Under the Moon

"Jenz is alive!" I blurted, "He's an Avox in the Capitol!"  

"An Avox?! How could they torture my poor boy?" Coin said. 

"How dare you torture my Shay-Shay?" I mumbled under my breath. 

"What they did to Jenz is hundreds of times worse than what happened to Shayne," Coin said, "Listen, I know I said you could stay here before? Well, I've changed my mind. How would you like to go back?"  

"So you're just going to let us go?" I asked. 

"Of course not. I'm trading you for Jenz and Eliza," Coin said. 

"Sure, I want to go back," I said. 

"You should take me with you. Then Copper can meet me, and he'll leave you and Shayne alone," Kaymri said. 

"You wish!" I laughed, "I wouldn't mind having you along but I don't think Copper will change his mind. Besides, you were just with Shayne," I said. 

"Well, that was before I knew about you and Copper. Oh Aunty Alma, can I please go with them?" Kaymri asked. 

"Why? To meet your favorite celebrity? You are going to risk your life, Kay. Do you really think Snow wants another bothersome kid on his hands? And especially my niece? No Kaymri, absolutely not!" Alma said harshly. 

"Darn it! You know how jealous everyone here would be if they realized that I would meet Copper?" Kaymri said. 

"You know what they won't be jealous of? That when you go there, you're going to die!" Alma snapped. 

"Ooh! Can I tell them that we took care of Athena?" Kaymri implored. 

"Soon, they will all know anyways," Coin said, "Now kids, go keep yourselves busy somewhere while I send a message to Snow." I nodded and allowed Kaymri to lead Shayne and I. "Let's go down to the underground park! It's so cool!" Kaymri shouted, as she skipped down the stairs. She pushed open a glass door and we walked inside. She was right; it was awesome. The park was ginormous and though it was underground, a hologram gave it an endless looking blue sky. Green grass grew from the ground and benches were placed around a beautiful fountain. "Woah!" I exclaimed, "I can't believe that all this is underground!"  

"I know right?" Kaymri said, "It's awesome! The scientists spent so long on this." She sat on a bench, allowing Shayne and I to sit together. "I can't wait to go back," I told Shayne. 

"Why? So you can see Copper again?" Shayne responded. 

"No that's not why. I just feel safer there," I said. 

"Oh I liked it here. Maybe we could have been scientists or something. But if you're going, I'm going too. But I would rather stay here," Shayne said. 

"Why? So you won't leave Kaymri?" I asked bitterly. 

"That's not why. I feel more useful here. Everyone in the Capitol hates me. Even Copper, who got us there," Shayne said. 

"In case you didn't realize, it was the people here who electrocuted you," I said. Defeated, Shayne just sadly nodded. "It's okay Shayne, we'll go back and all this will be over," I said. We were interrupted by President Alma Coin bursting into our room. "Why hello. I wrote the message. I'm quite proud of it," Coin said. 

"Well read it for us, Aunty!" Kaymri said, "I want to see how you insulted that jerk, Snow this time!" 

"Alright then. I started it, Dear President Snow White, I grieve that my huntsmen haven't killed you yet. As I have said before, I will say once again, my government is the fairest of them all. Though you refuse to admit it, you know how corrupt you are. You, who makes his own child, his own flesh and bone, participate in a contest where he could die, just for fame and politics. You, who runs a country that views the annual death of twenty three children as entertainment. But this is not what I an writing to you about. I would like to tell you that we have two of your seven dwarves. If you are not sharp enough to know who I mean, I mean Zeze and Shayne. Yes, they are still alive. They have been great help. You can have them back. But of course, there is a cost. In return, I want you dead. Actually, I want you dead at any cost, but I know that is not currently possible, so I will go for the next best thing. Give me back my children, Jenz and Eliza. Both of them were muted by you. You turned my son, Jenz, into an Avox. My husband, who is working for you, turned my daughter mute and depressed, after abusing her. How would you feel if I did the same to your beloved Copernicus? If you do not respond in two days, we will assume that you do not care and we will kill the children. I would love to see Copernicus's face, when he realizes his sweet Athena is dead. Eagerly anticipating your demise, The Fair Queen also known as President Alma Coin," Alma finished. Kaymri clapped. I was horrified. "You are going to kill us?!" I gasped.