Hunger Games: Forced Gamble
Chapter 2 of my Hunger Games story.
Reviews
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks; yeah, the third book has been split into two movies.
Smiles1998: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, well, it'll be a while before we see her again, but I'm glad you liked her first appearance. Well, you're about to see.
kainos: Thanks :)
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins.
An Unexpected Guest
It had been several days since the Victory Tour. Kai was out in the woods surrounding District 12, reflecting on the tributes lost in the past two Games. Unlike before, where they were slaughtered instantly or died after a few days, the past two Games each had at least one District 12 tribute make it all the way to the end, being the last one killed. He took some comfort in the fact that the Victors of both previous Games had at least given those tributes honourable deaths, fighting them face to face, rather than sneaking up and killing them while they were unaware. He let out a soft sigh as he gazed over the lake; this was his favourite place in the woods. He wasn't alone however, Lillian was with him, he had shown the place to her some time ago and occasionally, whenever they wanted to get away from District 12, they came here. I glanced up, checking the position of the sun and from that noticed the time.
"Lillian, we should go." I told her. "We need to get back to District 12 before they notice we're missing."
She nodded and followed him as we made our way back. They ducked under the fence and began heading towards Victor's Village. As they were walking Lillian suddenly stopped.
She shook her head. "Damn, I forgot. I was supposed to go pick up an order at the butcher's for mom."
Kai turned to her. "Want me to come with you?"
"Kai, I can handle a simple trip to the butchers." She said firmly.
Kai nodded and watched her go before heading home. He reflected that she may be right; Lillian's fits were lessening every passing day.
As Kai walked home he was pondering a new problem. Shortly after her Games, he realized that the crush on him; that he had told Lillian to act, was in fact real. He tried to keep things strictly professional but; spending prolonged periods of time with Lillian, due to her mental state, had changed his thoughts. He too found himself developing certain feelings for her, although he kept them hidden.
'But am I right to do so, I mean, how do I even tell her?' He thought worriedly to himself. 'I'm not sure if I should risk it, after all, she…'
He stopped; his thoughts cut off, as he noticed somebody standing in his garden, the last person he expected to see there. It was a young woman aged twenty-six with long golden blonde hair and blue eyes; she was dressed in a rather elegant white dress and white heels. All made of fine quality material, her extravagant beauty was clearly Capitol style too. Although surprised he hid it and approached her, calm and collected.
He cleared his throat and addressed the President's daughter. "So, Serafina Lucrum, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
She turned to gaze at Kai, her usual haughty stuck up expression on her face. "Finally; we were getting tired of waiting for you to show up."
Kai tilted his head, confused, however then the front door opened and he got his answer.
The man who emerged was a young, aged twenty-eight with shoulder length black hair and piercing blue eyes, dressed in a dark suit. Kai recognized him as the President's second son.
"Ramirez Lucrum." Kai greeted him casually.
It worked as he planned, Ramirez looked annoyed at Kai's lack of concern.
"Father's waiting for you inside, don't keep him waiting any longer." He growled.
That surprised Kai, Panem's illustrious president was here, in his home. Still, he had a feeling he knew what this was about and so pushed past Lucrum and entered the house. He passed his mother who exchanged a worried glance with him before he headed through to the living room. Kai stopped in the doorway and smiled wryly as he observed. Seventy-two year old President Sol Lucrum was in the living room; he was looking behind a painting and had his back to the door. He was wearing a dark suit that looked even older than he was. His white hair was neatly brushed as usual, Kai couldn't see it but he could picture the severe face all too well.
Deciding to make his presence known he commented. "You won't find it there Sol."
He turned, glaring, his yellow-brown hawk like eyes flared.
"I expect the proper respect from you, Mr. Raithebone." He snarled.
Kai smiled and sat down. "My apologies. I assumed since we're meeting in my home and not yours that this was a social call and formalities weren't necessary."
He sighed and sat down opposite me.
It was then Kai noticed the plate on the table between them, with cakes on it, along with cups of tea.
"Your mother is a generous host." Lucrum stated. "But this get down to business."
As he spoke he picked up one of the cakes and took a bite.
Kai nodded. "Agreed."
Lucrum paused for a moment before remarking. "This cake is excellent, my compliments to your mother."
"I'll be sure to pass them on."
Lucrum then became serious.
"Now, I am aware you are in possession of information that compromises my family." He stated darkly.
Kai nodded, before adding. "Specifically, you, Ramirez and Serafina, your secret liaisons with her, Ramirez's secret liaisons with her and the truth about Dante, and that's just for starters."
"Yes." He snarled in response. "Well, I'm willing to bargain with you, I know about the timed devices that only you can control, so I know killing you is out of the question."
"Especially since I have given copies of the information to those I want protected from you." Kai casually reminded him.
He growled again, Kai could see the thick worm like vein in his right temple begin to throb as the dynamo of his brain began to kick into overdrive. Finally he seemed to collect himself and spoke calmly.
"Yes, well, I'm willing to bargain with you, and buy all copies of the information from you and keep them secret…Now name your price."
Kai smiled at his statement, finally, a chance had been put before him, he'd be foolish to pass it up.
He smiled as President Lucrum waited for his response.
"Okay, here's my price." Kai remarked finally. "The abolishment of the Games."
Stunned silence followed as he stared at Kai wide-eyed.
"P-preposterous." He spluttered, "The Games are the foundation of the Capitol, you can't just…"
"Those are the terms." Kai explained sharply. "For every year you don't hold the Games, I deactivate one copy of the information. By the time you die…the Games will be impossible to bring back logically, I'll then deactivate all copies."
He remained silent for a long time before finally choking down the last bit of his cake and swallowing the remains of his tea.
"Fine, very well…But, let me state a condition of my own." He said at last, Kai nodded and Lucrum explained. "Let us hold the Games this year at least. It's the seventy-fifth Games, the Quarter Quell; the Capitol people are dying to see it."
Kai nodded slowly; it couldn't be so bad, one more year, just one more Games.
"Alright, deal."
With that they shook hands and then President Lucrum picked up his black top hat, which looked even older than his suit, put it on and began to leave. Before he did he stopped at the doorway and repeated a familiar warning to Kai.
"Just remember what I said Mr. Raithebone, for it will soon prove true." He remarked, "Karma is very dangerous."
With that he left, Kai remained seated; he couldn't help but feel he had just made a terrible mistake.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.