There's no way to sneak back into the Training Center. Everyone, the Gamemakers, chaperones, stylists, prep team, victors, tributes and any others that ever set foot in this building all came in and out from one door. And that one door is heavily guarded. That means I need an alibi to where I've been all this time.
Gaius drops Kreg and me off at the Control Room. That's much easier to break into... and make it look like I've been there for some time. Besides, there are still some things I want to look through.
I'm not sure how much further the Jabberjays are, but it's my turn to get ahead of them. Somewhere in the Capitol, Aurelia and Gaius are going into hiding. There was no hesitation on Gaius' side on which one of us he should go with. His loyalties were with Aurelia long before I was even part of the game. Not only that, but it would only be a matter of time before he would be held for questioning. And he'd be much more use on the outside than in prison.
Here's to hoping that the Jabberjays don't realize I'm unguarded.
"They're coming," says Kreg coming back from the door.
"Stick to the script and don't elaborate."
He rolls his eyes at me, "Got it. You think this is the first time I've done something like this?"
I smile, "I think we should swap stories sometimes. You know, share notes."
"And compare strategies?" he asks.
"Wouldn't hurt. All right enough being snarky they're close."
"Right," says Kreg wiping all humor out of his face. He sits down and puts his feet up on the desk.
On the screens above I sort through every camera system in the Training Center and the secured zone. Honestly I thought it wouldn't take this long for them to discover that the room was occupied and so I activated an alarm to send them straight to us.
The door busts open and we're met with several rifles pointed in our direction. Recognition passes among them and they lower their weapons.
"What are you doing here," the chief guard asks.
"Making out," I say bluntly.
"We were not!"
Trying hard not to laugh at Kreg's bright red face I add, "What does it look like? I'm analyzing video. I have an access card to be here."
The chief stares at me, "Shut everything down and come with us."
We are dead, I think when both of our mothers enter the room.
"Hi Mom," I say trying to hide my fear. When I say I've never seen her this angry before I mean I've have never once in my life seen her like this. Right now she makes a mutt look like a cute little fluffy bunny. Then again, those were made into mutts in some of the arenas.
"Hi Mom? Let's analyze that statement for just a moment shall we? After an assassination attempt, you snuck out of the Training Center while it was on lockdown, went missing for a few hours, let your father and I panic, and then you have the audacity to say 'hi mom'?"
Everyone in the room except Lilyah backs away from my mother. Apparently their shared source of anger makes her immune to my mother's outburst. Lilyah and my mother cast a sidewise glance at the other and then separate us for questioning.
Most would think that being interrogated by our mothers would be getting off easy but they've never met our mothers. If I thought the rants she went on were bad then I clearly didn't know what she was capable of. Even Da hasn't dare move from his seat across the table.
Eventually she finishes and demands an explanation. With the conversation being monitored there's no way to tell her flat out that one of the games has changed. As I slide Aurelia's BOLO across the table I watch her quickly adjust to the new rules.
"She ran once she saw this. Gaius left to try and track her, but given that her grandfather is Marcus Pantra I doubt he'll be able to find her," I say.
Mother's temper isn't going anywhere but she knows that something is wrong. "Any idea who we have to thank for publishing that where she could easily find it rather than a surprise arrest?"
"I don't know."
There's a knock at the door before someone enters the room. Ward looks at me and breathes a sigh of relief. "There were some men at the apartment to arrest Aurelia."
"We saw the BOLO," says Da answering for my mother who doesn't want to redirect her ire at him for interrupting. "Vixen came back alone so the girl is on the run."
"There's more," says Ward after Da finishes. "Not that this excuses her behavior, but you'll want to look at this."
Ward pulls out a computer similar to the Holo device used in the war. With a few taps on the screen he slides it over to my parents. I sit wondering what is so interesting as my parents watch whatever was put in front of them.
"We're here to arrest Aurelia Panthra," a man says.
"Aurelia Panthra," says Ward. "Are you sure?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"What do you need from me?"
"Why can't I see the entire apartment?"
Ward huffs, "This is a residence now and the occupants want their privacy. Wouldn't you?"
"This is unacceptable. My men are going in blind to arrest a dangerous Capitolist that you've foolishly allowed to get close to Miss Welkin!"
"I get it," growls Ward. "I'll go upstairs and move Vixen out of harm's way and give you Aurelia's position in the apartment."
"Very well."
"It's coming up," says Ward. More and more I'm annoyed that I can't see what they are seeing.
"Is that-" Mother starts.
"Justinian Burks," Da finishes eyes narrowing. "And he was at our apartment. We're going to have to do a full sweep."
My parents have one of their silent conversations where they somehow seem to read the other's mind. Mother then leaves to make arrangements for us to spend the night in the Mansion. As soon as the door closes Da looks at me, "Do not think you are off the hook."
"Rotor, I think it's a fair bet he's looking for revenge," says Ward. "I would've let them into that apartment without a second thought."
Grabbing the computer I watch the last couple minutes of this show-and-tell. Now that I know he was there, Justinian is easy to pick out. After Ward goes upstairs, Justinian moves from the back of the group sent to arrest Aurelia and looks directly into the camera. That's beyond sloppy for him. He wanted us to see him.
Justinian what are you doing? I think.
A few minutes play out before Ward returns to his desk frantic.
"Anyone report in who has a current location on Vixen."
Silence.
"Did she sneak out again?" someone asks over the intercom.
"What is this?"
"In a minute," Ward snaps at the man.
The men gather together and they're doing a very good job of keeping their faces off camera, but not their tattoos. Jabberjays… all of them are Jabberjays. Too far, they've gotten too far ahead. I'm nowhere close to being in control of the situation.
There's only one thing I can do. Run.
A/N: Wasn't my intention to hold onto this until Mother's Day... but hey we got a look at Vixen's mother, Lilac, in this chapter.