THIRTY NINE

THE TRAITOR

Talia Riverthorn was constantly exhausted. Her schedule had become long days of trident training, guns training, hand-to-hand combat training and running through various protocols. Her team was everyone she had met in that tiny bunker back in District 4 before the Quarter Quell, along with Rossan, Jamie and Aldar.

Rossan and Jim seemed to be in constant war for the leader position, though usually Talia was very commanding. Rossan was calmer and offered better tactical advice while Jim was loud and spoke fondly of guns and bombs and anything else that was loud. Jada and Henry were jokers mostly, both of them whispering and then laughing together. Bobby was attached to his computer, his little round glasses bent out of shape. Alana was silent, the scar running down her face from her incident with a peacekeeper (that Talia was yet to learn the true details of) made her look fierce and deadly. Jamie often laughed along with the twins, but would equally shoot Talia sympathetic looks- he knew she hated every moment of the time spent cramped in that room. Aldar was also pretty quiet, everyone in the room was too rough and tumble for him. He was so used to the elegance of the Capitol.

The team, which Coin had named the Pearl Warriors, had been given their own space to work in, a large room with a meeting table and projector screens. Talia hated the name Coin had given the group, but she also knew for now, this was her only means of getting to the Capitol and saving the remaining Victors, saving her family.

The team were skipping the allotted slot for dinner to talk strategy, and as Rossan clicked the next page, it cut out to black. The whole group turned their chairs to look at it, even Bobby looked up from his computer. A few seconds passed before the Capitol sigil and the anthem started to play. Talia rose to her feet immediately. Her hands were shaking at her sides, she looked around momentarily and saw Jamie Kilen had noticed her shakes. She places them on the table, breathing steadily. On the screen, Caesar Flickerman appears, his hair a plum purple and his suit silver and black.

"Tonight we are joined by a very special guest," He says to the camera, "All the way from District 12, Peeta Mellark,"

Talia's mouth falls open as the camera flips to show Peeta. He looked so healthy, so full of life...He was alive.

"It could be a trick," Jim says over the conversation Caesar starts up.

Peeta calls for a ceasefire. The whole room erupts, and Talia can only imagine what the rest of District 13 is doing- everyone would be seeing this. Seeing Peeta ask for a ceasefire. Her mind thought of Katniss, how she must want to scream that Peeta isn't a traitor, that he's probably being forced to say that. Who knows what the Capitol are doing to him.

"Who does he think he is?!" Jim calls.

"And to think we were going to rescue him!" Jada laughs.

"He's a traitor!" Henry yells.

"Quiet! Now!" Talia shouts over everyone, slamming her fists into the table. Everyone's eyes turn to her.

She takes in a deep breathe and lifts her hands from the table, they'd stopped shaking. She flexes them before placing them on her hips, looking around at everyone.

"Peeta Mellark is not a traitor. He is under Capitol control, if he says anything else, they'll probably hurt him, torture his mind. And he will be rescued," Talia says, shaking her head, "We cannot turn on our own, else we become just as bad as Snow,"

Rossan, who had a hand over his mouth in deep thought, allows a soft smile to peek out from behind it. This was the girl Coin wanted, this was what they needed. Talia Riverthorn would lead them into whatever battle they would face.

"Now please, let us get out of this godforsaken room," Talia sighs, rubbing her temple, a headache had started forming.

The group dismiss, leaving Talia and Rossan alone in the meeting room. She turns to him with a sigh.

"I don't think I can do this," Talia says.

"You can,"

"I'm not a warrior or a leader or whatever...Whatever Coin expects," She replies, shaking her head as she slumps into a chair. Her bones were aching.

"You survived two Hunger Games," He says, "And better yet, you survived being poor in District 4...Do you know how many children die before they turn 5 in the District? Most kids don't make it to their first Reaping, let alone survive two whole Hunger Games and come out this unscathed,"

Talia chews her lip, he was right really, she knew that, but she couldn't help feel so weak, so tired, so used up. "I think I'm going to head to bed, have an early night,"

"I don't blame you," Rossan chuckles, "I'll see you the same time tomorrow, Talia,"

"Of course," She nods, getting up and heading out of the meeting room.

The walk back to her room is long, mostly due to the fact she takes it slow. She wishes she could see Finnick, but Coin was still adamant on keeping them apart. It was then that the wave of sickness washed over her, her hands trembled as she rushed towards a shoot bin stationed at the end of the corridor, she opened the hatch and vomited straight down it.

"Talia?" She hears. She wipes the corner of her mouth on her sleeve and turns to see Primrose Everdeen just behind her.

"Hi Prim," Talia says softly.

"Were you sick?"

"Just a bit," Talia mutters, closing the hatch.

"Maybe we should give you a checkup," Prim says, Talia shakes her head.

"I'm fine, really," Talia says, waving her hands in a dismissive notion.

"I insist, it'll only take a moment," Prim says, she places a hand on Talia's arm and guides her towards the medical ward. Her mother is there too, she seemed to be signing off for the evening.

"Oh, Talia, how are you?" Mrs Everdeen asks.

"I was just a little sick, but Prim insisted on bringing me here," Talia says, forcing a smile.

"Well its always better to be safe than sorry, dear," Mrs Everdeen says and she guides Talia towards one of the empty rooms.

Talia is about to sit down on the bed when her alerter rings out from her wrist. Request of presence from Rossan.

"I have to go," Talia says, looking at the disappointment of Prim and Mrs Everdeen, "I'm sorry,"

"Its fine, just come back if you get any worse," Mrs Everdeen nods, "I'd still like to do some tests,"

"Of course," Talia says, and she takes off in a jog, knowing in the back of her mind she'd never return to the hospital- because deep down, in her gut, she knew exactly what was happening.

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Thank you for reading !!!

This is more of a filler chapter tbh but yeah

~ Chloe ❤️