And then they go.

…

I watch from the trees.

I was right about Thresh dying—Cato and Clove are still both alive, and they are waiting for Katniss and Marvel.

The two pairs exchange words that I can't hear, and then everything is happening so fast that I can hardly follow it.

An arrow hits Clove in the leg. A knife hits Katniss in the shoulder. Cato ducks Marvel's spear and slices him across the stomach.

Cato runs to Clove.

I sneak out of my hiding place.

Marvel staggers and holds back a scream and there is pain all over his face, but he doesn't fall. Instead, he takes out a knife and holds it with the hand not pressed again his bloody stomach, and he approaches Cato from behind.

Cato doesn't hear him coming, and Marvel wraps his arm around Cato's neck and the last thing he does is slit the other Career's throat.

They collapse at the same time.

Boom. Boom.

Clove howls and grabs a knife and starts to throw, but she doesn't see me.

I flick my wrist a moment before she does.

The knife buries itself in her chest, and her arm stops mid-motion.

Boom.

I can't comprehend that I just killed someone or that Marvel is dead or that these Games are almost over. Not yet. Now all that I can see is Katniss kneeling on the ground and blood welling up around the knife in her shoulder and nightlock berries shining in her hands.

I rush over and fall to the ground next to her, and I don't know what to say or do or think because this is too awful for words.

"Make sure Prim is taken care of," she whispers hoarsely. "Please."

"Let me eat them," I whisper, my eyes on the nightlock. "Katniss, let me eat those berries."

"Rue, I have things I want to say, but I won't say any of them if I think you'll try to stop me," Katniss says hoarsely. "Please. Let me talk."

And there's nothing I can do, so I nod and take her free hand and keep my mouth shut even though it's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

"Make sure Prim is okay," says Katniss first. "And let her know that I love her more than anything, but that I had to do this."

"You don't have to-"

"No," says Katniss. "I do; if I let you die now, I wouldn't be able to live with myself afterwards. It wouldn't be worth it. Now promise me. Please."

"I promise," I whisper, and I can hardly hear myself over the tears in my voice.

"Don't forget this. Me or Marvel. Okay, Rue? Never, ever forget."

I'm shaking everywhere, and my heart hurts so badly that I can hardly breathe.

"I won't, Katniss," I sob. "Never."

"Take my pin," she says. "My mockingjay pin. I want you to have it."

I unclasp the pin from her jacket, and hold it so tightly that I worry it'll break.

"Thank you."

Then she leans away from me, like she knows I'm thinking about smacking the berries out of her hands, and quickly brings the nightlock to her mouth. She me straight in the eye and chews and swallows.

I reach out and hug her tightly and don't let go even after the cannon goes off and I am announced as the winner of the 74th Hunger Games.

…

When I wake up, Seeder is sitting at the foot of my bed. I think of Marvel and Katniss and Thresh and Peeta and all of the others, and I can't do anything but wrap my arms around her and cry.

"I didn't want them to. I never would've expected…"

"We know, Rue. We all know."

She holds me tightly and lets me cry myself out.

When I'm done, she pulls back and says, "President Snow wasn't happy with your friends. He isn't happy with you."

"Marvel was right, wasn't he? About the spark?"

"There were revolts back home," she whispers. "Things are starting Rue, and you will suffer if you are not careful."

I'm scared, but I'm also excited. This is what they wanted. This is what they died for.

"I think," I tell her, my voice laced with determination, "that maybe I'm done being careful."

…

My stylist helps me make an impression, although I'm not sure if she intends to or not.

I am dressed in a delicate pink sundress, and apple blossoms are arranged in my hair. My shoes are simple and white, and the only jewelry I am given is Katniss's mockingjay pin.

I look exactly how I feel: young and small and painfully fragile.

I hope it horrifies the Capitol, just a little. I hope that seeing a devastated little girl survive a fight to the death will make them see. That it will make them recognize how awful it is that they watched and laughed and cheered while my friends died.

But when I show up, they scream and clap and are as blind as always. I can't stop from shaking my head in disappointment, and there are tears in my eyes when I sit next to Caesar.

He smiles and says I did well, and then he does his best to stick with 'safe' topics. He asks me about how I feel now. Nothing about my time in the arena or about Marvel or Katniss. He asks how I like being a victor and if I like the pretty pink dress my stylist made me and what I'll do when I get home.

To answer the last question, I manage a smile and whisper, "I'll do exactly what I told Katniss. I won't forget."

His eyes cloud over, and he looks at me sadly and ends the interview right away after that.

…

The recap comes next, but it isn't even a quarter of the normal length.

All of the deaths are shown in full, but nothing more. Katniss doesn't even get that much—they show her dead body and that's it. Nothing of me and her or me and Marvel or the three of us all together. No singing or laughing or talking.

Nothingthat even hints at what they sacrificed.

I am angry, but I am not surprised, and I suddenly hate the Capitol more than I've ever hated anything in my life.

It scares me, how brightly that hatred burns.

But it makes me feel stronger, so I hold onto it tightly.

…

The interview I'm supposed to have the next day is cancelled, and I feel like throwing a tantrum when Seeder tells me so. For a while I pace and rant and have to hold back the urge to start throwing things and screaming.

They're trying to act like Katniss and Marvel never existed, and they're trying to sweep me under the rug, after everything I've been through.

"They want to pretend this never happened," Seeder agrees, after she listens to me spout off for longer than I have since I was a small child.

I look straight into her eyes.

"I will never let them do that."

For my last public appearance in the Capitol, my stylist, Hermia, gives me a silver dress with pearls woven into the skirt to represent District One, and gives me Katniss's mockingjay pin to wear to symbolize District Twelve. The cameras eat me up when I arrive at the train platform, but I don't smile.

I look at them sadly and then I hop onto the train that will take me away from this awful place.

I feel different and sad and broken and so much older than twelve, but I also feel like maybe I can make the other tributes' deaths mean something, and I will not waste that opportunity.

…

…

Author's Note:

Some explanations for this chapter-

Firstly, there was no rule change because Rue did not die. If I remember correctly, the movie showed Haymitch seeking out Seneca Crane when Katniss shut down after Rue's death; part of his motivation for the rule change seemed to be getting Katniss out of her funk. I believe something similar was implied in the books, although that might be me looking too much into the timing of the announcement.

Either way, it wasn't given until Katniss started acting like she'd lost a bit of her fire. Rue didn't die here, Katniss didn't get depressed, the rules weren't changed, so seeking out Peeta wouldn't have been priority. Along similar lines, Peeta was almost dead when Katniss found him in the book; I think I had his cannon go off very close to when that would've been, so his absence/death did make sense. At least, I think, more than working him into the story would have.

Secondly, there was obviously more blatant rebellion here than in the Hunger Games. When Marvel and Katniss decided they wanted Rue to win, they quit censoring themselves and started making it a point to be as controversial as possible without simply getting blown up. While they did hug that line on occasion, there was a point where engineering their deaths would have been more trouble than it was worth; the gamemakers knew they would die anyway, and making an obvious effort to off them would've only made the Capitol look worse.

In any case, recall that Seneca Crane has been known for questionable decision making as far as Snow is concerned—more on that in the sequel.

The Capitol shoving Rue's victory under the rug, as opposed to trying to twist her actions into something else, is mainly because Rue is easily pitiable. Her appearance and mannerisms are so innocent that drawing any attention to her at all would make the Capitol look bad for putting her through so much hurt. Simply by being herself, she can tug at heartstrings in a way Katniss couldn't. If Snow allowed her screen-time, all Rue would have to do was bring up her friends, or cry, or even look tired or sad or harmed in any way, and it would reflect badly on him.

So… that was a lot of writing, but I know there've been a few questions about that sort of stuff, so I wanted to make sure all the changes from the book were explained well enough. If there are other questions, I'll be glad to answer them as well. Thanks for all your support, and I hope you stick around for the sequel.