Chapter 9 : Through the Glass
Felix Astrid was sitting in the Mentor room after a long morning of accepting sponsorships for Jerika and Caleb. He was watching the video feeds of each tribute. He saw Jerika hiding out with Jamie and nodded. Felix knew that those two would probably end up pairing up together. He then saw Caleb and Emy working together with the two tributes from the Elysian Academy. Felix didn't remember who they were but he had asked around and found them out to be Melissa and Ptolemy.
Felix sighed as he looked at the funds on the hologram display at the desk and looked at the list of gifts that could send. He knew that the gifts would get more expensive the longer the games continued. However, due to their strategy, he didn't know if they really needed anything with all the supplies that both pairs had procured. Any gift he sent needed to wait until they needed it. He moved his hand over the hologram and it changed to a map of the arena and he saw that all the groups were relatively far apart.
"Well, I guess I was wrong about my initial analysis of the other tributes." A voice spoke behind Felix.
Felix turned and saw Finnick Odair, the escort that was assigned to help him. "And apparently, I was wrong about thinking that only mentors were supposed to be in this room." Felix replied dryly as he stared at the map. "So what are you doing in here, Finnick?"
"Haha, very funny." Finnick replied before sitting across from Felix. "I'm helping you. I may be the 'escort' but I'm also a good mentor. I've done it plenty of times before." He informed Felix, opening the map and information on his own side.
"So you've mentored for these games before? Why didn't you say anything? I feel like a bleeding idiot because I haven't the slightest clue what to do here." Felix said to Finnick, looking at the man in disbelief.
Finnick sighed before looking at Felix. "I come from Panem, where these games started. I didn't want you to think I was in on any of this. I didn't have a choice but to get involved because I wanted to help someone." He told him honestly as he looked back at the hologram. "I was once a victor in the games but it isn't easy. It never gets easier when it's over either."
"Oh, I see." Felix replied, feeling a little embarrassed by how he acted towards Finnick. "I didn't know that you had lived through these monstrosities."
Finnick shrugged. "Eh, don't be sorry, Felix. I don't exactly advertise it to everyone." He told him. "Let's just focus on the task at hand with the kids, okay?" He suggested to him.
"Right." Felix agreed, nodding as he brought up the vitals on Jerika and Caleb. "Looks like they're doing fine right now." He said, looking at the live feed as well. "All the groups are so far apart that it's almost ridiculous."
"Well, that probably won't last for too long. The Gamemakers will drive them all together soon enough." Finnick replied as he was looking at the map. "It's only a matter of time. They'll either come together on their own or they'll be forced together. I'm just amazed at how many of them are in these large groups." He commented, looking at the map as a whole.
"I'd say it's for more safety. Most the crazy blood-thirsty ones died early on for the most part." Felix reminded him before shaking his head. "Witches and wizards naturally stay together. It's how we've survived so long."
"See, usually the blood-thirsty ones make alliances. The more reserved ones don't trust anyone so they go on their own. Your groups don't make much sense." Finnick analyzed.
Felix shrugged in response. "I guess that we're just different." He replied as he went over some more of the data. "Night one and there's already been 5 killed. That leaves about 19 in the arena and we've already seen where 10 of them have made their groups."
"Not to mention there's the four in the Career pack." Finnick pointed out. "That leaves 5 tributes that we haven't seen yet or have any idea about."
"I don't worry so much about the group of four. I'm more worried about the 5 that are unaccounted for." Felix told Finnick honestly as he looked at the two live video feeds. "This is definitely unsettling."
Ines was in her own mentor room and she sat, watching the screen. She watched Yosuke and Sophia sleeping under the tree they'd found and she sighed softly, rubbing her tired eyes. Thankfully, the pair had earned plenty of sponsors apiece so she'd be able to send them something when they needed it. As some of the others were, Ines worried about the different tributes from the other schools that were in hiding. She couldn't imagine sleeping because she was so worried.
Eliza walked into the room after knocking and was carrying an extra cup of coffee before handing it to Ines. "I saw the light on so I figured you might need a pick-me-up. Are you going to try to stay awake the entire length of the games?" She asked her curiously. "I mean...these games last days..."
Ines listened to Eliza as she drank from her coffee cup. She sighed softly. "Thanks for the coffee, Eliza. But, unfortunately, I don't think that you can understand the reason why I am staying up so far." She told Eliza quietly.
"It's because of Sophia, isn't it?" Eliza asked Ines.
"Well, yes..." Ines began before biting her lip. "It's also Yosuke. He and Sophia are supposed to get married over the summer. So they're both family to me. I'm worried that something will happen to one or both of them. I mean...there's so much in that arena that is instinct and I just...I don't know if they'll both make it out safely." Ines admitted to Eliza, taking another drink of the coffee.
Eliza sat across from Ines and looked at her. "I'd understand more than you'd think." She told Ines softly before looking down at the map. "When I was a lot younger, and I lived in Panem, my best friend got chosen as tribute. And, in District 7, it wasn't common for people to volunteer and if you did, it was more than likely a member of your family that went." She pointed out to her.
Ines looked at Eliza for the longest time, her eyes searching Eliza's face. "Eliza, why are you telling me this?" She asked the woman softly. They had hardly known each other over the past week and now Eliza was talking to her like a long-lost friend.
"Because Sophia reminds me of my friend, Katerina." Eliza admitted to Ines. "Her entire demeanor and her preference of her smarts to her strength. Katerina was never a fighter but she lasted for days in that arena...she even won." She told her before shaking her head. "When the entire Second Rebellion happened about 18 years ago, she was killed for being a victor because she might have had important information. And...I miss her everyday."
Ines looked at Eliza for an extended period of time afterward and nodded. "I see. I think I understand now." Ines replied and then looked at her curiously. "Eliza, how many of the other escorts are from Panem and know how this all works?"
"Well, about all of them except the few from this world." Eliza replied after thinking a moment. "There are a couple escorts that were victors but only a spare couple since most of the victors were killed."
"You know...I think we need to get everyone together and chat." Ines suggested to Eliza. "If they want to try to kill everyone, we're going to have to prove that we're a little more crafty at this game than they are."
Eliza grinned a bit. "You're right, Ines." She said before getting up. "I'll try to find as many mentors and escorts as I can. We could all meet in your tribute's apartment." She stated before nodding. "I've got to hurry. When should we meet?"
"Tonight at about 3 am." Ines told her simply. "I'm sure our tributes should be safe for a couple hours while all of us chat." She added.
"Okay, I'm going now." Eliza stated before rushing out of the room.
Ines looked at the video feed and smiled a little, seeing Yosuke and Sophia still sleeping. "Please, stay safe." She said softly, kissing her fingers before touching the hologram. "Stay strong and don't give up." She whispered, her eyes tearing up a little. "I love you both so very much."
Author's Note : I decided to write a shorter chapter for this bit to let everyone know how the mentors are at that moment and to take a break from the tributes. Sorry that it's shorter. To all the readers, do you enjoy the shorter chapters? I'm thinking about making some chapters for specific tributes so post your thoughts and reviews in the review box. Reviews can be anonymous!