Most times when I'm in the Capitol for the yearly Games I'm cool, calm and collected and entertaining the citizens, but this year the citizens aren't interested in my company.
Shocking state of affairs, and a sad thing. I thought, so my mind is drawn back to Katniss Everdeen.
I think about her stature: she has an average frame—check that, Katniss's frame is bigger than most District 12 girls. She's bulkier than the last few female tributes, but I'm not exactly sure how that's going to assist Katniss when she gets into the arena, but one thing is for certain, Katniss has survival skills that are going to level the playing field when she gets into the arena.
I was approached by a group of citizens and was dragged away by their children.
Elsewhere, I was being discreetly followed by some random man.
"Rantipol." The man said.
"Yes." Rantipol said, opening the channel for his earpiece.
"Finnick has been approached and is currently being distracted by our children." Rantipol's agent said.
"Good. Now move onto the next phase of the plan." Rantipol said.
"Roger that." The man said.
While I was out with the commoners and playing with the children, I couldn't stop thinking about Katniss. I should temper my expectations; volunteering for her sister and her fiery entrance at the ceremonies might be the best we see from her. I was beginning to wonder where Annie was at this moment, and what she was doing, but the kids kept me occupied for the time being. I'm beginning to wonder if the detour I'm currently on was planned, so I just roll with it.
Twenty minutes later, a car with the Capitol seal on it appeared and I knew this was my ride.
"I enjoyed my time with you, but my presence is required elsewhere." I said, extricating myself from the pile of kids.
"Will we see you again?" I heard the children asking.
"I would like to, but I can't promise that." I said.
I waved goodbye and walked over to the waiting car and got in. To no surprise, President Snow and Rantipol were waiting for me in the car.
"Mr. President. Doc." I said, greeting the men as the car drove off.
"President Snow and I were just talking, and we came to a bit of a disagreement." Rantipol said.
"And you wanted a second opinion?" I asked.
"More or less." Rantipol said.
"I'm guessing the subject matter pertains to the District tribute 12 Katniss Everdeen." I said.
"Yes." President Snow said put off by me knowing who the person in question already was.
"Now if l were a smart man, and l am not... l could come to the conclusion that you're worried that Katniss could…inadvertently…throw a monkey wrench in your whole operation." I said.
"And you would have guessed correctly." Rantipol said.
"Lay it on me, President Snow." I said.
"The board has voiced concerns that Katniss's journey to the Games could make her a figure for the districts to rally behind." Snow said.
"Do you think that's possible?" I asked.
"That's why we're here. I say that It's not going to happen, and the president thinks it can happen." Rantipol said.
"Your thoughts." Snow said.
I take a moment to gather my thoughts. The thought of a tribute from District 12 defying the Capitol and besting them at their own game is something I can only dream of, one that makes my mouth water, but I give an honest assessment.
"Katniss being a symbol for the districts to rally behind isn't hard to believe, improbable maybe, it just depends on how the events play out." I said.
"Clarify." Snow said.
"Katniss rallying the heart and minds of the district is not hard to believe, though not an easy feat to accomplish, but her biggest barrier is going to Hunger Games." I said.
There was a moment of silence before Snow said. "Which is?"
"So, what if Katniss volunteered for her sister, and so what if she had a fiery entrance at the Opening Ceremonies. If she plays by the rules of the Games, Katniss is dead in the water." I said.
"Happy." Rantipol said.
"No, but I'll let the board know that the possibility of Katniss being a problem is not high of a priority. For the moment." Snow said.
The car stopped, and I got out. As the car drove away, I turned to see Orion and Mags approaching me.
"What was that all about?" Orion asked.
I shook my head as I hailed a cab. We piled in, and the cab took us to the location I gave.
S.D.D.
We got dropped off at a semi classy restaurant, and one that doesn't have surveillance of any kind. A place I know where we could have a conversation in private, and not worry about being overheard.
"What did President Snow ask?" Mags asked, after we had put in our food order.
"What's you take on Katniss Everdeen?" I asked.
"A noble sister that made a splash at the opening ceremonies. Nothing more, nothing less." Orion said.
"Same." Mags said.
"People on the board of advisors think that Katniss might be the next Mockingjay." I said.
"How so?" Orion asked, my statement piquing both of their attention.
"The board thinks that Katniss might be able to beat the Hunger Games and give the districts something to rally behind." I said.
There was a moment of silence as our soup and salads were brought out. We ate in silence for a few moments waiting for the servers in the area to leave, but after the area cleared Orion asked. "What is the verdict on Katniss Everdeen?"
"They see Katniss as a potential threat to their power. Which would be a wise decision on their part, but Katniss is going to need a miracle to come out on top." I said and then took another sip of my soup.
By the time I was finishing my soup, the server was bringing our meal. After the meals were served, Orion looked at me and said. "Finnick mind if I ask you a personal question."
"Ask away." I said.
"Why did Snow ask you about this new development? He could have asked anyone." Orion said.
"The president has stock in Finnick." Mags said.
"Stock in you. What does that mean?" Orion asked.
I waved for Orion to lean over to me. Mags watch as I leaned in and whispered in Orion's ear. I leaned away and took another bite of my meal. Orion looked at me in shock, and then he took a sip of his drink and ate two bites of his meal.
"How many people know about that little detail?" Orion asked.
"It's a short list." I said.
"A very short one." Mags chimed in.
"What was the point in all of that?" Orion asked.
"President Snow is a man that craves power and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it. Ever wonder why he dabs at his lip with the handkerchief, or how his breath has a metallic smell to it?" I asked.
"Yes, to both." Orion said.
"Before I came along, Snow would drink from poisoned a cup as not to arouse suspicion." I said.
"Can't say that I'm surprised." Orion said, around a bite of food.
"Think we should inform Haymitch?" I asked.
"We could try, but Haymitch doesn't like to interact with the us that much." Mags said.
"Fine. Haymitch will find out soon enough is his tribute is going to cause problems, or not." I said.
S.D.D.
I found myself making my way to the usual victor hangout, and I had Annie on my arm. It was ten o'clock at night, and there was two days until the interviews. There was a buzz that Katniss had scored high, but the means of how she did it made the Gamemakers keep quiet about it. Haymitch would know what she did, but I know he is going to be tight lipped about it. Not that I can blame him because if Katniss did something that is illegal it would reflect poorly on District 12.
Well, technically, at this point in the Game it'd be stupid to for the Capitol to come down on her. I thought.
It was a quiet night at the bar, which should have gotten my attention, but I couldn't be bothered by it. One of the younger victors, from District 5 if I'm not mistaken, came up and took Annie's hand and dragged her off to another part of the bar.
"Annie seems to be a fan favorite among the younger victors." Orion said, Cinder following him.
"What's the word gentlemen?" I asked.
"Haymitch heard our warning, but mostly like is ignoring the message as well." Cinder said.
"Well, it's not our problem anymore. Technically, it was never our problem to begin with." I said.
Another victor was approaching and waved for the three of us to follow him. As we followed him, I saw that we moving to a position to watch the whole bar. We were taken to an office behind the V.I.P. section.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit tonight?" A man said when we approached the desk.
Orion, Cinder, and I looked at each other, and then Cinder said. "No reason. Just spending time with friends and associates."
"It's not that simple. Especially the child of a former victor." The man said.
There was a moment of silence and then Orion and Cinder looked at me.
"I'm the child of Zedo Silentheart." I said.
There was moment silence before Cinder said. "Zedo…Silentheart. You're Zedo Silentheart's son?"
"Oh, yes. Finnick Odair was born of a love between Zedo and a Capitol who—"
"Courtesan. Scarlet is a courtesan, one with ties to Capitol leadership. Is there a point to this whole conversation or are you just blowing smoke up our butts?" I asked.
"That was kind of abrasive, don't you think?" The man asked.
"I could have said worse." I said.
"Yes, you could have." Cinder said.
"Question still stands, why did you call us here?" Orion asked.
"Have a seat, it's going to get interesting in a couple of minutes." The man said.
We took a seat, and waited for whatever this man was talking about. Next thing we know, the wall behind us opens behind, as the wall in front of us closes. There was a piece of glass between us and the people we were supposed to spy on.
"What's going? How we can see them, but they can't see us?" Orion asked.
"It's double-sided glass. It protects us, but not the people we are spying on." Cinder said.
"Oh, you're privy to this kind of party." The man said.
"No, but I have friends in low places." Cinder said.
"That's putting it mildly." Both Orion and I said.
"Shush, it's beginning." Cinder said.
We watched in silence as the meeting began. It took me a moment to realize that we were sitting in an intelligence meeting.
"Did Zedo put you up to this?" I asked.
The man nodded his head, and we continued to watch in silence. It was a thirty-minute session, and I learned many things. To be honest I'm a little put off that Cinder and Orion attended, but oh well. The wall closed, and we exited the room. We made our back to the victor's table to discover that it was time to clear out. As everybody was leaving, I had Orion and Cinder hang back for a moment.
"What's up?" Cinder asked.
"Yes." Orion said.
"No matter what happens, or whoever approaches, you do not, I repeat, you do not repeat anything you witnessed tonight." I said.
"Umm…okay." Orion said.
"This isn't a drill Orion. If anything goes south, someone back in the district will pay dearly." Cinder said.
"Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Good?" Orion asked.
"Let's go." I said, and the three of us exited the bar.
"Where did you go?" Annie asked when I exited the bar. Orion and Cinder wave bye and disappeared into the night.
"You're better off not knowing." I said, offering my arm.
"Uh huh." Annie said, taking my arm.
We walked to the limousine bickering like old friends. I noticed the Capitol seal, and started to get nervous, but when I saw that there were at least ten other people in there I calmed down a moment. Though I keep my wits about me. I open the door and give Annie my hand so she can get in.
"Thank you." Annie said.
"You're welcome." I said and got in behind her.
I shut the door, and the driver took us to the dorms.
S.D.D.
City Circle-
The yearly interviews were okay, but the crowd was not thrilled with Katniss's performance. I wasn't surprised because Katniss wasn't acting in a superficial manner, but that wasn't helping her. At best she seemed standoffish, at worse it seemed like Katniss had no personality. And if you have personality in the Hunger Games that's a death sentence.
Maybe Peeta will have a better personality. I thought.
The moment Peeta sits down, Caesar and Peeta are cutting up, telling jokes, and acting like friends who haven't seen each other in years. Everything was going great until Caesar mentioned a girlfriend. The interview took a nosedive, stalling for a beat, and then the cameras zoomed in on Peeta as he blushes beet red and stammers. "Because… because…she came here with me."