Firstly, thanks so much to those who are continuing to support me, you are an endless encouragement and inspiration. Secondly- enjoy.

"Ah, Lucas."

Augustus stands on a glass balcony, serenely looking down at the man clad in white approaching towards him on the lower floor. His footsteps are brisk, his manner impeccable as he impassively looks towards his President, and raises a mechanical salute.

"President Augustus, Sir."

His clipped voice is laced with respect, and the undertones of perhaps fear. Augustus smiles, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction, as he thinks about how he rather enjoys these military reports.

The reporting Peacekeeper lowers his hand, his gaze focused ahead in the distance like a glassy eyed doll.

"Well then... Get on with it then soldier."

Augustus sounds lazy as he speaks, his rich voice ringing around the spacious room. Already bored, he plays with the alabaster cuffs of his perfectly tailored shirt.

"Sir... The military base has been operating at expected efficiency. The Districts remain absolute."

The President pauses, noting with curiosity the slight tremor in the man's voice. His dark eyes glimmer with primal suspicion as he pays attention for the first time, and listens very closely.

"And?"

The threat in his question cannot be missed. The young man below gulps in obvious and poorly disguised terror.

"There has been... complications, Sir"

"Complications?"

The word feels strange in Augustus' mouth, and he dislikes it. It is not something he is used to dealing with, and it only serves to irate him further.

"Y-Yes President Sir... A prisoner... Breached the high security system... Level 8..."

He trembles like a minor earthquake, while the man above him is rooted to the spot, knuckles white as they grip the glass railing.

Rage swells behind the President's face, and he barely contains himself. He should of had them killed, all of them.

"Who?" He practically snarls as he spits out the word.

"M-Mason-"

There is a crash as a vase lands beside the peacekeeper, and he leaps to the side, squeaking in terror.

"I WANT HER DEAD."

Augustus' face is red, and he breathes heavily as he looms over the shivering soldier.

"Y-Yes, President Si-"

Another crash. Glass scatters the floor as he misses his target again.

There is a sudden sound, a knock echoes across the room, cacophonous against the quiet sobs of the soldier.

Closing his eyes, Augustus breathes slowly. Control, Augustus, control.

"Enter."

The word is imperative, measured and calm. A swoosh sounds as the doors slide open smoothly, making way for a white clad and burly red haired male.

"Ahh, Serephus."

"Sir."

The entrant nods cleanly upwards, then turns to focus on the blitz of china littering the pale marble floor. He raises an eyebrow in curiosity, but comments no further.

"Heavensbee has arrived."

Augustus breaths a sigh of relief. Heavensbee. He could always rely on the Gamemaker to be prompt at least.

He enters the room in the wake of the guard, his portly figure almost humorous against the dramatic scene before him. Smirking, he glances to the President in amusement.

"Had a little accident Sir?"

He chortles, as Augustus feigns a tight smile, irritated by the joviality.

"One could say that."

He motions to the guard, who promptly escorts away the whimpering peacekeeper, still shaking with terror. The door slides shut cleanly behind them.

"Do excuse the mess, Heavensbee."

Plutarch grins, humour alight in his eyes as he steps over the fragmented glass and porcelain.

"Of course, of course."

Augustus descends a glass staircase down from the balcony, twisting down to the middle of the room. He steps slowly, almost regally, and takes his time. He doesn't like to be rushed.

Plutarch waits, his hands clasped behind him in a respectful and professional stance. His face however, remains casual and unaffected by his superior's presence.

As Augustus finally descends to his level, he motions towards the Gamemaker flippantly.

"Come, walk."

The two men step across the floor in tandem, keeping time with each other. They reach a finely carved mahogany bookcase- one of many set into the white walls of the palatial yet stark setting, and come to a halt.

Silently, Augustus extends a soft fingered hand to the gilt volumes, bound in leather and gold, and stacked solidly along the heavy weighted shelves. He pulls it free from it's vacuous hold slowly, the fine leather sliding easily against it's neighbouring tomes. He holds it in his pale hands gently, and turns over the spine to face Plutarch.

"A Brief History of Panem."

Shining letters are stamped into the surface. Heavensbee can't help but smile at the title- ironic for a book that could easily be used as a lethal weapon according to it's considerable weight.

"Lovely isn't it? I've always had a fondness for the traditional copies... It's worth twice your yearly wage."

Augustus smiles smugly, and Plutarch resists the urge to roll his eyes, instead indulging the man in his childish brags.

"Very impressive, Sir."

Augustus nods, hearing what only confirms what he already knows. Turning the book over in his palms, a little dust falls to the floor, sprinkling from the archaic pages.

"Hmm, looks like it has Termites. Common problem with these older things... They get... Infected."

His tone is cold, and Plutarch feels a shiver run involuntarily down his back.

"You know, Some people believe sprinkling turmeric on the shelves will ward them off, keep them away." The President barks out a humourless laugh. Plutarch twists his mouth upwards reluctantly, playing to the whims of the most powerful man in Panem.

"But that's not the way to do it, no." Augustus slides the book back in it's place, turning away momentarily.

"You have to put it in a box, plug it with ethanol. That's the only way."

He turns slowly to face the other man, his eyes wild with something dark and sinister, his mouth arched in a crooked smile. Plutarch feels physically sick as he observes what could only be described as an influential sadist.

"You have to suffocate them."

Heavensbee swallows, and stiffens his lips slightly, recomposing his horror into a defensive expression.

"And what if they have already laid their eggs?"

Augustus relaxes, and humour plays at his lips.

"There's no end to the capability to purge, my dear man.'

His grin widens, as Plutarch remains unbroken, his expression impassive, even as he watches the younger man turn and walk across the floor, his steps crunching as they crush glass into the stone, dust under his feet.

"What of the young peacekeeper I saw?"

He calls out after Augustus, who pauses in the centre of a black and white mosaic, intricately woven across the expanse. The man stands out, garbed in dark burgundy. Tilting his head lightly over his shoulder, he calls back to where Plutarch still remains by the bookcase, positioned on the snowy marble.

"I suppose one always has to shoot the messenger."

Thanks for reading, I'm not too sure about this chapter, but let me know what you think, I really appreciate reviews and value what you guys have to say! We are so close to beginning reapings and I would really like to start them next chapter, I just need a couple more tributes. Thankyou so much if you have already submitted or reviewed or favourited/followed as always. I hope you are enjoying it so far!

The Tribute List:

D1 Male: Gleam Leventhorne (18) Submitted by Kanra Chrome

D1 Female: Lexa Emmeline Merkell (18) Submitted by GlimmerIcewood

D2 Male: Aiden Faust (18) Submitted by grab. .

D2 Female: Jade Rainer (17) Submitted by ashleyashley

D3 Male: Dutch Morgan (13) Submitted by Heslen

D3 Female: Alice Day (13) Submitted by Rayofsunshine14

D4 Male: Kainalu Porbeagle (17) Submitted by A M4D TE4 P4RTY

D4 Female: Amoret Rossdale (17) Submitted by carriedaway88

D5 Male: Lucas Holmes (12) Submitted by grab. .

D5 Female: Sola Finlun (14) Submitted by RAINBOWSNEMESIS

D6 Male:

D6 Female: Merinda Lux (17) Submitted by Heslen

D7 Male: Reserved for SkellyBelly

D7 Female: Katy Jo Cheming (17) Submitted by Nona

D8 Male: Challis Veloura (18) Submitted by submitter101

D8 Female: Payton Wells (12) Submitted by 17headlines

D9 Male: Maximus "Max" Wood (18) Submitted by ZTEBladeCM11

D9 Female: Isla Waral (15) Submitted by 17headlines

D10 Male: Kyle Horne (16) Submitted by Wandering Princess

D10 Female: Clarissa Brown (17) Submitted by Wandering princess

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D11 Female: Adria Braud (15) Submitted by TheDancerSG

D12 Male: Tucker 'Tuck' Wellington (14) Submitted by Kanra Chrome

D12 Female: Winze Barcroft (16) Submitted by GlimmerIcewood