Author's Notes:
This is a collection of one-shot from other characters of the novel that will give a fuller view of the universe I am trying to construct. It also marks the end of Part I of this fic, we are onto the arena in Part II. Where Katniss must decide how she wants to play the game and survive while Cato must decide whether to follow his order or follow his heart.
Please note that I have watched the trailer of Suzanne Collins's new book, which stars President Snow as the main character. So I take that into consideration and made some inferences on Snow's rise to power. But I probably have it really wrong lol.
Lastly, it is finals season for me right now, so I won't be posting for 2 weeks in preparation for my exams, but Part II is already in work. Meanwhile, please leave reviews if you have any questions or ideas or suggestions!
Again, thank you for reading and I'll see everyone soon!
Part I Special
Haymitch knew the moment he saw the fire that flared up in Katniss' smokey grey eyes, that she is his salvation, his chance to finally do it right after he fucked up everything good in his life. Not that there were many, being a child from Seam, he grew up fighting for every scrap of food on the table with his siblings. But life was not hopeless, even when he was reaped for the second quarter quell, he didn't lose his hope for life. But everything went downhill the moment he got onto that damned train to the capital. Every moment he lived past that point only sank lower than the previous.
He knew the game irrevocably broke him, even when his victory was announced, he had no hope of going back to the life he lived before. He was just an empty shell, operating on his last instinct for survival after he had to let go of Maysilee's hand and watch the hovercraft take her body away. He tells himself she's gone somewhere better, she's escaped the hell they live in, but even that hope was taken away from his when he saw her eyes in the mutations that chased after him moments before he entered the finale with the district 1 female. He knew then that there is no such thing as escaping from the hell that is capital, even after death, the capital still owns them.
He thought the game was it, that winning was the end of his nightmares, that his survived his trial and there is nothing worse they could've done to him. But he was wrong once again, as long as he still has people he cared for, he is still under their clutch. His display of defiance during the game and his subsequent victory interview was anything but appraised by Snow, so he ended up with no one to care for after returning from the Capital. The house of Abernathy was burned down to ashes, the district was shocked by the fire with unknown cause, but he knew what no one else knew in district 12. He knew they died to pay for his crime.
He was even a hopeful mentor once. He was invested in every one of their lives, exerted all his effort in gaining them sponsors, tried so hard to socialize with the capital people to gain his tributes favors. But it never worked, they all died, despite his best effort, and he realized he was never going to change the fate of those children.
So he grieved and despaired and wasted his life away years after years, numbing his pain and his guilt through drinking and isolation. He was hopeful no more until he met her.
He didn't dare to hope at first, even when he saw the similarities between himself and her. He lived in isolation, but anyone who frequents the Hob knows the huntress amongst them. Still, skill doesn't grant survival in the game, the kid that had a natural talent with knives was the closest he ever came to bringing home a victor, yet, he still failed.
But the ceaseless fire in her eyes that roars to life when she got angry ignited something long dead in him, something his lost years ago, a spark of hope. Cinna did a wonderful job with her at the tribute parade, but simple beauty is not enough to be remembered. The capital people are feeble creatures at best, she needs something more to be remembered.
Then Peeta came to him with the wonderful idea, the unfortunate "star-crossed lover" of district 12, whose love is doomed by the game. People love a heartbreaking romance, and that's what they shall get. Haymitch took a sip of the liquor from the bottle on the table as he gazes out at the starry night outside. He felt more alive than he's ever felt since his game, wheels are turning in his head as he ponders how to take the story another step further. He needs the story to gain momentum in the capital, he needs the people to love the Girl on Fire, to be invested in her life just as much as he is. In his moment of exuberance, Haymitch didn't stop to think the possibilities his plans have opened Panem up to.
If there is one thing that Coriolanus Snow value above anything else, it is his ability to control, and he has more than enough evidence to show how wondrously a job his done. His in total control of politics in the capital, no one ever dares to oppose a decision his made, at least not anymore. His in total control of the outlying districts, all operating under the roles they've been assigned: servants of the capital. He brought order and stability to the country when his predecessor was too weak to exercise his power to the full. That foolish foolish man talked of generosity and kindness and was too blinded to see that there will never be true peace between the capital and the districts. The two have already walked on a road of oppression and fear for far too long to turn back, for the only thing that could assuage the injustice from the past years is blood and he will not allow that. So oppression and fear is a road that they will just have to keep on walking to keep the precarious balance between the two.
But his greatest achievement is not the stability his rule has brought the country, it is his control of his own fate, rising from the ashes of destitution his ancestors left him in. He restored his family's glory and survived the process after some sacrifices were made, of course, because winning has its price. But ultimately, it is the outcome that matters. Those sacrifices were made long ago in his youth, it was a lesson he learned, it was a lesson he shall cherish, it was a lesson he looks back on now, in face of the little problem a tribute has created for him.
Swirling the crimson liquor in his glass, he let his body relax into the comfort of the plush chair beneath him, the crackling of the fire dancing in front of him lulls him into a memory buried deep inside his mind. A pair of smokey grey eyes look back at him, before the air swirled around it to form the body of a young female, with olive skin and sharp features. A construction of his mind, that seems to never leave his side since the 10th annual hunger game. The taste of blood woke him from the pain and longing that perpetrated his body, he quickly took another gulp of the wine in his glass. All of Panem knows their president favors red wine over any other beverage, but little do they know, it is the only drink that could conceal the bitter taste that lingers on his lips. A constant reminder of the choices he's made in his youth, the choices he doesn't regret making.
So the same choices he would make, again and again, to keep his control. Miss Everdeen and her fellow tribute Mr. Mellark is stirring up quite a storm in the Capital, having numerous swooning at their unfortunate romance. He would hold Mr. Abernathy responsible, the wasted man that he had almost forgotten, a once hopeful and charming boy until he had to personally snuffle that hope out of him. Mr. Abernathy will wish he had stayed forgotten when he is done with him. But that will have to wait, the most pressing issue at hand, is how to contain the oncoming storm that Mr. Abernathy has helped in generating.
The unfortunate "star-crossed lovers" of district 12 has to go, broken apart before the story could gain any more momentum than it already has. What better way to do so than having one of them leaving the stage at the very start. The boy is inconsequential, he lacks something Miss Everdeen has, a spark of hope that sets Miss Everdeen apart from the rest of them, a spark that draws people in. It would be such a shame, to see something so beautiful destroyed. He closes his eyes and sees the girl that ghosted his side for almost 64 years, she was his savior and his doom. But he never regretted his decision, because after all, doesn't he know the power a beautiful creature like her wield over the public the best? It was through her that he achieved power in his youth, at the expense of his predecessor. So Miss Everdeen must be eliminated like her as well, even if he too, is drawn to the spark once.
He forces himself to open his eyes and not be distracted by the past. He has made the decision, but who to execute it? A few candidates cross his mind, but he rules each out before settling on one. The district 2 male tribute, what was his name again? Cato Kingston? Yes, Mr. Kingston would do for the job he has in mind for him. Gamemakers are rarely the direct cause of a tribute's death, but a fellow tribute, on the other hand, no one would ever question it.
He hums in satisfaction, delighted at another disaster avoided. Now he just need to wait until tomorrow to have a word with the mentor of district 2. Brutus can deliver the message for him into the arena since technically mentors are the only ones allowed communication with the tributes once they are inside the arena. But of course, minus the technicality, everything is under his control.
A woman sits on a luxurious couch inside a dark living room, the only light source being the TV in front of her, replaying the tribute's interview. She sits silently watching, blood-chilling at the sight of each children's face, every one of them that will die so her son will live. Because that will be the outcome, her son will win, she's sure of that. But her heart goes out to all the 23 children and their parents waiting hopelessly for them to return home. Especially the girl from district 12, Katniss Everdeen. She stood out to her right away at the recap of the reaping, her volunteer to save her sister was one of the most beautiful things she's ever seen in the years she's lived. Second only to the birth of her darling baby boy
She wishes her boy would choose a different route, but he was set on winning so they could be free. It is the easiest and fastest way to money and fame, but she wish he would choose differently, not that there are easier ways. But there are less violent ways, ways that won't hunt him years afterward, she wish she could keep his hand clean and innocent. Yet, she is powerless to do so and has to rely on him instead to free them from the monster that ties the family together.
"Still up watching the recap?" A deep voice comes from the hallways, connecting the living room to the kitchen, " Don't worry darling, Cato will be fine. His strong and his trained." The voice draws closer to her ear until she feels the hot breath of the man on her neck.
"Come on darling, let's go to bed." She wordlessly let him lead her away from her place on the couch and follows him up the stairs. Her entire body feels cold like it doesn't belong to her anymore, she wishes to feel the comforting warmth of her husband again. But instead, each night, she lies next to his killer.
They wordlessly climb under the sheets, she could feel his movement next to her, his hand lingers in the air, before tucking the sheet neatly under her chin. "Sweet dreams darling." He says before turning around to face the other way. How could she dream next to him? Each night she lays awake in fear and hate until sleep finally consumes her, dragging her down to an even darker place than the hell she lives in. Sometimes she hates herself, hates herself for attracting his attention, hates herself for not realizing his darker side sooner, hates herself for being his friend in their youth. But it is all too late now, she never expected the sweet boy from her youth to come back years later, having made a fortune in the capital, to wreak havoc on her family. She should be happy, at least he let her kept her sweet little baby boy, at least he treated him like his own son. But the joyous laughter that her baby boy used to make every day are rarely ever heard again after they lost the man they both loved deeply.
She closes her eyes before any tears could escape and silently waits for sleep to claim would be her son's big day.