Chapter 25
The comments Haymitch, Beetee, and Zara made all make sense now. This is because Snow's deal involves having sex with important Capitol citizens. Apparently they get to buy me and I do whatever they ask. The sad part about all of this isn't the deal itself but how quickly I agreed to this. Someone will be coming by the room when the tributes are at the training center tomorrow so I can get the full explanation.
I get in the elevator and head back to the room. I still have a terrible throbbing in my head and feel dizzy. I have the urge to run out of here screaming but, I have to keep it together especially with Snow's deal. I have a feeling this is more of a test run and if I can't do it he will just throw me back in the mental hospital.
The elevator stops and I can hear the tributes talking. I follow the voices.
"Hey craz-
"Don't." Julius says to Marina. She rolls her eyes. I get the feeling Julius won't be able to keep this up the whole time I think I get a free pass today because I had a nervous breakdown in front of all the mentors.
"Where did you run off to?" Kim says angrily.
"President Snow wanted to see me, he does with all the new victors." I tell her and technically I'm not lying.
"No he doesn't." Marina smiles.
Kim looks furious at her comment and I know it isn't directed towards Marina.
"Well, since I didn't have a Victory Tour different things apply."
"I'm sure they do." Marina smiles smugly.
"Why don't we eat dinner." Julius says to break the tension.
"Well, do either of you have any questions for tomorrow." Julius asks.
Nick is about to say something but, Marina stops him.
"We are doing individual training Julius. If they have any questions they will be able to ask us on their own." She says and smiles at me.
"Alright then, I do want to say that you both looked wonderful tonight." Julius says.
We eat the rest of our meal in awkward silence Marina and Nick leave and Julius does shortly after. Leaving Kim and myself alone.
"So do you think it would be easier if you just kill me now?" She says and I can see tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm not going to kill you." I tell her and want to kick myself after I say it. I should've said you'll be okay or you won't die but, I didn't.
She rolls her eyes.
"Just tell me what you think I should do."
I try and remember what Mags told me last year but, the room starts spinning and I place my hands on my face and close my eyes. After a few seconds I get a hold of myself.
"I think you should...
I open my eyes and see she has left.
"Great." I mutter.
I walk to my room and notice the one Kim is staying in. I knock on the door.
"Go away!" She shouts.
I don't advance any further, when I was in the mental hospital I hated people when people came to see me when I asked them to leave but, I want her to know she can come and talk to me.
"Kim, if you want to talk with me you can come to my room." I tell her.
She doesn't answer and I head to my room and shut the door. I crawl onto the bed and pull the covers over my head, my mind isn't slowing down. I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight I feel too guilty and anxious about what will happen tomorrow. I toss and turn for an hour and just give up and stare at the ceiling tiles. I count them and wrap the sheets around my fingers over and over until my eyes close.
The tributes left a few hours ago and it is just myself and Marina in the hotel room. Julius apparently ran off to do some game related business. We are both in the common room and she is staring at me. I hear the elevator ding and feel grateful that Julius is back.
"Lucifer? What are you doing here?" She asks.
I look up and it isn't Julius. It is a man in a one of a kind tailor mad suite. He has blue eyes, black hair, and an interesting beard that makes him look like a cartoon character.
"Don't worry Miss. Small I'm not here for you." He smiles.
Marina looks at me strangely.
"Dylan, come with me we have business to discuss." Lucifer tells me.
"Bye crazy." Marina says with a smile.
I don't say anything and just follow this man blindly.
We get to the elevator and he presses the six button.
"Where are you taking me?"
"To my office." He says curtly.
"Don't tributes stay here?"
"Yes this hotel used to be used for business. The sixth floor has lots of conference areas, later when you go to find sponsors you will come here as well." He says and leads me down a hall and we get to an office which he unlocks.
"Sit." He motions to a chair.
I do as I'm told. His desk is very cluttered it has lots of files on it and his file cabinets are open and have papers sticking out of them.
"Now Mr. Watt I'm sure you know you are here for a certain deal."
"Yes the one President Snow discussed with me last night."
"Yes that's the one." He has a devious smile
"Okay so how does this work?" I ask.
"I should let you know that this is more of a trail run because you are.. how do I say this delicately.. unstable." He smiles at me.
"I figured you were going to say that."
"Excellent but, I should let you know if you can't handle this you will be put right back in that prison as soon as your feet touch District 4 soil." He says.
"I understand. So how does this work?"
"You will be seeing one client a day for now and when you go to them you will do whatever they ask."
"I thought-
"Sometimes they only wish to speak with you but, that is not what will be happening on this visit for obvious reasons."
"Well how will I know when to meet them?"
"You will be given a card at various times of the day. The card will have the clients name and the meeting place, you will be given a drive and they will take you to that destination. You leave when they have dismissed you and then you can do whatever you would usually do."
"Okay." I say.
"Have you ever done this before?"
"Been part of a sketchy back door deal? No I can't say I have." I say sarcastically.
He shakes his head in disapproval and sighs "Have you ever had sex before?" He asks me.
"What does that matter." I say disgusted
"Is that a no?"
"No." I sigh.
"Good, that was a concern from some of the psychologists who are looking into this particular situation. Did your partner find it enjoyable?"
"What the fuck?" I say.
"It's for research purposes."
"I don't care, I don't remember this being part of the deal." I say.
"It's not but, people want to study you."
"I'm not some object you can study unless you want to lock me up too." I say annoyed.
"No, I don't want that." He smiles "You will be seeing a client later tonight, you are now free to leave." He says and I get up.
"Oh wait."
I turn around
"What?"
"I'm supposed to mention that all of your loved ones will be safe."
"Are they in some sort of danger?" I say and sit back down.
"No but, President Snow wanted you to have the same things all of the other victors get for being part of this deal." He tells me.
I think about this for a minute.
"He threatens them doesn't he?" I ask.
Lucifer makes a devilish smile.
"What can I say you need to have some leverage to get things to work."
"Well, why didn't he do that to me." I say.
"I think you know why Dylan. He knows you would rather die then go back to that prison you have been kept in for a year, he doesn't need to threaten you." He smiles.
"Can I leave now?" I say angrily.
"Yes. Just wait for the client card." He says.
I head to the elevator and head back to our room.
"Come here Dylan." I hear Marina say
"Done calling me crazy." I smile.
She scoffs "No, so you're one of Snow's lapdogs now." She says.
"Maybe... are you?"
"People got tired of me I'm retired." She smiles. "It's not like you have many people to protect."
"It's so I won't get taken back to the mental hospital."
"Oh, well you deserve to be there." She mutters
"Whatever." I say.
"Oh so sad, don't you find it strange that Julius isn't here?" Marina says smugly.
"That's supposed to happen isn't it?" I say confused.
She scoffs "Nope, he isn't here because he doesn't want to be around you which means I get to be with you." She smiles and places her hands on my shoulders and locks her eyes with mine.
"I still own you except now I'm not the only one." She smiles
"What do you mean?" I ask
"Snow owns you now Dylan whether you want to believe it or not." She smiles and a shiver runs down my spine.
"No one owns me."
"Mmmh so you wanted to be in the mental hospital?
"I...
"You want to be forced to have sex with people?
"I...
"You want to come here every year?
She is starting to shake my shoulders.
"Well, do you want it Dylan? Do you?" She says with a smile.
"Stop." I mutter.
"What was that?"
"Stop!" I shout at her.
"You seem to lose control in high stress environments you might want to work on that considering what you will be going through the next few days." She smiles.
"Just leave me alone." I tell her.
"As you wish." She says and heads back to her room.
I don't want to think about what she just said because I have a feeling it is true.