A/N- So, I had quite a bit of spare time last night, so I finished chapter 9! Hurrah.
Ok, in this chapter things get a little messy for Zinny... and fairly dramatic! Enjoy
Yup, I still haven't stolen Suzanne Collins' identity, therefore I am not the owner of The Hunger Games x
Ten minutes. Ten negligible minutes. That was the time I was allowed to speak to my parents. And most of that was filled with sobs and tears, anyways. It was painful, saying goodbye to them when those minutes came to an end and knowing that the next time I see them could be Peeta's funeral. But, that's only the worst case scenario. And it won't come to that.
So, I had ten minutes with my family, before I was marched (literally) back to my room. The Capitol hardly took any notice of me before the interviews, so why suddenly act like I belong to them again?
Whatever suits them, I suppose.
I've re-watched my interview over and over this morning, each time I'm getting more and more frustrated with myself. Could I have made it any more obvious that I was hiding something? I think not. But why couldn't I have just ignored my thoughts and just have pretended nothing had happened?
Because I'm me.
And I mess up everything; this time by running off the stage in a fluster. Now what is everyone going to think. More importantly, what is Snow going to think now? He's probably been waiting for some gossip to turn the tables on. And I've just provided it.
Later that day, I'm lounging on the sofa feeling sorry for myself, when a solid knock comes from the door.
Finnick?
I almost cry out Finnick's name, in the hope that it's him knocking on my door. It probably is him, wanting to make up. Although, he normally calls something through the keyhole to me, but maybe he's still annoyed with me over the kiss. Not that he didn't play a part in this whole mess or anything... It takes two to tango, right?
I practically fly to the door, full of anticipation to see Finnick again. I'm running through what to say in my head. Do I act casual with him? Or angry? Upset? Forgiving? I have no idea, so hopefully things will just flow easily, as they normally do between us.
I hurriedly unlock the door and pull it towards me, expecting to see Finnick waiting for me. To apologise, hug me and tell me that it wasn't my fault. To be the friend I really need right now.
Only, it's not Finnick who stands before me. It's Clara.
My heart drops down about a metre and my shoulders loosen. It's not him. Why did I get my hopes up so high? I was almost certain it was going to be him, but then again, I'm not a particularly lucky person, am I? Of course he wouldn't burst through the door and tell me he's sorry. He wouldn't tell me that he made a mistake and wanted to put it all in the past. But, why would he? We kissed and I ran off, who wouldn't feel rejected and humiliated? Hiding away must be his way of dealing with stuff like this.
Clara hands me a note, scrawled on a rough piece of paper, torn at the edges and reeking of sweet perfume. Roses. Snow.
And sure enough, it's a note from Snow, requesting that I meet him in his office, 'pronto'. Wow, I was beginning to think that he's forgotten about me. I bet this has something to do with last night.
I knock firmly on the door three times before I'm called in. I enter and almost walk into a large chair, similar to the one Snow's sitting in on the other side of a tall desk that's decorated in papers, files and ink stains. I must admit, I was expecting a room a little bigger than this.
"Do take a seat, Miss Zinnia" Snow gestures at the chair in front of me.
I take it and sit, facing him and prepare myself for a session of patronizing comments, while Snow tries to obtain as much of my information as possible.
"So, this is about the interviews, I'm presuming?" I cut straight to the point, avoiding the awkward introductions. I want this over and done with as quick as possible.
"Partly, yes" He replies, his eyes gleaming with suspicion.
"Partly?" I ask, confused. What have I done?
"It plays a part in this jigsaw called your life" He says, his fingers tapping on the desk.
"A jigsaw?" I say in disbelief. What the hell does that mean? Ugh, I hate metaphors. Why can't people just say what they mean!
"Yes, a jigsaw. And I believe I have all but one, piece of yours" He declares.
"And that piece is...?" I question him, longing for him to cut to the lecture already.
"Your home" He states, simply.
"My home? You know I live in twelve" I say back to him, still so confused.
"You may do now, but is that your true home, Miss Zinnia?" He asks, leaning further forwards in his chair.
"Uh, yes. I've lived there all my life, I think I would know my own home" I reply.
"Are you sure about that?" He asks again.
I stand up, my hands slamming down on the desk dramatically.
"Will you just stop with the irrelevant questions already? I know where I live and could you just cut to the chase before I leave?"
Snow claps his hands together, seeming impressed for some reason. "Oh, don't you sound exactly like your father?"
What?
"Firstly, you don't even know my father and secondly, I do not!" I retort back to his smug face.
"I think you'll find that I do know your father, very well indeed. And, you have his feistiness and independence without a shadow of a doubt" He says, still grinning.
"My father is feisty in the slightest! He's always letting my mother have her own way without giving much of a fight. You don't know what you're talking about, Mr President" I claim.
"Well, Miss Mellark... I think you will learn soon enough that I know a lot more than you do" He replies, standing up too.
He's taller than me, but that doesn't intimidate me at all. He may scare everyone else, but he doesn't scare me. He's just a twisted old man with a talent for messing up people's lives. I've been a victim of this, but they all say: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And I haven't given up yet. Not for a long shot.
"Start talking" I grit my teeth at him, showing that I'm not scared of him.
He sits down again and nods for me to do the same. I do and he starts to speak.
"Last night, me and my colleague made some observations..." He begins.
"Observations of what?" I ask, willing for him to carry on.
"Observations of your family" He pauses, waiting for my reaction.
"My family?" I ask.
"Handsome lads, you're brothers are, with their father's build, but their mother's eyes and hair. Peeta especially, is a younger, male copy of your mother" He stops again.
"And?"
"And, then there's you. With you're piercing green eyes and lovely, auburn hair..." He continues, looking in to my eyes.
"My father had my colour hair when he was younger if that's-" I begin.
"No, Zinnia, he didn't. How could a man of his casting have possibly had red hair at a young age?" He questions.
"Um.. he.." I stutter, unable to answer his question.
"Exactly. It's a lie. There is no way that you could look like you do without an explanation" He says.
"What are you saying?" I ask, angry with his last words.
"What I'm saying is this: your 'parents' are not your parents" He says simply. No metaphors. Nothing.
"You're lying. I know we look different, but they're definitely my parents" I say back.
"Maybe so, but they're not your blood-related parents. Your 'mother' didn't give birth to you" He says.
"Stop it! STOP IT! I don't know what game you're playing, but it ends now." I yell back at him, fists clenched tightly.
"There's no game, Zinnia. You're in denial with yourself. Deep down, you know that they're not your real family" Snow tries to manipulate me.
"Yes they are! You have no proof that they're not!" I'm almost screaming at him now.
He can't be doing this to me. He might have taken Peeta, but trying to convince me that I have no family is just over-stepping the line. I won't let him, though. I won't give in to his mind games.
"Oh, but I do have proof" He points to the door in the corner of the room, just to his left.
As he says those words, the door opens and a man in his rough late forties, maybe even fifties walks in. He's tall, with mid brown closely cropped hair, a slight stubble on his jaw. He's also well groomed, dressed in an immaculate red suit and tie. When he turns his head towards me, the first things I notice are his eyes. Piercing green.
I'm frozen to the spot, reeling from what I just saw. No matter how hard I pinch myself, I don't wake up. This is not a dream. This is really happening.
Snow introduces the man as Monroe, his friend and colleague. It's only when I begin to breathe again, that I realise I recognise his name.
Monroe. Scenes flash through my mind; me and Finnick sitting on the roof. Talking and sharing secrets. Him, revealing his past... his past about being used sexually for women. And the man that started it all, forcing him into it all... his name was Monroe. He was a friend of Snow. And he's standing right before me now.
The words I dread follow next, as Snow turns to me.
"Monroe, is your father"
"No!" I scream at them, my blood boiling and my body shaking uncontrollably.
"Zinnia, calm down a minute. Let me explain" Monroe tries to stop my rage.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" I shout back at him, eyes flaring wildly.
Snow comes behind me and holds me down in the chair, forcing my body to settle a little.
"Now, Zinnia. Just listen before you do something you'll regret" Snow whispers in my ear, threateningly.
I don't reply, I just squeeze my fists tighter together, releasing a soreness in my strained fingers. I guess I have no choice but to hear him out and see what stupid story he comes up with.
Monroe takes a seat opposite me and begins to 'explain'.
"Ok, Zinnia. About nineteen years ago, this younger girl used to follow me around, obviously crushing on me badly. Anyways, one night I gave in to her advantages and slept with her. Only the once, as I instantly regretted it afterwards... as did she. So, after that night, I didn't see or hear from her at all, but honestly, that didn't bother me. I liked to have my privacy back, after all" He takes a quick breath, then launches into the next part of the story.
"It was then, after a year or so, that I heard the news that her body had been found, dead. She had hung herself, the reasoning was said to be from depression. It was only after speaking to some family and friends, that I found out that the end product of our affair was... you." He stops again, focusing on me.
"At first, I didn't really care. But then, I realised that I had a child. Me, a father. So, I tried to find you, but I discovered that she had hidden you on a train to one of the districts, as she couldn't cope. She was way too young to care for a child. However, the guilt took over her and she ended up killing herself because of it..."
I take in a deep breath, "But why didn't you find me?"
"Honestly, I thought you'd be better off with another family somewhere away from the Capitol"
"So, you just forgot that you had a daughter then?"
"Well, kind of, yes. It wasn't until I saw you with your 'family' that I realised that you weren't theirs. I pieced things together and Snow and I saw that you were obviously mine"
"So you saw that I had eyes like yours and just presumed that I was your daughter?"
"No. It wasn't just that. When I saw you, I saw your mother. I saw her long swishing red hair and her feisty look in your eyes. I just knew" Monroe sighs deeply, if not, a little falsely.
"Ok, look, Monroe. I don't care if you grew up an orphan with no friends or whatever, You. Are. Not. My. Father." I say finally, not falling for the sob story. As I've mentioned before, they don't bother me.
"I know it must all be a bit of a shock to you, but we can sort things out" Monroe promises.
"No, we can't. My parents are back in District 12 and even if they're not blood-related, then they're more my parents than you'll ever be" I say, putting him straight.
"Blood is thicker than water" He replies.
"Being there for someone is better than not even knowing them" I snap back.
"It wasn't my fault" He tries to redeem himself with the whole 'oh woe is me' act. Not falling for that one, 'papa'.
"Oh, like it wasn't your fault when Finnick was turned into a sexual slave?" I suddenly say, before I can stop myself.
"What? How did you-" He begins, looking anxiously at Snow.
"That's right. Busted" I sneer in his pathetic face.
Instead of grovelling for my forgiveness, which part of me really wishes for him to do, his face turns. His expression changes into a sly grin, his eyes slits and his teeth gritted. I can almost hear his heart beating furiously and the veins in his arms virtually pop out from the skin.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with, Missy. If I were you, I'd stay in my good books, daughter" He says in a gruff voice that's meant to intimidate me.
I know he's a dangerous man, but I'm already stepping on eggshells here. One word out of place could turn his temper badly, ending up with consequences for the receiving end. But, he wouldn't dare to hit me, after all, I am his 'daughter'.
"I'm no daughter of yours" I spit back in his face and give him one piercing look with my eyes.
I then turn and run.
I'm opening the door to my room, fighting back tears that dare to spark out and fall down my face. As I pushing it open, I'm stopped by someone calling my name. My first guess would be Monroe or Snow, chasing after me. But the voice doesn't belong to either of them. It belongs to a certain charming, bronze-haired victor.
"Zinny! Wait!" Finnick calls down the corridor to me, a slight hint of desperation in his voice.
I spin around and see him running down the corridor towards me. It doesn't take long for him to reach me and I feel so relieved to have him with me again.
"Finnick? I thought you were avoiding me" I say to him.
"Um... Well... We'll talk about that after" He grips my arms, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing" I turn my head away from him.
"No, Zinny it's not nothing. I saw you running away from Snow's office. What has he done?" He persists and I'm kind of glad he does, as it shows that he still cares for me.
"He told me something..." I trail off, unable to finish my sentence. It hurts too much right now.
"What did he say?" He asks, "Zinny, what did he tell you?" He asks again when I don't answer.
"He... he said that... my parents... aren't... my um... real parents..." I stammer, my bottom lip trembling.
"But you know that's not true" He says, trying to keep me positive.
"No, Finnick. It is true... I was... I was, abandoned..." I reply, most of my body trembling now.
"Then who are your real parents?" He asks.
"My mother is dead... but my father..." I start to explain, but I don't think I can tell him about Monroe.
"Your father..." He begins for me, urging me to speak out.
"My father is Monroe" I speak straight out. No stammering this time. Just the words he needs to know.
Finnick's face goes pale when I mention his name. His hands release their grip on my arms and his eyes avert from mine. I can hear him breathing heavily, processing the news.
"Finnick..." I start, reaching out for him. But he pushes my arm away and refuses to look at me.
"I thought you were different" He mutters under his breath, but I manage to hear.
"Finnick, I am different" I try to reason with him, but he's not listening.
"No... you're worse" He says, is voice turning bitter.
"No Finnick, that's not me" I say, tears welling up in my eyes.
"You're part of him. His blood runs through your veins" He replies, really bitter now.
"Finnick, please don't do this to me. You know me" I'm almost crying now. This can't happen.
"No, I don't know you" He says firmly and turns around, his back to me.
He doesn't look back as he walks away from me. His head is positioned downwards, focusing on the floor as he gets further away. I call his name a few times, but he doesn't stir. There's no point chasing after him now, I'll only make things worse. He won't listen to me anymore. Whenever he looks at me, he'll see Monroe. I can't do that to him. No matter how much I talk to him and try to show him that I'm nothing like Monroe, it won't change a thing. To him, I'm Monroe and it's unfair...but it's true.
Monroe is part of me.
A/N- Dun dun duuuunnn... you weren't expecting that? Ok, perhaps you were if you're a detective, but you probably aren't.
Ok, so things are getting a little tense now and there's only 3 chapters left for part uno! So please keep reading and reviewing if you want more x
Thanks, FireflyLlama x