As the assault on District 13 continues over the next three days, Katniss wonders what will break her. While teasing Buttercup with a laser pointer, she realizes that Snow is doing the same to her by keeping Peeta just out of her reach.

Finnick and Katniss speak after the others have gone to sleep. Finnick tells her that he believed her love for Peeta was an elaborate survival strategy until the moment Peeta almost died in the Quarter Quell; her reaction convinced him that her love is genuine. Unfortunately, it convinced Snow too. Finnick suspects the Capitol are keeping Annie imprisoned for the same reason: to drive him insane.

Thanks to Peeta’s warning, the attack claims no casualties, though the top levels of District 13 take heavy structural damage. Coin authorizes everyone to leave the bunkers, but Katniss is intercepted by Boggs on her way out, who takes her aboveground to film another propo. The rebels in other districts need to see her alive and well.

Emerging into the open air, Katniss notices the leaves beginning to turn and surmises that it is now September. Snow has had Peeta for months. As the crew looks for a spot to film their next propo, Katniss sees several long-stemmed white

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