A Vivid Note: I thought of this idea during class whilst explaining about Tracker Jackers to my boyfriend. I love 'muttations', but they're terrifying to think heavily about.
So of course, I want to think very deeply on them and terrify myself by thinking of the poor souls who create these creatures. Perhaps you can enjoy being mortified as well- but you'll have to wait until the later chapters for that effect.

Kiss-Kiss,
Vivid.

Creatures of the Capitol

'Jabberjays'

I've always wanted to work with animals. Even when I was just a boy- running to Grand Park in the early morning to poke at the worms in the dirt- that's all I dreamed about as a kid. I'd be a zoologist, I had thought, or a veterinarian.

It had been a shame when my father decided that he wanted me to take the route of a laboratory assistant instead. I didn't want to of course, but I didn't have the heart to go against his wishes. He was my dad.

-but never did I dream I'd be able to combine my dream along with his.

So here I am, twenty years, my father's death and a lot of qualifications later- donning the white lab assistant coat and swiftly hurrying along the outskirts of the Capitol to my first day at working with the good fellows at the 'Capitol Genetics Research Facility'.
To say that I'm nervous is an understatement. The sweat beads that dot my brow aren't perspiration- but out of the panic I'm currently feeling.

The Capitol Genetics building isn't exactly easy to get to, because there aren't any direct hovercrafts or even transit systems that link up to it. I suppose it's because the work inside is detrimental to the war effort- and with a rebellion on our doorstep and everything- it'd be hell for its secrets to be unleashed.
Despite all that- I'm still sweaty, panicked and exhausted- rather than just excited about my first real day on the job. As the heavy-set brick wall that surrounds the facility draws near I allow my frantic jog to slow into an almost leisurely pace more befitting a twenty-five year old scientist.

Immediately I'm overwhelmed by the blinding white sterility of the front office. Although I had been expecting a clean environment- what I've just walked into feels more like a hospital than a place of research.
It also doesn't help that aside from me and the security guard manning the front window, the entire place feels hauntingly desolate. Being a Capitol citizen, this unnerves me quite a bit- as almost everywhere is bustling by this time of morning.

I embarrass myself when I reach the entrance by fumbling and dropping my identification card in front of the guard- who takes it upon himself to 'compliment' me on my dash down the street. Apparently the security cameras are placed even up the road from here for reasons I can't fathom- and I've been huffing and puffing my way through all of them.

"Couldn't wait to get to work, hmm?" the guard hands back my card and hands me a key card to use from tomorrow on. "It seems all of you are having a blast down there."

"A-Ah, is that so?" I don't know what to say to him. I really do just want to get to work. "That's good, isn't it?"

The guard shrugs and turns away back to the security screens. It takes me a moment to realise that our exchange is over, and- if I don't want to be late- I should really get moving.

The blank white color scheme continues down the halls I walk, and I'm becoming increasingly worried that I'm misreading the little signs that are tacked up in silver that direct me to the 'Alternative Genetics' labs. Every corridor looks the same as the last- and every now and then I stop to look around- just in case there is someone who might be able to help me.

Where am I going? The further I follow the signs, the more lost I seem to become. I was under the impression that the labs would be on a basement level- but none of the arrows point down any of the stairwells I pass. Dread begins to fill my stomach when I finally glance at my watch and realise that I've wasted almost twenty minutes in this maze of hallways.

Around the corner I find a water cooler and take some time to pour myself a drink and allow myself to calm down. The paper cup trembles in my hands, which I just can't seem to steady- and I find myself holding my breath to listen intently for something- a whir of a fan, a person's voice- but nothing.
These halls are as silent as they are endless. I crush the emptied paper cup in my nervous clench and let it fall behind the water cooler before continuing down the hallway.

I try to think back to my interview- but it's pointless. I wasn't even questioned in the laboratory- I had been escorted to a spare conference room in the left wing of the building. If the security guard is still watching me now- I wonder if he's still chortling at me. I must look stupid- like a mouse in a cardboard maze with no cheese to smell.
Gritting my teeth- I stop in my tracks and look around for the security camera. My eyes find nothing in the sea of white- but, in my increasing frustration- I make a rude gesture to the ceiling.

"-tell me where to go... where it is...?" I relax my hand, but my brief frustration is easing into helplessness. "I'm late... I'm so late..."

"Turn around and then turn right at the end of this corridor."

The gasp escapes me before I recognise it- and I whirl about to see who had spoken. But the rows of white doors are all firmly closed and no one else stands here with me. But the voice was as clear as day- a female's voice- and- just now- I'm positive I heard footsteps.

Practically running- I jump around the corner and find myself staring down the barrel of another empty corridor. I barely have time to speak before the same soft female voice talks once more.

"Turn left at the end of this corridor, and then take the first set of stairs down."

I want to believe that this is the guard from the front entrance being exceedingly helpful- but this is definitely a woman's voice. Sure enough- I find the stairs and jump them two at a time as I hear the pair of feet clattering up ahead.
The stairwell gets darker as I descend its spiral- but I can also hear more now. There are voices- footsteps- and... is that... wings?

I'm getting close now- because the noise is becoming almost deafening. The voice I had heard, the female voice- it's bouncing all around me. I can hear almost a million directions at once- telling me to go right, left, up, down- and the footsteps have broken into a run. Every now and then I catch a shadow disappear down the stair floor beneath me.

The curiosity that wells up within me urges me faster- and as I leap the last five steps and fling open the door that was closed seconds before- the noise stops with a sudden, sharp silence- and I find myself staring into the pitch black of a room.

I inhale a deep breath. Then, cautiously- I speak.

"Hello?"

The room fills with light and a roaring laughter meets my ears as my eyes are blinded by a brightly lit laboratory. The white is finally contrasted with the cool steel of the work tables and the complexion of the first scientists I've seen today. Confused, embarrassed and a tad bewildered- I just stand and stare as the largest of the team steps forwards and claps me heartily on the shoulder as I shakily stare up at him.

"Mr. Ein, welcome to Alternative Genetics!" his voice is like a cannon, loud and booming. "-and may I say that you were just introduced to the newest Capitol creation!"

I stammer nonsensically- because I have no idea what to say in this sort of situation- but before I need to, a familiar clatter of footsteps runs up to me as a short black haired woman holds out her arm- and on it- a very plump, brown bird with a peculiar looking beak.

"Mr. Ein-" the man smiles and takes the bird from the woman- who promptly scurries away. "Meet... the Jabberjay."

I'm still coming to terms with all that just happened. I stare blankly at the bird, which stares intently back at me. Finally I lift my head and stutter at the large scientist.

"...what?" I smile, but it's twitchier than it should be. "Wh-What's a Jabberjay?"

The bird's eyes flash with a cool intelligence. The man smiles at me and gives his arm a little shake. The Jabberjay takes flight and- louder than the flutter of its wings cries-

"...what? Wh-What's a Jabberjay? Wh-What's a Jabberjay?"

"...what? Wh-What's a Jabberjay-?"

"-What's a Jabberjay-?"

"Wh-What's a Jabberjay?"

I could almost fall over. All of the laboratory workers seem to have a bird on their arm- and every single one begins taking after the leader and crying out my pathetic question in such a perfect mimic that I feel so impressed that it overshadows the embarrassment.

"...you... you bred this?" I laugh, staring at the man. "That's amazing."

"Mr. Ein- or Cicero if you'll allow me- may I be the first to say that we're looking forward to your contributions to our work effort." I'm surprised by the mention of my first name, but he continues.

"My name is Rent Casca- and from this day forward we'll be working together on the greatest creatures and the most important asset to the Capitol's resistance."

The rest of the day was spent congratulating me on my acceptance into the facility. The only thing in that room that drew away from the smiles and laughter of my new colleagues and the incessant calling of my voice by the Jabberjays- was the small, black haired woman who stood to the side of it all.

Though it was only for a moment, I stole a small glance of her as she stood to one side- and I swear, in that tiny moment where our eyes met- I could see something other than the joy and excitement everyone else was showing me.

It was fear.