Hunger Games- Dawn After Fire

Chapter 3 — The Symbol in Ice

Fear spread through Panem faster than wildfire.

Within days, northern scouting teams vanished.

Supply convoys disappeared.

Communication towers near abandoned territories failed mysteriously.

Rumors flooded every district.

Some believed the Dominion was a lie created to strengthen military control.

Others believed invasion had already begun.

Maria sat inside a crowded café near the Capitol transit station while news broadcasts played continuously overhead.

“Another scouting patrol failed to report back this morning…”

“…President Rowan urges citizens to remain calm…”

“…unconfirmed sightings beyond former District 13…”

Nobody sounded calm.

Across the room, Eli studied recruitment notices scrolling across public screens.

Maria noticed immediately.

“No,” she said.

Eli looked up.

“What?”

“You’re thinking about volunteering.”

“I’m thinking about helping.”

“That means yes.”

Eli sighed.

“Maria—”

“You rebuild train systems. You’re not military.”

“They need engineers.”

“They need soldiers.”

“And soldiers need functioning equipment.”

Maria stared at him.

The thought of Eli traveling north suddenly made the entire Capitol feel colder.

“This isn’t your responsibility,” she whispered.

Eli leaned forward.

“If something’s actually happening up there, somebody has to figure it out.”

Maria looked down at the table.

“You sound like one of those rebellion speeches.”

“That’s because your generation thinks every problem can be solved by pretending danger doesn’t exist.”

“That’s not fair.”

“No,” Eli admitted. “Maybe it isn’t.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Eli smiled faintly.

“Besides,” he added, “I’m not planning on dying dramatically in the snow.”

Maria didn’t laugh.

Three days later, Eli officially joined a northern scouting expedition.

The night before departure, District 12 gathered near the station platform beneath cold rain while military transports prepared for departure.

Families hugged quietly.

Volunteers checked supplies.

Nobody pretended this was routine.

Maria stood beside Eli near the tracks.

“You could still change your mind,” she said.

“You know I won’t.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t keep trying.”

Eli adjusted the straps on his heavy coat.

“If everything goes well, I’ll be back in two weeks.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

He hesitated.

“That’s why we’re going.”

The train whistle echoed through the rain.

Maria suddenly stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

Eli froze for a second before hugging her back.

“You’re going to be okay,” he promised.

Maria wished she believed him.

The train departed minutes later.

Maria watched the lights disappear into darkness.

Then she went home.

And three nights later—

Eli vanished.

There were no signs of forced entry.

No broken windows.

No blood.

Nothing.

Only silence.

Maria stood frozen inside Eli’s room while Peacekeepers searched the house.

Then she saw the wall.

A symbol had been painted beside the window sometime during the night.

A mockingjay.

Surrounded by silver ice.

Maria stared at it without breathing.

Someone had taken her brother.

And they wanted Panem to know exactly who did it.

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