A/N: I am proud of this one and think it's a big step up from my latest prologues. Enjoy!
President Everess POV
I can't hide my anger as I storm into the command room. The rebels has struck three times and we are just as lost as we were at the beginning. They seem to always be one step ahead. How can they know all off our plans? A man on the inside is always a possibility, but the rebels would have needed to recruit half of the capitol to gain the intel they need. I have no idea, and it angers me.
Valum recoils and squeak at my entrance. He is a little rounder and the red curls seem to have grown a bit, but he is basically the same person he was when I hired him. I didn't hire him because he was brave, I did because how humble he is. He wanted to be a secretary, and nothing more. He wasn't a threat to me and will probably never be. With a shaking hand he points at the holo in the middle of the room, which shows the aftermath of the attack.
The parts of the Justice Hall that was made of stone still stands, while rest of it is burnt down. The Hall in the district 6 was one of the oldest buildings in Panem and was made out of wood. No wonder the Last Victor choose just that building to burn down, it was the only one they could. But still, it doesn't make sense. Why burn down the Justice Hall? How the hell would it help them?
"We found a trace in the ruins." Eina says, the overcommander of the peacekeepers. "It led back to district 8."
Her undertone makes me suspect I am not gonna like what is coming next.
"It was a trap." she continues. "A bomb. I lost five good men."
I grunt.
"Why? Why are they doing this? How am is burning down the Justica Hall gonna help them? Other than driving us insane!" I state.
"They want to make a statement." Call says and steps out of the shadows. The old district 2 victor's grey beard and hair have seen better days, and his dark eyes is locked steady on me.
I sigh when I see him. He is everything I don't want to be. But I need him. He shouldn't be here. He should sit and rot together with other victors. He shouldn't have the power he has. But here he is, and the soner I accept it the faster I can get rid of him.
"We can't touch them, so why would they bow for us? Soon the masses will realise that and we will have a revolution at hand, unless we stop them." he continues.
"I am open to ideas." I answer.
He smiles, a unsettling smile, and says:
"We use our two greatest weapons. Fear. And Hope."
"Continue."
"Choose ten random people in the district with the most rebel activity. Ask them about the Last Victor. They will of course say that they don't know. Publicity execute half of them for treason. Tell the other half that they have one month ot talk. Return after one month and kill everyone who doesn't have information. Choose another five victims and give them the one month deadline. Most don't know a thing about the rebels, but they will dig for info to save their own skin. After a few rounds kill their families too. Soon the district will hate the rebels. Without the masses support the Last Victor is weaker. Repeat the procedure in the other district until we have destroyed the rebels completely."
I can't find any words. Call smirks like he thinks killing random people is the best plan he made.
"Your plan is madness." I say. "You are advocating genocide."
"Don't say genocide." he responds. "I am giving them some motivation to cooperate with us."
"Human lives shouldn't be thrown away."
"You kill peoples families and make their kids kill other kids in a arena. What has changed?"
"Nothing." I say. "It's necessary to keep the system going. Panem can't be handled with silver gloves. But you're plan crosses the line."
"What line?" he asks.
Before I can responds the door slams open and three men enters the room. The first man, or should I say boy because how young he is, seems to had plastic surgeries to look more intimidating. But it just looks wrong.
"Hello miss Everess. My name is Triumph Attila and is the newly appointed administrator of District 6. I can say that we are very disappointed in your handling of the recent rebel attack. " he says.
I roll my eyes. Triumph (God what an horrible name) doesn't seem to be older than 18 years old and is as experienced as one. This won't end well.
"In paragraf 11 in chapter 5 it says that if the admistrasion is mutual that the President is unfitting to rule and with a agreement from a high up official, the administration can take control over their district. And that's what we are here for." he continues.
A dumb law written by a probably even dumber person. I need to remember to change that.
"Listen kid. You are playing a dangerous game..." I begin but is interrupted by Triumph.
"I have the law on my side. I expect you to follow it." he says.
You can't control the game if you play it, I think. None of the presidents have ruled by playing fair. I look at Call, who smile and nods when he picks up the unspoken order.
"Fine. But I need to check your papers. You will have the results tomorrow." I say.
Triumph throws a casefield on one of the desks.
"All of the signatures is in their." he says. I nod.
"Call and Valum, can you follow our guest to the exit?" I say.
The moment they leave the room I take the casefile and throw it out of the window. The file opens and the wind grabs the papers, taking them to infinity.
"No!" Eina cries out.
I look confused at her.
"What?"
"They said that they had a agreement with a high up official." she says bitterly. "And no one in their right mind signs a such crazy proposition. If they don't want to weaken the capitol."
Slowly I realise my mistake.
"Maybe the same one who gives information to the Last Victor. His or her signature was in the casefile, which I throwed away." I state and curse over my stupidity.
"Now we are back at square one."
Valum Cesario POV
The hall was suspiciously quiet when we walk towards the exit. The first thing I notice is the peacekeepers. They shouldn't be here. The other thing is Call smile. When the crazy bastard is smiling, something is wrong. I know what is coming. It's unavoidable. Well, the kid asked for it.
Call snaps his fingers and the peacekeepers rush against the men.
"What the-" Triumph begins.
The peacekeepers knocks one of the men unconscious and holds the other two in a steady grepp. Triumph is clearly panicking.
"I hereby arrest you for treason and plotting against the capitol." Call says.
"You can't do this!" Triumph says. "I am the head administrator! I have the law..."
He doesn't get to end his sentence when Call snaps his neck.
"There will be loads of monkey wanting your position. Sorry, but you won't be missed."
I recoil and try to comprehend what just happened.
Did he really just kill that guy? What the hell? How could he kill without blinking? Is that even legal? I always saw Call as the brutal guy who sometimes works with Everess, but this is a psychopath.
I start sweating and Call notices it.
"Are you a little nervous Cinnamon?" he asks.
That goddamn nickname. Another reason to hate him.
"W-What did you just do?" I ask nervously.
"Saving time." he responds. "He was gonna die either way. He was a threat to the Capitol."
"Yes but he was supposed be arrested stand trial and then be executed! We need to treat everyone..."
"Fairly?" Call completes my sentence. I nod. "It sounds like you are defending the traitor."
I gulp. This can't be good.
"No, but if they are not treated fairly, what would happen if we would be standing trial. What would stop them from snapping YOUR neck?" I say.
"Me." Call starts walking closer to me. "As long I am in charge nothing will happen to us. Do you know why I work here Cinnamon?"
Call stands so close to me that I can smell the ash scent from his mouth.
"No." I answer. "For me you are no different than any other scum from you're district."
Call laughs.
"It looks like you have more guts than I expected. But seriously, Cinnamon, listen."
"The system is fragile." he begins. "Just look what happened after Snow's death and the election President Everess. The nation is falling apart. Uprisings, strikes and now the Last Victor. Our president is weak. She hasn't the determination to rule Panem. She said it herself, Panem can't be handled with silver gloves. I am the iron glove. I have contacts. I have influence. She knows that she cant follow up on her commands, that's why I am here to do just that. I am holding this nation together, just like Snow. She knows that, and that's why she needs me. At the same time I need her, because the second we get a President that have what it takes I am back in the mud back at District 2."
He almost spits out the last words. If his goal was to terrify me, he succeeded.
"You are not brave Cinnamon. That's why I never heard you're insult. But remember what I said next time you talk to me." he says.
"Why do you do this? Why are you killing your own people?" I ask.
"If you don't want to play the game, be the game." he replies.
Peeta Mellark POV
The dusk has that beautiful orange color. The color that makes you feel warm inside, and tells you that everything is gonna be okay.
My favorite color.
Enna takes a seat beside me. The patio is big enough for at least two dozen victors, but I am almost always alone.
Enna is twelve's fourth victor and the only one we have brought home. It pains me to see her, reminding me about all the one we have failed.
"Guess I will be this years mentor." she says.
"You know she can't take anymore." I respond.
Enna looks at me.
"Where is she anyway?"
"Out hunting. She always does that at this time at the year." I say.
"Is it hard?"
"What?"
"Being forced together, the capitol invading your private life, that stuff."
I wait a few seconds before I responds.
"It was, at the beginning. But it is much easier when you love each other."
A/N: So this is supposed to be the last prologue, but I may do another if I can't get enough tributes. Let me know what you think!
Almost all spots are open, so feel free to submit!
