How did he get here?

That is the question everyone is asking, Snow himself included. Let's start at the beginning.

Coriolanus Snow's life can not be better. His schooling is successful, his Hunger Games ideas are significantly improving the game's popularity, and Dr. Gaul is a perfect mentor, teaching him the ins and outs of power. Power that he wants more of. But this morning, something hit him, an unusual feeling. A state of sorrow, fills him with despair. Why does he feel this way? Coriolanus attempts to shake it off and starts his usual morning checklist:

Put on clothes ✓

Brush teeth ✓

Gain more power ❌ (Well not yet this morning anyway)

Once his clothes are on, he travels into his glorious marble walled bathroom. Looking into the mirror, he still can not shake it. "What is wrong with me?" Snow whispers to himself. "I haven't felt pain like this since.." He turns his head and stares at today's date on his calendar. "Oh." He knows what's wrong. He knows what today is. It is the anniversary of the last day he had ever seen Lucy Gray Baird, the girl from district 12. Why would that matter though? It is not like she was the only person he's killed. He has killed many others, all that had benefited him in the end. Why does he feel this way? He doesn't even know for sure if she is dead. He hasn't heard of them finding her body. He remembers the uncontrollable part of him that would secretly access the news of twelve, looking for the most recent news story: "Local girl, found dead in the woods. Shot to death."

But it was never written. Coriolanus doesn't know if he should be relieved or frightened. After all, he hates Lucy Gray. Doesn't he? Yes of course he does. They may have had sweet moments but she was going to turn him in. She was going to ruin him. She was toxic to him.

Yesterday night he had an issue. Secretary Keenbrand had found out about his little scheme. He had been planning to beat out Teff Pithron for the Games' executive position. Keenbrand, finding this out, was planning to get him kicked out of the Games' program. He did have the upper hand against Coriolanus after all, or so he thought. Coriolanus had begun his plan, sketching out Keenbrand's schedule, he found an opening. Through this Coriolanus tiptoed in, seeking out his surroundings. Once clear he pored a vile into Keenbrand's alcoholic beverage. With that, he snuck away one more, watching from the outside of his office waiting. Finally Keenbrand starting choking, pleading for help, and with no one to hear his pleads, he died.

Should Coriolanus feel bad? Well, he was old anyway. He had nothing more than a decade's years to live anyway. And with that Teff Pithron's position is his. As long as Teff won't not make it too difficult, Teff Pithron will live. He is after all skyscrapers taller than Coriolanus, and getting enough poison to kill someone that tall would be an unnecessary challenge of his own. "Plus, I don't normally come to kill people. It is only if they get in my way." Coriolanus thinks to himself. Poor old Keenbrand happened to be forcing himself in his way, and it had to be done.

Coriolanus' hands tremble fumbling as he attempts to tie one shoe lace after the other. After three failed attempts, he shouts in anger to then only sigh. Is he nervous about something? No. He knows the truth, little Lucy Gray decided to haunt him from the dead. Well it wouldn't work. Coriolanus is not going to feel towards death. Death does not scar him. It didn't scar him with Sejanus, Dean Highbottom, Keenbrand, others...and it would not scar him with Lucy Gray Baird.

After a few more failed attempts Coriolanus finally gives up and shakingly stuffs his shoelaces into his sneakers. Walking to school, he feels the aglets of his shoelaces prick at him with every step. Miserably, he finally makes it to his desk of his first period class.

The day is pretty standard. Coriolanus keeping up his 4.0 GPA and perfect test scores, charming all his teachers. He is even able to fix his shoelaces. Nothing is wrong, and everything is back to the precious normal it was once before. Well almost normal. Teff Pithron during the Games meeting has been eyeing him down. He could have been suspicious of him, Everyone thought Keenbrand had died of over drinking.

The meeting finally ends and Coriolanus decides to take the shortcut home. Tigris and Grand'mam were waiting for him in their new apartment anyway. It towered over that old dump they had before. Walking along the afternoon streets he hears a shuffle. Eyeing around he searches the perimeter to find nothing, and continues his walk into the shaded alleyway. There waiting for him is none other than Teff Pithron.

Coriolanus rolls his eyes and scoffs, "What do you want Teff?"

Two bigger guys walk up behind him.

"You killed him!" Teff shouts furiously. "You killed Keenbrand!"

"Teff," Coriolanus attempts to calm him down. "My friend you know me, I would never hurt anyone let alone our dear Keenbottom."

"Okay maybe dear was too much." Coriolanus thinks to himself.

"We aren't friends, and I know about your little plan to take over my position as student executive. You know who told me? It was Keenbrand."

Coriolanus cannot hide the look of shock on his face. He thought he killed Keenbrand before anyone noticed. His face flinches with fear when he realized it was three against one and this isn't going to end well.

"Fine. What do you want? Money? For me to stop going after your job? Fine, the job is yours."

"No," Teff says, an evil tone scraping his voice. "I know you, I know you made him suffer with no one to hear him. I know you wanted to make his death as painful as possible."

"Teff..."

"You asked me what I wanted. Keenbrand was not only in charge but he was an advisor, a friend. You are an enemy. What I want is for you to suffer the same fate, where no one can hear you."

Those words cut deep, daggers cutting into his skin and heart. Dying without a legacy, without accomplishments? No. Not after he worked so hard. He was so close to real power, he could feel it in his bones. He is pushed to the ground, punches and kicks are aimed at his face. The blood drips out of his nose onto the concrete floor. Clenching his fist, Coriolanus springs up aiming to punch Teff, only to be hit hard in the head. Falling to his knees, his world fading to dark, the words still echoing in the back of his mind:

"where no one can hear you"

"where no one can hear you"

"where no one can hear you..."