Gus

I wake up alone.

For a moment, I'm calm. Then I remember I fell asleep with the warmth of Hephaestion's body against mine.

He probably woke up before me, I tell myself. He's probably fine.

I stretch out on the cold stone of the dungeon floor and try to ignore the ache in my limbs as I sit up. Then I look around and realise I really am alone.

Hephaestion's gone.

I try to control my panic and look around the tunnel for a clue that'll tell me where and why Hephaestion has gone. I spot a flash of bright colour and look down. There, on the floor of the tunnel, is a small but garish box. I pick it up and examine it.

Mockingjay pin! It says in elegant letters. A perfect gift for your star-crossed lover!

I'm already aware of these fake mockingjay pins. They were quite a trend in the Capitol a couple years ago. I'm not sure how one got into the arena.

I do notice that the cardboard of the box is torn. Somebody's opened it and left it for me.

I feel a sudden cold sweat. Did someone take Hephaestion away?

I shake off the thought. It doesn't make sense. Why would someone take Hephaestion and leave me completely unharmed? I open the box with shaking hands.

Inside is a golden pin. Whoever opened the box must've had no interest in taking the pin. Beside the pin is a folded piece of paper. My heart leaps when I realise it must be a page from Lucinda's journal. Last time I checked, Hephaestion had that journal.

I pick up the note, unfold it and read it.

Gus, my prince,

I can't stay with you anymore. I was foolish to think that we could be allies. I'm scared of what I'm turning into when I'm with you. I love you more than I should. It's putting us both in danger. If we're going to make it any further in these games, we'll have to do it apart.

I hope I don't see you again until the final two.

Yours faithfully,

H.

P.S. I'm pretty sure nobody died during the night. I would've woken sooner if I'd heard a cannon.

I crumple up the note in my hand. He left… Hephaestion left me.

I look at the box and realise why. However this box got into the arena, it must've reminded Hephaestion of the Star-Crossed Lovers. He must be too scared that we're turning into them to stay with me.

He left because he was scared of becoming more of a rebel. He left out of loyalty to the Capitol.

For some reason, that makes me love him more.

And I hate myself for wanting him back.

I throw away the note and the box with frustration.

I hope Hephaestion's okay, wherever he is. Maybe he'll be fine. Physically speaking, he's the strongest tribute left in the arena. He could beat anyone left in a fair fight. But mentally speaking, he's been falling apart more and more with every day and that was when I was around to comfort him. I don't know if he can survive another day in the tunnels with no food or water.

Suddenly, I feel a pang of hunger. I press a hand to my stomach. I'm used to three good meals a day. I've had nothing but a roll of bread and a handful of dried meat for the last two days.

In a matter of minutes, the wall slides aside and I'm faced with a package with 5 written on the side. I almost laugh. It's like Grandpa was waiting for me to lose Hephaestion before he sent me more food.

Inside the package is a bottle of water and a bowl full of meat and pasta in tomato sauce. My eyes widen. Carbs and proteins! There's even cutlery!

I reach for a knife and fork only to realise I'm holding two forks.

Weird, I think, spotting the third fork in the box. Why are there three forks?

I've watched enough Hunger Games to know that, whenever your mentor sends you something random, they're trying to send a secret message. Grandpa has already sent me some ice to warn me that Hephaestion was Jack Frost. I didn't think Grandpa was the type for secret messages. Neither is Aunt Sotope. Maybe Beta's helping them or something.

Three forks… I think. Fawkes Chau, District 3?

Why is he important?

My mind is completely blank. I guess I'm just hungry. I use one of my three forks to shovel pasta into my mouth and try to figure out why someone sent me so many forks. It's hard to think when I haven't eaten in days and the pasta is so warm and savoury and satisfying.

It has to be something to do with Fawkes Chau. He's one of the most famous victors in Panem. Grandpa probably wants me to take a leaf out of his book. The three is a little more confusing. Fawkes was from District 3 but he only came second as a Three tribute. He won the Quell as a Ten. Is the three for the Third Quarter Quell? I suppose they'd be cheaper than seventy-five forks.

And why Fawkes? I'm guessing I'm supposed to do something that he specifically did. Shame I have no idea what. I don't see any jabberjays I can tame or voodoo dolls I can chuck at the Careers. In fact, I don't see any Careers I'd want to chuck voodoo dolls at. I don't want to hurt Hephaestion and I doubt I can achieve anything scarier than what Tsarina does to her victims. Am I supposed to ask 'What would Fawkes do?' for the rest of the games?

I give it a go.

"What would Fawkes do?"

He'd sit with his back against the wall so nobody would be able to attack him from behind like Lopez did.

I try that. I eat with my back against the wall, spear resting by my side, waiting for an attacker to pop out of nowhere. Nothing happens.

I guess this wasn't what I was supposed to do.

I wonder if Hephaestion's been sent anything. Maybe he got sent food after his mentor left me because his mentor knew it was the right thing to do. Maybe he's okay.

Is the Fawkes thing because of Hephaestion? I wonder.

On the day of the Victory Tour Attack, Fawkes Chau's boyfriend killed seven rebels and became a national hero. My boyfriend, if you can call Hephaestion that, killed two 'supporters of the Capitol' and became a rebel figurehead.

I can't help but feel like this is Grandpa telling me off. Why couldn't you be more like Fawkes? Why couldn't you find some nice young man like Manel rather than the rebel trash you're with?

Fawkes is better than you. I wish he was my grandson rather than you.

I let out a cry of rage and throw the fork I'm holding against the wall. I don't care what Grandpa's trying to tell me. I'm not going to win these games by copying Fawkes. I'm going to win them my way.

This chapter was originally going to be the start of the next chapter but it kinda evolved into its own mini-chapter so here it is! Hephaestion is gone. Hopefully he'll be okay on his own. Gus… hasn't really got the message about the forks. Hopefully he figures out what Luka was trying to say before Tornada lures him into a trap.