A/N: You may have thought I'd forgotten, but I did not! I mean of course she's a main character the story's summary is about her! Yes, the final chapter before the games is…A Dolora chapter! The mystery surrounding the assassination of Zios and the sickness of Matthew will continue, and what does Snow have in store for Dolora? Thanks for all the reviews and reads, we're almost there! It's only a chapter away! So here we go, the final chapter before the games.
Dolora Prewitt
Lake Manor- Capitol North
0300 Hours
My violet hair falls in ringlets past my breasts, toppling together in a flurry of purple. It's the only cosmetic alteration I've had done, I needed something to look like I adore the wild styles of the capitol. It's too early to be awake, but here I am, brushing the matted parts of hair out with a brush and trying to mask the grey circles under my eyes with heavy doses of mascara. It only works halfway, but I don't have time to fix it. Stuffing notes, pill bottles, pens, and other assorted items into my purse I quickly make my way out of the master bedroom and out into the hall of my mansion. We recently moved here, Matthew and I, at the call of the president. It wasn't something we wanted to do, our Tudor over at Capitol East suited us just fine, but now the high accents and midnight lights of Capitol North bathe our home in cyans, yellows, and magentas.
I know I have to be at the Games Department in an hour, but something draws me to Matthew's room. I barely have time to see him now that I've been promoted to Head Gamemaker. It's eating me from the inside out, because my child, the one I've worked so hard to keep with me, is dying.
I enlisted the help of Fauna a few weeks ago, a pediatric nurse from Capitol North. She's good with Matthew, keeps him occupied and gets his mind off the sickness. But I need more than a busy nanny to save my child; I need a cure, a cure that doesn't exist.
Stepping into his room, I slowly pry the door open, careful not to make a sound. He's sleeping soundly, his sonorous snore covering the room. I've never known a child this age to snore, but Matthew does. It tells me he's in a sleep deep enough for me to come over, and I do. Brushing the sandy strands of hair across his pallid cheek, I run the back ends of my manicured hands across his smooth face. He stirs, but if he's awake he doesn't show me, and I think he enjoys my early morning greetings. I plant a kiss on his forehead, and slowly remove my lips from my child's brow. I need him to survive, I won't let him die.
I leave as quietly as I came, shutting the door noiselessly. Creeping to the front door, careful not to make any sounds, I slip out into the garage and fire up my Luxaria C25, the latest sports car on the market. Another gift from our generous president.
Zooming down the highways that make up the thoroughfare of Capitol North, I leave Lake Manor in my wake, the neon lights of the city's heart coming closer and closer with every turn of the tires. I have the hatch up, because I don't want the wind blowing my hair everywhere. Even though it's a little past three o'clock in the morning, I still must look presentable.
I take the exit off the thoroughfare to Northbound Skyway, the road that will lead me to the city. The Skyway extends over the top of the city and then loops around to drop you off. A magnificent view of the Capitol's night life can be seen from here, and driving over it gives one a nauseating yet magnificent feeling altogether. The Northbound Skyway ends after a few minutes of fast driving and soon I'm dashing down the slope that will lead me into the city.
It'd be wrong to think that I'd have the road to myself at three o'clock in the morning.
Capitol North is surging with activity, people are everywhere and bright signs light up the streets. JumboTrons replay countless images from last night's interviews, Caesar's bright face laughs on the screen and people stand underneath them staring up in adoration. Music booms from cars, sidewalks, shops and just about everywhere. The high octane shrill of chatter fills my ears. Peoples arms are lined with shopping bags, the department stores never close. This place is alive, Capitol North never sleeps.
Good thing my windows are tinted, that way I can easily blend into the crowd of cars slowly treading down the street. If not, then people would attack my car, clawing to get a glimpse of me. I'm one of the most talked about people right now, the woman with the power to shape the games. Everyone wants to be me, except for myself.
I finally reach the Games Department after what feels like an eternity crawling along the streets of Capitol North. I park my Luxaria in the special spot for "HEAD GAMEMAKER PARKING ONLY" and briskly step out. The car is low to the ground, and my legs wobbles a bit as my heeled boots connect with the rough asphalt. I saddle my handbag on my shoulder and throw my hair behind my shoulders, then proceed to make my way to the side of the building. Accessing the VIP entrance, I flash my key card that hangs around my neck and the machine scans it in a dance of green lights. With permission to enter the building, the door automatically slides open and I step inside.
The place is already buzzing with activity, and people are running everywhere. I was allowed to go home so I could get some sleep before the big day, being in charge and everything, but everyone else was forced to stay. People are talking loudly and running all over the place with files in their hands. Lights flash everywhere, indicating open rooms that are operating fully and the loudspeaker is calling for certain individuals left and right. I listen for the one I'm looking for and sure enough,
"Dolora Prewitt, please come to the Executive Lounge, Dolora Prewitt to the Executive Lounge."
My black heeled boots click loudly against the floor, drawing everyone's attention to me. They all stop, having not noticed my arrival a minute before. The drone of activity I heard before is now gone, and everyone has their eyes glued on me.
"Well don't just there! Get back to work!" I holler with a wave of my bag and it's like I flipped a switch. Everyone goes back to what they were doing, but now they steal the occasional glance in my direction. I march down the hallway, heading for the Executive Lounge, confidence in my stride. I know the President will be there, and so will several of the other important gamemakers. Bracing myself for Snow's chilly presence, I let the door to the lounge slide open and take a step inside.
"Dolora, so good of you to join us," Snow says ominously, waving his hand to an empty Victorian themed chair. The high handles of the compact seat look like manacles to me, but I sit anyway. Snow winks at me and sends a cold smile my way, his own manner of telling me my place. He clears his throat and dabs at the corners of his cracked lips with a lace handkerchief which he then stuffs back into the pocket of his powder blue slacks.
"I think we're all prepared, aren't we?" The President asks, though it's more of a statement. He scans the room for signs of doubt; he can read even the tiniest indication. Nodding with confirmation, even though no one's said a word, we pass his little check.
"The 49th Annual Hunger Games will begin in eight hours and three minutes. Now, until that time arrives, I suggest we all do our best to prepare for the occasion," Snow says icily, staring at me especially. Even though he didn't precedent me in this position, he's already adapted to treating me like a pet. I match his gaze, and the unpredictable gleam in his eye sends chills down my spine. I don't like this man, I never have, but in this moment, I've never felt more fear.
Snow claps his hands, startling everyone but me. "Well, I suppose I should let you all go to work. I'm eager to see what this year has in store, especially since I heard the arena was changed," he says, making me nervous. I knew Snow would find out that I had scrapped Zios' plans, but he hadn't said anything so far so I had hoped I was in the clear. It looks like I'm not, and now I've got to make sure these games are spectacular.
I dare to speak, "I found the previous arena…unoriginal, I wanted this year to be different." Everyone in the room looks at me, and Snow smiles as if I've said something amusing.
"I'm sure they will be different Dolora," He says with a menace to his words, "For everyone involved."
He turns on his heels and leaves the room, the automatic door sliding shut behind him in a definitive manner. I can still hear the clatter of his dress shoes as he makes his way down the hallway and when I'm sure I've heard the whooshing of the elevator, I exit the room. I'm just about to enter the control room when my phone rings. Who would be calling me at this time? If it were someone in the Games Department they could just call for me on the loudspeaker. I fish through my purse from the device and when I look at the name on the screen my heart leaps.
It's Fauna.
I flip the device open and jam it against my ear.
"Is everything alright?" I ask in a panicked tone, I've no idea why Fauna would call me this early especially when she knows I'm busy.
"Hello Dolora," A man's voice says, husky and unknown to me.
"Who is this?" I shriek, drawing the attention of some of the people in the hallway. The look over at me for an instant, but when I shoot them all fierce glares they busily return to work.
"I don't want to do this, but I've been left with no choice," The man says in a whisper, "I've got your son, and his nanny too."
My heart stops, and the blood in my veins freezes. Matthew? He has my Matthew? I don't know what to say, my lips can't form words, but I manage to blurt out a gargled, "Where are you?"
"Where else would I be?" The man says, and I instantly know where. My house, he's at my house. He's holding Matthew and Fauna somewhere in the house. Someone's set me up. I knew the President's meeting in the lounge didn't have enough importance to it for me to be called away so early. I was called to the Games Department so I wouldn't be home.
"Dolora?" The man says, "I'm going to make this very simple, you can either tell President Snow right now that you're going to have to resign, or I'll shoot your son." Resign? This man wants me to resign? Who would….Zios. He was just a pawn; someone wants to be Head Gamemaker, someone close to Snow. Zios was killed so they'd get moved up, and I wasn't supposed to get the job. Now my son will pay for it, my Matthew will get hurt if I don't act fast.
"Perhaps you need some convincing?" The man says, and the suddenly I can hear it loud and clear, a gunshot, it breaks the silence between the two of us and someone screams. Matthew, that's his voice, it sounded like his scream!
"Ok," I breathe slowly, "Ok just give me fifteen minutes alright," I say hurriedly, knowing it'll take some time to work things out with Snow.
"Fifteen minutes," The man says and then hangs up the phone abruptly. I don't know how I'm going to rescue my son, but I do know one thing. I won't be giving up my job anytime soon. Dashing outside, I throw my purse in the back of my Luxaria and turn the ignition. Backing out of the complex I know Snow will personally kill me for this but I've got to get to Matthew. Zooming through the streets, I can hear the terrified shrieks of capitol citizens and I whizz by. Soon I'm back on the Northbound Skyway, heading back to Lake Manor.
Matthew Prewitt
Lake Manor- Capitol North
0402 Hours
F-f-fauna's dead, she was there one second and now she's dead. My nurse, my nurse is dead. I want my mommy, I want my mommy, I want my mommy. The cold steel of the gun barrel pressed against my head makes me sob, and I cry out for my mother.
"Can it kid," Fauna's murder shouts, "Your mommy ain't coming home anytime soon."
We sit there in silence, and he paces the floor up and down, swearing about something I can't quite make out. I just want mommy to come home, but I don't know…if I'll ever see her again.
My fears are put to rest about ten minutes later when the front door nearly busts down from the amount of force used to open it. The scary man jumps, and then kneels at my side, pressing the gun against my head once more. It's the same device that was used to kill Fauna, and I don't want him to use it against mommy.
"Matthew?" A voice shouts, one that I recognize as mommy's.
"Mommy!" I cry out, and the man slaps a hand over my mouth. Then something hard smashes into my head, and my world is spinning. Everything becomes fuzzy, and the pain kicks in immediately. I cry out, sobbing due to the immense amount of pain, sobs my mother can hear. She runs into the room, I think I can hear the sound of her shoes coming this way.
"Stop," the man says, and the sound of mommy's shoes stops too.
The scene before me is blurry, and I can barely make out what they're saying to each other because of the pain in my head. Their outlines waver in and out of my vision, and soon I start to slip in and out of consciousness. They're talking for a little while, but I don't hear the end of the conversation, because soon I'm out cold.
Mysterious Assailant
Lake Manor- Capitol North
0428 Hours
I was told she would take the bait; all I had to do was wait for her call. The person who set me up for this, the cold-hearted human that wanted this done, they promised me that Dolora would give her job in an instant to save her son. But they were wrong, my employer was wrong. Dolora didn't give up anything; she darted home but didn't give up the job. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, I don't know if I'm supposed to shoot her or what. I already killed the nanny or whoever she was, must I kill again?
"Matthew…," Dolora breathes, and her child is squirming on the floor, crying from the wound I gave him. I didn't mean to smack him with the gun, it's just a reflex. Loud noises, people quickly approaching, things like that turn on reflexes inside of me, violent ones, disturbed ones.
"He'll be fine," I manage to choke out, despite all the freaking out I'm doing.
"Don't touch him," Dolora says vehemently, like I might rip him from limb to limb.
"He won't die tonight, neither will you," I say, not confident in my words.
"I guess she was expendable then," Dolora says, pointing at the nanny's body, choking on her words and stifling a few tears.
"I had to get you here somehow," I say, lying. She was never supposed to come here, the gunshot was supposed to give her some sort of panicked ambition to resign and then flee here. But that didn't happen, this girl, who can't be older than twenty-five, died tonight because of me. Because the plan went awry.
"I didn't do it," Dolora murmurs softly, referring to the request I made earlier.
"I can tell," I say flatly.
"Why?" She asks, "Why are you doing this? Has someone put you up to this?"
"I didn't have a choice," I say back icily, my eyes narrowing at her. She's growing impatient, there's answers she wants and safety she craves. I can't lose control, not now.
"Everyone has a choice," She whispers.
"Not me," I hiss.
"Let us go, I don't understand who wants the Head Gamemaker to change every day or why they want it to happen, but I didn't ask for the job. It was an offer I couldn't refuse," She pleas.
"Then you didn't have a choice," I say.
She smiles, something I don't expect her to do.
"I thought perhaps this was Snow's doing, but I thought, he hasn't even see me work yet, how could he judge me so soon? So on the way here I called him, told him I had to run home for a bit because someone is holding my son and his nanny hostage. He wasn't too happy that someone was holding up his Hunger Games, so if you'd be so kind too…," she doesn't get to finish her sentence, because I shoot her in the knee cap.
Her scream is ear-splitting, but it doesn't wake her comatose son on the floor. Matthew is out; he'll be out for a while. Dolora is screaming curses and profanities, clutching her wound and sending a torrent of tears to the Persian rug on the floor. I wonder if Persia still exists, or if it's just some place made up like the government, like most of the other countries are.
She can't move now, she's been rendered helpless by the bullet in her knee.
"W-w-what, w-w-why, I-I-I," Dolora struggles to speak so I help her out.
"What? Why? You don't understand?" I say, cupping a hand to my ear. "Oh ok, maybe you'll understand better in a few moments." I punch her in the face, sending her head crashing to the ground. I wasn't told what to do if the plan crumbled, and now that I've been angered, things are going to get a little bumpy for Dolora and her son.
She lifts her head in vain, pushing it against the floor. She cries softly, out of pain, misery, and confusion. I feel sorry for her for a moment, but then bring my foot down on her stomach, making her squeal like a pig.
"I think you were explaining how President Snow has sent some people here or something to take care of things. Well, they'll happen to find you in worse condition than they expected I bet. You won't be running a command center anytime soon on that leg," I say mockingly, spitting on her face. The saliva runs down her cheek, mixing in with the make-up and ruining her pretty little face.
There's a sound at the door, and I know it's time for me to take my leave.
"Think hard about what you're doing Dolora," I say, turning around before opening the back door. A sliver of moonlight catches my face, but I don't think her eyes are open wide enough to see me. The pitch black darkness of the room hid me before, but now in this knife of moonlight, she could see me if she tried. She makes some choked sound, and I don't look back as I slip out of Lake Manor, off into the night.
Dolora Prewitt
Lake Manor- Capitol North
0723 Hours
The games are in less than five hours, and I'm sitting in bed with doctors packing their bags and whispering words to someone in the corner. It's not just anyone in the corner, oh God, its Snow.
"Dolora," he says in his majestic voice, coming over to the side of the bed. "I certainly hope you'll feel well enough to return to work for the games."
"I think I'm fine," I say, my leg now fully healed thanks to the technical advancements of the capitol doctors. Snow had them brought here after his men found me on the floor, bullet in my knee and blood on my face. Matthew was woken up, and the only thing he suffered was a bruise to the back of his head. He's sleeping next to me now, hugging the leg that wasn't injured tightly.
"Well, that's warming to hear," Snow says, a smile on his face. I can't read the expression, I don't know if he's happy about my health or the fact that his games won't be interrupted by this attack.
"I'm going to hold a special meeting before the games," Snow says darkly, "Someone is purposefully trying to off my gamemakers."
"You think so?" I say, wondering if he could be telling the truth.
"Oh I know so Dolora, no one would want to kill Zios but me. And now someone made a move against your family," he pauses to make a tsk-tsk-tsk sound, "That poor nurse, a fine product of the capitol's medical system that's now been wasted. Criminals like the one that broke into your home need to be stopped Ms. Prewitt, I trust you agree?"
I can't think of what he could be referring to, so I just say yes.
"Well, I'll be taking my leave now. That leg should be good as new, so I wouldn't dilly-dally," Snow instructs, and closes the door on his way out. He was here, Snow was in my house, Snow was here. The chilly feeling he leaves in room hangs in the air, and I quickly changed out of the clothes I had been wearing before I slip on new ones. The medical advancements of the capitol amaze me, I flex my knee and there's no pain. But the haunting memory of just hours ago, when my knee felt like it split open from the inside, sears it's image into my brain.
I take one more look at Matthew, whose sleep was undisturbed when I shrugged him off my leg. My sweet son was a pawn, just like Zios was. It's heartbreaking, but someone is using the people around me as a greater design, a design that's targeted at me.
Altruarch Heavensbee
Lake Manor- Capitol North
0744 Hours
The coffee in this house is bland, I can't stand hazelnut. There's nothing to eat but some wheat cereal, which is worse compared to the coffee. Spitting out the sawdust like flakes, I just sip a cup of white jasmine tea while I wait on Dolora.
My presence scares her; she nearly jumps out of her clothes. Which wouldn't be a problem by my standards.
"Don't worry, I'm a friend," I say warmly, knowing that Snow's instructions for me to wait here wasn't the best idea considering the woman was just attacked by a stranger.
"Who are you?" She says with wild eyes, her purple hair seeming to stand on end with anxiety.
"The name is Altruarch Heavensbee, newest member of the illustrious circle of gamemakers. Thanks be to our wonderful President for allowing me to hold this position, etcetera, etcetera," I say, nodding my head to Dolora.
"Why are you here?" She asks a new question, boy is she full of them.
"Snow instructed me to stay here, to speak with you. We're going back to the Games Department in my car," I extend my hand to the door, "Shall we?"
Slipping into the driver's seat of the Royalcoupe XX Snow gave me yesterday; the luxury car's velvet seats are comfortable beyond belief. This car isn't as nice as Dolora's, but that's because she's Head Gamemaker. She looks at some files on the dashboard, a ponderous look on her face.
"Those are for you," I say as we pull out of Lake Manor and make our way towards the highway. "They are descriptions of possible suspects who could've been at your house last night. The reason we've filed them down so quickly is because someone saw the assailant leaving your house, dashing across the street. They got a good look of his face, so see if you can nail him from that line-up."
She looks at me, and I think she catches my lie. She starts to sort through the files, holding up the various photos when her breath draws in sharply. She must've gotten a glance at the perpetrator in the darkness, someone who is in that file.
"This is him," she says, holding up a dossier for me to see. It's the one that stuns me the most, I wouldn't have been surprised if she had picked anyone else from the line up but this one in particular is striking.
Because it's not anybody, the person she holds up for me to see is Chaff Burgundy, winner of last year's Hunger Games.
Archibald Greaves
Games Department- Command Center
1144 Hours
Dolora enters the room around fifteen minutes until the show, her forehead sweaty and eyes wild. She immediately accosts me, taking me by surprised. I place a white-gloved hand on her shoulder, perhaps in an effort to calm her down.
"Whatever is the matter my dear," I say, my crisp white mustache bouncing up and down. Oh how my mustache amuses me so.
"Chaff Burgundy broke into my home last night and killed my nanny, beat my son, and shot me in the knee cap," she says in a flurry of words.
"Poppycock!" I shout, causing several people to turn their heads.
"As you were!" I yell to them, reminding them to mind their own business.
"It's true," Dolora says, "Snow wants you to see him upstairs, says it's something important." She seems to be dismissing me, but I take my time walking to the Executive Lounge. Snow isn't holding this meeting just for me; I notice the lack of other gamemakers in this command center, scrutinizing each hallway to make sure none are in sight.
Reaching the lounge, my suspicions are confirmed when everyone else is present. I take a seat closest to the President; one I presume was left open for me. That Heavensbee man sits opposite from me, and raises a questionable eyebrow. I don't make any indication that I noticed him, although we both know I did.
The President goes on about what happened to Dolora and how someone is trying to rid of his gamemakers and we must report any suspicious activity directly to him. I don't listen to most of it, but visit the swarm of thoughts in my mind instead. The games must be beginning any minute, and I nearly run to the command center when he lets us go.
The automatic doors slide open for me, and I can hear Dolora speaking.
"We are live in Three,"
"Two,"
"One."
My lips curl at the edges of my mouth. Everything is perfectly in order. I take a seat in the back of the command center, eager to watch my design reach fruition. Sipping a glass of champagne left for the gamemakers, the frothy liquid is trapped in my moustache. I don't care, because things are going swimmingly. The Hunger Games have begun.
A lot happened this chapter, I wanted to begin the games on more of a mysterious note instead of having the final capitol chapter be about the tributes and their thoughts pre-going in. Who is victimizing Dolora and her son? Was it really Chaff that broke into her home? How will the new gamemaker, Altruarch Heavensbee play a role in the story of Dolora? Will Snow catch the person who's gunning for his gamemakers? And what was that creepy POV about Greaves? Keep reading my dear friends, and perhaps you'll find out.
The Sponsor Shop is opening sometime in the next few days, so PM me if you want to be a sponsor, that way I'll be sure to tally your points and such. Also, if you're going to be a sponsor, you can sponsor up to three tributes, so leave those names for me in the PM as well. The bloodbath is next chapter, and I can't wait to reveal what sort of gruesome arena lies in store for the tributes.
Also, massive THANK YOU to WritingForTheFuture, who started reading this story from the bottom up as of late. We've hit over 150 reviews! Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing and just…THANK YOU, it means the world to me. It's inspiring and wonderful and just pushes me to keep writing for you guys.
-AdmiralBobbery