Aetius Valter, 54, The Capitol.

Aetius sits in the very same glass box that Bastion did on the night before the Games. Where Bastion once sat now Pax does. Where Pax once sat now Maverick does. And where the President herself once sat, now Aetius does.

There is a roar of applause as Drusus Lionella enters the stage. In a glimmering suit, he struts like his trademark peacock, showering the people near him with kisses he grasps some of the most attractive one's hands. Planting fake kisses on even faker palms it all reeks of the desperation to be happy. To put on a false pretense.

Drusus eyes skitter around the room, higher than those near him. Aetius can also hear his heart skip a beat as it locks with his. Aetius nods once, coldly. Drusus's eye twitches. He is one of the few that know what is prepared for tonight.

"Welcome one and all!" Drusus yells out, settling himself into the same chair that he used to interview the Tributes. Only this time, an empty one stares back at him. "You are all in for a special treat tonight," Drusus teases the audience. They erupt into another round of applause, some trying to scream louder than each other to try and draw his attention. Drusus has to gesture with his hands to calm them, frantic energy has settled over the Capitol.

"Before we start our programme I would first like to welcome, as our official new President of Panem, Aetius Valter!" The room is practically alive with screaming and cheering. All residents trying to crane their necks to get a good look at the man.

He smiles back simply. It was easy to doctor the other deaths. To make it look like a rogue President had gone off the rails and attacked her own. Sent a hit order against old friends. Even older allies. There was no choice for the Capitol really, not with how fast everything happened.

And who seemed the most in control? Oh, no other than their falsely imprisoned Head Gamemaker. One thrown in prison for simply trying to tell the truth to his people. No, there was no contest. None at all.

"How's the dog doing?" Aetius asks Pax quietly, watching with a small smirk as Drusus tries to calm the now frantic crowd.

"Refusing to behave."

"I wouldn't expect anything less, break him, won't you?"

Pax nods, "tonight's programming should do just that."

Aetius does not reply, instead, turning his attention back to Drusus who has finally quietened the crowd. "Let's get tonight's show on the road!" Aetius addresses the crowd, he does not wait for the applause.

Instead, he clicks an almost hidden button inside of his suit jacket. Behind him, the girl Tribute from District One's face appears on the screen. Cheers break out from her fans as Drusus settles into his chair comfortably.

District One Female.

"Let's bring out our first guest, Hannibal Forge!"

It's almost comical to see the well known Victor appear out of thin air next to Drusus. The projection fuzzy for a moment, then in the next it is like the man is sitting right next to Drusus. Hannibal's projection smiles on cue.

"So, Hannibal," Drusus starts, remembering the pre-recorded answers in his head before he asks the question. "How do you think Weiss is doing compared to when you were in the Games?"

Hannibal smiles, his eyes gleaming. "I think she's doing fantastic." Confidence radiates off of his very being, you never would have guessed that his daughter has been left on a cliffhanger. Lunging after Cassia that was when it was time for the volcano to blow. The last mark Ziva left on the arena.

Less than twelve hours later, Aetius now sits.

That's the thing about the Games. It could come down to the final two, but if they kept re-editing the footage the Capitol would never know. But they won't. Aetius is now sick of these Games that he once cherished so close to his heart.

"She's already killed two other Tributes. One expected to be a top competitor for the outliers. I'm very prepared for her to come home." Pride drips from his voice and he puffs his chest out, full of hope for his daughter.

Aetius rolls his eyes. Family has never been his thing. His first official act as President may have been for his security team to locate his son. But that was as much for appearance's sake as anything. It looks better for the new President to have his son by his side. Aetius scowls, they really should have found him already.

The crowd erupts into applause, knocking his train of thoughts and planting a scowl on his face. It only takes a moment before another guest appears on the screen.

"Welcome, Rubie." Drusus soften his voice as a hush falls over the audience. In front of them, a young girl sits on the edge of her seat. Legs crossed she looks fragile as porcelain, and about as pretty as it too.

"How have you been feeling watching your big sister in the Games?" Drusus asks, drawing slightly forward in his seat he smiles broadly at the projection. He feels as fake as the Capitol in moments like this, everything is done for him. Merely an actor in a world of fake reality.

Rubie smiles. "I am so proud of her! I knew that she could make the top 8!" Ruby's cheeks flush to her name as she beams out toward the Capitol. Pride lighting up her features she looks like she is ready to leap into reality next to Drusus.

"I just wish she could come home sooner… I miss her," the little girl's show of innocence causes the Capitol citizens to erupt into cheers of sympathy. Shouting out encouragement to the projection they yell that they are supporting her struggle, that they are sure her sister will make it home, that they admire the pair.

Ruby waves off the audience, blowing kisses goodbye she fades from recognition to the applause of the Capitol. Wrapped around their finger. Just like what Weiss managed at the interviews. Drusus can't help but let the Capitol see him smile. She will make a very good Tribute when she follows familiar traditions.

Her body is replaced by an attractive young man. Who half smiles at the audience, boasting a crooked grin and slightly crooked teeth. He wears a very pretty silver suit. There is murmuring inside of the Capitol about this boy and who he could be.

"Blake Silver, you certainly are living up to your name," Drusus breaks the air.

Blake beams an over exaggerated smile back. "Glad to be here," he tells Drusus. His smile not reaching his eyes, but the Capitol is distracted by the prettiness of this boy to notice. Not fearsome. Not slim. But pretty. It's not what they are used to.

"So, Blake, tell us a little about what it has been like to watch Weiss inside of the Games."

Blake swallows hard, running a calloused hand through his hair. "It's difficult," he admits, looking sheepishly beyond the camera. Out to whoever was with him at the time of the interview. "On one hand we are all routing and yelling for her to come home, but on the other…" Blake trails off, staring at the spot out of his vision.

"But on the other what?" Drusus leans forward in his seat, a lightness creeping over his voice.

"But on the other hand, it's horrible watching your best friend become someone she's not."

District One Male.

Two adults appear on screen, seeming to sit next to each other in a too small interview chair they stare out at the Capitol with worried eyes. Their hands are linked, connecting each other while they are surrounded by such extremities. Such a different way of life. District One may be one of the most well looked after Districts, but they still have nothing compared to the Capitol.

"So, Mr. and Mrs. Platinum. What are you most proud of Ace accomplishing inside of his Games?

Spencer Platinum clears his throat, a rough sound, like crunching glass. "I'm most proud of Ace for staying neutral. When the boy from Two and Four was at each other's throats Ace stayed neutral in all that and diffuse the tension. That's what I'm most proud of him for." The audience erupts into cheers and a few chuckles, remembering the game of truth or dare that proved the catalyst for the alliance's defeat.

"I'm most proud of him for staying loyal to the girl," Natalia Platinum says softly. Her voice is almost missed by the audience. "No one expected him to stay so loyal to that girl. Especially when they don't seem to have a bond closer than friendship. I'm proud of my boy for that." Her voice breaks at the last word and she has to bury her face in the long sleeve of her husband's dark shirt. He lifts a hand, starting to comb his fingers through her hair to calm her down. A couple of residents yell out support at the two.

"And what do you think of their bond, think it could turn into something more?" Drusus makes his voice sympathetic but the lore of gossip lights his tone. The audience sits on the edge of their chairs, ready for the answer that has been on the back of the minds since the two started getting so close.

Spencer clears his throat, "Ace is deadly loyal. He would never hurt another. It's true that the two appear to have chemistry together-" the audience erupts into whispers. Spencer glares at them, "but I don't think he would do that to Tiffany. Actually, I know he wouldn't. That's not how we raised our boy." Spencer stops talking and stares directly at the invisible cameraman. After another moment, the couple disappears.

The next figure to appear is lanky, towering over Drusus he issues a charming smile to the audience. He's as pretty as the Tributes. Dark curler hair dances with his eyesight as he runs a hand through it self consciously, a crooked smile on his lips.

"So, Prince, tell us a bit about your and Ace's relationship." Drusus smiles as he goes to break the ice with this hologram, already knowing that the audience is going to lap the boy up.

Prince breaks into a toothy grin. Talking slightly too loudly he says, "I and Ace have been best mates since way back! I was originally meant to have his spot in these Games but an injury took me out of the running," Prince winks at the camera. "But it looks like he's doing a pretty bang up job out there. Already got chicks all over him." Prince bursts out laughing at his own joke. "But yeah, he's my best mate. I'm really proud of him. It's just time for him to come home."

The audience applauds the quick loud talking boy as he disappears. In his place, a beautiful young woman appears. She takes the audience's breath away for a moment, leaving a stunned silence as she smiles shyly to the camera. A ring on one of her fingers glimmers.

"So, Tiffany, how are you coping?" Drusus asks this with genuine compassion in his voice.

"It's hard," Tiffany's voice is soft as caramel, but as broken as the Capitol. "I miss him so much, every day when he's no here it's difficult. He's been my rock for so long. Now he's gone. With his injury… It's getting harder and harder to see him coming back to me, and that hurts more than anything." The sheer brokenness of this women gets tears falling from the Capitols eyes.

Tiffany lifts her hand, on her third finger on her left hand she exposes a ring. "I found the gift he left me the night the Games began. I know he can't see the intervi-," her voice hitches in her throat. She clears it shakily. "But I want him to know I accept. I, Tiffany Silverstein will marry you Ace Platinum. Please, just come back to me."

As her body fades to black the tears of heartbreak deafen the Capitols ears.

District Two Female.

A hush falls over the Capitol as they realize who the next guest is going to be. Such a controversial tribute, she has slipped under the radar inside of the Games. But such a shocking entrance has made her never to be forgotten.

A shockingly familiar face is the first to join the fray. "Orion Alderman, the second Victor of the evening, welcome to the stage." Drusus addresses the young Victor. Well toned and with a shimmering smile he dazzles the audience.

"Thank you Drusus," he replies back gracefully. "I can't say that I was ever expecting to sit in this chair again," he looks around him with eyes wide. The audience erupts into laughter at the show he puts on, obviously camera trained Victors are always the best for situations like this one. Drusus got lucky, he has had a couple to pick through tonight.

"So, Orion, tell us about your relationship with Cassia?"

Orion clears his throat, "we were best friends when we were little. Always mucking about together and getting on each other's nerves. As a gift one time, I gave her this huge blanket, took me forever to save up enough for that one." Some of the audience lets out affectionate muttering at the gift Orion has described, eager to get noticed by one of their favorite Tributes. One of their most gruesome ones.

"After I got back from the Games… It was never the same. But I still care for her. I always have. Like a younger sibling, you know?" Orion's ramble gets applause from the audience and for a moment they are all united. Victor and crowd, all sharing sympathy for the Tribute he speaks on behalf one. One that certainly would not be happy for him talking for her.

"We all know," Drusus echos the Capitols opinion.

"It's strange you know. I'm the only one to talk on behalf of a Tribute no one cares for anymore. Her own parents have disowned her essentially, I know their interview was written off from the moment it began!" Orion bursts out into laughter, slapping one of his thighs he smiles directly at the audience.

"And her own brother, well, we all know what happened to him!" Orion winks at the audience, before miming a gunshot to his own head. With surprisingly good acting a couple of the residents cry out in shock. Remembering the gruesome death that was broadcasted to all of Panem.

The Capitol is used to gore. But nothing quite that real. It's different inside of the Games. It's controlled, everyone is on the same page, everyone has a chance. That's what makes it so entertaining. But in her brother's case, well, there was nothing fair to getting shot through the back of the head. No matter what crime he did to deserve it.

"I'm sure you could find plenty of her lovers…" The word drips in venom. "Around the District, but none of them truly knew her. Just owned her from time to time." The audience is on the edge of their seats, captivated by the truth that is spilling from Orion's lips.

"No, she doesn't have many left that love her. I think that's why she's so attached to Nate." There are a few gasps at the mention of the male Tributes name. It's shocking to hear them together outside of the arena. Arena relationships are supposed to stay inside of that bubble, once they come outside they almost become deeper, more real. Harder to deal with for the audience all dreaming themselves of finding true love.

"It's a shame he will kill her eventually." With that Orion fades from view, leaving everyone else in his wake.

District Two Male.

The burly man and woman are next to greet the cameras. Both strong built with bright blonde hair and blue eyes there is no question of who their Tribute belongs. Almost mirror images of a picture family. A family missing a son.

"Please welcome Matthew and Megan to the Capitol stage!" Drusus yells out, trying to create a buzz with the crowd for this bloodthirsty Tribute. Well, bloodthirsty no more. The crowd takes the prompt hook line and sinker, breaking into thundering applause.

"Your son seems to have gone on quite the character arch inside of the Games, what can you tell us about his personality at home?" Drusus asks this question with genuine interest. He has always had a bit of a special spot for this male Tribute. So much so he risked the wrath of an old President to bet on him. So far, he is not sure if his money has been placed well with this Tributes deflated performance.

"He is like a completely different person," Megan stammers out, looking down at her feet. Some of the crowd bust out laughing, for they have only known the Nate portrayed in the cameras. Not the one who used to be a menace. They only saw a small glimpse of that at the reapings, a glimpse they are all too quick to forget.

Matthew nods along, picking up where his wife stopped. "We have never seen him be so gentle with someone before, so kind, he has never even thought of putting his life on the line. It's quite admirable really." Matthew clears his throat, looking awkwardly around the camera. Megan reaches a handout, grasping his overly large one in hers they smile softly at each other.

"And what if he gets too soft, what if he doesn't come home?" Drusus asks the question on all of the audience's minds.

Megan takes a deep breath. "Well… That would be hard for all of us to deal with. He is still our son after all," she makes it sound like he is only her son as an afterthought. Something that used to be hers, now taken and modified by the Capitol into someone almost unrecognizable. Yet, unlike the others, he has become something better than he used to be.

"But… If he had found someone that he truly cares for… Then ultimately it is his decision to make. I'm just glad he has a chance to feel that way for someone. I'm proud of him for finally opening up-" Megan chokes up and has to stop, burying her head in her husband's chest he twirls her hair around his fingertips.

Drusus looks at him expectantly.

"Well, I don't know," he shrugs his shoulders. "Nate has always been difficult. I've probably learned more about him from what he's told those others in the arena in 7 days than I have from him in 18 years. It's his choice to make."

When it's clear the two of them are going to say nothing more Drusus waves them off good-naturedly. They just stare forebodingly back.

The next face is yet again of a young man who looks the mirror image of a Tribute. He could be the one inside of the arena right now, no doubt about it with the way his frame packs muscles and the way his bones protrude in all the right places from his handsome face.

"Hi, Milo," Drusus greats the young man warmly.

"Hey Drusus," Milo replies back good-naturedly.

"So Milo, let's get right into it. What was your relationship with Nate?"

Milo looks uncomfortable, pulling the hair at the back of his neck. "It was complicated. We were constantly fighting for the spot in the Games, but that kind died down when I got injured and it became his." Milo trains off for a moment, staring down at his hands.

Drusus clears his throat.

Milo looks back up, "I expected us to stop hanging out after I couldn't compete. It was just the kind of person Nate was. But… But we kept doing it. I helped him out as much as I could. It's only really a limp now. But you can't volunteer with a limp. But I don't know. When Nate confessed that I was more to him, I kind of felt that too, you know? But I don't know if it was in a romantic way. He's my best mate, and I hope I can keep being that. I think we just got this bond. This connection that's deeper. But maybe it's not the way everyone here is thinking. I'm sure he loves Cassia more than me. And that's enough. I wish things were different and I could have had the opportunity of being the best man at their wedding. Those two would make some beautiful babies."

Something about Milo's rant gets tears falling from the audience's cheeks. The raw reality of his rambles. The recognition of the two Tributes. The image painted of another life in all of their minds. It's an eerie silence that overtakes the room. One that seems like in the right condition, could go on forever.

But it's not the right condition. And the appearance of another figure in the interview chair cuts their grief off quite abruptly. Almost as if it never properly started.

District Three Male.

An older woman appears on the stage. It's startling. How similar she looks to a now dead Tribute. Obviously a familiar relation a fake smile is barely hanging on to the slight droop of her lips. Curling down at the edges, like peeling paint in a room that has started to fade. Become warn-down. Got lost to the infinity of time. Died.

"Please welcome to the stage, Clarissa Lancaster." The first dead-silence of the audience staggering. A breath too loud can be heard. A man coughing on the stench of perfume. A lady dropping a mirror she was using to check that her lipstick was perfect. Not a moment of thought on the woman now on the stage. Until now.

Sitting before them is the mother of a dead Tribute. This kind of interview is almost unheard of. It's particularly unusual for a parent to know another Tribute - that is not their own flesh and blood - well enough for the interview stage. Let alone the Capitol not having enough other people to interview.

Callum is a special case.

"So, Clarissa, how did you first meet Callum?"

She clears her throat, attempting to speak only a high noise comes out. Drusus attempts to reach a hand out in sympathy, but it only fades through the projection, startling those in the audience have forgotten the illusion, despite the constant changes.

She takes a deep breath.

"I first met Callum when his mother was still alive. She was… undesirable. Callum is my sons best friend, you'll hear from him shortly I think. So, when Callum's mother passed away he had become as close as a son to the family. He stayed with us when the group home was too much. The kids all think of him as a brother."

Drusus nods along as a tear falls from the woman's cheek, his hand twitches in an ache to reach out and support her. But the projection is a cruel illusion. In reality, this interview was done days ago. The pain of her loss fresher. Not that it ever truly goes away. The Games change in irreparable ways.

"What was Callum's mother like?" Drusus asks, barely a whisper.

Clarissa's face scrunches in distaste. "I don't want to talk ill of the dead," she starts, her voice strained. Drusus eggs her on. She takes a deep breath, "She had a complicated relationship with Callum. He was accidental and the father abandoned him. It broke his mother and she turned to substances. It was her downfall. I often think of Callum more of as my own son than hers. He just wasn't born from my womb." She offers a small smile at the end, this time it is pulled up with the rosy lens of past thoughts.

"Thank you," Drusus tells her. Taking a deep breath. Almost debating the next question, yet he knows that it is scripted in. He has to. "And what are your thoughts on Callum now? After what happened with your daughter?" The silence of the audience becomes a buzzing thing, almost alive inside of the total absence of sound.

Silent tears start to fall from Clarissa's cheeks as she grabs a handkerchief and uses it to wipe them away. "It's not Callums fault that his first instinct was to run. I'm sure it would be all of ou-" her voice breaks and the tears become louder sobs. "I just don't know how to deal with her being gone." She eventually chokes out.

She disappears a moment later.

A young man's face replaces her, yet again clouded by the appearance of familiarity. The son. The best friend. The brother. "Welcome, Alfie." Drusus announces him.

"Glad to be here Drusus, I've always dreamed of seeing your beautiful face in the flesh," Alfie jokes. It causes the audience to erupt into laughter at the abrupt change in tone. When Alfie blows a kiss toward the announcer they all lose it.

"So Alfie, what do you miss most about not having Callum back home?" Drusus asks with a good-natured smile, glad of the change in tone from his mother's interview.

"Just not having him around really, I miss having someone I can talk to about everything. Or tease and make fun of. He's got the most infectious smile - you haven't really seen that yet in the Games, and I miss that pretty bad." Alfie pulls up his cheeks into an almost grimace as he faces Drusus who erupts into laughter at the expression.

Drusus thinks this boy would have made a good Tribute.

District Four Female.

Another boy faces Drusus. He's lanky, tall but leanly muscled, with curly sun-bleached hair." He offers a smile, but unlike the boy before him, this one looks natural and well practiced. It makes the women of the audience pay immediate attention.

"Welcome, Tony." Drusus introduces the boy to the audience, who meet his name with rampant cheers and applause. Tony smiles out at them, waving, he winks. "So, tell us about your relationship with Carolyn."

Tony's cheeks pinken at her name and he runs a hand through his hair self consciously, biting his bottom lip. "Well, we've been friends for a while, she's the only one that can really put up with me," he jokes.

Drusus nods along, "so, when did your relationship progress from that?" The question gets his cheeks deepening in color. Some of the audience laugh at the expression on his face, it's so young and boyish, it's a stark contrast to what they have seen before. Of young love.

"Probably the morning of the Games, we walked into the ocean together and my hand kind of found hers." Neither of us knew what it meant, but it just felt so right, you know? It felt like we should have done it a lot sooner. He starts to bite the end of his nail self consciously as he looks down, trying to get his cheeks under control.

"So, during the goodbyes, that was your first kiss?" Drusus teases, the boy's cheeks only go redder.

"I guess you could say that," he stammers back. His eyes lift in recollection of the memory.

"And what was it like watching her fall for another Tribute inside of the Games?" Drusus voice is harsh against his pink cheeks. It causes an abrupt change in the audience.

Tony's face falls. "Well, it hurt at first. When I thought she really was into him. I was screaming at the screen when I saw her let him go at the Bloodbath. Ruined her own face for him." Tony growls out those words, changing from a boy to a young man in a moment. His voice deepens some, aggression radiating off of him.

"Then when she left the Careers to join him I was worried again, especially with how close to death she came. Some of the things she said hurt." Yet again he growls the words, his face contorting from anger to pain to anger again.

Drusus wonders for a moment if there is something deeper going on with this boy, something dark and strange. Something which would attract such dark people together. Something that could create a bond between the two of them.

"But then she killed him" he gloats these words full of pride. "That's when I realized it was just an act. That it didn't mean anything." He says the words so confidently it is almost painful for those who are older in the crowd. You can only fake so much, but this boy seems so confident it would be almost cruel to point it out.

"Now I'm just proud of her, ready to see her kick ass and come back home." Tony gloats these words yet again. Taking ownership of this Tribute.

"Thank you, Tony," Drusus finishes off the interview with an unsettled feeling in his heart.

District Six Female.

Three people join the stage across from Drusus. Two of them stand, an extremely pretty young woman and a man that looks like he could bend steel beams. The boy in the chair looks small compared to them, with messy bronze hair and light eyes.

"So, the motley crew has arrived" Drusus jokes, addressing the trio.

"Sorry, Drusus we travel as a pack," the intimidating boy states. Crossing his arms, he towards over the girl at his side.

"You certainly do," Drusus agrees, trying to find his feet as he addresses the imposing group. Even in projection, they intimidate him. It's not a feeling he is used to. Not even when he faces off against the Careers. Or murderers. He's not used to addressing more than a single person, that's what scares him, even if a pre-recorded interview. "Is attacking Peacekeepers another one of your habits?" The question makes the audience break into applause.

The boy sitting in the chair looks sheepish as the large one claps him on the back. "That's just our boy Riley's habit." The large boy says, grinning down at him.

"One we hope he doesn't repeat," warns the woman to the other side of him. Placing a hand gently on his shoulder. "We can't always rely on generous Victor's to get him out of trouble," she adds.

The crowd cheers at the thought of their Victor, Adam Brauer being a gentleman. He's one of the more popular Victors, young, handsome and just mysterious enough to keep them guessing about him even after all of the interviews surrounding the Games.

"What do you think, Riley? Is it something you are planning on repeating?" Drusus addresses the boy directly, trying to get an answer out of the boy himself and not those around him. For he is the one the Capitol really wants to know about.

"I'd do it a million times without Adam saving me if it meant that I could get Esme back." Riley's voice is serious. It causes a hush to the audience and the two standing next to him to simultaneously place a hand on each shoulder in support. In the unity of their bond. "We just want her home." He adds.

Drusus nods, his brow furrowed. "If you could get any message to her right now, what would you want her to know?" He asks.

Riley takes a deep breath. "I want her to know I'm proud of her, and that she's not a bad person because of what she has had to do to survive. That we want her home, and that we are waiting for her. Not just as friends, but as her family."

District Six Male.

When a single girl enters the stage it is such a contrast to the older teenagers that were just there a moment ago that it startles the audience from their restlessness of sitting through the interviews.

The girl is sixteen, tall and lanky she should not look as youthful as she does at this moment. It's not even her stylists that have done it. There's just a certain presence surrounding her that makes the audience breathless as she stares wide eyes at them. A slight tremor to her hand that twirls the hem of her dress around her fingertips.

"Welcome, Melanie," Drusus says softly, almost a whisper. It gets the audience on the edge of their seats.

"Hi, Drusus." Her voice comes back as a whisper, yet is projected all around the audience like a shout. It's oddly eerie. "I guess I'm here to talk about Jerry, right?"

Drusus laughs, "that's right," he replies. She has done the questioning for him.

"Jerry's weird. He can never sit in one spot, and his leg always bounces, even when he's standing. He's loud in the wrong situations and far too quiet in the right ones. He's got this grin that is slightly crooked on the right-hand side but you'd only notice if you looked really hard. He looks up to his brother when he really shouldn't." Melanie has to stop to get a breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"His favorite color is blue, but not like the ocean, like the sky on a really cloudy day where you can only see small patches past. He only wears his hair in a bun because he doesn't like the feeling of it against his cheeks but he hates getting it cut more. He always smells of the wind even when he hasn't been outside in days and his sweat smells strangely sweet sometimes. He wants to be everyone's friend, but is afraid they don't actually like him." She has to stop, a sob wracks her body that she physically pushes down before continuing.

"I guess what I'm trying to say. Is that he's not the boy you are seeing in the Games. He's not the person who killed that girl with the rock. He's not the person that poisoned that other boy. The Jerry I know would only try to help them. He's not the person you have been seeing inside of the Games. I don't know who that is." Her voice breaks again, only this time it takes longer for her sobs to be controlled.

"He's become someone I can't even tell you about because I don't know what's going through his mind. It's like he's been replaced by someone else. Someone foreign. Someone who I haven't met before. And that scares me." Drusus looks at her gently, wishing he could offer some sympathy.

"What do you think is going to happen if he makes it home? Drusus asks her softly.

She takes a deep breath, shaking as she exhales. "I don't know. I don't know if I want to know now." Tears fall taster. "It's like I've never known him."

Aetius Valter, 54, The Capitol.

Drusus wraps up the final interview with a smile and wave to the audience, promising them answers to the latest cliff hangers of the Games tomorrow morning and assuring them all to get a good night's sleep and not stay up too late partying. Aetius has to stop himself from rolling his eyes at all this.

But there is one more event for the night.

Drusus announces Aetius toward the stage.

He walks with cool confidence, staying composed with the eyes of the nation glued to his body. He's lost weight since the arrest, his muscles become less dense, almost lanky. But he still has an aura to him that reeks of authority.

Aetius stands in the center of the stage. Flicking his hand he issues for Drusus to leave the stage. He does so with the excitement of a puppy trying to please its owner. Or maybe like one trying to run from a beating. It's almost impossible to tell with the Capitol residents.

Aetius clears his throat and the silence is deafening. His first live address to the citizens since he took over the Presidential position. His citizens now.

"As you all know by now, there has been some turmoil in the Capitol. Slowly, we have become infested with rats. Creeping and crawling in the darkness they nibbled on our toes and started wearing down our very foundations as citizens. They threatened to ruin everything." Aetius takes another pause, staring at all of those around him. He knows that the feed of tonight will be broadcasted to every Capitol resident. They will all have their eyes glued.

"But, with the strength that we have shown since the dark days. We overpowered the rats-" cheer from the audience cuts his next words before they can leave his lips. He smiles.

"Now, we are left with the issue. What do we do with the rats that remain? Do we leave them alive, to rot? Or, do we chop their heads off before they have any chance to breed? To escape?" Aetius nods his head towards those who cannot be seen offstage.

In a moment, there is a figure being dragged toward where Aetius stands. The figure wrestles against the massive figures who hold them Captive. A straw bag is over their head, it twists and turns as their body convulses. Drusus nods and a hand goes flying, wrapping the figure around the head their body stops wriggling for a moment and stumbles forward in a daze.

"Before you, I present, the biggest rat of them all." Drusus goes behind the figure and pulls the bag off of their head. Underneath is a disgraced President.

"Ziva Crimson, our old President," Aetius spits the words like venom. "The biggest rat, she attempted to make the Capitol fester from the inside out. Planting the seeds of decay and greed. She was ready to ruin everything we have been creating, our legacy that has lasted 189 years and will continue to last hundreds more." Aetius's voice raises pace.

"We cannot allow a rat to fester here. It does not deserve our sympathy. Our hospitality. It deserves nothing but an end." With that Aetius takes two steps back from the figure, nodding again at the lackeys they bring her down to her knees.

In a final feat of strength, she cries out, getting one arm free of the grasp she claws out, connecting with the man's face. It only lasts a moment though, before she has been smacked again and the grip becomes tighter. Almost ready to crush her there.

From his pocket, Aetius brings out the gun that almost ended his own life in a weaker moment. Now it's metallic exterior gleams from the stage lights like it always belonged there. Like it was meant to be.

Stepping forward again he makes sure the cameras have gotten the gun in their gaze before placing its cool exterior against her dark hair. "Any last words?" He whispers, not letting the Capitol hear what is being said.

"Did they get out?" She whispers, the desperation in her voice is heartbreaking.

Aetius pulls the trigger without an answer.