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The air was thick with tension. I stood beside Haymitch, my gaze directed purely on Katniss as she stood with a sheathed bow and arrow, staring directly at Snow.
Snow. The man who created and amplified our suffering; who let us breathe in the toxic fumes of despair continually based on a simple superiority complex . He was tied to a pole, and his face did not show emotion. In fact, he seemed to look more curious and lighthearted for someone who awaited their untimely death.
I bit my lip as I turned to see Coin. Her hair was grey with age, and it truly resembled that of a silver coin. She held her arms out at her sides, and a grey silk cape fell behind her. Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.
“ Welcome to a new Panem. Today, on the Avenue of the tributes, all of Panem, a free Panem, will watch more than a mere spectacle! We are gathered to witness a historic moment of justice.”
My mind flashed all those years back to when Katniss and I, the girl and boy on fire, rode the carriage down this very avenue. I remember the tight grip of Katniss’s hands interlocked with mine, sturdy against the bumpy carriage ride. I can still remember the butterflies in my stomach when I took her hand in mine - we were just two lost children amongst the turmoil.
I gnawed at my cheek so much that I could begin to taste the blood within my mouth. The memories of the arena flooded into my mind, but I quickly dismissed them, unable to relive the horrors that the capital put us through. But this is why we stood here today, to relish in vengeance.
The word tasted bitter in my mouth. Coin had put forward the idea of recreating the Hunger Games for the capitol’s children, a way of getting revenge on them for the countless years of torture they put the districts through. But it was an absurd proposal. All that would incite is more years of suffering, just on a different end. This was not the end of tyranny, simply just a passing of who the tyrant was .
I can still feel the shock coarse through my veins when Katniss voted Yes and Haymitch followed suit. Katniss, out of anyone, should know suffering that is brought on through bloodshed, and more unnecessary killing would do no one a favour. It would not fill our aching gaps left by their actions.
Katniss’ declaration of yes rang in my head, and I figured one thing. She has a plan. She must.
The echo of Coin’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“ Today, the greatest friend to the revolution will fire the shot to end all wars.”
I took in a shaky breath. The irony of the statement. ‘ To end all wars’, when she will start a new one.
“ May her arrow signify the end of tyranny and the beginning of a new era. Mockingjay, may your aim be as true as your heart is pure.”
And that’s when Katniss placed her arrow and the string. She aimed at Snow, who had an infuriating smile across his face. The tension was thick enough to slice as she positioned the bow, her face devoid of any emotion.
And that’s when she aimed at Coin. The arrow hit her directly in the heart. She slumped off the podium, falling to the ground, lifeless.
A triumphant smile was broad on Katniss’ face. Snow burst into uncontrollable laughter, blood gruesomely spilling out of his mouth.
The crowd was in outrage at the torturer being left unharmed, unscathed, by the symbol of the revolution. In anger, they burst out the seats like a river would its banks, filing in to kill Snow with their own hands.
But my attention quickly turned to Katniss. So did many others. They charged for her, willing to grab her and arrest her from doing anything more. But they weren’t fast enough. She quickly grabbed a vial that was hidden away, and before I could process what was happening, the flicker of blue disappeared down her throat.
She collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, before I could even reach her side. She had taken her own life. She had taken nightlock.
I stumbled on the ground beside her, but I knew it was too late. As I turned her body, my frantic hands gentle on her fragile, olive skin.
“Katniss.” I choked out to her. My words were feeble in the merciless reality. Her lifeless gaze stared back at me, the once grey eyes I had loved empty of any life at all. They were stone, in both reality and personality.
The devastation hit me like a slap to my face.
“Katniss.” I shook her. I must have not seen properly, she was not dead, merely unconscious. I refused to believe she would leave me alone in this unforgiving world. I refused to believe that she was gone.
My call turned into that of a shout. A sob broke from my lips as I held her, gently shaking her awake. I could feel the crowd gather around me, but I refused to acknowledge them. They would overwhelm Katniss when she awoke.
Haymitch appeared at my side and took my hand off of her. “Come on, boy.” He said, whilst hauling me off Katniss. His voice was hoarse with emotion.
No.
“Get off me!” I shouted at him, frantically bashing against him as he pulled me backwards. “I need to be beside her when she awakes!” I argued, finally free of his grasp.
Haymitch put a warning hand on my shoulder. I could see the tears swell in his eyes too.
No, no, no.
I turned away from him and pushed through the gathering crowd, reclaiming my position by her side. It seemed nobody was doing anything purely out of shock at all the events that just unfolded. I hovered over her face, checking erratically for a pulse. Anything. Any sign of life. I begged.
“She’s gone.” Haymicth’s voice declared behind me.
That was the breaking point. I needed to do anything but face the reality. “No!” I screamed back at him. I frantically clutched Katniss in my arms, holding her back so I could face her. Uncontrollable tears started pouring out of my eyes.
I held the back of her head as I spoke to her. “Katniss, wake up.” My voice was raw with emotion, and it came out as more of a choke than a sentence.
She was unresponsive. Devastation crashed into me like a truck at full speed.
No. No. No. No. This isn’t happening.
And the tears gushed out of my eyes, making proper vision impossible. They poured like a tap, uncontrollable and erratic. I desperately clutched onto her lifeless body, holding it close to my heart. I kissed the top of her head, as the pure sadness seeped into every corner of my mind.
I had lost people before. I’ve lost people countless times. But I’ve never felt like this. Anguished. Agonised. Ruined.
The emotions were controlling, making my mind foggy. I heard Haymitch whisper profanities behind me, but I did not care.
All I cared about in that moment was the girl that lay lifeless in my hands. And, ignoring the protests behind me, I let the nightlock berries grace my lips.