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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act three.

(chapter eighty-three, you need your closure, don't you?)

the presidential mansion / the execution of coriolanus snow, 75 ADD.

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PRIMROSE EVERDEEN WAS DEAD.

Aurelius had been the one to tell Juniper. The girl whose face was as fresh as a raindrop, the girl who was barely fourteen had been sent to the front lines. She was part of the medics who helped the children after the first explosion. She had been caught up in the second bombing.

Primrose Everdeen was dead. 

(Prim looked deep in Juniper's brown eyes and the gears in her head seemed to be turning as she stayed silent for a while before saying, "You don't trust her.")

("And yet they sent a seventeen-year-old into battle," Prim told her cooly. But it wasn't a sharp jab or a poke. It was more of a tug. Juniper Hale figured Primrose Everdeen to be one who didn't outright snap, figured she was a person who tugged. "I don't think age really matters in a place like this.")

("Which may help inspire people." Prim smiled lightly. "You don't trust anyone, do you, Juniper?")

(Juniper seemed to find her lips curl into a smirk as she stared at the fresh, young yet old soul of Primrose Everdeen)

The Hale woman did not come out of her room for days after Aurelius had told her. Juniper lamented over her own existence as Prim haunted her hollow head, making her shattered heart sting. She had liked the girl much better than Katniss. Her older sister was stubborn, bitingly cynical, and blunt. But Prim was gentle, soft, an old soul. She had eyes that looked to have seen a million things, a million stories built inside her head, but yet her face was fresh. The girl had an ability to look into the confusing mess of life and see things for what they were. 

And now, she was dead. The horrible consequences of war. 

(Snow smiled. "Then yes... the war hasn't finished just yet.")

After hearing about Prim's death, a steady stream of information came to Juniper from Aurelius as the days dragged on. Katniss and Peeta had been caught in the explosions and were heavily burnt, meaning the former had seen her sister die. They were recovering. Dr. Aurelius had now taken Katniss up as a patient, though sessions resulted in him taking naps due to the sleep he had lost during the war. Snow had been tried and found guilty, sentenced to execution. 

And Prim was dead. 

Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead. 

Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant. 

Prim was dead. Prim was dead. Prim was dead. 

Juniper did not wander through the hallways of the presidential mansion and did not leave her room. She had no reason to. She didn't want to bump into Lucy or Haymitch. She didn't want to speak to anyone except Aurelius, but even then the man fell asleep in the wooden chair by the window. 

But on the day of Snow's execution, she was forced out by Aurelius, who said she was required to attend a meeting. Juniper figured it was a production one with Plutarch who would instruct them where to stand and what to do for the ceremony, but instead, the Hale woman found herself in a room where seven people sat around a table. 

Peeta. Johanna. Beetee. Haymitch. Annie. Lucy. Enobaria. They all wore the grey rebel uniforms for Thirteen and none of them looked well. 

Juniper's eyes seemed to latch onto the boy from Twelve, who was already staring at her with an expression she couldn't decipher. He wasn't filled with coldness, with anger, but the darkness was still there, especially as she studied his burn marks. The flames seemed to have licked across his forehead, singeing away his brows, but just missing his eyes. 

(And so, Juniper Hale and Peeta Mellark murmured the prayer repeatedly as they sat together on the small island's ledge, feet dipped into the waves as they watched Cashmere Nicholo's body float from them until it was a good distance away)

But then Juniper's eyes flitted away to Annie, who was looking away from her. Her tears seemed to have dried with her hair brushed. She looked better than the Hale woman did. Juniper looked down at her abdomen. Annie wasn't showing. No-one would know she was pregnant if she hadn't told people. 

Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead.

Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant.

Prim was dead. Prim was dead. Prim was dead.

"What's this?" Juniper asked, voice croaky as she moved further into the room, trying to dispel the mantras that echoed around in her hollow head. 

"No idea," Lucy told her. Her voice was distant and soft. She sounded exactly like she did during the Seventy-Second. "We were all called here." 

Juniper took a deep breath before sitting down in a vacant seat beside Peeta and Johanna, the former staring at her intently whilst the latter was staring at Enobaria, the female Victor from Two. 

("Enobaria," Johanna replied. "But she's not in any cells or white rooms. Rumours have it she's staying in a nice, cosy room in Snow's mansion. Lucky bitch...") 

Silence enveloped all of them as they sat in the room. No-one was in the mood for talking and found it more comfortable to stare at the other Victors'. Lucy and Haymitch kept their eye on Peeta, who glanced at Juniper, who stared at Enobaria, who seemed to be in a quiet feud with Johanna, who was being gazed at by Annie, who was being watched by Beetee. 

No-one spoke until the doors opened once more. 

Burns lapped at her neck, forearms, and hands with half her hair singed off. But whilst Katniss Everdeen endured physical injuries, one look into her dead eyes made it aware that she didn't have much anymore. Prim was dead. Her sister was dead and all that could keep her going was the execution, in which she would be the one shooting an arrow into Snow's head. 

"What's this?" 

"We're not sure," Haymitch answered. "It appears to be a gathering of the remaining Victors'." 

"We're all that's left?" Katniss questioned. 

"The price of celebrity," said Beetee. "We were targeted from both sides. The Capitol killed the Victors' they suspected of being rebels. The rebels killed those thought to be allied with the Capitol." 

Johanna scoffed and then scowled at Enobaria as she asked, "So what's she doing here?" 

"She is protected under what we call the Mockingjay Deal," Coin said as she entered the room behind Katniss. "Wherein Katniss Everdeen agreed to support the rebels in exchange for captured Victors' immunity. Katniss has upheld her side of the bargain and so shall we." 

When Enobaria smiled at Johanna, the woman from Seven told her, "Don't look so smug. We'll kill you anyway." 

"Sit down, please, Katniss," Coin said as she closed the door. Katniss took a seat between Annie and Beetee, carefully placing a white rose on the table. Juniper clenched her jaw at the sight before listening to the middle-aged woman. "I've asked you here to settle a debate. Today we will execute Snow. In the previous weeks, hundreds of his accomplices in the oppression of Panem have been tried and now await their own deaths—" 

"Accomplices?" Juniper twitched in her seat. Dr. Clampitt. "What kind of accomplices?" 

"Presidential officials, Peacekeepers', torturers," Coin hurriedly said, eyes narrowed at Juniper's interruption. "Carrying on... the suffering in the districts has been so extreme that these measures appear insufficient to the victims. In fact, many are calling for a complete annihilation of those who hold Capitol citizenship. However, in the interest of maintaining a sustainable population, we cannot afford this." 

Most of that Coin had said was a muffled blur. All Juniper had her mind on was Dr. Clampitt. She must have been tried and awaiting execution and if so, where was she? Had she been here, lingering in the presidential mansion? Had she been this close to the Hale woman all this time? 

"So, an alternative has been placed on the table. Since my colleagues and I can come to no consensus, it has been agreed that we will let the Victors' decide. A majority of six will approve the plan. No-one may abstain from the vote," Coin explained. "What has been proposed is that in lieu of eliminating the entire Capitol population, we have a final, symbolic Hunger Games, using the children directly related to those who held the most power." 

Silence. 

In. Out. 

In. Out. 

In. Out. 

"What?" Johanna scoffed. 

"We hold another Hunger Games using Capitol children," said Coin.

"Are you joking?" Peeta asked. 

"No. I should also tell you that if we do hold the Games, it will be known it was done with your approval, although the individual breakdown of your votes will be kept secret for your own security." 

"Was this Plutarch's idea?" Haymitch questioned, looking around at the other Victors'.

"It was mine and Orion's," Coin said. "It seemed to balance the need for vengeance with the least loss of life. You may cast your votes." 

In. Out. 

In. Out.

In. Out.  

("It was mine and Orion's," Coin said)

(Snow smiled. "Then yes... the war hasn't finished just yet.")

(The pair were walking and though Juniper couldn't hear what they were saying, Coin and Orion were both in agreement)

Juniper stared down at the mahogany of the table as she let Coin's words run through her head. Another Hunger Games with Capitol children? And her father had come up with this? Juniper blinked slightly as she felt her hollow head sting slightly. Another Hunger Games. With Capitol children. Balance the need for vengeance. 

The Hale woman clenched her jaw before running her hand down her face. She could feel her shattered heart throb on the floor and whilst she immediately thought of rejection in her non-existent brain, she let the idea linger in her head slightly. A Hunger Games with Capitol children didn't sound so bad. For seventy-five-years, they had been sending district kids into the arena, making them fight until one person was standing. And now Coin and Orion were suggesting putting the Capitol children in there? 

The thought made Juniper smirk because yes, whilst the stern tone in her voice had disappeared months ago, whilst the fire, the rage in her being was washed out, it didn't mean she didn't want revenge. Yes, her heart was shattered and her brain was pulverised until it no longer existed, but that didn't mean she didn't want the Capitol to suffer. 

She had been in agony for so long, why shouldn't other people feel it? 

"No!" Peeta immediately bursted out. "I vote no, of course! We can't have another Hunger Games!" 

"Why not?" Johanna retorted. Juniper looked to stare at her. "It seems very fair to me. Snow even has a granddaughter. I vote yes." 

"So do I," Enobaria said, almost indifferently. "Let them have a taste of their own medicine." 

And, for once in her life, Juniper agreed with the female Victor from Two. Actions had consequences and Juniper Hale knew all about that. So, shouldn't the Capitol face their consequences? Juniper leaned backwards into her seat as she placed her palms onto the table. 

"Actions have consequences, don't they?" Juniper said. "Why not let them face their consequences? I vote yes." 

"This is why we rebelled! Remember?" Peeta looked at the others. "Annie?" 

Before Juniper could even become surprised at the humanity that seemed to soar through Peeta Mellark, Annie spoke up and said, "I vote no with Peeta. So would Finnick if he were here." 

"But he isn't because Snow's mutts killed him," Johanna reminded her and Juniper immediately whipped her head to face her, jaw clenched with her eyes narrowed.

Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead. Finnick was dead.

Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant. Annie was pregnant.

Prim was dead. Prim was dead. Prim was dead. 

"No," Beetee said, eyeing the tension that seemed to build up in Juniper at the careless mention of Finnick's death. "It would set a bad precedent. We have to stop viewing one another as enemies. At this point, unity is essential for our survival. No." 

"We're down to Katniss, Lucy, and Haymitch." Coin nodded.

All eyes turned to the trio, those who voted no fidgeting in their seats whilst those voting yes stared at Coin. Juniper didn't think Orion Hale was capable of conjuring such an idea. But then she also didn't think he was capable of causing her Reaping. 

A war seemed to go on in Katniss's mind before she lowered her eyes to the white rose on the wood, muttering, "I vote yes... for Prim." 

Prim was dead. Prim was dead. Prim was dead. 

("Which may help inspire people." Prim smiled lightly. "You don't trust anyone, do you, Juniper?")

(Juniper seemed to find her lips curled into a smirk as she stared at the fresh, young yet old soul of Primrose Everdeen)

A furious Peeta then began to hammer Lucy and Haymitch with the atrocity they could become party to, but the two older Victors' ignored them as they both stared at Katniss. And then, they turned to face each other.

"Me and Lucy are with The Mockingjay," Haymitch answered for the pair of them. 

"Excellent. That carries the vote," Coin said. "Now we really must take our places for the execution." 

Chairs scraped as people got up from their seats, but Juniper watched as Katniss picked up the rose, walking over to Coin as she handed it to her. A few words were exchanged, but the middle-aged woman swiftly nodded, making Juniper hurry over to her as people began to sweep into the room. 

"Coin!" Juniper called out as she moved past an appalled Peeta Mellark. "Coin!" 

"Miss Hale?" Coin questioned. "You should be getting ready for the execution—" 

"You said Snow's accomplices were tried and await execution, right?" 

"Yes—" 

"Where are they being held?" 

Coin blinked before answering, "Here in the mansion, of course." 

Juniper's shattered heart throbbed and ached as she tried to spit out her next sentence, telling the woman, "I need to speak to Dr. Clampitt." 

("It was psychological torture... and, oh, did it work.")

(Something flickered in Aurelius's eyes, something bordering caution and softness as he began to speak slowly, asking, "Who is Clampitt?")

("Who is Dr. Clampitt?" Coin asked again. "Aurelius told us of her. Is she someone who was involved with your captivity?")

Recognition seemed to flash in Coin's eyes, but she bluntly shook her head, telling the Victor, "There is no time for that now. Perhaps after the execution—" 

"Please," Juniper pleaded. "I don't beg for things, especially not to you, but I need to see her. Just one last time before Snow is killed." 

Coin was hesitant for a moment, eyes darting around Juniper's face before sighing, muttering, "Fine, a guard will take you there. But be quick. I don't want you missing the ceremony." 

Elation and yet fear filled Juniper Hale as she let Coin's words process in her brain, even more so when she was escorted out of the meeting room by a rebel soldier that was covered in stitches and gauges. 

What would she say to Clampitt? She hadn't thought over the words she was going to speak to the woman. She just wanted to see her. But how would the head doctor react? How would Juniper react? That woman had destroyed who she was. She had taken the idea of Juniper Hale, Victor of the Seventy-Second, twin-killer and had squashed her down into nothing but a sobbing, sorrowful mess. 

Clampitt was the entire reason why the fire wasn't in her heart, why the rage didn't infect her, why the stern tone had left her throat months ago. 

But Juniper tried to distract herself as she followed the soldier. He was walking quite fast due to the president's commands. The execution was going to happen in a few minutes and Juniper did not want to miss that. But as she walked down a corridor into an entirely new part of the mansion, she surveyed the fact that nearly all of the heavy curtains were snapped shut. Darkness filled the hallways and paintings of past president's eyed her like she was dinner. There was a certain stench in that part of the mansion that it nearly had Juniper gagging. 

That was until they stopped a normal looking door that seemed to be a replica of the one that led to Juniper's temporary bedroom. 

The rebel soldier took out a shiny key from his pocket, staring at it before inserting it into the lock. He had to jiggle it around for a moment before twisting it, opening the door. The room was dark. Eery. Creepy. 

"Be quick," the soldier ordered her and Juniper took a deep breath before nodding, entering the room. 

She was on guard as she walked into it, cringing whenever her boots made the wooden boards of the floor creak. The curtains in the room were shut and Juniper could barely make out the silhouettes of the furniture. It appeared to be a bedroom with a tiny coffee table, a couch that seemed to have a tear in it, and a chair near the closed curtains. But the room seemed vacant, nearly abandoned and Juniper was just about to sigh and turn around when suddenly, she heard a hacking cough that seemed to rattle a ribcage come from the chair.

"Who's there?"

Juniper froze at the voice, but not because it belonged to Dr. Clampitt, but because of how weak it sounded. She remembered the head doctor being a woman of status, her voice holding such power and authority that it was impossible to not quiver, but the voice that echoed around the dark room was not the same. It was shaky, croaky, and sounded like the person who emitted such noises was in pure agony. 

"Clampitt?" Juniper mumbled. She couldn't seem to see the woman. It was too dark within the room. 

"Hale?" 

There was a dark, curled shape in the chair by the window and Juniper felt her airways start constricting. There was a stench in the room the Victor couldn't seem to figure out and as it tickled her nose, she walked over to the window, snapping back the curtains to let in the rays of the sun. As the light danced over the dark room, making everything become bright, Juniper Hale couldn't help but let out a gasp. 

Within the wooden chair, a woman who was the ghost of Dr. Clampitt was curled up into a ball. But it couldn't possibly be Dr. Clampitt. This woman looked to be a skeleton, clothes hanging off of her with nearly every bone on view. Her flesh was a sickly, pale green with her eyes deep into their sockets. Her cheeks were sunken and her hair looked to be a mess, knotted beyond repair. This woman looked half starved. 

"Clampitt?" Juniper spewed out. In the corner, by the door, there was a mound of trays, food spilling over into lumps on the floor. Fungus infected half of it with stale milk. "Is that you?" 

"Is this not what you expected?" The woman scoffed out, wincing in pain as another cough overcame her. "Did you not expect to see me like this or for me to be here?"

"What happened to you?" Juniper breathed as she took a step backwards. She was about to throw up. 

"Do you really think I'm going to let those rebel scums kill me?" Clampitt retorted. "I think of myself too high for that." 

"You think of yourself too high and yet you're starving yourself." Juniper hissed. "Where's the logic in that?" 

"Why? Do you care about my wellbeing, Miss Hale?" 

Juniper couldn't help but let out a scoff as she stared at the ghost of the woman who had done her most harm, muttering, "If Snow wasn't being killed today, I'd wish it was your execution." 

"Oh, but we can't have that, can we?" Clampitt tried to sit up from her ball, but Juniper swore she could hear her bones cracking and popping. "No. You need your closure, don't you? You need Snow to die today and you need to see it—" 

"Don't get into my head—" 

"I'm not," she said. "I'm stating the obvious... you know, that Dr. Aurelius of yours is good." 

Juniper let her lips part slightly as she raised a brow, mumbling, "How do you know Aurelius?" 

"He paid me a visit a week ago, just before my trial," Clampitt explained. "Said he wanted to see who I really was... don't worry, he didn't ask about your time in the Capitol." 

"Then why was he here?" 

"How am I supposed to know?" Clampitt tried to scoff. "I suppose his personal feelings get in the way of his work. Now that is not a good head doctor—" 

"I only have a few minutes before I have to leave," Juniper interrupted her. "But I needed to tell you this..." 

"Tell me what?" 

In. Out. 

In. Out. 

In. Out. 

"I just hope you know..." Juniper began to say. "That your plan worked... I can't get you out of my head. I can't get any of them out of my head and it was because of you... you haunt my dreams... you plague my memories... and even when you die, I'm pretty sure you're still going to follow me. And when I die, you're going to be the first face I see in Hell..."

"Is there a reason to this?" 

"Aurelius told me that the first step to overcome blame and guilt does not involve constant brooding... that I need to accept it without any rationalisation because what is done, is done. Mistakes are made to learn from them..." Juniper drawled. Tears trickled down her cheeks. "But he's wrong... I can't accept my mistakes... they're a part of me... and you're a part of me... I can't shake that... and it's because of your psychological torture..."

Clampitt stared at her, shivering in the wooden chair. 

"So... there." Juniper swallowed a lump in her throat as she rapidly wiped away the moisture running down her flesh. "Your plan worked. Happy? I'm ruined because of you. I am nothing now because of you..." 

The head doctor didn't say anything, not even when the door to the room opened and the rebel soldier insisted that Juniper were to leave now if she wanted to witness the execution. And so, the Hale woman looked at Dr. Clampitt one more time in her shrivelled state before slowly walking away, floorboards creaking underneath her boots once more. 

It was only when the woman was just out of the door, did the doctor speak, muttering, "I hope you get your closure, Juniper Hale..." 

The Victor did not look back as the door slammed shut, sentencing Dr. Clampitt to death.

Juniper Hale tried hard to not think about her encounter with the half starved woman. She, instead, focused on the inevitable execution of President Snow and a sensation of glee entered her system because Clampitt was right. Even if it was her funeral, Juniper Hale would not have been satisfied. Her quench of revenge, her need for closure could only be fulfilled once Katniss Everdeen's arrow embedded itself into the brain of President Snow. 

And so, when the Hale woman got a glimpse of The Mockingjay being escorted to the front doors of the mansion by Plutarch where the others were, Juniper hurried over to her. The Victor from Twelve didn't question it when the one from Ten squeezed her biceps tight, hissing in her ear: 

"You kill that rat bastard, Katniss. You make him pay." 

(But suddenly, Johanna caught the girl's wrist in an iron grip, hissing, "You have to kill him, Katniss.")

Once Juniper released the girl, she caught Johanna's eye. The woman was nodding her head. She needed closure too. She wanted it and so did Juniper. They were starved of it. It was so close that the two women were fidgeting at the anticipation. 

("Oh, but we can't have that, can we?" Clampitt tried to sit up from her ball, but Juniper swore she could hear her bones cracking and popping. "No. You need your closure, don't you? You need Snow to die today and you need to see it—")

(Snow smiled. "Then yes... the war hasn't finished just yet.")

Juniper didn't care much for the numerous speeches that were given, didn't care much when the guards, officials, rebel leaders, and even the Victors' were marched outside, taking their places. The cheers of the packed City Circle seemed to be muffled when Coin appeared on the balcony. Juniper's eyes barely flitted over to Katniss when she stepped out in the cold winter sunlight, taking her position as she was accompanied by the deafening roar of the crowd.

But Juniper did care when they marched Snow out the door, the audience going insane as they secured his hands behind a post. 

("You kill that rat bastard, Katniss. You make him pay.")

The closure. The sound of Snow's groan once his life left him. The whizz of Katniss's arrow. It was all so close. Juniper could feel her shattered heart racing as her hollow mind tumbled. She could feel her breathing become shallow as she focused on Katniss, who reached back and grasped an arrow, positioning it towards Snow. She focused on the old, frail man as he coughed, a bloody dribble running down his chin. She watched as his tongue flicked over his puffy lips. 

The Hale woman, looking up at the big screens, tried to find some slight sign of remorse, fear, or anger in Snow's eyes. But there was none. Of course there wouldn't be any. A hint of amusement danced around his pupils. 

("You kill that rat bastard, Katniss. You make him pay.")

("Oh, but we can't have that, can we?" Clampitt tried to sit up from her ball, but Juniper swore she could hear her bones cracking and popping. "No. You need your closure, don't you? You need Snow to die today and you need to see it—")

(Snow smiled. "Then yes... the war hasn't finished just yet.")

No. The war wasn't over just yet. Juniper knew that. The feeling was rumbling deep in her stomach. The war wasn't finished. But Juniper was sure it would be, that the sensation would leave once she saw Snow's blood splatter onto the pavement.

("Until one wins..." Aurelius nodded. "But really, does one ever win in war?")

(Juniper felt her heart leap at the sudden suicidal act, but then she took a look at the large screens to see the two tributes from Twelve smile and wave whilst holding hands)

("Probably best to not bring that up in training," Katniss joked. "But it's nice to know I'll have a ride... Juniper?")

(Detecting the harshness in Johanna's voice, Katniss asked, "Is that why you two hate me?")

Juniper saw the twitch of Katniss's fingers and could feel her shattered heart leaping at the anticipation. But the point of Katniss's arrow shifted upwards. She released the string. And President Coin collapsed over the side of the balcony and plunged to the ground. Dead. President Snow laughing. 

And whilst shock emitted off of the Hale woman, she shouldn't have been surprised. Whilst feral rage tried to claw up her throat, she shouldn't have been surprised. The Victor from Twelve was too stubborn to do things how they were supposed to be done. Too blunt. Too bitingly cynical. But there were never certainties within the world, within Panem. However, there was one. 

Juniper Hale could never really like Katniss Everdeen for that long anyway. 

⇢ ˗ˏˋ matz 🎧 !

— now before y'all attack, june is practically incapable of thinking about the bigger picture of things, which is surprising bc she's the definition of overthinking. 

she's too filled by revenge and grief and emotions to even BEGIN about thinking about why katniss killed coin. she was so close to getting closure and to have katniss 'rip' that away from her, june takes it as a betrayal. 

(ik these are two shitty chapters BUT LET ME LIVE)