Ainsley thought the waterboarding was a bit much. She brushed a strand of blue hair from the left side of her face, as she watched her former mentor try to scream despite the gallons of water being poured over him. When she had received the summons from the President she knew it was going to be bad news-President Cochran only delivered bad news, which made him absolutely dreadful company-but she hadn't anticipated such a demonstration.
When she had walked in to meet the President, she had entered a comfortable lounge made nearly entirely of velvet save for one glass wall which peered into a white chamber. The President was already there, watching as the Peacekeepers had dragged Kylar Manhees, the Head Gamemaker, into the chamber and began cutting him with a sharp glass blade, lines of blood streaming across his chest, shoulders, wrists. They'd then strapped him to a chair, waterboarding him to make sure his last moments were pure agony, but Ainsley knew he was going to bleed out before the water torture could have any real effect.
It was all a bit showy for her tastes.
"I'm not going to condescend to you by bothering to explain why I'm showing you this," the President said while peering through the glass.
"That's good," Ainsley replied, not removing her eyes from her mentor. "My greatest concern at the moment was being condescended to."
President Cochran offered a small chuckle at that. "I'd like to offer you a promotion."
"Need I ask which position opened up?"
The President turned away from the glass and stared at her. She drew her eyes away from the glass wall to meet his gaze. "Your wit does not service you. It's a miracle you've made it as far in politics as you have."
Ainsley reminded herself to bite her tongue. This was not the time to challenge authority.
"I found this past year's Games particularly dull," the President continued, "I practically yawned my way through the proceedings if I'm being candid. So I'm instilling a bit of a regime change."
"I don't intend to disappoint."
"I should hope not. I also came to offer a… let's call it a gift."
From behind the glass wall, Kylar let out a particularly loud scream. Ainsley turned to see a large pool of blood had formed beneath his feet. President Cochran merely rolled his eyes and pressed a button, muting the actions coming from the next room. He then proceeded to remove something from a drawer in the room. With a flourish he pulled out a small glass orb, where inside a small creature was attempting to move around.
It was an insect. Worm like, but with six legs, two antennae, and two beautiful multicolored wings sprouting out of its back. She'd read about creatures like this-that had existed long before the floods, and long before her nation had grown to prominence.
"A butterfly?" she asked cautiously. "I assume it's a mutt?"
The President nodded. "Send this into the Games when you need to spice things up. Perhaps to a tribute you're not particularly fond of."
He began making his way to the door. Before exiting he nodded toward the glass wall. "After all, you've seen what happens when I get bored."
Ainsley stared down at her new gift. Her gaze rose back up to meet Kylar, now undoubtedly near dead. She wondered briefly if this was a one way mirror, or if Kylar were able to see her calmly watching the last moments of his life. She gave a small wave, just in case.
Hey guys! The form for submitting characters is on my page. I'm trying to write 50,000 words in April during quarantine, so hopefully you will be getting updates often. Feel free to PM with any questions or characters!