Chapter Ninety-Six; More Friends and Enemies

(Stephanie's POV)

After a well-deserved few minutes of wallowing self-pity and despair Stephanie and Haymitch both snapped out of their stupor.

Haymitch directed her to the kitchen table, promising to puzzle everything out until the last stone was unturned; no secrets.

Stephanie with much tears and shuddering recounted all the details of the night with Dess, Ficen and Fas.

Most of the questions Haymitch had about that though were answered by Stephanie's conversation with Fas; well most.

"What part has Slena to play in all this?" Haymitch asked.

Stephanie shrugged. "I think Dess is blackmailing her with something. I don't know what – maybe a relative?"

"And the kid Vir – Why would he give himself up for her?" Haymitch said. Haymitch had since told her what had become of Vir. The District 4 boy wouldn't be physically punished as they needed him fit for the Games, but he was to be kept isolated until the Games, hence cancelling all potential sponsors.

Given Vir's circumstances, he had just signed his own death warrant.

Then there was Fas' cryptic "conflicting circumstances" statement that he said stopped him from preventing he and Stephanie being friends.

Stephanie let out a low, measured breath as Haymitch sat silently brooding on the newest information.

"Haymitch…" Stephanie began carefully.

Haymitch's grey gaze snapped up to her expectantly.

"You once told me that Flickerman had been bought – by who? Why?" Stephanie pressed eagerly.

Haymitch gave her a look that in short summed up exactly how Stephanie felt.

Swamped. Overwhelmed.

They were being attacked by invisible enemies at all sides without knowing from where or what kind of attack was coming next.

"Right!" Stephanie stood determinably and Haymitch watched her with a quirked brow as she gathered a few blank pages and a pen.

As she sat down at the table again, for a few moments there was nothing but the sound of pen scratching paper as Haymitch looked on curiously.

At first he was perplexed but as Stephanie continued realisation dawned, and though he seemed sceptical he conceded as far as ideas go, it wasn't that bad.

When she finished Stephanie swivelled the page around to face him for his inspection.

She had drawn a line roughly down the centre of the page, dividing it into two columns one which she had labelled 'friends' and the other 'enemies'.

The most concerning factor were the names that were written on the line balanced in some invisible purgatory on paper.

Sterlin, for example.

He was not a friend. If someone gave him enough money he would sell them out in a heartbeat.

However, as long as he kept getting the money then he was as trusted an ally as they would get. Also considering Sterlin was tied to them and their discovery meant his life – training tributes in the Capitol was a serious charge – that tilted him more to the friend column. But not because Sterlin had any genuine concern to help them, just that he had to now he was in deep enough.

Ficen was irrefutably on the enemies side along with Dess.

Stephanie had put Fas in the middle which Haymitch had greatly disagreed with.

"Conflicting issues like hell! He's playing you for a fool – enemy." Haymitch pointed at the right hand column.

Stephanie scowled. "He's not. Why would he tell me all that stuff about Ficen and Dess? And I don't see the photos he took in any magazines!" Stephanie defended.

Haymitch gave her a long, hard look. "I have known him far longer than you sweetheart. Let's walk through this – shall we? What do you gain from him telling you about Ficen and Dess' plans? Are you indebted to Fas for suddenly shining light on two new enemies – You always knew Ficen and Dess were your enemies without that scum having to tell you it. And now look at what Fas has to gain by befriending you, convincing you that he really wanted to interfere but didn't while he sat back and did nothing!" Haymitch's tone was low and dangerous, his eyes gleaming darkly.

"Fas admits he overheard Mr. Crane talking to you. How do you know Fas just didn't jump in first to get on your good side, before you give him up with Ficen and Dess? Sweetheart, he has spun you a tall story about things you already knew while ensuring his own safety from Seneca, while he has your protection."

Stephanie swallowed, suddenly feeling very stupid.

How many times had she seen Capitol deception at work. Why couldn't she see it when it was right in front of her eyes?

But…still there was something in Stephanie that hesitated.

"If he wanted to truly ensure his safety, then why did he decline the offer of friendship?" Stephanie asked.

"To make you do what you are doing right now – second-guessing yourself," Haymitch replied immediately.

Stephanie frowned as she crossed Fas out to place him under enemy.

"Flickerman," Stephanie said looking to Haymitch expectantly.

Haymitch blew out a long breath.

"For now I don't know where his loyalties lie or what it was used to buy him with" Haymitch answered.

"What was used to buy him?" Stephanie repeated confused.

"You will find a man is more loyal when he has something he wants to hide," Haymitch explained.

"Blackmail," Stephanie breathed with a troubled frown.

"As of yet we can assume nothing," Haymitch told her.

"But, do you think he is…against me or not?" Stephanie asked.

Against her? For her?

She was a tribute for crying out loud?! Wasn't it all meant to be a game of odds?

But unfortunately for Stephanie many people held her odds in their hands, and Stephanie had to wait and see what hand they would play for her.

Stephanie ground her teeth together in utter frustration. She was a simple girl from District 3. The politics and espionage and blackmail and love of the Capitol was drowning her.

It was killing her.

Stephanie looked at the list and the painfully barren 'friends' list, except for half of the money-grabbing Sterlin.

Haymitch clicked the pen against the table as he gave the list a cursory glance before he looked to Stephanie expectantly.

Stephanie gulped.

"Seneca Crane…"

Haymitch waited, as he purposefully slid the pen and paper towards her.

Stephanie picked up the sleek, black pen as she stared down at the paper.

Hurriedly she scribbled the name down, letting the pen immediately clatter to the table when she finished, as though the mere act of writing his name had scorched her hand.

Haymitch looked at it and nodded approvingly.

Seneca Crane; Enemy.