Here we go… *deep breath*
As Katniss is wrapping up with her quite touching story, Plutarch calls me over.
"You got anything?" He asks me. Haymitch has now joined us, I guess because he is taking over as leader while everyone else is gone.
"Yes. I would like to tell about my time as a…well, you know…" I'm unable to say the words, but they all get it.
"Are you sure? It's all up to you," Plutarch asks.
"Yes. If it will help Annie," I protest.
"Finnick, if you do this, you will be more under fire than ever. We don't want to anger anyone," Haymitch says. "You can't take back anything that you say."
"I know, Haymitch. But the Capitol is collapsing right now; this could help nail in the coffin. Besides, people deserve to know, now more than ever. And, it will definitely get the attention of Snow."
"In a negative way," Haymitch reminds me.
"We already did that."
"I think he should do it, but only if he really wants too," Plutarch puts in.
"Fine," Haymitch sighs and heads back over behind the camera. "You don't have to do this," he reminds me. I walk over to the chair and take a seat.
"Yes, I do, if it will help her. I'm ready," I say. Someone hands me my rope. I take a deep breath.
"President Snow used to…sell me…my body, that is. I wasn't the only one. If a victor is considered desirable, the president gives them as a reward or allows people to buy them as a reward for an exorbitant amount of money. If you refuse, he kills someone you love. So you do it." I say. It hurts, but I must keep going.
"I wasn't the only one, but I was the most popular and perhaps the most defenseless, because the people I loved were so defenseless. To make themselves feel better, my patrons would make presents of money or jewelry, but I found a much more valuable form of payment." I pause for a moment, dramatic effect.
"Secrets. And this is where you're going to want to stay tuned, President Snow, because so very many of them were about you. But let's begin with some of the others. Oh, so many people were using me as a tool, to see if they really liked being with men. The worst was when I would come out of the room, exhausted, embarrassed, and see another one of my fellow victors waiting outside for the same person. It was terribly awkward the first time it happened until I got to the training center the first time and realized that this happened so often, it didn't really bother anyone else.
This is just the beginning, though. After this, let's talk about those who were using me to make their lover jealous, especially a one Marilyn Porcelein and then again with Belle Firefly and her husband, Cecil. I heard their stories about the fighting and the cheating the entire time. Others just simply wanted me because they could. They had enough money and made sure that everyone saw them, with me following limply along, waltzing through hotel lobbies and elevators and streets. Want specifics? Just talk to Cicely, or Dutchess, or Beyonce, or Giselle. I'm sure they'd love to have you in their big fancy mansions, giving money to whoever they wanted, whenever they wanted, to get anything they wanted.
And, the deepest of the casual secret was murder. Yes, this takes place quite frequently I've found. Oh, where shall I start? Let's talk about recently killed Brody, yes this man did not die of the presumed heart attack which I'm sure you have all heard about. This plot I knew of quite long ago. You've probably already guessed this cause of this murder, the dueling twins Pearl and Ruby. I found out about the entire plan straight from their mouths in the middle of the night, the smell of alcohol extremely present.
Why didn't I tell someone, anyone about Brody? Because who would believe me? I was just a tribute from the districts. No one believed anyone would actually kill someone else. That was for the arena, and the tributes from the districts.
And now, on to our good President Coriolanus Snow, such a young man when he rose to power, such a clever one to keep it. How, you must ask yourself, did he do it? One word. That's all you really need to know. Poison.
It starts really with his father and the succession. The first President Snow only lived the first couple of years of Panem. I'm sure that if there was a vote, the son would've won. But, that didn't occur because of the sudden death of the first Snow's very best friend – his wife. What timely demise! Our Coriolanus Snow was 28 when he assumed this position but as most jobs do in the capitol, he had been training for this since he was around 17.
The Capitol has academies for all of the major positions – escorts, politicians. For the length of Snow's time at the academy, he was known for his quick changes in ranks. Academies don't work like schools, students can be promoted at any time to any level. Snow escalated up the first three levels in two years, and then completed the next four in another three. After that, everyone considered him a prodigy. But, that wasn't really how this all went down. So, what did he actually do to climb up these levels?
Poison, yes poison. He poisoned the students in the upper levels to open another spot there. He poisoned the students who were better than him. He even went as far to poison those teachers who didn't like him or give him good grades.
Once he became president, the poison became even more frequently used. Snow got rid of absolutely anyone who posed a threat to him. Seneca Crane? Poison. Think about all your close friends. Have any strange disappearances? You can probably bet it was poison. But, now, you may be asking, wouldn't someone notice people dropping like flies?
Well, no. Many types of poison exist for a man of such high power. In fact, Snow often poisoned the same people who made it for him so they wouldn't tell of his secret, or so he thought. Some worked slowly, over time. Others happened quickly, adding a little bit of suspense to his long awaited dinner feasts. Some poisons even made people insane, which explains why the doctor was never able to tell what happened correctly. Bad shellfish, viruses, aorta weaknesses? Nope, that would be poison. The craziest part is that no one knew because even Snow would drink the same cup, eat from the same platter. His death never happened because of antidotes, made by the same person who made the poison. However, antidotes have a strange odor and don't always work.
That is why Snow smells like roses. It's a perfume, meant to hide the scent of blood from the sores in his mouth that will never heal.
Who's next? Oh, it could be a lot of people; it may very well be you. He has a list, you know. I've heard some of the names. Within a month, those people no longer live.
The Capitol is a place not only filled with glamour, but with deep mystery and scandal. If I were you, I wouldn't trust anyone. And, for your own sake, watch out for Snow's parties. It may be the last you attend." I'm finished, but they don't turn off the camera, too in shock for that.
"Cut."
This chapter...I don't really even know what to say here. But, I hope you liked it, I hope I did Finnick and his terrible situation justice, and pleaseeeeeee review!
What's up next? Flashback to something I've never written before in this story and something that relates a lot to this chapter.
We are so close to the end, guys :(