Chapter15: Welcome to Panem
The grey corridors made of stolid metal were rather suffocating to the man briskly following the soldier down the rather complicated pathway that led to the person he had come to see. The white-haired man watched as his escort entered a set of numbers into a keypad that was entwined to a large set of double doors. Seconds passed as the doors slide open, the escort stepped aside allowing him
entrance.
"Madam Coin, is expecting you."
Plutarch quickly stepped into past the door inwardly sighing as the metal doors closed with a rather large clicking sound. Ignoring the suffocating feel of the hidden compound, Plutarch knocked onto the door that was on the opposite side.
"Come in," A feminine voice echoed, firm but cold.
"Madam, "Plutarch bowed his head as Madam Coin just slightly bowed hers in return.
"Plutarch, what exactly have you come for? There better be a reason for this unexpected meeting" Coin said softly her eyes slicing through the man before her, nothing more than a capitol guilt trip.
"There have been some unexpected events," Plutarch replied with a delicate tone pausing to gage her reaction. Coin gave him none. The white-haired women sat in her chair leaned forward her version of the go on then signal.
"There has been a change in the games, last year there were two winners."
"Snow would never allow that," Coin argued her eyes narrowing a look of calculation at what was being spoken of.
"He didn't exactly have a choice, both would have died otherwise" Plutarch explained, his mind quickly figuring out the best way to sell his idea.
"What does this have to do with District 13? There will be no rebellion if you act rashly."
"Madam Coin, there have been quite rumblings in the districts since the games have ended."
"Snow will snuff such talk out, what did he do poison them?" Coin leaned back eyebrow raised perfectly, "Snow will never allow the districts to rebel. Once we are ready, the rebellion will begin be patient Plutarch."
"Snow didn't get the chance, the rumblings ceased thanks to the girl's mentor Abernathy."
"Abernathy? That's District 12. They do not win."
"Katniss Everdeen did."
Coin stood from her chair swiftly hands pressed down onto the desk, as she whispered, "Plutarch spit it out."
"If you can manage to speed up your plans, we have ourselves our spark. They listen to those closest to her, the people were up in arms yet before Snow could answer it himself it had dulled."
"Or someone is doing his dirty work for him now," Coin countered.
"You haven't seen the girl…"
"I watch every game; the girl is a wisp she won't last long enough to be what we need."
"Do you really want to risk it?"
XXX
"Again" Haymitch barked.
The young female tribute, Madeline tilted her head back placing a smile on her face and walked across the room once more. Haymitch snorted at seeing her sashay in rebellion at her instructions.
"No again! Keep your smile easy and straighten your back! Come on you look like you're a Hunchback! And for all our sakes never try to sashay ever again kid."
Madeline growled softly to herself as she straightened her back gritting her teeth into the 'easy' smile. She had been at this for an hour as they prepared for the interview. They had been going back and forth between a Q&A session and practicing posture.
"Why do I have to practice how to sit?" Madeline asked her tiredness showing. Haymitch paced across the length of the room then another before answering his female tribute.
"You must keep up a façade. If they see a crack, they will pounce on it before you even realize what you've done."
Sean was grinning wide eyed at the annoyed look on the older girl's face. Their female mentor remained silent leaning against the wall. Haymitch finally released Madeline from her hold. He smirked at the young boy who gulped grinning nervously.
"Alright Little Boy how should we present you?"
XXXX
President Snow stood before the large window in study overlooking the garden filled with perfectly genetically engineered roses. His steel eyes narrowed looking across the room to the hologram floating over his desk displaying the past year's games, Caesar commenting on the victory tour and if District 12 will achieve another win.
A knock on the door caused the older man to sigh as he drilled out a, "Is this important?"
"Sir, we have received a report labeled code cerise."
"Report, "Snow barked briskly turning from his place by the window waving the hologram away standing behind his desk, "are we not civilized people, Coldworth?"
"Sir?"
"Close the door," Snow drawled out with a irritated wave of his hand. Scoffing as the young man scurried to close the door with shaking hands. He allowed the man a few minutes to compose himself before waving him to continue.
"Sir, we have received word from the outer peacekeepers, there has been some unusual rumblings," the solider began.
"Coldsworth are you trying to waste my time?"
"Sir, these were unusual more organized then before the peacekeepers could gather to force a stop…it just stopped."
Snow paused, "Go on I do not have all day."
The young man wiped his hands against his pants leg discreetly, "The citizens stopped their protests, things died on their own. The peacekeepers did not have to do anything."
Snow nodded, "Have the protocols been enacted?"
"Yes Sir, we have ordered all peacekeepers to be on the alert for for black markets, gatherings of any kind and to intercept all mail from victors and known suspects."
"Good, you are excused."
"Yes, Sir," The young man bowed before quickly leaving the office. Snow leaned back into his chair, looking out toward the garden, his fingers lightly tapping the wooden desk.
"They won't get very far."
XXXXX
The brunette victor wondered just how oblivious her tributes think she actually was. The female, Madeline, was walking toward her with eyes downcast but shoulders squared. They would have to work on her posturing. Until then it was best that she figure out what exactly was bothering the girl. Before it somehow got the chit killed.
"Something bothering you?" Katniss asked softly.
"Why put so much effort into a façade when 23 of us are going to die?" Her tribute asked.
"It's all a part of the show. All they want is a good show but if you don't give them one they'll only make it worse for you."
Madeline grumbled," So making me happy with a side of flirty is all for their amusement?"
Katniss let out a chuckle, "Welcome to the Games."
They turned their attention back to Sean just in time. Haymitch simply told him to stay the way he is, keeping to being the nervous, young, vulnerable boy that he was. "They'll eat him alive" Madeline exclaimed in horror.
"He's thirteen. They'll be a lot harder on you" Katniss rebuked. They shared a long glance as Katniss waited for what Madeline would do. The war within herself was obvious to someone as experienced with inner conflict as Katniss was. Haymitch watched the exchange telling the young boy to give it a break. He smirked seeing a familiar spark inside the tribute beside the girl on fire. Madeline's shoulders were far too stiff to truly be comfortable. Her hands were enclosed in tight fists. The experienced fighters could see she was going to blow.
"Then why make him go through this?"
"He still needs to learn how to handle himself. This is where you find out who can act and whose an open book" Katniss explained softly careful not to sound complacent or if she saw the girl before her as a child.
"Why?" Sean asked looking between the two girls.
"So, you can watch your back."
Before anyone could say anything Effie walked in calling out that dinner was ready. Sean brightened up immediately dragging a confused looking Madeline with him. Their mentors following behind at a slower pace. Dinner itself was a rather quiet affair. Effie had reached the point in the games where she had very few things left to explain. Katniss was internally relieved that they could sit in silence for once.
Soon Effie quietly sent the tributes up to bed with her usual cheery voice. Katniss was surprised to watch as her former escort hunch over herself in her chair. Katniss sighed warily as the three of them sat in silence. She had to applaud Effie for being able to hold it together so well in front of the tributes, she never even thought to think Effie was affected much. The only sound that could be heard was the tick tock of the clock on the wall.
The youngest victor watched silently as Haymitch grumbled that Effie needed to go to bed. The woman tried to protest but was hushed when he tugged her toward her bedroom. The last thing Katniss heard was…
"No need to manhandle me Haymitch Abernathy!"
The dark haired woman chuckled silently. She doubted she would see either of them tonight as she watched Effie strain to gain a weapon to use on her mentor. Standing up she quietly said her thanks to her Avox and slipped out onto the roof. It almost pained her to watch the same night sky float above her. How could everything about a city as large as Panem still be so fake? Not one thing left was real. She could taste the silicon and many other substances that fill the air. Katniss eyed the
invisible barrier lightly. She couldn't help but wonder how Snow would react to her shooting an arrow through it.
"Don't you even think about it."
Hiding her grin she turned around to scowl at a frowning Finnick. "You don't know…"
"Katniss, you wanted to shoot one of your arrows through the barrier."
The female victor rolled her eyes, "So you caught me."
"You sure have a lot of naughty thoughts" Finnick shook his head.
Katniss simply shrugged what would be the point of denying that she wanted to piss off Snow? She felt his hand wrap around her wrist turning her toward him. All that needed to be said was said silently. Katniss leaned into his chest sighing in quiet relief. They stood this way for a while just their breathing showing any passage of time.
"How'd you know?"
"You're not so much a mystery as a puzzle."
Grey eyes met Green amusement flashing in both.
"And here I thought I was a total mystery."
"You'll live" Finnick chuckled, pulling his hand out of his pocket showing a rope before handing it over to her waiting hands. Katniss caught it easily and attempts a knot he would not break. He unknotted it in less than a minute.
"Again, Girl on Fire."
Gently grabbing the piece of rope back from his hands she tried again. This pattern repeated until daylight finally broke out. Katniss placed the rope back into his hands sighing. Finnick stayed silently only tucking the piece of rope away. A few minutes pass before either one of them says anything.
"You won't be alone this time. Remember we are here" Finnick murmured in her ear. Silently Katniss nodded gracing him with a tense smile but still a genuine one. She gasped in shock as he pulled her into his embrace. Chuckling he pulled away after a few minutes.
"Be brave Everdeen" He whispered before reaching the door that would take them back to her floor.
Katniss turned around before entering, "Play it safe Odair."
The last thing she saw was she closed her door was his wide grin. Checking the clock she sighed in relief that she would be able to get a few hours of sleep before having to watch the interviews. By the time she woke up, she could hear Effie screeching for everyone to be on time. Rolling her eyes at the escort's antics she quickly showered and dressed before risking Effie's wrath.
She could feel Effie's irritation before she even stepped into the room. Today Effie wore one of her business suits, it was orange. Her hair tinted with bright orange hues. This would have been almost comical on its own. What was truly comical was that she walked in on Effie trying to force a bright orange tie onto her fellow victor.
"We need to stand united!"
Haymitch growled, "Not by a looking like a circus we don't."
"Now you're over exaggerating."
"No, I'm not."
She turned to hold it in but she couldn't. Katniss laughed so loud they immediately turned to her direction.
"Hello Sweetheart" Haymitch spoke dryly.
"Katniss please talk some sense into him!" Effie cried exasperatedly.
Katniss shook her head, "Sorry Effie but you're the one who chose to date him." Effie gasped and Haymitch muttered under his breath.
"We are not!" Effie rebuked her face flushed and giving herself away unknowingly. Katniss shrugged her shoulders, "Whatever you say."
The look Haymitch sent her way told her that they'd be having a talk later. Seconds before Effie tried to speak Cinna arrive with their tributes. As usual Cinna had done beautifully. Madeline looked the picture of sophistication and loveliness while Sean looked rather handsome in his dress pants and shirt. Haymitch gave them a nod of approval and Katniss smiled attempts to be encouraging. By their faces, she failed.
They made their way down silently nothing would seem to ease the tension. The tributes nervously tapping a good or a tug on a collar, the only sign they had any emotions. The doors to the elevator doors opened revealing Mags and Finnick with their tributes. Finnick and Katniss shared a look as they watched the tributes look at each other warily.
"Relax the time for mistrust and attacking is tomorrow" Finnick finally spoke all four tributes looking at him in shock.
"He's right. The more pressure you exert now can only hurt you late" Katniss agreed.
"Katniss Everdeen agreeing with me! Haymitch is the world on fire?" Finnick cried eyes
lightened up in the amusement.
Haymitch rolled his eyes, "Knock it off both of you."
Finnick made a face causing Katniss to laugh. Their tributes looked on wondering if all the victors were this crazed.
"They are off their meds" The boy from Four muttered despite the low volume his mentor still heard. The head slap that followed caused several amused smirks and grins come their way. Once the elevator reached their destination the mentors ushered their tributes to the line they would wait their turn in. After a few last words Katniss and Finnick found themselves side by side talking in hushed voices to the side.
"Annie?" The dark-haired girl asked quietly.
"She mostly stays up on our floor. She… can't handle this not yet."
The district 12 victor nodded solemnly, "tell her that I hope to see her again soon."
Her ocean loving friend smiled before nudging her toward the door where the other victors had made their way to their reserved seats. Katniss sighed glancing at her own mentor. Haymitch was smirking at the two of them while she sent him back a glare. A glare that held no effect. Quickly waved goodbye before stepping into her place at Haymitch's side.
"How's lover boy?" He drawled.
"That was your nickname for Peeta," Katniss rolled her eyes, "He's back home remember?"
"Now it's Finnick's" Haymitch drawled even slower causing her to slap him in the head. Katniss glared, "You know perfectly well that nothing is going on."
"Perhaps but it'll never last you are both far too temperamental for that to last" Their conversation came to a close as Caesar's loud voice was heard throughout the audience.
"Welcome to Panem."
Caesar's voice soon was unintelligible noise to the Girl on Fire. She felt two hands gently grasp her hands. Looking down she found Haymitch's hands keeping hers from clutching her thighs far too tightly.
"Hold onto your fire for a bigger target" Haymitch's voice was gruff but far more soothing to her than anything in Panem.
"Who's up?" She whispered keeping all her senses on her awareness of her body.
"Fish boy's male tribute."
The rest of what he said was missed as she subconsciously found herself searching for the District 4 victors. And there they were Mag's delicate form covered by Finnick's strong frame tucking her head away. Finnick's sea green eyes found her startling grey ones. The brief contact was all she needed. They shared a tense smile, silently communicating that no matter what it was okay. They would be okay. This was only the beginning. Quietly she wondered if he would still be so willing once the bloodshed spreads past the 24 yearly tributes.