Prologue
Capitol Plans
He walked down the pure white corridor and then stopped when he reached a door. He took a deep breath before knocking carefully on the sturdy, white-washed door. "Come in," came a hoarse admission. He bowed his head respectfully, took another second to compose himself then he tugged open the door. Tripping into the room, the smell wafted to him at once making him grimace and shiver. Roses, not too bad, but that strong scent didn't mask out the other one, the reek of blood.
"Hello… President Snow," I gasped, trying to inhale through my mouth not my nose. The tainted smell was making me dizzy, even though I really should be used to it by now.
"Seneca," the president nodded his head in a greeting at me. "Please be seated."
"Thank you," I strode over to a chair he had gestured at and sat in it, but at the very edge. He took that in with his normal furred brow. Silence stretched, him scrutinizing me and me examining the floor. The quiet just fed my agitation, so much that I after minutes I blurted out, "They know!"
"Who know? Crane stop babbling," he snapped, making me give an involuntary flinch. This he also stores in his mind for later thought.
"The girls from District 1, 2 and 4," I still didn't look up.
"The Flare, Blackbane and Rose girls?"
I nodded.
"I knew they'd be a bother! What if they tell someone?" He was working up into a rage I knew and always tried to avoid. "Well, what are you going to do about it Crane?"
"Me?" I was so bemused I looked up, glancing to Snow's face. It was a mistake, the open anger and annoyance traced upon was sweltering, making me start to tremble. Hopefully the shakes weren't visible. "Excuse me, but I'm just a Gamemaker, I'm not a Peacekeeper." When he didn't answer I finally got it. "Oh, the games, right but won't it look suspicious? The three of them picked?"
"You're clever but you hardly use those brains." I think he shook his head in a mock sadness. "I want it to be really uncomfortable for the three, right? You can do that?"
"Yes president," I whispered.
"You can go, but-" I was standing up and turning to the door, but at his last word I froze. "But Seneca if you fail…" He didn't have to finish, I knew that if I didn't pull off these games I was a dead man. I'd be either hung or… I didn't want to think about it.
"Goodbye President," I said my voice in a respectful monotone. I jumped over to the door and then turned the handle, stepping out back into the pure white hallway. At once my head clears and I take a deep breath. Maybe the repulsive stench had fogged up my head, either way I felt ashamed at my infantile meekness. "I disgust myself," I muttered under my breath before started a brisk pace. I might as well tell the other Gamemakers what Snow's plans were. I followed the corridor, passing only silent Avoxs on my way. They didn't look up from their duty but their stances were weary. I snarled at them. Stupid servants.
I turned left at a junction, rotating into the busy crowd. I shoved my way through, yelling at Gamemakers who were making their way to lunch. "Get back to the Game-room!" I shouted at them and they responded like sheep, wide-eyes and lost. I gave an internal moan; these were my last chance? I must be doomed.