"Do we have any reports about his whereabouts?"

"No, Mr President. We've looking all over Panem for him, and for his associates, but have been unable to find anyone."

"Nerissa," Snow said calmly, holding a white rose and looking at it fixedly, "If you're unable to continue with this investigation, I'll hand over this job to someone else."

Vice President Nerissa Verity could barely keep herself from cringing. Oh goodness, how was she just waiting for the old man to bite the dust! He was annoying, with his calm demeanour, and constant belittling of her. She narrowed her eyes at him, unafraid, and finally he met them with his own.

"I don't think that's necessary, Coriolanus," she muttered. If first names was what he preferred, so be it. Nerissa couldn't be too bothered.

"And why is that so?"

"Because," she toyed with him, "Although there is no news about where Alan Aquila and Cress Woods are, or where Regal Winter is, there is another news that may get your interest."

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

Nerissa smiled to herself. She knew this would be news to Snow, who couldn't have imagined such a thing to happen, ever.

"Last year, three, or rather, four tributes escaped the arena."

"What?"

Snow looked up at her, surprise finally visible on his face. Nerissa smirked at him.

"Yes, Coriolanus. Now, while we know Alan Aquila was undercover there as the Head Trainer and mentor for District Seven, he alone could not have done so. He must have had help, and might not even know about it."

"Who do you think it is?"

This was what Nerissa had been waiting for. This had gotten personal for her, and this person, this traitor, deserved what he was about to get for always rejecting her advances. The bloody idiot had said that it was just the age difference that made him refuse her every time, but Nerissa knew better.

"It has to be someone who knew about the flaws in the arena, maybe even helped create it. Someone whom we all trust. And someone who is in a powerful position to be aiding these bloody terrorists."

Because that's what those rebels were. Terrorists.

"Who do you suspect?"

Nerissa smiled. This was going to be fun.

The man was one of the youngest among his team, and yet he headed them in all operations.

He considered himself lucky to have this opportunity. Matthew Hayes had a humble background; his mother was a servant at the former president, Albert Winter's residence. Matthew was born there, he had been told, but as a baby he cried so much that the president had ordered him to be thrown out as a baby. His mother, apparently having no other choice, did just that.

It was ironic how a servant's son climbed the ladder to this powerful position, particularly popular among the Capitolites, and equally famous for being notorious in the Districts. Not that Matthew cared about what labels were applied to him, he was just doing his job of being the Head Gamemaker, and he was damn good at it. After all, he had designed the most dangerous arenas, ones that forced the tributes to kill each other. The Capitol wasn't fond of mutt deaths if they were too many of them. No, everything had to be in balance.

He couldn't say he enjoyed killing, but he valued his job. It ensured that he knew what was happening everywhere throughout the country. The young man was in very good books of President Snow too, not only for the brilliant games that he organised and executed, but also for his humble mannerisms and really good looks.

And Matthew had, again this year, come up with the most brilliant arena, or so he thought. He didn't like death, nor did he appreciate gore, but he had a liking for creativity, and it all came out when making plans for the Games.

He had a meeting today though, a meeting with a dear friend, and Matthew couldn't wait to see him. it had been, after all, a decade since he met him, but was glad that he got to talk to him sometimes. He was grateful for that.

That night, Matthew Hayes left his office early. This appointment was, after all, really important for him.

"Who do you suspect?" Snow repeated, his eyes not leaving Nerissa Verity even for a second.

She smirked, and tilted her head.

"Why, it's our favourite Head Gamemaker, Matthew Hayes!"

The bridge was deserted as far as the eye could go, except for one lone figure standing there, wearing a black hood, waiting. He had been waiting for a long time, years in fact, to achieve his goal. He even died in the process, and it was the very genius Ruby Platinum Flame who had managed to clone him, to give him a new life. He owed her his life, quite literally, as he got the chance to work for his goal again.

But right now, Regal Winter was waiting for his friend, and his key accomplice in the entire operation. It had been a long time…

And then, he heard footsteps, as light as a cat's, from right behind him.

"Ah, you're here," he said, without turning back.

"How could I not?"

Regal smiled to himself, barely recognising his friend's voice. It had grown old and strong, and was quite different from his voice on the phone. Slowly, he turned around to face the other hooded man. They held each other's gaze for a while, and then they embraced each other with all the love and affection they felt for one another, friends having met after a long, long time.

"It can't be him," Snow said slowly, finally keeping the rose aside.

"And why do you think so?"

"Matthew is a sadist. He's always, always looking for ways to kill the tributes, to discipline the Districts, and to punish the criminals. He often come up with creative solutions to so many problems as well."

"And don't you think that, without a person of such high information, influence and power, the rebels would find it difficult to operate?"

Snow was not liking what Verity said, but despite his dislike for the woman, he knew she had a decent head on her shoulders. If she believed something to be true, it would be wise not to ignore it. after all, Snow wanted Panem to be in complete order all the time.

"Fine," he said, "Keep an eye on him. Do whatever you want to investigate his case."

Nerissa beamed at the old man.

"Of course, Coriolanus, of course."

Regal released his friend Matthew Hayes from his embrace, grinning like a kid. Matthew, on his part, looked beside himself with joy.

"It's been so long! Goodness, I'd thought you'd died! How come you didn't age?"

"I did die, actually," Regal replied with a light laugh, "But an outstanding engineer amongst us cloned me."

Matthew's eyes widened at his words, his mouth slightly ajar, as he looked at him in bewilderment.

"So that's why you're still a kid?!"

"Pretty much, yes. So, how have you been?"

"Quite good, thanks to you."

"I'm so glad you're still with us."

Matthew smiled. Of course he was still with the rebels. How could he forget what they had done for him? One of the rebels back in the day had been the one to adopt him when his own mother had abandoned him. His family joined Regal when he started an uprising, and that was when he met the boy, only slightly older than him. Even after his death, Matthew remained loyal, working hard to climb the ladder of power in order to come to a position where he could help. There was something wrong with a country if people were forced to give up their children, and Matthew had to correct it.

"I don't have much time," Regal said slowly, not wanting to end his meeting. But he was the most wanted criminal right now in the country, and being around in the Capitol was extremely dangerous for him and the mission.

"Same."

"I want you to forward this message to Alan," Regal continued, "That Nerissa Verity is about to raid the last Games' escapees' hideout, and that he informs this to Anya. She can't know that you are our partner."

"What?! How do you…?"

"I've been here a few days, found out a few things. I can't contact him myself, it was hard to get in touch with you as well. Will you do that for me?"

"Surely I will."

"Thank you."

With that, Regal gave him another hug, before proceeding to walk away. He stopped midway though, and looked back.

"And Matt, finding out the news of the escaped tributes, they'll definitely suspect you too now. Try to stay alive, please."

Ryder Venison (17) 72nd Games Escapee

"The chariot rides are today," Nikona muttered as he stared at the TV, that was replaying the Reapings. I couldn't understand why he kept watching them. He had grown to be irritable, as did Roslin and Raylic. Of course, I knew it was because of being trapped in a bunker for over three and a half months, but they should be grateful that they were alive. Nobody seemed to be cherishing this thought at the moment though.

"Aye, I hope they come up with good costumes this time," Roslin muttered.

"To be honest, our costumes were pretty good," Raylic said as he too, stared at the screen.

"Okay, why did Misha volunteer?" Nikona asked, and I was myself wondering it. Why did Ajax and Misha volunteer? Had they lost their minds? Also, how did a sibling pair get chosen for District Six? Things were going in a weird way this year, that was for sure.

"Oh man, the mentors will be in the Capitol right now. The tributes arrived last night, right?"

"Yeah," I answered, "It seems they don't do chariot rides the same night as their arrival anymore."

"Maybe because the tributes always looked tired or something?"

"Maybe."

I hoped Anya or someone else would come and visit us. The other boys were getting restless, and it would be really appreciated if someone showed that they cared. Of course, our friends were all mentors, and I doubted whether they would come here, or could come here, to pay a visit.

Hence, I was shocked when the door of our bunker slid open, and Anya Ford stepped in, looking older by almost five years, and worried. I immediately knew something was wrong, even as Raylic, and poor Roslin by default, ran to hug her.

"Hi there," Nikona and I said, and he looked considerably better on seeing her.

"We need to leave."

"What?!"

"They know you're alive!" she exclaimed frantically, eyes wide in fear, "They know! Come on, we need to get away!"

There happened to be another door in our bunker, leading to a small room, where we sometimes went when were bored. Anya stormed into it, and then produced a plastic card our of her pocket, pressing it against the wall. To my surprise, the wall started coming apart slowly, until a passageway was clearly visible.

"What's all this about?" Roslin demanded, "Didn't you say they're afraid to come here?"

"They are, they are!" Anya almost yelled out, "But they know! I've already deleted all the data from the servers, and now I need you guys to get away!"

"You said this place was haunted, that's what they believe," Nikona said.

"They do!" Anya bellowed at him in anger, "But it doesn't matter, alright?! Why don't you save the questions for later? They're coming!"

"Guys, move it," I said firmly, and went through the passageway, and reluctantly the others followed. There was a switch next to the opening on the other side, and as Anya pressed it, the door became a wall again, even as lights flickered on in the passage.

It was a long white corridor, and seemed endless. I wondered where it would take us as we walked ahead, when suddenly some loud shouts were heard from behind. All of us came to a halt.

"What the-"

Anya pressed her hand against Roslin's mouth to silence him, even as the shouting grew louder.

"Come along silently," she whispered, and we continued walking. My heart was beating fast, so fast that I felt as if I had run a marathon. That had been the closest save that I'd experienced, and that included being chased by zombie kids last year in the arena.

"How did they come so quickly?" Nikona whispered.

"I don't know," Anya replied angrily, "But next time move your bodies fast when you're told to do so."

And while the others looked angry at her behaviour, I was thankful to her. Because really, she did save us in the nick of time.

So that was a Capitol chapter, and I hope you liked it. this also introduces us to two new characters who we've seen before, but maybe not known. Nerissa was there in Dawn of Light, and Matthew has been there since Glass Glade, although it's only now we're seeing what he is really like. The events here have happened the night the tributes arrived, and Ryder's POV was on the day of chariot rides, a few hours before it. We also know Regal is right there, in the Capitol, and let's see what he and Matthew can come up with, and how Nerissa will tackle them.

I don't know whether I mentioned this before, but the predicted placements for the tributes is up on the blog! The blog is mirageoflies. weebly. com, in case you don't remember, and I'll really appreciate your thoughts on the Capitol predictions. It was fun doing that, and I think a few placements might look surprising.

The next chapter we'll have the train rides, and I'm really excited for it!

Have a great day!