It takes about half a day to get all of my gear moved into Victor's Village. We didn't make the move until after the cameras left, which was a good week, but the cameras finally left. I know that I have the Victory Tour in six months, but for the time being I'm in the clear. Since I won the Games, I'm no longer required to attend school, and because of that I have a lot of free time. I offered my family rooms in my house, but my father declined. My house, with all the space that needs to be filled, feels empty and lifeless.
Most days I help my father at his business, but after a month or so my services are no longer needed. So, I spend most of my days fishing, or occasionally being chase by the girls in the district. Not only was I playboy and able to draw in a crowd, but I was able to make women fall over themselves by simply speaking; almost as if I was a poet.
I make my way back to Victor's Village, to escape the crowd, but mostly because I wanted to ask Mags something. I was in luck because Mags was sitting in chair on her porch.
"Mags, question." I said.
"What do you want to ask?" I asked.
"What does my talent have to be? Any specifics?" I asked.
"It can be whatever you want it to be. Some people pick up artistry, some become writers; whatever tickles your fancy." she said.
"What are you talking about?" Chrysan asked, joining the group.
"Finnick here was asking what a talent can be." Mags said.
"That was fun. Good luck." Chrysan said, and then left.
I roll my eyes, and then Mags asks. "What were you thinking?"
"Poetry." I said.
"Poetry." Mags said.
I repeat the same speech I used earlier. After I was finished, Mags was rubbing her jaw and then said. "It would polish the playboy and make you more desirable."
"Works for me." I said.
I join Mags on her porch, and she tells me of the previous victors. There are nine in total, include Chrysan, Mags, and me. It was an illuminating experience to learn of the people who I am sharing the village with.
The following morning, I wake up to my phone ringing. I know it's not anyone in the village because half of them are not talkative, whereas Chrysan and Mags are most likely still asleep. I pull myself from my comfy bed and go to answer the phone. If I had to guess, it's someone from the Capitol. A sense of dread washes over me at the thought of President Snow already calling for me to get to work. But a sense of relief washes over me when I answer the phone.
"Hello." I said, still sleepy.
"Finnick, it's Jade. Are you serious about your talent?" Jade asked, brimming with excitement.
"Easy there, Jade. Yes, I was planning on my talent being poetry." I said.
"Do you think you can have a book before the Victory Tour in six months?" she asked.
"How many poems do I have to written do said book?" I asked.
"The more the better. Ten would be a good start." she said.
"I'll see what I can do." I said.
"Thanks!" Jade said, and then hung up.
I decide to crawl back into bed. I went to bed early last night, but I still want more sleep. Something tells me that when I enter Snow's services, I'm not going to get a lot of sleep.
I wake up when I hear the door belling ringing. If I had to guess, it's Mags or Chrysan. Nobody else would be ringing my bell at this time. I look the clock and saw that it was twelve o'clock.
Crap! Must have been really tired. I thought.
I put on fresh clothes and go answer the door. When I open the door my blood runs cold. I open the door to see a person from the Capitol standing there.
"President Snow would like a word?" I asked.
"He does, but he didn't say that you would be expecting us." she said.
"I wasn't but given that a person from the Capitol was ringing my door it's the only option left to me. Is it all right if I take a quick shower?" I asked.
"We can take care of that when you get to the Capitol. Follow me." the woman said, and then turned and walked away.
Lead the way. I thought.
I saw Mags leave her house, but before she could I respond I hold my hand to stop her from asking as I was shaking my head. I followed the woman to the entrance to the village, and I see a car. We get in, and the driver takes us to the train station.
"I guess there's a hovercraft at the station." I said.
"Very perceptive." the man in the front seat said.
"I mean, if President Snow has a need from me, taking a train would be the worst idea." I said.
"How reductive." she said.
"Intelligence is promising." he said.
"I'm right here. Please don't talk about like I'm not here." I said.
The pair continued to talk as if I was not there, so I turned and looked out the window and let my mind wonder to what President Snow has in store for me. It can't be good if he's already calling for me. I'm not looking forward to this. Helping President Snow remain in power.
Something, or some detail resurfaces in my mind, and I think back to the day I was crowned victor. I remember seeing a red liquid in the left corner of his mouth. From the color of the liquid, and given the location I saw it, it looked like blood to me. Then my question is why is blood leaking from President Snow's mouth.
I looked out the windshield and saw a hovercraft, which isn't a surprise. We need to get to the Capitol quickly. The car stopped, and the three of us got out. As we were approaching the hovercraft, I can still hear the man and woman still talking, but my body almost shuts down when rear hatch opens.
Even though I was still a good distance away I can make out the figure that was sitting in the bay: it was President Snow. I keep my cool the best I can, but at least I don't have to wait to get to the Capitol before I have to talk to Snow.
"Finnick my boy, how are you doing?" Snow asked, as I boarded the hovercraft and took a seat across from him.
I may be his tool, but I'm still going to keep some distance between us.
"I'm fine. Pretty good actually. I wasn't expecting to see to you so soon." I said.
"What makes you think I don't pay the winning tribute a visit after they win?" he asked.
"I'm pretty sure that answer is self explanatory." I said.
"I guess that means that we can dispense with the pleasantries. I have a job for you, and you're going to do it or I'm going to kill you family." he said.
I sat in stunned silence for a moment, grunted, and then said. "Wow, so much for fairly reasonable; you went straight for the throat like a maniacal overlord." I said.
"Maniacal overlord? How?" he asked, chuckling. I felt the hovercraft begin to move. Since we're traveling by hovercraft, we our travel time will be cut in half.
"This usually plays out you with telling me I have to do something. After I get a chance to accept or deny, then you threaten my family." I said
"Why I brought you here today has nothing to do with your family, and you know that; although I have a lot bickering people in Capitol that would love to get their hands on you and have their way with. So, I figured that I'd go ahead and threaten your family now that way when you turn eighteen, we can skip the will you, or won't you and your family still gets to go on living. Although I should kill them for hiding you from me." he said.
"So much for our détente." I said.
"Oh, a big word. I didn't know you had a big vocabulary. Do you know any other big words?" he asked.
"Not yet, but I'm sure I'll learn a lot more along the way." I said.
At that moment, I saw Snow grab a handkerchief and dab the corner of his mouth.
"The reason I brought you here is because I have a few troublemakers that needed to be found and dealt with." he said.
"I'm the most popular person in the country. What makes you think I'm going to be successful?" I asked.
"No one is going to expect a child to come after them." he said.
"Anybody who has half a brain should suspect you to use all tools necessary at your disposal to achieve your goals." I said.
"That's the thing about political rivals, they aren't always observant, and miss the minor details like a child spy." he said.
"A sort of seen, but unseen." I said.
"Very good, exactly." he said.
Wonderful. I thought.
I felt the hovercraft touch down, and then the rear hatch open. President Snow and I stood up from our seats, and then I stepped onto the hatch of the hovercraft.
"Tell me Finnick, what do you see." he said.
I see Snow point in the direction of the Capitol. I take a moment to think about my answer.
"I see a city of decadence, extreme wealth, gaudiness, hyper sexuality, greed, and ignorance." I said.
"Do you know what I see?" he asked.
"No, but you're going to tell me anyways." I said.
"I see a city with all of that. Do you know what how many people live in this city?" he asked.
"If I had to guess it's well over a million." I said, curtly.
"And most of those people are oblivious to there surrounds." he said.
"Sounds charming." I said.
Most of the districts are aware of their surrounds, some more painfully than others. It must be a dream to live in the Capitol. All your needs fulfilled, and to want for nothing. Of course, it applies to the Capitol cause if we're talking about the districts, as soon as you get out to 11 and 12, they're painfully aware of their disposition. I thought.
"Do you have any information for me?" I asked.
"He is the picture of the men question." Snow said, handing me two pictures.
"Thank you." I said, and then looked the pictures over as I stepped off the landing ramp.
"They have been seen in the marketplace. I expect results." Snow said, as he rear hatch was lifting into place.
I turn around to see that the hovercraft had lifted off, and I was standing alone at the airfield. I make my way into the city in the direction of markets. I know I'm going to stick out the moment step into the markets. I was wrong though, the moment I stepped into the city there were kids that were on me without a moment's hesitation. Without even realizing it, the children pull me along to a location that I wasn't on my list but would be useful to complete my job.
"Who did you bring me this time?" asked a voice, while I was still a good distance away.
I looked up at the building to see a makeshift medical clinic. I look all around and saw the Presidential Palace off in the distance. The owner of the voice was a man who looked to be in his early to mid thirties. The man was about six feet tall, weathered bronze skin, brown hair, and green eyes.
"We some him being dropped off by the hovercraft that left earlier." a girl said. She looked about ten-years-old.
The man took one look at me and realized who I was. "Ah, so that's who they brought in. Run along kids."
The gang of kids ran off leaving me with the man. "What brings you to the cesspool of scum and villainy?" he asked.
"You know why." I said.
"President Snow got you doing his dirty work now?" he asked.
"Yeah. His first plan didn't pan out." I said.
"How so?" he asked.
"Well, Snow develop some kind of sores, or something because there is some kind of red liquid that seeps form his mouth." I said.
"What kind of liquid?" the man asked.
"Could be anything, but if I had to guess it's blood." I said
"Most people call me Doc. Who are your targets?" he said.
"These two." I said, pulling out the pictures that Snow gave me.
Doc took a look at the pictures, and then said. "One person isn't going to be a problem. The second one is going to cause a few issues." he said.
"Why?" I asked.
"This guy." Doc said, showing me the picture that was in his right hand. "He's a regular here in the markets. The other one, well, let's just he spends most of his time in a building your not old enough to get into."
"That's a problem we'll deal with later. The best I can do is get confirmation on the two men." I said.
"I have a network of spies—"
"You use children as spies. Don't try to sugar coat it." I said.
"And yet, here you are, a spy for our great President Snow." he said.
"That's totally different, and out of my control." I said.
"Oh, and how's that?" he asked.
"I take you know who I am." I said.
"Yes." He said.
"Did you see the full games before it got edited?" I asked.
"I did." he said.
I pull my shirt off of my left arm showing my shoulder as I said. "Then you know it's not possible for a child to sustain a wound and not have it affect their mobility."
Doc took a moment to mull my words over before he asked. "What's Snow's endgame?"
"What else does a man with power want?" I asked, as I pulled my shirt back on.
"More power." he said.
"That too, but he wants to keep his power." I said.
I saw a flicker of recognition in Doc's eyes, but whatever it was the discussion got shelved for another day because the group of kids came back.
"Doc, we found him." The leader of the group said.
"We found him! We found him!" the other children said.
"All right. Run along, I'll be right there." Doc said. As he was walking through the door he asked. "You coming?"
"If you think I'll be of any help." I said, and then followed.
I followed the group to the marketplace, but Doc waved for me to hang back. I saw Doc enter the crowd, but then I lost him. I'm not exactly sure what was going on, but it was not for me to worry about. Even though I was standing around I kept my eyes peeled. I have no idea what's going on, or when trouble will strike. A few minutes later I see Doc exit the crowd, and wave for me to follow.
"Learn anything useful?" I asked when we got back to the clinic.
"The one we found likes to grace a few bars, and then second one is hanging out in a cat house as we speak." Doc said.
"Cat house?" I asked.
"A whore house." he said, not pulling any punches.
For some reason, I remember the proper term. "I think the proper term is a brothel, and he keeps the company of courtesans." I said.
Doc gave me a once over and then said. "For being a fourteen-year-old you're well read."
"Not really. The people at the party over a week ago don't know how to keep their mouth shut. That, and the fact that I had a time read a dictionary before making the trip." I said.
"I believe the bit about reading a dictionary." he said.
"Do you have a way to get int touch with President Snow, or one of his cronies." I said.
"Yes, I do." he said.
"Oh." I said.
"What do you have for me Rantipol?" a voice asked.
I turn to look at the owner of the voice. In walks a woman that should not be in this place. She is somebody high up in the Capitol hierarchy. She was five feet three inches tall, creamy bronze skin, makeup that made her green eyes seem striking, shiny red hair that stopped at her shoulders and flair out the tips. Her clothes were that of a person that grew up the Capitol, but she didn't have any horrible alterations. This is a picture of beauty that I've only heard stories. I kept to myself while Doc spoke.
"Hello, who are you?" she asked when she saw me.
"You know who that is, Scarlet." Doc said.
"Finnick Odair." I said, with a smile.
"What do I have the pleasure of being in the presence of the current Hunger Games champion?" Scarlet asked.
"I wouldn't call it a pleasure." I said, rolling my eyes.
"I have the information you want. Finnick needs a lift to the palace." Doc said, handing Scarlet some paperwork.
"Finnick, could you wait out by the car." Scarlet said.
"Okay." I said and exited the clinic.
I was waiting by the car for a good ten minutes. I look at the exterior of the clinic and memorized it's features because I have a feeling that I'm going to be spending a lot of time here in future.
"Thanks for waiting. I'll drop you off at the Presidential Palace seeing as how that's my next stop." Scarlet said, as she exited the clinic.
"Thanks." I said.
Scarlet opened the door, and got in. I shut the door after getting in the vehicle.
"Driver, can you drop us off at the palace." Scarlet said.
"Yes, Ms. Scarlet." the driver said.
I heard the engine start up, and then the driver drove to palace.
