26 Unrest
Shortly before the winter victor's banquet, the news reported that Head Gamemaker, Seneca Crane, had died in a hovercraft accident. According to the Seneschal sources, she told us that the government hanged him for his poor handling of the Hunger Games when he tried to be clever and changed the rules to make the Hunger Games more interesting.
More than rules changed during the last Hunger Games. Besides the nonstop talk about Katniss and Peeta, something different lingered in the air and quietly grew as the months passed. Nothing seemed quite the same.
Even though we were Avoxes cut off from society, we learned first of the unease brewing in the districts of Panem through our thirsty governmental guests. We first learned of the unrest in District Eight that disrupted textiles. Eventually, the rumors indicated that the unrest had spread to the agricultural Districts.
Because a sixteen-year-old girl defeated the Capitol at its own game, her victory gave the people of the various Districts the belief that they could do the same.
Subtly, the signs of distress began to show in the TrainingCenter. We began repairing Peacekeeper uniforms that normally would have been replaced. The most unsettling evidence of the growing upheavals came through Garum's cooking, which sadly stopped being extravagant. However, he was still Garum, and if any man could find a way to make a grilled cheese special, our beloved chef could.
When Katniss and Peeta made their brief winter stop during their Victory Tour, I was bedridden with a cold. Blue Eyes informed me that they all appeared well and that Effie was ecstatic being a victors' escort. It was a relief not having to dodge Katniss, but a part of me still wanted to give her a hug and tell her to be careful.
Midwinter, Brown Eyes entered the laundry to inform me that the Seneschal wanted me to report immediately to her office. When I stepped into the Seneschal's office doorway, I saw her sitting behind her desk with a redheaded male Avox standing before her with head bowed.
Julia looked up from her computer tablet. "Ah, Twelve. Come in."
Stepping up to her desk, I could tell that the male Avox had just come from training. The paleness of his face and overall look of pain brought forth the awareness of my own throbbing mutilated tongue.
Julia leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. "Twelve, this young Avox has just joined our family. He will be taking Male Twelve's spot.
Blue Eyes? What's wrong?
"Male Twelve isn't being punished, just reassigned within the TrainingCenter. I received orders from the top that our friend here is to serve on the twelfth floor. From my years of experience, this can only mean that something is about to happen. My years of experience also tell me to be careful, so I have arranged this formal introduction. Do you two know each other?"
I gave Julia and peculiar look. Unlikely.
The Seneschal frowned with frustration. "Well, go on. Look at each others' faces.
Fine. I turned to meet my new Avox friend and stared at his face. He had the saddest eyes upon which I had ever gazed, but something about him gave me a twinge of foreboding.
He returned my gaze until his own brow rose with recognition, and his eyes diverted away.
Your red hair is similar to mine, but you're not family. I moved my head to the side to look into his diverted eyes. When he met my gaze a second time, I gasped. You!
His eyes looked down to the floor.
Peacekeeper Darius! I took a step back.
Julia set down her computer tablet. "So you do know each other."
Thoughts of betrayal flooded my mind. Did you help them once my tracking chip alerted them of my general whereabouts? Are you now here as a spy? This young Peacekeeper could have been the reason why my brother was dead and I an Avox. I lunged forward, gripping his jaw.
"Twelve! Stand back from him!"
Let me see your tongue! I opened my mouth to instruct him to do the same. When he opened his mouth, I pointed his face towards the ceiling lights and stood on my tiptoes to peer inside, finding that they mutilated him like the rest of us.
The Seneschal removed her shocking device from her front pocket and held it up for me to see. "Twelve, this is your last warning!"
Releasing his jaw, I stepped back and saw tears begin to flow from his eyes.
"Avoxes! Present yourselves!"
Quivering with anger, I moved before the Seneschal's desk to stand at attention with head bowed.
Darius turned towards the Seneschal and bowed his head.
Slowly, Julia returned to her chair, slipping her black box back into her pocket. "Twelve, do we have a problem?"
The room became silent with me unable to respond.
The Seneschal sighed and reached into her desk for pen and paper. "I have no patients today for a game of Avox charades, especially when it involves a new Avox who knows not the language. Whatever differences you two have, resolve them now." She placed the paper on the edge of her desk along with the pen.
Neither Darius nor I reached for the pen, knowing that the punishment for writing was the loss of a finger.
"I grant you sanctuary. It's safe to write."
I picked up the pen and wrote my first question, setting the pen down for his reply:
Me: Did you help them catch us?
Darius: No. I was trying to help you. I'm a friend to the people of 12.
Me: Why are you here?
Darius: I tried to help Katniss's friend who nearly died by whipping for poaching. When I interfered with the new Head Peacekeeper, he sentenced me to be an Avox as an example to the others.
Me: You're not a spy?
Darius: I'm not a spy. I mean no harm to anyone.
Me: Are things becoming worse in 12?
Darius: From what was said between Peacekeepers, things are becoming worse everywhere.
When I did not pick up the pen for further questions, the Seneschal lifted the paper from the desk and read it. "Interesting." She stared at me as she began tearing up the paper into tiny pieces. "Twelve, are your concerns answered? Can you now work with him, teach him? You and I are well aware that they don't need to spy on us, here of all places."
I suppose, I thought, nodding.
"Good." Julia removed a bottle of pills from her pocket and tossed them to me. "You are in charge of his pain medication. You know the routine. He's already had his morning pill."
Slipping the bottle into my pocket, I gave a slight nod as the memories of my first frightful days came flooding back to me.
"Take him up to the twelfth floor and show him around. Let him rest afterward. I'll give him the formal tour of the building tomorrow. You're both dismissed."
I brought Darius up to the twelfth floor. As we rode in the elevator, I wondered what Avox name the collective would give him. Guessing, I assumed that his gestured name would involve his dimpled chin. Curiously, I wished that I did not know his true name since his name brought back grim memories of running for my life in District Twelve.
Since my tour was more of an introduction, we quickly went through the floor and I briefly showed him our printed Avox instructions for the floor. The sweat on his brow told me that his tongue throbbed with growing pain, so I made the tour briefer. Lunch would be soon, and I figured we could go to the cafeteria early so he could have his next pain pill.
Excusing myself to use the bathroom, I returned to find him sitting on the service kitchen floor sobbing. I sat next to him and gripped his hand. With my other arm, I embraced him, letting him know that he was not alone.
...
Everyone who was watching remembers where they were when the conditions for the 75th Hungers Games were read. I was in the salon reading when the President on television announced that the tributes for the third Quarter Quell would come from the existing pool of victors.
Immediately, favorites like Katniss and Johanna found themselves returning to the arena to fight to the death since they came from weaker Districts that had only a few victors. The official drawing of the names was months away, but the damage had already been done if the rumors were to be believed. If this act was to silence the whispers of unrest, it only gave them more of a voice.
During this period, I took little interest in the rumors of unrest, figuring that the government would spill enough blood to eventually put out the fire.
Sam on the other hand, became darker and depressed. My friend's distress did not just come from Johanna Mason returning to Sam's floor as a tribute. Unlike me, Sam participated as an actual revolutionary before becoming an Avox. The rumors of unrests had reawakened the rebel inside her.
One evening, Darius and I were playing chess in the salon as Sam sat motionless at our table, expressing little interest in anything.
The Seneschal's smartphone chimed, and when the call ended, she retrieved a half glass of water. Approaching our table, the Seneschal set the glass before Sam and whispered in her ear.
Normally, Sam would not hesitate to follow commands, but she hesitated just long enough that her pause was noticeable. Her jaw clenched and she took a deep breath before picking up the glass. Without a reassuring smile, she exited the salon.
Julia tapped my shoulder. "Is she not feeling well?"
I shrugged.
The corner of the Seneschal's mouth twisted as she took her seat next to Garum. As Julia returned to her book, her smartphone chimed. She lifted it to her ear. "Yes, Sir. Not a problem. I'll send it straight up." The Seneschal stood and approached the small safe in the kitchen cupboard, removing a small plastic bag that contained two yellow pills. She called to me. "Twelve."
I stood from the table and reported to Julia.
"Take this to the sixth floor, the escort's room. Our guest, who your friend is delivering water, has asked for this."
I took the bag and headed for the service elevator. Exiting the elevator car on the sixth floor, I proceeded down the corridor when I heard the voice of an angry man come from one of the rooms.
"What's wrong with you!"
I rushed forward and peered into the escort's room to find Sam sitting on the floor clutching her tunic, crying.
A paunchy middle-aged man stood over her, red faced. He appeared to be governmental by his manner of dress. "Where's my phone? I'm calling the Seneschal."
Out of instinct to help my friend, I sprinted to the nearest room and into the bathroom. I took a water glass and filled it half-full with water. Returning to the escort's room, I found the middle-aged man putting on his glasses to read his smartphone screen. I rapped on the doorframe and held out the pills for him to see.
"Ah, my Soma." The man pointed to Sam. "What's wrong with her? I was about to call her handler."
I set my glass of water on the dresser next to Sam's glass. Using my hands, I made the gesture of a switch and then pointed to myself.
"You're my date?"
I nodded.
Sam's sobbing stopped when she realized what I was doing. She began to climb to her feet, trying to compose herself.
As I took Sam's arm, I rubbed my belly and grimaced to indicate an illness.
"She's not feeling well?"
I nodded. Before Sam could object, I pushed her towards the door.
"Very well. Sorry if I have upset her."
Guiding Sam into the corridor, I forced a smile for the man's benefit.
Sam shook her head, gesturing that she will follow through with the Seneschal's orders.
Clasping her hand, I kiss her cheek to reassure her.
"Can you start my shower? It's been a long day." He removed his shirt, revealing his broad, hairy back.
Mouthing the words, it's okay; I brushed a tear from Sam's cheek and closed the bedroom door.
...
Darius's unease was palpable. He could not stop fidgeting as he stood in the area where Blue Eyes once stood.
There was no doubt in my mind that Darius's assignment as my floor partner was for the sole purpose of upsetting the victors of District Twelve. I glanced over at him and gestured for him to relax since the elevator car would soon arrive to our floor.
The tribute elevator chimed, and Katniss and Peeta stepped out in the midst of an avid conversation.
The adjacent elevator chimed, and Haymitch and Effie joined the pair, looking pleased about something. Then Haymitch's face grew hard.
Effie looked in our direction. "Looks like they've got you a matched set this year."
Alarmed at Haymitch's reaction, Katniss turned around and locked eyes on me. When her eyes drifted over to Darius, the horror registered on her face.
Haymitch grabbed Katniss's wrist to control her reaction as she and Darius stared at each other.
Pulling away from Haymitch, Katniss lowered her head and walked straight to her bedroom.
Pretending as if nothing happened, everyone carried on as normal.
For our first feast, I moved to the dining area to supervise the supporting Avoxes and Darius. Blue Eyes came up to supervise the service kitchen.
I'm removing dirty dishes from the table when Katniss knocked a dish of peas to the floor. I watched Darius promptly kneel down to clean up the spill when Katniss began assisting him. I froze where I stood fearful of what he might do.
Their hands came together, forming a firm grip. Both aware of the danger, they share nothing more than a consoling glance.
Effie, blissfully ignorant of connections between Katniss and her Avoxes assigned to her floor, noticed the tribute's absence and leaned over the edge of the table. "That isn't your job, Katniss!"
The two friends parted.
I met Darius back in the service kitchen by garbage disposal and inquired how he was faring.
Ever wearing his heart on his sleeve, he gestured that he felt okay though he clearly was not.
Except for being more somber than the year before, the remaining week progressed without incident.
Sunday morning, I served breakfast to a sullen Haymitch and Effie, who picked at their food in silence. I brought Haymitch orange juice and watched him add a clear liquid to the glass from a flask.
Tucking away his flask, he took a satisfying sip. "We can skip coaching."
Effie nodded. "Everything we taught them last year is probably fresh in their minds." Effie looked up at me. "Paper and a pen please."
Retrieving the items from a stationary desk in the sitting room, I returned to the table and watched Effie scribble out a quick message.
Effie folded the paper. "I assume they are together?"
I shrugged, smiling. What do you think?
"Here." Effie handed me the paper. "Give them the good news that the day belongs to them."
Entering Katniss's room, I passed her the note.
Katniss read it aloud. "Effie says that, given our recent tour, both she and Haymitch have agreed we can handle ourselves adequately in public. The coaching sessions have been canceled."
"Really?" Peeta took the note from Katniss and examined it. "Do you know what this means? We'll have the whole day to ourselves."
The gleeful pair immediately planned to spend the day on the roof in the Avox garden. They gathered some blankets and Katniss asked me to prepare a picnic basket.
After delivering the basket of food to the roof, I returned to the service kitchen and found myself feeling uneasy. Fidgeting, I began to clean the already clean kitchen.
Visualizing the happy couple on the roof, the unfairness of their plight, as well as my own, began to tear at me. Sliding down to the floor, I began to cry.
Darius heard me and came into the service kitchen. He sat next to me and politely offered me his hand. This gentle soul wrapped me in his strong arms and held me through the storm.
As we sat in the stillness of the kitchen, I began to calm, left to my own thoughts. I remembered the time when I inquired with Cheekbones if any of the Avoxes formed relationships. She replied that no one wanted something that could be torn away from them at any moment by a transfer to a new location or from an early death. Relationships for Avoxes were doomed to end badly and thought best avoided by most.
However, my thoughts kept returning to the young couple on the roof. One or both of them would be dead shortly, and this was their last day before going into the arena. They were not about to let their tragic fate stop them from living.
Why should I? I thought. As soon as this year's games concluded, I would express my love despite any tragedy that awaited me down the road. If I faced rejection, so be it; that was part of the game. If my feelings were reciprocated, I would experience a special joy for at least one day, which was better than none at all. Loss was unavoidable.
The next morning, I aided Effie with dressing after the tributes left the Training Center for the arena. Her sobbing for the tributes had increased from the year before, but so had her determination to be the best escort she could be. As soon as she finished breakfast, she departed for Game Headquarters to join Haymitch, who had arrived there before the tributes had even risen.
Seeing our favorite tributes go back into the arena, the stress and worry felt more intense for everyone. Even amongst all the Avoxes, the tension shown in their behavior. I suspected that Darius and I were not the only floor Avoxes who risked punishment by turning on the television to see if their tributes survived the start.
With the understanding that Effie would spend the first night at Game Headquarters with Haymitch, we were surprised when the tribute elevator chimed and she stepped out late that night. She walked straight to us. "Have you seen or heard from Cinna or Portia?"
We shook our heads.
"Strange. The prep teams called me and said that they haven't seen them. Normally they return to Remake Center after the start of the games."
I immediately feared the worst.
"I called Julia and she's going to make some inquiries." Effie rubbed her forehead. "Watching Katniss and Peeta survive this first day nearly killed me. I need to lie down before I collapse."
Following Effie to her room, I fetched a glass of water for her medicine.
Effie felt so exhausted that she skipped her shower, crawling into bed after taking her pill. "Wake me early."
I nodded.
"Wake me at anytime if you hear from the Cinna or Portia."
I took Effie's hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze, remaining by her side until she fell asleep.
...
Two nights later, the fire alarm woke us Avoxes from sleep in our quarters. Within a minute, the audible alarm ended as the strobe lights remained pulsing.
All the Avoxes rose from their cubicles and began to dress for evacuation when an announcement came from the overhead speakers. "The Training Center is in lockdown. Peacekeepers report to your lockdown assignments. All Avoxes are to report to their floors or stations."
Darius and I returned to the twelfth floor and found a Peacekeeper standing guard at the tribute elevator. In the sitting room, Effie sat before the television, served by the night shift Avoxes. The video playing was a replay of the run up to the games with a scrolling text running along the bottom informing viewers that an important message from the President would soon be broadcast live.
When Effie glanced at me, I pointed questionably at the Peacekeeper.
"He informed me that he is here for our protection."
The video flickered, and President Snow appeared on the screen. "Citizens of Panem, I am sad to report that rebels have attacked our country. They have apparently attacked the Hunger Games arena to garnish the most attention. We have repelled their attack, but unfortunately, the 75th Hunger Games have been cancelled and will not have a victor due to the damage done to the arena. We believe that these rebels are from the treasonous ruins of District Thirteen and have the futile goal of poisoning the freedoms that give Panem its strength. From what we have learned, several of the tributes in the arena were rebel spies with the intent of causing fear and panic amongst the citizens of Panem. These rebels will be disappointed because we will not falter or recoil in fear. Until we bring these cowards to justice, I am instituting martial law across Panem to keep the general public safe. We are gathering information and arresting spies as I speak. I will pass along updates as they become available. Remember, if you see something, say something. Together, we cannot fail. Citizens, stay strong, stay calm, and fear not."
The rumors of growing unrest were true. Feeling lightheaded from the news, I leaned on Darius's shoulder. An uneasy feeling planted itself in my gut. The attack on the Hunger Games had to be much more than simple an act of rebellion. The country had fallen into the grip of serious unrest.