"Mellark, are you alright?"

While I'm already beginning to recover from my little episode, the voice helps pull me back into reality, and as my vision clears, a pair of boots materialize into view. I look up to see a vaguely familiar face of a miner staring at me with an expression of concern and trepidation.

I still need to take a few steadying breaths before responding in what I think is a laid-back tone: "Yeah… I just… I just needed to catch my breath. It's just… it's a lot to take in."

Understatement of the week. Unlike others who have used this place as a relay point on the way to the Capitol, I never came here but was sent straight to the Capitol; probably so that I could maintain then facade of sanity when transferred to Katniss' squad. So prior to my arrival, I poured over footage and photographs of the bombing's aftermath — namely the ones just a week or so after it actually happened, and when the bodies were just starting to decay — to steel myself ahead of time. Still, all this preparation didn't prepare me for the real thing as I surveyed the dawn-lit scenery: the charred and husk-like remains of what used to be buildings, the thick layer of ash caking the ground and crumbling beneath my fingers, or the mixture of carbonized and dried-out corpses. And for a moment, I flashed back to the land of the hijacked to be bombarded with both real and shiny memories.

On the upside, I guess my response is a sign that progress with Dr. Aurelius has paid off… somewhat. I mean, I no longer react violently to every possible trigger. Instead, I merely seize up on myself, become about as useful as a fractured rock as I wait, and feel utterly drained of energy after the storm passes. Sometimes it last a couple seconds, and sometimes it can last for almost half an hour; what I just had was probably a longer one. Still, it would be smart to have some contingency in place once I get settled in to be on the safe side. Also, the sight of me curled up on the ground likely doesn't exactly give a good impression about my mental state to anyone.

In any case, a look of sympathy crossed the former miner's features before he offers a hand to me, which I accept with a grunt of gratitude. "Thanks…"— What's his name again? Thorn? Tom? Thom? Thom! Yeah, that's it. —"Thom."

If Thom notices my hesitation at recalling him, he doesn't say anything but rather just pats me on the shoulder and grabs my bags before I can say anything. "Well it's good to see you back, Mellark," he notes as we begin walking up to the Victors' Village.

"How are things here?" I ask while gesturing vaguely at my surroundings.

"Honestly?" A puff of air is released as he runs his hand through his hair. "Could be better. Not many folks keen on returning; too many memories. Because of that, clean-up has been progressing much slower than any of us here would like, and we can't rebuild without finishing that part first."

"Oh…" This is worse than I thought.

"On the upshot, when the mine collapsed a while after the bombing, said collapse ended up snuffing out the fire burning in there. So at least this place hasn't become completely uninhabitable. Also, no more coal dust occupying every nook, surface, and ass-crack."

"Not sure if all this ash is much better. And what will you do for work?"

Thom's mouth goes into a thin line at my query. "Yeah… I know. Coal mining wasn't the most pleasant or healthy of jobs — not to mention how damning it was to find out just how much the Capitol really needed coal — but it was still a job, and I bet that the lack of said job availability is another reason people aren't eagerly flock back." Another puff is released as he mutters, "We'll figure something out."

I ignore the trace of doubt and hesitation in his voice as we walk the rest of the way in silence.

Even though I already know that it was spared, it's still damning to see the Victors' Village intact after all the devastation that occurred. Though if there's one good thing about them remaining, it's that they are currently used to house those who did return; just as well considering how just one of those mansions can easily hold at least five extended families comfortably. For some reason however, while I understand why no one else has occupied Haymitch — like anybody would share a space with him — and Katniss' houses, my house has remained empty as well.

When I ask Thom about that fact as we set my stuff down on the main foyer, he just shrugs. "We suspected as much that you'd return,"— For some reason, I detect some hidden message behind that, but he doesn't elaborate upon that. —"so we thought it fair that we leave the spot open."

"Thanks, though you didn't have to do it. Especially if—"

"We didn't have to do it, Mellark… We wanted to do it. It's as much as we could offer."

I… really don't know what to say to that. So instead I just gulp and, rather lamely, repeat, "Thanks." That's when the subject of importance comes up. "By the way, do you know how Katniss is?" The fact that she hasn't called Dr. Aurelius hasn't exactly been a good sign, and while Haymitch has promised to look after her during my stay in the Capitol, he hasn't exactly been the type to update me on things.

For a brief second, a grimace crosses Thom's face — also not exactly a good sign — before he smooths it out into impassivity. "Honestly don't know. You should ask Greasy Sae; she and her granddaughter have been the caretakers."

"I… see…"

"Sorry I can't be of more help. But let me know if you need anything else." With that, and after we shake hands, he heads out to start the day's work.

And thus, I'm left in this empty house with my own thoughts.

So instead of getting unpacked and settled in, I decide to go outside. I should check up on Katniss… but maybe she needs her distance right now, and I have no idea of how to help her. I could confront Haymitch about that… but right now is way too early. So what actually ends up happening is that I find myself walking back into the rest of the district to survey the devastation in detail; I don't even direct myself but instead let my feet do the directing for me.

I walk through the ruined square — once the bakery becomes close, I stare at the ground and pick up my pace; I'll have to face it someday, but it's not now — and Justice Building. I walk through the leveled surface of what used to be the Seam. I walk past the caved-in mine and the meadow that's now being used as a mass grave. All the while I take in everything. I'm honestly surprised I haven't lost it just yet; granted, I can feel beads of perspiration on my forehead that have nothing to do with temperature, and a constant constriction on my chest that signifies how close I am to having another episode.

It may be silly, but as I survey the destruction and death around me — not to mention being careful to step around the human remains — the one thing that registers is just how dreary everything is. I mean, our district was never the most cheerful, but there's just something about the constant gray, occasionally interrupted with char black, that adds a whole other level of unpleasantness on top.

Though as I get close to the fence boundary, I see something that sticks out amongst the gray, as if in defiance of the devastation. And just right there, I know exactly what I can give back to Katniss. And hopefully… just hopefully… I may able to contribute something that would give Twelve just the spark it needs to finally start growing.

So once a wheelbarrow and shovel's obtained, I begin digging.

It's not much, but it's the best I can do.

A/N: For those who have read my other stuff, this is a bit of change in pace. While the progression of Everlark is a major element, the focus is on the rebuilding of District Twelve.

This also could be read in conjunction with, and as a sequel of sorts to, The High Road.

Enjoy and be sure to review.