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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act three.

(chapter eighty-four, please be strangers)

the presidential mansion, 75 ADD.

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THE THOUGHT OF CLOSURE seemed laughable. 

("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-one can touch closure. They can't smell it. They can't hear it. People either have it or they don't. They either feel the sensation or they don't. And currently, as Juniper Hale simmered with rage as she sat with the other Victors' and Plutarch Heavensbee, she did not feel it. She scoffed at the idea. Closure. 

Why couldn't Katniss do what was set out for her? Why did she have to lift the arrow? Why did it collide into Coin and not Snow? Why did Katniss Everdeen, The Mockingjay, rip Juniper Hale her chance of feeling closure? Why couldn't she just do things the way they were meant to be done? 

("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.")

Juniper could feel tremors rippling through her body as she fought the urge to jump out of her chair and smash every piece of furniture in sight. Why couldn't Katniss do what she was meant to do? Why couldn't she just kill Snow? 

In. In. Out. Out. 

In. In. Out. Out. 

In. In. Out. Out. 

"Well... thank you for all coming..." Plutarch sighed as he clasped his hands in-front of him, though it looked as if he was trying to hide a smile. "I understand this is a confusing time for all of us... especially you Victors'." 

Juniper Hale scoffed.

"Katniss is in custody. There isn't a set date for her trial, but it will be processed in the coming weeks," the paunchy Gamemaker assured them, especially those who were simmering in rage. Why couldn't she do what she was told to do? "And since Coin is... dead, Panem is without a leader. An emergency election is being thrown together as we speak. Commander Paylor from Eight's hat has been thrown into the ring... and Snow is dead." 

"But not by Katniss..." Juniper clenched her jaw. 

"No. Obviously not," Plutarch said. "When the ruckus died down after the uproar, his body was found, still tethered to the post. Some say he choked to death, others say he was crushed by the crowd. But, honestly, who cares?" 

"Us," Johanna commented, who sat between Annie and Peeta, arms crossed as she narrowed her eyes. "Obviously." 

"You, perhaps, Johanna," Beetee piped up. "But I am, to tell the truth, happy that the war is finally over. And that both Coin and Snow are dead. I do not believe either one was fit to run Panem." 

"Does that mean there isn't going to be another Hunger Games?" Peeta whispered, running a hand down his face. 

Plutarch gave them all a tight lipped smile before shrugging, replying, "That's up to the new leader, though we can all agree that it would be better that there wasn't. Isn't that why you all rebelled anyway?" 

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

"Well, that's unfair," Enobaria drawled, leaning forwards as she placed her palms flat on the table. "We voted for it. Six against three. Why shouldn't it still go on?" 

"Because that was Coin and Orion's proposal and since the former is dead and the latter wishes to not be involved in such matters anymore, it is not valid." Plutarch rolled his eyes. "We're not at war anymore, Enobaria. We won. You don't have to still be fixated over this idea of revenge." 

"And those who voted yes should be ashamed of themselves," Peeta said, eyes wondering over the guilty. "We didn't go through all of this just for the Games to happen all over again!" 

When Johanna went to snap something, Enobaria lifted a hand and stated, "Give the boy a chance. He doesn't know what it's like. He is, of course, the latest Victor—" 

"I might be the latest Victor, but I still know what pain is like—!" 

"Why don't we just drop it?" Lucy suggested as she let out a deep breath. "Plutarch, what happens now?" 

"Like I said, an emergency election. New positions will be given. Katniss's trial is yet to be determined. And the war is over," the man replied. "All of you have done your duties. It's done now... you can all go home." 

Home. 

Juniper scoffed at the idea. She couldn't imagine herself going back to Ten. How could she go back after everything that had happened? Finnick was dead. Justice was still dead. Her father had betrayed her. Katniss failed in giving her the sweet closure she wanted. There was nothing left for Juniper Hale and District Ten wasn't going to help that. 

And what would she do? Her entire life had been dictated on other people. On the Games. On the rebellion. What would she do now all of that was gone? Juniper Hale had never lived harmoniously, peacefully. But, even with the Games gone and the war over, would she live a quiet life? Everyone she loved was dead. She was alone. She would drown in her thoughts, choke on her tears, wither away due to her nightmares. 

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

Actions did have consequences and now, this was Juniper's. A life of loneliness, despair, and bitter thoughts. 

And she was barely twenty-one. 

"Home?" Annie mumbled as she looked up at the Gamemaker. 

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.

"Home." Plutarch nodded, smiling softly. "And I have to thank you all... not enough words can describe how thankful I am to you all. Without the Victors' who were in the Quell who agreed to the plan, none of this would have happened. You are the reason why the rebellion went the way it did and despite everything, I would do it all over again to get this outcome."  

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.

"Until the emergency election, there is nothing more you or anyone else can do," the man continued. "But I believe we're in that sweet period where everyone agrees the recent horrors should never be repeated. But, of course, collective thinking is usually short-lived. We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction. Although who knows? Maybe this will be it."

"You've been rehearsing that line all day, haven't you?" Haymitch questioned. 

"I did." Plutarch beamed as he got up from his chair. "And I am rather proud of it so therefore I am going to repeat it over and over... well, this is it. Go home. Live long, happy lives. And don't be strangers, any of you." 

With that, Plutarch Heavensbee started to make his way out of the meeting room, leaving the Victors' to themselves. Juniper watched his disappearing figure with squinted eyes, balling her palms into fists as her nails dug into her flesh.

(Go home. Live long, happy lives. And don't be strangers, any of you.")

(You are the reason why the rebellion went the way it did and despite everything, I would do it all over again to get this outcome.")

There was a great silence in the room, the other Victors' averting their eyes to random spots within the area before Beetee suddenly cleared his throat, saying the words, "So I guess this is it." 

"This is what?" Haymitch grumbled. He kept glancing at the door as if he wanted to leave the room as fast as possible. 

"The last time we'll see each other," the Victor from Three stated simply. "I am certain none of us want to see each other again... well, perhaps except Lucy, you, and Peeta." 

"Well, you got that damn right." Enobaria stood up abruptly. "I'm going back to Two and I am never seeing your faces again." 

"Oh. Touched." Johanna sneered at the woman. 

"Well... surely not," Annie piped up. "Surely we'll all see each other again... meet up and—" 

"Just because you got knocked up by the golden boy doesn't mean you can speak—" 

"Can you stop being a bitch just for a minute, Enobaria?" Johanna scoffed as she stood to her feet, her chair scraping against the wooden floors. "Seriously?" 

"It's in my DNA." Enobaria smirked before sighing, making her way to the door. "I'd say don't be strangers... but please do. I don't have any pleasant memories with any of you."

As the only Victor from District Two left, Johanna Mason called out, "I wonder why, you brainless Career!" 

A deathly silence enveloped them all as the Victors' began to contemplate their next words. Would it be the last time they all saw each other? Beetee would return to Three. Annie to Four. Johanna to Seven. Lucy and Juniper to Ten. And Haymitch, Peeta, and Katniss to Twelve. None of them would make the long trip of travelling to the other districts to see another Victor. If anything, wouldn't they want to forget the horrid memories associated with the other? 

Whenever Juniper Hale would look at Annie Cresta, she would be reminded of Finnick Odair. Whenever she would look at Beetee, she would be reminded of the plan and the little girl from Three during the Seventy-Second. Whenever she would look at Haymitch, she would be reminded of the rebellion and the idea of drowning her pain away. At Peeta, her captivity and the darkness. And at Johanna...

And at Johanna.

"Well," Beetee mumbled as he attempted to get up from his chair. His wheelchair had vanished and the man must have gotten some strength back into his body, though his legs still shook slightly. "I must make my way back to Three. I have much work to do." 

"I thought the fat man said our duties were done," Johanna said. She was still standing. 

"They are." Beetee nodded. "But I must catch up on my inventions. Though I enjoyed the hacking I did for the war, my heart lies with those." 

And with that, the man from Three nodded at all of them before slowly making his way out of the meeting room. Juniper clenched her jaw as she watched him leave, the door closing behind Beetee. She knew that was, perhaps, the last time she would see him. 

"Well... what do we all do now?" Peeta murmured, fiddling with his hands.

"You have to stay here with Aurelius," Haymitch told him as he and Lucy got up from their seats. "Doctor's orders... but Annie, Johanna... you're both free to go now." 

"Oh, goodie." Johanna rolled her eyes. "I can't wait. When does my train leave?" 

"Book it yourself." Haymitch scoffed before turning towards Annie, his eyes darting down to her abdomen as he added, "Will you be okay? Do you want one of us to come with you?" 

The pregnant woman shook her head before sighing, tears glossing over her eyes as she said, "I'll be fine... there's a woman in the markets I was quite friendly with... I have her." 

"We don't want you to be alone, Annie," Lucy told her. "Not in your condition." 

"Believe it or not... I'm in a better state than I was before." Annie swallowed a lump in her throat. "Well... I'll be off. I need to book a train... I just want to go home now."

And as Lucy, Peeta and Haymitch all mumbled their goodbyes and laid hands on Annie's shoulder as she began to move out of the room, Juniper Hale seemed frozen on the spot. 

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.

She should have said something to Annie. She should have walked with her, spoke to her. She should have offered to book her train or go to Four with her. She should have promised she would come visit her and the unborn child. But the Victor from Ten didn't. All of it would have been a lie if she had said it. Juniper couldn't seem to look at the woman.

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

("I know you are," Juniper replied, voice muffled. "Just don't be you, Finn. Don't be heroic.")

(And suddenly, when their bodies clashed into each other, arms wrapping quickly around, Juniper smiled tiredly)

(And so, with that, Juniper took one more look at Finnick before her and the other two went down the slope, disappearing through the foliage)

("I'm always on your side, June," Finnick said, clutching her hand tighter. "Always.")

("I will." Finnick smiled softly before kissing her right cheek, her left cheek, and her forehead. "I love you. I love you. I love you.")

Finnick was dead and Juniper couldn't even bear to look at his pregnant wife. 

"We better get out of here," Lucy grumbled. "I think the emergency election meeting is taking place in here. Politics is too messy for me." 

Juniper didn't even seem to know she was walking until her legs jolted and she was suddenly out of the room, the other Victors' beside her. She should have said something to Annie. Why didn't she say anything? 

("Annie Cresta," Juniper stated, looking out at the water as she stared at Finnick. He had his back turned to them and was still as he sat in the shallows)

"Well, I don't know about you lot, but I'm going to go back to my room and curse Katniss Everdeen," Johanna announced as she began to walk backwards down the hall. 

Juniper's ears perked up as she blurted out, "Wait, when are you leaving?" 

"Not yet." Johanna smirked before subtly winking. "Why? You gonna miss me, Hale?" 

But as her cackles echoed around the corridor, the Hale woman watched as Johanna clenched her jaw, narrowing her eyes when she turned the corner. Rage emitted off of her in waves. Why couldn't Katniss Everdeen do anything right? 

"I'm going back to my room as well..." Peeta whispered as he continued running a hand down his face. "I'm tired and I need to think." 

"Of course, kid." Haymitch squeezed his shoulder. "But Aurelius wants to see you as soon as possible. You two got a lot to talk about." 

As Peeta Mellark began to walk down the corridor, Juniper felt her shattered heart thud and tense on the carpeted floor. She might not have said anything to Annie Cresta, but she needed to say something to the boy from Twelve. In the cells, she had thought to herself that she needed to tell him how bad she felt, that if he died without knowing, she wouldn't know what she would do. And now, as Peeta Mellark began to trudge away, perhaps the last time she would ever see him, the chance was slipping. 

But, just like with Annie, Juniper seemed stuck to the floor. She could feel her hollow head tumbling as she watched Peeta Mellark turn the corner, disappearing from view as her chance slipped from her hands. She couldn't speak to Annie. She couldn't speak to Peeta. 

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.

("Peeta..." Juniper whispered. She needed to tell him. She had to tell him because if he died without knowing how terrible she felt, she wouldn't know what she would do. "Peeta.")

(And more importantly, she eyed his smile. His stupid, goofy, lopsided grin that Juniper knew all too well on another boy)

(That was Justice Hale's smile, something she would never forget. And now, for some reason, whether it was those above punishing her or the fate of Panem, it was Peeta Mellark's as well)

And Juniper knew, in her crushed heart, that it was probably the last time she would ever see Peeta Mellark, the Victor of the Seventy-Fourth, the baker's boy from Twelve. 

"Are you going to go back to your room?" Lucy questioned as she walked up beside the woman.

"Hm?" Juniper hummed. "Oh — um — probably." 

("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—")

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

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

"Okay. Well..." Lucy began to say before looking up at Haymitch. "I can book the train back to Ten. If I'm lucky, we can leave tomorrow. Is that all right?" 

"I don't care, Lucy," Juniper spoke faintly, shrugging slightly as she began to walk away slowly. "Do whatever... I don't care." 

Without any further questions, Juniper Hale began to walk down the corridor towards her room, but as she did, the anger in her stomach began to boil, bubbling up into her throat. The rage was so hot that it burnt her organs. It caused her shattered heart to throb. Her flesh was starting to become flushed as her steps started to quicken. 

Closure. 

The idea was laughable. The thought of Juniper Hale getting it, getting anything she wanted was pathetic. Why couldn't Katniss Everdeen do anything right? Why did she have to kill Coin? Why did she kill Coin? 

("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—")

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

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

In. In. Out. Out. 

In. In. Out. Out. 

In. In. Out. Out. 

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.

Why couldn't Katniss give Juniper the closure she needed? Why did she have to rip that chance away from her? Why couldn't The Mockingjay do things the way they were set out to do? She was supposed to have shot and killed Snow with Juniper Hale watching. That was the idea. That was the plan. 

(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 curled into a smirk as she stared at the fresh, young yet old soul of Primrose Everdeen)

("I'm always on your side, June," Finnick said, clutching her hand tighter. "Always.")

("I will." Finnick smiled softly before kissing her right cheek, her left cheek, and her forehead. "I love you. I love you. I love you.")

("Fuck, you punched him proper good, June," Finnick said, forgetting about the conversation they were having moments ago. "I thought it was just the television that made it look bad, but damn.")

("Why isn't he coming back, Juniper?" Annie cried. "Why did he have to die? He should be here right now! He never should have left!")

Once Juniper Hale reached her bedroom, she immediately rushed into it, slamming the open door behind her. A guttural scream was building up in her throat as she bolted to the windowsill, gripping it with her shaking hands. Tremors rippled through her body as Juniper began to seethe through her teeth. 

Finnick was dead. Justice was dead. Cashmere Nicholo was dead. Cedar and Ash were dead. Hermes and Wing were dead. Annie was pregnant. Orion Hale had betrayed her. Katniss Everdeen went behind her back. Nadine and Yara were dead. 

And Juniper Hale was alone. 

("I'm always on your side, June," Finnick said, clutching her hand tighter. "Always.")

"But you're not!" Juniper sobbed as she clamped her shaking palm over her trembling lips. "You're dead!"  

("... how did you find out about that?")

The Hale woman started to back away from the windowsill.

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

("Don't sweat it, Pa." Justice gave him a lousy smile. "We'll be all right. We always are.")

("Look, I'm Cedar. This is Ash," the girl said as she nudged her head at the boy, who merely waved as he became absorbed with his poisonous plant cards)

(And as the Mason woman became focused on the gushing sound of the waterfall, fixated on the stream, Juniper closed her eyes and allowed her head to fall onto the other woman's shoulder)

Suddenly, Juniper's lower back collided with the wood of a stand, making her yelp as hot tears flew down her cheeks. And suddenly, all the rage and anger that had been forced out of Juniper Hale by Dr. Clampitt came flooding back as she took ahold of the nearest thing to her, which resulted in an intricate-looking vase that held white flowers, and smashed it to the ground. 

(Johanna's lips lifted up into the ghost of a smile before muttering under her breath, "White.")

The porcelain shattered on the floorboards, the flowers flying everywhere as the water within the vase splashed into a huge mess. And as the voices filled her head, as everything flashed by her eyes, Juniper Hale couldn't seem to handle it anymore, hands tugging at her hair in attempts to rip it out.

The curtains on her windows became her next victim, the woman ripping them off their hooks as she threw the material onto the ground. And then the armchairs that tumbled to the floor. And then the coffee table that resulted with its legs sticking in the air. And then the thick, embroidered blankets of the bed which ended up ripped.  

In. In. In. In. In. In. In. In. In. In. In. 

(Juniper fidgeted with her fingers as Justice pushed himself off of the wall, heading towards his older sister as he slung an arm over her shoulder, muttering, "Thank you, I know. It's my hair, isn't it—?")

("We all forget soon enough." Gloss grunted. "Just like how everyone forgot about poor Loony Lucy...")

("Juniper!" Blight called out. The girl looked over her shoulder to see him rapidly climbing the stairs to reach her. "Juniper, wait!")

(The stylist narrowed her eyes at the Victor as she pursed her inflated lips, saying, "And why do you think that, Juniper? District Ten specialises in animals. Feathers are part of animals.")

("Clampitt. Dr. Clampitt.")

("What?" Raymond questioned and as he looked down, he let out a groan. "Stupid shoes... falling apart.")

("Let me come with you," she whispered)

("Because I just do," she said. "Orion Hale does not blame you for anything, Juniper. He has no reason to—")

(Juniper could hear the crackles of Finnick's breaths as he responded, "Gloss tries to intimidate. He does it to every new Victor. He tries to find a way in, scare you.")

("I know... I know..." Orion sighed. "I love you both... like I said... no matter what anyone says... no matter what happens. I love you both. Never forget that.")

Material flew everywhere. Water was spilt. Tables and chairs were thrown. Blankets were torn. All the furniture in the bedroom were victims to Juniper Hale's rage. Why couldn't Katniss Everdeen ever do anything right?  

The plan was for Katniss Everdeen to kill Snow. Juniper needed to see her kill Snow. She had told Katniss to kill him. But no. Closure was a laughable thing. Of course, The Mockingjay killed President Coin instead. Of course, Juniper Hale never got to see Snow be murdered. Of course, she didn't get her closure. 

("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—")

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

But, as always, the rage always resulted with the Victor of the Seventy-Second falling into a heap of tears.