21 The Shock

I woke to the smell of eggs and bacon as the first strands of sunlight leaked through the window shades.

When I sat up, Sam was exiting the room, having delivered a breakfast cart. As she closed the door, she gave me a wink and a smile.

"I didn't order this, but it is a pleasant surprise." Marcus looked down at the spread as he buttoned his shirt. He turned to me and smiled. "I hope you have time to share breakfast with me."

Smiling, I nodded and began dressing for breakfast.

Later, when I arrived late to the laundry room, I learned that my absence had gone unnoticed. I had a hard time hiding my incessant grinning as Sam and I folded sheets, but no one seemed to mind or care.

At lunch, Garum stopped before our table and began staring at me. "You're looking much better this morning."

I pursed my lips, fighting the smile that wanted to come out.

From behind me, spoke the Seneschal. "Good thing too. I was beginning to lose my patience with her."

I bit my lip as I played with the food on my plate.

Garum set down another basket of bread on our table. "Her color has returned to her cheeks, perhaps she had come down with something?" He studied me. "Were you sick child?"

I shrugged.

"I suspect that she had a little bit of a fever last night." Julia leaned down to whisper in my ear. "I'm glad that you've gotten it out of your system, but I'm not one who gives away freebees."

Freebee? I made him work for it. I let loose my smile.

"You owe me."

Whatever.Feeling insolent, I glanced at Julia over my shoulder with a smirk. You own me, so what does it matter.

Looking befuddled from trying to read my face, Julia straightened and took her seat at the head of the table. She began tapping her glass for an announcement. "Avoxes, you've all done well for our preparations. Tomorrow morning, the supporting Avoxes will arrive, and I expect all of you to welcome them and aid them when needed. Most of them are experienced and know their responsibilities. At midnight, we will be officially in Hunger Games mode and won't be taking in any unscheduled guests."

This meant that except for running up to the roof to water the garden, none of us would have any quality personal time during the next couple of weeks. This day would be the calm before the storm.

As I ate, I could feel the Seneschal's eyes on me, but I refused to let her spoil my lunch. Last night's tryst was more a psychological than physical fix, a taste of mental freedom, and no one could take it away from me. I met Julia's stare and smiled.

...

I handed Effie another tissue, stepping back as she blew her nose.

"Thank you." Effie dabbed her tears. "Those kids did the exact opposite of what Haymitch told them. Ten minutes. Ten minutes!"

Lucius put an arm around Effie and hugged her.

Studying Effie's response, I could not tell if she felt upset for being booted from the games so soon or for the loss of the two children.

Lucius dabbed his eyes with his handkerchief. "I just got word that their coffins will arrive in the Capitol within the hour. They're going to be taken immediately to the train station."

Effie clasped Lucius's hand. "Did Haymitch make it to the station?"

"Yes. I thought he was going to drink himself blind last night."

My fears of Haymitch recognizing me as an Avox were unwarranted. Though he was a functioning drunk, Haymitch was never sober enough to notice anyone. Even if he had been sober, I did not think that he would have connected me to that distant and forgotten Capitol girl. Fortunate for me, Blue Eyes volunteered to bear the brunt of his empty bottles, sweaty laundry, and occasional sick.

Effie blew her nose again. "I want to send my condolences."

"You know that their parents would not want to receive anything from the Capitol. Haymitch will give condolences."

"Oh Lucius, it looked as if they didn't stand a chance, that we did nothing to help them. I want their parents to know that we tried."

"Haymitch will explain everything to them. Effie, you need to come out your bedroom and eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"I know you put on a brave face for everyone, but I also know how hard it is for you every year. Have you considered retiring?"

Shrugging, Effie's gaze drifted around the room aimlessly. When she spoke, she spoke in a soft tone, almost whispering. "No. No. This is what I do."

Lucius tried to look in her eyes. "Will you come out and eat something?"

"Umm...if you think I should."

Lucius nodded. "I do. Take your pills and come out for lunch."

Effie glanced at me. "Dear, can you help me with my wig?"

Sighing, Lucius frowned. "Can't you come to the dining area without it?"

Lifting one brow, Effie eyed him. "You've got to be kidding?"

Assuming that she would want her pink wig, I removed it from the case.

Rising off the bed, Lucius held out his hand to me. "I'll help her with her wig. Can you order up some soup and rolls?"

I nodded, departing for the service kitchen to enter in the order. By the time Effie and Lucius came out of the escort's room, Blue Eyes and I had received and had set up lunch on the mahogany dining table.

The tribute elevator chimed and out stepped the Seneschal. "Effie, Lucius, I hope I'm not intruding."

Effie stood, waving the Seneschal to come to the table. "Julia, please join us for lunch."

"Sorry. I can't stay." Julia exchanged pecks on the cheeks with Effie. "I just wanted to stop by and give you my condolences."

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Effie fought back her grief. "Oh, thank you, Julia."

"I can't believe that you lost both tributes within minutes of the opening gong."

Resting a hand against his face, Lucius sighed. "I know. I hate to leave District Twelve on such a down note."

"That's right." Julia touched his shoulder. "Where are they transferring you?"

Through pursed lips, Effie spoke for her friend. "District Four."

Lucius reached over and patted Effie's hand. "Don't be angry my dear. I bet you'll get promoted to a different district before you know it."

Julia gripped the back of an empty chair. "Who knows? You may have the winning tribute next year. People may write off Haymitch, but from my years of being the Training Center's Seneschal, I know he is one of the cleverest."

Effie frowned. "When he's sober."

"Was there a problem with him this year?"

"No. Oh Julia, those kids did not take any of his advice. It's so embarrassing to be the first district eliminated again."

Lucius took a bread roll from the basket. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Effie. We gave them our best."

Effie dabbed her eyes. "I keep thinking of the girl tribute. She was such a pretty thing. It took me all day to teach her table manners; though, she did take to high heels right away. Oh, and that dress. Lucius, forest green was the perfect choice for her."

Nodding his head, Lucius sighed. "It brought out the gray in her eyes."

As I stood back by the wall with Blue Eyes, I found it amazing how they could separate their grieving from their losing, how they could flip back and forth emotionally so easily.

Julia cleared her throat. "Effie dear, I hope you plan on staying with us for a few days longer."

"Oh, Julia do you mean it?"

"Yes of course."

Resting her hands on her lap, Effie straightened in her chair. "It's important that I keep representing District Twelve. I can't let the sponsors forget us."

Lucius rolled his eyes as he sipped his coffee.

Julia smiled at his reaction. "I hope you intend to stay a bit longer too, Lucius."

"At least for a couple days. I can't let my friend linger here alone with her grief."

Touched by her friend's comment, Effie took his hand. "You're a treasure."

Julia causally pointed to Blue Eyes. "I hope you don't mind if I take the male Avox. As you know, we are quite busy downstairs. I'll leave the female."

Nodding, Effie wiped her mouth with her cloth napkin. "Of course Julia, we'll be fine with the girl. You've been too kind to us already."

The Seneschal turned to Blue Eyes. "Male Twelve, report to the dining hall as a server."

Blue eyes nodded and departed for the service elevator.

"Effie, you should come down this afternoon to the lounge. There will be live music all week. Take the day off and gather your strength before you go to work on the sponsors."

Lucius frowned. "Don't encourage her, Julia. She needs to take a month off."

Effie played with her soup. "Hmm. Some live music and dinner in the dining hall could lift my spirits."

"I'm up for some music." Lucius smiled half-heartedly. "Will you join us, Julia?"

"Sorry. It's too chaotic at the moment. We can have dinner next week."

Effie dropped a sugar cube into her coffee. "I'm going to hold you to that, Julia."

"And I expect you to remind me. I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got to run." Julia headed for elevator and pressed the button. "And Lucius, I need a new business suit. Can you work me next month?"

"Any time, darling. You know that I'd do anything to work with your tall frame."

The elevator doors opened and Julia gave a parting wave.

After Effie and Lucius finished their lunch, they headed downstairs to the lounge to socialize and mourn with others who had lost their tributes.

Since Blue Eyes had cleaned Haymitch's room earlier this morning, I was left with little to do. I finished the soup for my lunch, tidied Effie's and Lucius's rooms, and restocked supplies.

With a clear view of the tribute elevator, I took a seat on the couch and made myself comfortable for another boring afternoon.

Dozing in and out of consciousness, the sound of running made me sit up. Freckles appeared from of the service kitchen, gesturing Sam's Avox name.

What?

Freckles gave the Avox sign for 'danger'.

Exiting the service elevator on the main floor, I followed Freckles to the main lobby. Near the leather couches and chairs, an obese Gamemaker was yelling at the Seneschal as assorted Peacekeepers stood in a circle. Standing next to the Seneschal, Head Peacekeeper George held a frightened Sam by the arm. Two Peacekeepers held Johanna Mason by her arms.

The obese Gamemaker's face was red and dotted in sweat. "I know she took it. Shock her until she shows us where she hid it."

The Seneschal crossed her arms. "She's one of mine, and none of my Avoxes would steal from a guest." Julia turned to Sam. "Did you steal Gamemaker Oren's wallet?"

Sam shook her head.

"I believe her. My Avoxes are searching the lobby. I'm sure your wallet simply fell out of your pocket."

The red-faced Gamemaker shook his head. "I've looked. It was stolen. Being that I'm a Gamemaker, the theft of my wallet is a security risk."

Johanna jerked her arms free. "You lost it you fat slob. If losing it is a security risk, you should be the one punished. She's my floor Avox and has been with me the whole time."

The Gamemaker glared at Johanna. "If she's so honest, she wouldn't be an Avox. And why isn't the Avox on her assigned floor?"

Making the Peacekeepers nervous, Johanna shifted back and forth on her feet. "She was helping me bring down the belongings of the tribute we lost. Someone is supposed to pick them up and take them to the train station."

"You can't carry one shoe box?"

"This is my first year as a mentor, and my Avox occasionally guides me around this vast complex, you tool. I wasn't allowed to wonder around as a tribute last year."

The Gamemaker huffed. "You're protecting her."

Sam spotted me and subtly shook her head, indicating her innocence.

While they continued to argue, Freckles and I joined the search for the wallet. I was searching a chair when Freckles pulled a wallet out from between the cushions of the couch. She opened the leather wallet, revealing Peacekeeper's Oren's identification card.

I gestured that she should give it to him. With worried eyes, she shook her head, so I held out my hand, accepting the task. I approached the Gamemaker and held out his wallet.

The obese man snatched the wallet from my hand and began inspecting it.

The Seneschal smiled. "See. It fell out of your pocket. Is everything there?"

Breathing heavily threw his nose, the man finished his inspection, snapping the wallet shut. "Everything is there."

"I'm glad we could resolve this."

The Gamemaker shook his head. "It's not resolved. She must have hidden it, knowing her person would be searched. The other Avoxes are covering for the thief. I want to see her punished."

The Seneschal gritted her teeth. "I'm not going to punish my Avox without proof."

The Gamemaker tucked his wallet into his jacket pocket. "You don't need proof. I said she stole it."

When Johanna took a step forward, the Peacekeepers grabbed her arms. "You're drunk and an idiot."

The obese man's mouth dropped open as he searched for words. "You...I should—"

"What? You can't touch a victor, and we both know it. Unless you want to step outside?" Johanna gnawed her lip.

The Gamemaker swallowed hard, trying to compose himself. "Someone give me a shocker. I'll punish the Avox myself."

Everyone stood still.

"Someone give me the shocker. I have the right." The man glared at everyone. "Don't make me call the Justice Department."

I could see in the Seneschal's face that she would eventually have to relent to the Gamemaker. If Sam's heart stopped again, the Gamemaker would never allow me the chance to restart it. When I saw Julia's hand slip into her pocket where she kept her shocker, I panicked. Stepping up to the obese man, I spat in his face.

The room fell silent for the brief second it took the Gamemaker to strike me with the back of his hand, knocking me to the floor.

"Twelve!" Julia looked at me wide eyed.

When the Gamemaker moved towards me, Julia stepped in front of the man, staring him down. After a couple seconds, he stepped back and removed a handkerchief to wipe his face.

Julia turned to me. "On your feet, Twelve."

Tasting the blood in my mouth, I climbed to my feet with my eyes focused on the floor.

The Gamemaker continued wiping his face. "Looks as if your Avoxes need to go back for retraining."

Well aware of the risk to Sam, Julia took a slow deep breath before asking the needed question. "Twelve, did you steal Gamemaker Oren's wallet?"

To save Sam, I nodded.

The Seneschal turned to the Gamemaker. "Mystery solved. You had the wrong Avox." Julia waved her arm behind her and George began escorting Sam out of sight towards the service corridor.

"I want to punish her." The Gamemaker held out his hand.

Clenching her jaw, Julia slowly withdrew her shocker from her pocket and passed it to the man.

Before I could prepare myself, the punishing device pressed into my chest and released its energy. Every muscle in my body cramped, and the guttural Avox howl escaped my lips. When the electric discharge stopped, I collapsed to the floor.

The Gamemaker stepped towards me.

"No!" The Seneschal's voice echoed across the lobby as she stepped between the Gamemaker and me. "You only get to distribute one punishment."

"Who says?"

"I do."

As I reeled in pain, people alarmed by my howl began to step out of the lounge and dining hall. Effie and Lucius stepped out of the lounge and spotted me on the floor.

The Gamemaker glared at the Seneschal who stood with her hand out. Reluctantly, he handed back the shocker. "Very well. When you have time, you can have her severed hand sent to me at Gamemaker Headquarters."

What? I looked to the Seneschal.

"You are not going to mutilate my Avox."

"She's a confessed thief. We all know what happens to Avoxes caught stealing." The Gamemaker patted his sweaty brow with his handkerchief. "You don't have to cut off her hand here. Just send it to me when it's completed."

Johanna lunged at the Gamemaker. "You bas—"

Two Peacekeepers tackled Johanna and pulled her away from the Gamemaker.

The Seneschal tried to calm the tribute. "Johanna! Johanna!" Realizing that the tribute's emotions were out of control, the Seneschal instructed the Peacekeepers. "Take her outside until she calms down."

The two Peacekeepers began dragging Johanna to the front door, needing a third, and then a fourth Peacekeeper to get her safely outside.

Effie marched up to us as fast as her ridiculous shoes would allow her. "What's going on here? What are you doing to my Avox?"

The Gamemaker scowled at the escort. "She was caught stealing?"

"Stealing? Poppycock! I'd trust this Avox with my life." Effie knelt down and rested her hand on my shoulder.

"Then you are a fool." He turned to the Seneschal. "I want her hand."

I sat on the floor in shock, not from the electricity, but from the idea of losing my hand. I bet they won't use anesthesia. I would rather be shot.

"You will not harm this girl." Effie stood up as Lucius moved to her side.

Julia took hold of Effie's arm. "Don't worry, Effie. No one under my roof will lose their hand. My Avoxes are special. I'll go to the top if I have to."

The Gamemaker stuck out his chin twisting his head side to side, analyzing the Seneschal's threat. His head straightened as a grin crept across his face. "They are special, aren't they? I nearly forgot. Tell you what; I'll drop the theft charge after red here brings me water." His voice trailed off into a sadistic purr.

Taking a deep breath, the Seneschal glanced down at me before addressing Gamemaker Oren's request. "We'll be happy to serve you. Come back anytime after the games, and I'll make sure you're accommodated."

He began to smirk. "I'm thirsty now. I'll use a tribute's room."

"We only bring water to vacant floors as a courtesy of our regular guests. We have no vacant floors at the moment."

"The twelfth floor is vacant." He glanced at Effie, smirking.

"I'm on the twelfth floor." Effie clenched her jaw.

"And both your tributes are dead. You should have gone back to your tiny apartment by now."

"I'm not done. I still have sponsors to contact and thank."

"You're just leeching off the Training Center. Seneschal, I want the escort's room."

Effie stomped her feet. "My belongings are in there."

The man clearly enjoyed distributing his misery. "Don't worry; I won't be staying the night. I just need to borrow your bed."

Effie's face reddened to the point that I thought it would explode, and it did. She unleashed a string of profanities at the Gamemaker, wiping the smile of his smug face, leaving the lobby silent and in shock.

Lucius took Effie's arm to steady his hyperventilating friend.

The man calmly put his handkerchief away. "I'll give you the opportunity to hand in your resignation. Perhaps after you formally apologize, you can return to our employment in a few years time. You'll have until tomorrow afternoon to hand it in before I fire you, permanently banning you from future government employment."

"I'll hand in my resignation tonight." Effie's chin began to quiver as she took a tighter hold on Lucius's arm.

The Gamemaker headed for the tribute elevators. "Send up some cognac. I'm going to take a relaxing bath to make myself smell pretty. You can send her up at nine o'clock." The man paused at the elevator doors. "Make it seven, I'm feeling energetic."

After the elevator doors closed, Julia looked down at me and sighed. "Go clean yourself and get ready. You have a couple hours to rest. I'll send someone down with some painkillers."

Effie reached out for the Seneschal's arm. "Julia, you can't."

"We don't have a choice if she's to keep her hand."

"Surely you can go to the top and fight this."

Julia shook her head. "He'd have her hand before I could even appeal it."

Realizing what had to be done, I climbed to my feet with the help of Lucius and stumbled towards the service corridor. Freckles ran up and assisted me to the Avox quarters.

After I showered, Sam insisted on staying with me until I had to report upstairs. She had me sit on the floor before her in the salon so that she could massage my shoulders and neck.

The electric shock left my muscles sore and they would need a couple days to recover. The painkillers delivered by Brown Eyes could not do much to alleviate the pain.

Sam continued to nurse me by massaging my arms. Though my body would not recover any quicker, it was an appreciated relaxing gesture. Catching Sam wiping away a tear, I had to reassure her that I would take a million punishments for her to keep her safe.

With everyone busy in the Training Center, we had the salon to ourselves. We turned on the television, but the only thing on was Hunger Games coverage, so we turned it off and listened to music.

I found myself feeling quite calm. What could he do to me that hasn't already been done?

Just before 7 o'clock, the Seneschal entered the salon. Her face appeared flustered as she looked at me for a brief moment. She approached the sink and half filled a glass with water. Remaining before the sink, Julia stood frozen.

Helped to my feet by Sam, I stretched my muscles before walking up to my handler.

The Seneschal stared down into the sink as she held the glass. Her furled brow and clenched jaw told me that this was even out of her control. Biting her lip, Julia emptied the glass into the sink. "We can skip the formalities this time, and if a Peacekeeper stops you, all the better."

I nodded and turned to leave.

When I reached for the door, Sam rushed up and grabbed my arm from behind. Sam gestured to the Seneschal that she would take my place.

Slowly shaking her head, rejecting her offer, the Seneschal calmly walked up to Sam and took hold of her hand. When Sam began to cry, Julia held her in arms.

I did not have to force my smile. It came naturally at the sight of Julia's compassion for my friend and for me. I kissed Sam on the cheek and stepped out into the corridor.

On the elevator ride up, I assured myself that it would not last long with the man's poor health. On the other hand, he being overweight could drag things out. Either way, I exited the service elevator on the twelfth floor with trembling hands.

The floor was still. I walked down the main corridor towards Effie's room when I noticed the darkness. I stopped before the open door unable to see any movement within. I listened for the sound of snoring. Please, be asleep.

Even if he was sleeping, I would unfortunately have to wake him. I knocked on the doorframe and heard no response. Standing in the dark corridor, I flipped on the nearby hallway light switch, hoping that the corridor light would allow me to see inside Effie's room, but nothing happened. I flipped the switch again with no result and assumed the bulb had burnt out.

I reached just inside Effie's room and flipped the main light switch. Again, the light did not come on. Stepping into the room, I felt my way to the bedside lamp to find the light inoperable. With adjusted eyes, I could see the empty bed. On the floor, the man's Gamemaker uniform lay in a pile next to a chair.

I stood in the doorway to the bathroom to find it completely darkened. There was the hint of moisture in the air from a recent washing, and the sound of dripping water came from the blackness where the bathtub and shower were located. Remembering the emergency flashlight in the service kitchen, I exited the bedroom to retrieve it.

The lights in the dining area and kitchen were working, and I found the charged flashlight. Spotting the fuse box in the corner of the kitchen, I opened it to find the bedroom fuse tripped. I tried to reset fuse, but it tripped as soon as I let it go. I reset the fuse a second time, holding it close, but when the fuse began to click loudly, I jumped back, watching it trip open.

With the aid of the flashlight, I returned to Effie's bedroom and stepped slowly into the bathroom. The sink area was empty, so I turned towards the bath and shower where I could see a black cord stretched across the doorway. The faint smell of burnt rubber was now in the air. When I stepped under the doorframe, my light illuminated the bathtub, revealing the body of the Gamemaker sitting in the water unmistakably dead.

It was not until I noticed the dancing shadows caused by the flashlight in my trembling hands that I moved or breathed. Inspecting the black cord, I found it plugged into outlet with the other end connected to a small black box submerged in the water between the dead man's legs. The burnt rubber smell emanated off the electric cord. Did you kill yourself?

Shouldn't the bathroom outlet have its own fuse? Shining the light on the outlet, I discovered a small piece of red plastic jammed into the fuse reset button. When I realized that the safety fused had been sabotaged,I gasped. Murder!

They are going to think that I did this out of revenge. My heart began to beat harder as I debated my options. Should I go down to get Sam? But she's with the Seneschal. Would the Seneschal help me? Would she understand that I could never murder anyone? What are the police going to think? I'm an Avox; of course, they will think it was I.

With the tripped fuse in the kitchen, I assumed the outlet safe to touch. Taking a firm hold on the red plastic, I wiggled it until it slipped free from the fuse reset. Inspecting the round piece of plastic, I found it to be an inch long, slightly thinner than a pencil, and tapered to a point. There were a couple deep scratches in the plastic from being jammed into the fuse reset; otherwise, it would have been completely smooth and tapered. The thick end was jagged from being broken off from its source.

Leaving the cord plugged in the outlet, I ran back to the kitchen and reset the fuse. This time it stuck. Running down the corridor, the lights from the bedroom shined into the hall.

I stepped into the lit bathroom and looked at the outlet, finding that the safety fuse had tripped as designed.

I turned and stared at the dead man in bathtub. There would be no attempt at resuscitating him. Not because I hated him, he had been dead well past the five minute window for resuscitation.

"Gamemaker Oren?" The escort's voice startled me.

Effie! She's going to have a heart attack if she sees this.

"Lucius, are you here?" Effie's voice grew louder as she approached.

I shoved the small piece of red plastic into my front tunic pocket and headed for the door.

"Gamemaker Oren, I brought my resignation letter. I felt that it couldn't wait."

I crashed into Effie under the bathroom doorway, causing her to shrill with fright.

"Are you trying to frighten me to death?" Effie took a deep breath, holding her hand over her heart. "Is the Gamemaker in there?"

I stared blankly at Effie as my own heart raced.

"Well, is he?"

Before I could shake my head, Effie attempted to step past me, but I block her passage.

"I don't care if he's naked. After the way he treated me, I'm giving him my resignation now." She stormed past me into the bathroom. When she saw the dead body in the bathtub, she froze.

I waited for the scream that did not come. I rushed to her side in case she fainted only to observe her staring down at the body.

She did not faint or scream or look frightened. Her jaw clenched and her eyes focused hard under her furled brow. Her hands bunched into fists with the paper crumpling in her grip. She threw up her arms. "Not again!"

What! What do you mean, again?