The Capitol had commissioned an apartment building to built for the victors whenever they come to the Capitol each year during the Hunger Games. Each district gets its own block, and for some stupid reason, they always rotate the rooms we stay in every year. It's dumb and pointless to complain about, so we just keep our heads down and roll with it.
As Sapphire and I enter the enter the lobby, the receptionist asks. "Look what the cat dragged in. Did you have fun last night?"
"Yes, I did actually." I said, shooting Sapphire a glance as I grabbed my room key off of the counter.
I saw the room number on my key, four-zero-two, and then guided Sapphire to the elevator. As we approached, Sapphire pressed the call button for the elevator. It took a few moments for the elevator cart to appear. When the kart appears, Mags was stepping off, followed by a few of her friends from some of the other districts.
"Finnick." Mags said, as the other victors walked away.
"I'll explain later, Mags." I said.
"Later." Mags said, and then hurried off to join her friends.
"Mags. Wasn't she your mentor four years ago?" Sapphire asked, as we stepped onto the elevator.
"Yeah. Fourth floor." I said.
Sapphire pressed the button for the fourth floor, and then the door shut. The elevator shot up to the fourth floor and stopped. The door opened, and I see that they remodeled the walls, the trimming, and furniture. I noticed that Sapphire got quiet.
"First time being here?" I asked.
"Yes, this is the first time I've been here. This place is even gaudier than the rest of the Capitol." she said
"Right this way." I said, stepping off and making a left turn.
At room four-zero-two, I placed my key into the knob, and turned the key. We hear the door unlock, so I open the door and let Sapphire in first. I shut and lock the door and make my way to my bedroom to get undressed and get a shower. I don't close the door, so I strip naked in my room, grab a towel, and make my way to freshen up.
I'm turning the shower on when I her Sapphire ask. "So, tell me Finnick, how did you win your Games?"
"That's not something I'm going to tell you while I'm in a government-controlled building." I said, getting into the shower. It takes me mere minutes to freshen up, and I'm out of the shower. I dry off and put on the fresh underwear and pants I had sitting on the toilet. I brush my teeth and step out of the bathroom and head to the grab a shirt. As I'm looking for a shirt, I hear Sapphire walk up behind me. I feel her running her hands over my abs.
"You have a nice set of abs, toned and great definition. Why do you not want to discuss your victory here?" she asked.
"The walls have ears." I said, and then turned around in Sapphire's arms and locked lips with her.
I broke the kiss, put a shirt on, and then we left.
As we exit the building, there was another car waiting for us.
"What is it with you and waiting cars?" I asked.
"I have to stay a few steps ahead of the competition." she said.
"Not that I'm complaining, but when are we going to meet the competition?" I asked.
"All in good time. Just respect the pace." she said.
"That sounds like something you say to a potential lover." I said.
"All in good time, Finnick. All in good time." she said, as she opened the car door and got in.
I shut the car door as I got in and got comfortable. Sapphire gave the driver of our destination, and then sat back and got comfortable. Sapphire looked at me, and I looked at her. We gazed into each other's eyes for a moment, and then Sapphire laid her head on my lap as she curled into a ball on the back seat. I didn't sense it, or see it coming, but Sapphire was running out of time, and was spending what little time she had left as she saw fit. Looking back, I didn't see that Sapphire was doing this for herself and not for the Capitol, but somehow, I never felt any malice from her either.
We drove for an hour, and when the car stopped it did so in front of the Remake Center. I was at a loss for words, but I kept my mouth shut and opened the door. Sapphire got out, and then I got out. I shut the door as a man and a woman were approaching Sapphire.
"How did you talk Snow into lending us the youngest victor in the history of the Capitol?" the man asked.
"That's not the most pertinent question to ask. For the record I was never here." I said, electing to keep my mouth shut.
"Smart move kid." the woman said.
Both, the man, and woman are spies for the dissidents in the Capitol. I thought it wise to keep my mouth shut and let Sapphire do the talking.
"Keep your mouth shut, follow my lead, and I might just make it worth your wild." Sapphire's words from last night echoed in my head.
Seeing the people who the Capitol views as enemies may do me some good, could even help build my view of the Capitol. If I'm expected to be a to slave of the Capitol I might as well get something out of the deal. It was at that moment I had a stroke of genius.
"I hate to interrupt, but I have a serious question to ask." I said.
"Yes, Finnick." Sapphire said.
"Do you know people who've seen a lot of things but have loose lips?" I asked.
"Loose lips, how?" the man asked.
"The know things about the Capitol but are to stupid to keep their mouths shut." I said.
"The people know Capitol secrets, and don't realizing they're spreading Capitol secrets. That sound about, right?" the woman asked.
"Yeah." I said.
"Why?" the man asked.
"I'm being enslaved by the Capitol, might as well get something out of the deal." I said.
"I think I might be able to work something out." the woman said.
"Okay." I said, and then fell silent as the trio continued to talk.
I learned many things about Capitol operations, and what was going on in the district. It's all interesting information, but I find it all boring. I happen to look up at a screen and see a commercial for a coming product that's going to launch after the completion of this years Hunger Games. It's another superficial product for a superficial people, and it disgusts me.
"Come on Finnick, we have our next stop." Sapphire said, grabbing my hand and dragging me back to the car.
We get in, and then the car drives away. The location of the next stop makes my skin crawl, and I can feel sweat start to form on my brow: The Delicate Touch.
"You all right Finnick? You're looking a little pale." she said.
"I know the owner of that swanky establishment. The problem is the workers looking at me like a piece of meat." I said.
"How colorful." she said.
A few minutes later, the car pulled up to the Delicate Touch. We get out, and head in.
"The moment I step in the door, the women are going to flock to me." I said.
And without fail, the moment the door closes all the women in lobby perk up. Sapphire and I hear a chorus of Hello Finnick. I had to raise my hand to keep the woman at bay.
"Who's the young lass." Friselle asked.
"An associate of mine who's here to see the lady of the Touch. Is Scarlet in?" I asked.
"Yeah." Friselle said.
"One moment." Friselle said, and then stepped into the back.
"You weren't kidding about the looks." Sapphire whispered.
"Told you." I said.
"Finnick how can I help you?" Scarlet asked, as she stepped into the lobby.
"Not me, but you can help my associate here. Scarlet this is Sapphire. Sapphire this is Scarlet." I said introducing the women.
"Hi Sapphire, so nice to meet you." Scarlet said.
"Is there a place we can talk in private?" Sapphire asked.
"Right this way. We can talk in my office. And you Finnick?" Scarlet asked.
"I'll wait by the car." I said, and then excused myself.
As I'm leaving, I hear the girls complaining about my departure. As I'm stepping out of the building, one of Rantipol's men is entering. We greet each other, and then the door is shut. I lean up against the car and wait for the women to finish talking.
Two hours later, I see the door open, and Sapphire comes walking out. Scarlet is right behind Sapphire shutting the door.
"Tell me Finnick, what does the president have in store for Sapphire?" Scarlet asked, as the women approached the car.
"Snow said that she had information on the dissidence presences in the Capitol. My job was to make sure I got that information from her by any means necessary." I said.
"Yeah, that definitely sounds like him." Scarlet said.
"I've already been in touch with the dissidence. I just need to find a way to get the information to the president." Sapphire said.
"I saw both of them at the presidential palace when I was there yesterday. Kind of a dangerous game don't you think?" I asked.
"They've been there for—"
"Don't say it." I cut Sapphire off.
"Don't underestimate the president. He has his ways of getting the truth from people." Scarlet said.
"It's for your own good that you don't reveal that information to us." I said.
"Okay." Sapphire said.
"What's our next move?" I asked.
"I have a few plays that will take the heat off of the dissidence until they're ready to move." Sapphire said.
"Again, keep that information to yourself." Scarlet said.
"What's the next play?" I asked.
"Can you keep a secret?" Sapphire said.
"Yeah." I said.
"So can I." Sapphire said.
"You do that." I said.
"In other news, Snow wants you to visit Doc and see what he has dug up." Scarlet said.
"I'm riding separately, or am I going with Sapphire?" I asked.
Scarlet pointed behind me. Both Sapphire and I turned around to see a car had just pulled up. That was my ride, but what I didn't know at the time was that Sapphire was about to be abducted and interrogated for information on the dissidences.
Presidential Palace-
Two hours later, I was walking up to the palace when I was stopped at the door by one of the dissidences. I was given a note saying that Sapphire had been captured. I glossed most of the note, but something jumped out at me. It said that Snow had kept his power by poisoning his opposition. If I want to verify, I have to head back to Utopia Corner's in two days time and talk to a man at the same table we sat at. I stopped reading the note because was the wrong place to finish it.
"Anything of important, Mr. Odair?" the butler asked, as he approached me.
"A shopping list of items that Scarlet wants me to pick up. Does the president have any need for me?" I asked, looking up from the note as I was shoving it in my pocket. I need to burn that note very soon.
"No, but Mr. Rantipol would like to talk to you in the library." the butler said, and then walked away.
I made my way to the library to see Rantipol waiting for me. As I walking into the library, Rantipol saw me and waved for me to follow him out into the garden. We walked to the other side of the garden, stopping next to a generator. The generator was loud, but not loud enough where I couldn't hear Rantipol.
"By now you that Sapphire has been abducted and being interrogated for information." he said.
"How long before Snow kills her?" I asked.
"I don't have an answer to that question. Did you learn something?" he asked.
"Nothing important is coming to mind." I said, even though my mind is thinking of that note that I was given the moment I entered the palace.
"Let me know if something pops up." Rantipol said, and then walked away.
I exit the garden and leave the palace. I make my way to the park that is a block away. As I'm approaching, I take note of my surroundings, and take a seat in a cluster of trees near the street. I skip to the final few lines of the note. When I go to meet the person at the bar, I'm to ask for a man named Zepto Dayshire. To protect dissidence operation there will be code talk involved. He will ask me a question, or make a statement, and I will have to give the correct answer. The exchange is: in a world overrun by Jabberjays, the Mockingjay is king.
I check my surroundings to make sure I'm not being watched; stuffing the note back in my pocket, and then head to the office supply store across the street. I was in luck because the owner was a fan, and even better they were willing to shed the note without question. I go over the exchange in my head as I'm exiting the store and hailing a ride. I get in, and head back to the victor's dorm. I spend the next two days acting like nothing is wrong to keep up appearances.
S.D.D.
Utopia Corner-
I show up at the Utopia's Corner, and I slowly make my way through the bar to the table that Sapphire and I sat at the night I got into town. I sit down at the table and order a soft drink. It doesn't take long before I start getting hounded by people wanting me to sign their book. I get the occasional person who wants to talk, but Zepto hasn't revealed himself to me. It was approaching midnight when a nondescript male approached the table.
"You Finnick?" he asked.
"Who's asking?" I asked.
"Depends on if you're Finnick are not." he said.
"I might be Finnick, but are you Zepto Dayshire?" I asked.
"Nice try. In a world overrun by Jabberjays." Zepto said.
"The Mockingjay is king." I said.
"Follow me." Zepto said.
I got up from the table and followed Zepto out of the bar. Once we're outside the bar, we walk to…another waiting car.
What's with these people and waiting cars? I thought.
"Before we get in, I need to sweep you." He said.
"I have no idea what that means." I said.
"I'm going to sweep your body for listening or tracking devices." he said.
"Go for it. I didn't place anything on my body willingly." I said.
A woman gets out of the car, holding a device. She sweeps my body, and then says. "He's clean."
"After you." Zepto said.
We get into the car, Zepto closes the door, and then the car drives off.
"Finnick, so nice to finally meet you. My name is…"
"Plutarch Heavensbee." I said, finishing the sentence.
"You know who he is?" Zepto asked.
"Plutarch here is one of the bigwigs in the Gamemakers. He's not top dog, but he still knows anybody who's anybody in the Capitol. I just have one question." I said.
"And that is?" Plutarch asked.
"How do you, Plutarch Heavensbee, know what President Snow's deepest, darkest secrets?" I asked.
"Zepto is going to answer that, but I have to ask you a question." Plutarch said.
"That answer can wait. What's your endgame Plutarch? You don't strike me as the type to be swayed by the masses. So, why are you here?" I asked.
"Does it matter?" Plutarch asked.
"Yeah, it does actually because if anyone is going to betray them, it will be you before me." I said.
"Why would I do that?" Plutarch asked, nonchalantly.
"Why not? You're the next guy to get the position of Head Gamemaker when the current one kicks the bucket." I said.
"You think this is about money?" Plutarch asks.
"It's nothing as trivial as money." I said.
"Plutarch has already proved his worth to our superiors, so your concerns are baseless." Zepto said.
"If you say so." I said.
"Back to my question: how did you survive your Games? That wound should have rendered you useless." Plutarch said.
"You can thank President Snow for that little gift." I said.
"When? I thought no one was supposed to talk to the tributes before the Games except the trainers, their mentor and stylists, and Caesar." the woman asked.
"Who said that I got that gift while I was in the Capitol? What makes you think I wasn't given it years ago?" I asked.
There was a deafening silence that filled the car, and then the woman sitting next to me asks. "What does that mean?"
"I've heard a rumor that Snow did some experimenting on a child years ago. Didn't realize that I would get the chance to talk them personally." Plutarch said.
"In layman's terms." the woman said.
"When I was born, President Snow experimented on me so that I could survive almost any wound." I said.
"Almost." Zepto said.
"Do you think Snow would let me live if I ever got the idea to oppose his rule? Now to the question at hand? How did Snow poison the opposition, and survive?" I asked.
"He'd drink from the same cup but would also have an antidote on hand." Zepto said.
I take a moment to reflect on the information that I just received.
"The antidote failed." I said.
"How so?" Plutarch asked. My statement got the attention of Zepto and the woman.
"One is because of the flowers that surround him." I said.
"What's the point of the flowers?" Plutarch asked.
I take a moment to jog my memory, but in an instant, I remember the crucial piece.
"The flowers are meant to cover the smell of blood." I said.
"Where is the blood coming from?" Plutarch asked.
"Snow has an open wound, or wounds in his mouth." I said.
"How did you learn that?" the woman asked.
"Finnick was crowned victor four years ago. He would have been close enough to smell the blood. But it was your information that put the pieces together for him." Plutarch said.
The rest of the ride I spent in silence absorbing the information that was being imparted to me. There were a lot of damning allegations against Snow, but until we can shake up the status quo the information is useless.
As the car was preparing to a stop in front of Utopia Corner, I said. "Keep me post." I said.
The car stopped, and then I got out. Plutarch watch as I shut the door and then the car drove off.