Blaine Abernathy: A Canary Caged
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games
Warning: Contain some spoilers
Chapter 44: The Covey
Blaine's POV
Before anyone prepared a plan the following day, I left the Victors' Village to stop at the bank. I withdrew and divided it between the families I support and the Covey. Only this time, I ensured the money was there and not sent to an account. Afterward, I stopped at the sweet shop and other stores before going to the Seams.
I did my usual rounds, stopping at each fallen tribute's home. It was awkward due to the situation. They believe there is a chance for me to be reaped, and they lose funding. Especially when they still have children who are in the reaping age. I assured them that I would continue to fund them until then. I plan to empty the majority of my salary before the reaping.
I decided to see the Smyrnium. I was hesitant when I reached their house since Michael's death lingers. Even though Mrs. Smyrnium and the siblings don't blame me. Mr. Smyrnium still wouldn't look me in the eye. So, when Abigail answered the door, I felt relief, assuming her husband was at work. Her eyes water when she sees me before giving me a hug. I stumbled, yet caught myself.
"Come in, come in," Abigail said as she guided me inside.
I was hesitant, yet complied. Once inside, I noticed there was nobody home. Assuming the rest of her family was at school. She had me sit down before going to the kitchen, "Coffee or tea?"
"No need," I insisted. "I don't want to intrude."
I pulled out the envelope and set it on the table. Abigail sighed as she came over and took a seat across from me. She took my hand, giving me a squeeze.
"This is not right," she said. "You have fought so hard and done so much for the district, for the tributes' family."
"Rather be a victor than some torment on the children," I said.
Abigail nodded solemnly. In the First Quarter Quells, the districts had to vote their tributes. The trauma and torture with betrayal to the tributes and their family from their community. The Second Quarter Quells, the Tributes were doubled. More blood was shed than ever in the Hunger Games. Now, it was the victors going in. If the Quells were rigged, then it could have been anything. All boys going in. All girls going in. Age difference. There are over a hundred possibilities that the Founders created to torment us.
"Still, you were promised to live in peace," she added.
I bit my lip, knowing I had never lived in peace. Other than the last few months with Cinna. However, after this game…I will be losing so many of my friends. The chance that I will lose Haymitch. And a chance of losing Peeta and Katniss. I may not be fond of Katniss, but she didn't deserve death. Along with Peeta. A true innocent out of all us living victors.
"Please say something," she continued.
I bowed my head as a sob escaped, "I'm sorry."
She got up and wrapped her arms around me.
"This breaks his promise," I continue, crying. "He told me to live free. But I haven't."
Abigail hugged me, knowing what I meant. Michael's last words to me were to Live Free. Wording from a dying young man. From my childhood friend. I entered the arena that was a cage of death. Once I escaped, surviving, I was tossed into another cage from the trauma and from the Capitol.
"I know," Abigail murmured, kissing the top of my head. "I know."
I shook my head, for she doesn't know.
She adjusted me to look at her, "If you are not reaped, consider it a blessing and promise me you'll live free."
Another sob escaped, for I know I will survive and not live free. President Snow could change his mind. He could activate me again. He could renounce Seneca's payment of my sexual freedom and put me back into prostitution. Snow says he wanted me to be with a Capitol Citizen. However, he never said if it was my choice or not.
Once I gained my composure, I told Abigail I had to go. I need to see the Covey. Most importantly, I need to see Barb Azure, Clerk Carmine, and Tam Amber. There are so many questions that need to be answered.
Abigail gave me another hug before letting me go, "Enjoy what you have."
I wish I could.
With a goodbye, I made my way to the further parts of the Seams. Aunty Barb had custody of the building in which the Original Covey lived in when the Capitol made it law that no one could leave the districts. The Covey were like nomads before the war. They travel all over Panem, performing in every District. And then the war happened.
A few years later, the Covey was rounded up by Peacekeepers. Those who resisted were killed by being beaten or shot, and the survivors were forced to settle in the districts. Practically all the children survived except for two. Leaving six to fend for themselves. Fortunately, an elderly man took them in.
That is what Granny Maude told me. What the Covey told me. I thought I knew all the members. Barb Azure, Maude Ivory, Tam Amber, Clerk Carmine, and Billy Taupe. So why was Lucy Gray excluded? As if she was disowned. I was told Billy Taupe was disowned, for he betrayed the Covey and helped people who despised them. But what did Lucy Gray do to be omitted?
When I arrived, I stared at the building that had gone through many repairs and continued to stand, with attempts of colors on the wood grain that had faded over the years. Knowing the children were at school or working, I took a deep breath.
The window curtains opened as Clerk Carmine looked out. His eye widens when he sees me before rushing outside and opening the door. Not wanting him to exert himself, I took a deep breath and made my way over. I felt my body tighten and my heart beating rapidly. Clerk Carmine stood by the porch with a welcoming smile.
"Yellow Maysilee," Clerk Carmine greeted.
"Hey, Clerk Carmine," I replied back, nervously.
He held his smile as he led me inside. Once inside, I saw the place was empty and found some relief. Even though they were my distant family, I struggled to bond with them. Clerk Carmine took the bags I held and set them on the table.
"I'm surprised to see you on short notice," Clerk said. "When did you get back?"
"Yesterday," I answered.
Clerk Carmine nodded with a sincere smile. I don't know if he acted friendly for my sake or his own. No doubt everyone had heard of the news about the Quarter Quells.
"How's Aunty Barb?" I asked.
"Barb Azure, she's still fighting." He answered. "She might outlive us all."
He took my hand, "Let's go see her. Tan Amber is with her right now."
Not arguing, I followed him. We enter one of the bedrooms to see Aunty Barb sitting on her bed, her back against the headboards, and Tan Amber in a chair. Barb Azure appeared more willowy than ever before, as her gray hair was everywhere, and her dark eyes glimmered. Tam contrasted Aunty Barb with his warm patchy caramel skin and tightly curly hair mixed in black, gray, and white, as a beard formed on his face.
"Blaine," Aunty Barb greeted as she raised her delicate hands.
My eyes watered as I rushed in, sat on the bed, and caressed her hand. Bringing it up to my face, kissing her knuckles and palm. Her hands used to be chapped, all the years she worked to keep the younglings alive in the seventy years of her life.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I know it has been some time."
"All that matters is that you're here now," She murmured.
I nodded.
Tan nodded as he patted my shoulder, "It's good to see you again, Yellow Maysilee."
I nodded again.
"So, what brings you here?" Aunty Barb asked. "You look exhausted."
I wiped the tears away, "I did something spiteful after the announcement of the Quarter Quells."
"What do you mean?" Clerk Carmine asked.
I took a deep breath, "During my first concert, I sang your songs. One song was banned to never sing again."
"What song was that?" Aunty Barb asked.
"I sang my version of 'Nothing you can take from me.' As my encore." I answered. "Not long after, President Snow was waiting for me."
All three of them tensed when hearing President Snow mentioned.
"What did Coriolanus say?" Aunty Barb asked, her voice like steel.
"He told me he knew the Covey, and if I stepped out of line, he would come after you all. Years later, he kept saying I reminded him of someone. That I remind him of Lucy Gray Baird. Even checking my records, he was disappointed that I was Maude Ivory's granddaughter, not Lucy's. Yet he was relieved as well."
All three of them frown when hearing this.
"Lucy Gray Baird is my cousin, isn't she?" I asked firmly.
Their eyes watered as if Lucy Gray was a sensitive topic.
"Why?" I asked. "Why hide her?"
"It's complicated," Tam Amber explained.
"Complicated?" I repeated.
"Let's start from the beginning." Aunty Barb explained.
A year before the tenth Hunger Games, Billy Taupe left the Covey, breaking Lucy Gray's heart for Mayfair Lipp, the mayor's daughter. He thought he could have both girls, yet both girls found out. Regarding the reaping, Mayfair convinced her father to call out Lucy Gray's name. She got a slight revenge by dropping a snake in Mayfair's blouse. The mayor slapped her in the face for humiliating his daughter, yet both were taken off stage by the Peacekeeper. The Covey tries to cheer her up as they sing, "Nothing you can take from me." Creating a spectacle as Lucy's goodbye.
Coriolanus Snow was eighteen at the Capitol and was assigned as Lucy Gray's mentor in an experiment. They don't know much, but the tributes were treated horribly, as they were locked in a zoo and paraded around, and only two mentors gave compassion to them. Coriolanus and Sejanus Plinth.
Lucy managed to win the game; however, it was no easy matter. In fact, Lucy cheated, as Coriolanus gave her his mother's compact as a token, in which Lucy put rat poison in it. Poisoning any water source, she could reach that the tributes might drink from. However, that wasn't the only cheating. As Barb Azure mentioned, Coriolanus somehow sabotaged the mutts used in the game. These rainbow venomous snakes mutated those bitten. Apparently, the man used a handkerchief that Lucy touched and snuck it into the snakes to recognize her scent and wouldn't bite her. It worked, except
However, the creators of the Hunger Games, Casca Highbottom and Dr. Volumnia Gaul, discover foul play. Canceling any interviews, and sent Lucy Gray back home with some cash. Lucy was afraid for Coriolanus, thinking he would be punished. Several weeks later, at the Hobb during her performance, she saw him again as a Peacekeeper. Coriolanus was given two options: he could either be charged for cheating or join the Peacekeepers. He has chosen the latter and was personally selected to be in District 12.
They only saw each other in passing or on his days off. Yet the Covey welcomed Coriolanus with open arms. Especially Maude Ivory. They were falling in love. Not long after Sejanus joined District 12. Since Sejanus apparently did foul play, his father managed to make a deal for his son.
Although, Billy Taupe did not like that. He did not like that Lucy Gray was moving on. Especially when she says her ballad during her interview, humiliating him. The day he came to confront them was the day they disowned him. As he has done so much harm in almost killing Lucy.
Around that time, there was an incident at the mines. In which rebels were being formed. One man named Arlo Chance was accused of detonating an explosion that killed three people. As punishment, Arlo Chance was executed and hung at the hanging tree. Lucy had written a song about it, for after he died, the Jabberjays and Mockingjays sang Arlo's last words.
Until one day…Maude Ivory came into the shed they used to practice to find Billy Taupe and Mayfair dead. Both have bullet wounds. Yet, no one heard the gunshots. Mayor Lipped accused Lucy Gray of killing his daughter, yet had no evidence. Around that time, Lucy was acting strange, as if guilt-ridden. It only got worse when Mayor Lipped would stand outside their yard taunting them.
Out of nowhere, Sejanus was executed at the hanging tree. Apparently, the young man was a traitor, funding the rebels in Twelve. However, the weapons could never be found. As they assumed Spruce, one of the rebels hid them. Before he was captured and presumed dead from his injuries.
There was a birthday celebration to honor Commander Hoff. The Covey performed, and Lucy sang her song about the Hanging Tree. Something changed that night, but the Covey wasn't sure.
The next day Lucy Gray was gone. A few days later, Coriolanus was transferred to another base. Or so they thought. As they would find out, Coriolanus was honorably discharged. Through the years, he became a Gamemaker and, long after, President of Panem. During that time, with their testimony and Commander Hoff's investigation, Mayor Lipp murdered Lucy Gray and hid her body in the forest.
They even searched for her, even if it was just her remains, but they couldn't find her. The electric fence was soon built, and they were warned to never talk about Lucy Gray Baird again. She was just a victor who was murdered and nothing more.
Barb Azure and Tam Amber had made the decision to protect Maude Ivory and the others so that they would not use their last name. When Barb married her wife, she took her wife's last name. As for Maude, she met Ash Galanthus and took his name once married.
Followed by not openly speaking about Lucy Gray Baird again. Fearing what could happen to them. As Lucy became a ghost without a trace.
"Grab the magazine," Aunty Barb asked Tam Amber.
He nodded, opening the draw on the nightstand to pull it out and give it to her. It was an ancient magazine, with pages almost missing and the back cover ripped. Aunty Barb took a deep breath and handed it to me. When I took custody of it, I nearly gasped in horror.
There she was, Lucy Gray Baird. A young woman of sixteen with dark, curly hair and vibrant eyes. She was wearing rainbow-colored ruffles of various colors.
What shocked me was the strong resemblance between her and me. Most of all, after the remake…they made me look like her. They altered my appearance to look like her. Taking the roundness out of my face to resemble her only difference was my hair highlighted and my eye color.
"What they did to you, we suspected Coriolanus had a part in Lucy's death. He might have a part in all the deaths since arriving in District 12." Aunty Barb said as her eyes watered.
"We're sorry," Clerk Carmine said, wrapping an arm around me. "We wanted to tell you, but we didn't know how. Soon, Haymitch told us to keep our distance. That you need your space."
The tears came rolling down in discovering the truth. The realization that I was a substitute for Lucy Gray Baird. All because I held a resemblance and could sing. I thought being a prostitute made me feel violated. But this…. this is so…so much worse.
Nothing was said as we sat there.
As I lay down to rest my head on Aunty Barb's lap, she combed her fingers through my hair. Tam Amber got up and left the room before returning with his mandolin. He plucks the strings, and I recognize the melody.
"Sing for us," Clerk Carmine murmured.
I took a few deep breaths yet remained where I was and sang.
Black clouds are behind me
I now can see a hill
Often I wonder why I try
Hoping for an end
Sorrow weighs my shoulders down
And trouble haunts my mind
But I know the present will not last
And tomorrow will be kinder
The Covey joined in.
Tomorrow will be kinder
It's true I've seen it before
A brighter day is coming my way
Yes tomorrow will be kinder
0
Today I've cried a many tear
And pain is in my heart
Around me lies a somber scene
I don't know where to start
But I feel warmth on my skin
The stars have all aligned
The wind has blown but now I know
That tomorrow will be kinder
0
Tomorrow will be kinder
I know I've seen it before
A brighter day is coming my way
Yes tomorrow will be kinder
0
A brighter day is coming my way
Yes tomorrow will be kinder
Aunty Barb wiped the tears away as she continued to comb my hair.
I stayed for some time as the Covey told me stories about the old times. I need to know about Lucy Gray, my grandmother Maude Ivory, and my mom. Especially my grandfather Ash. All the stories I wished I'd known before.
Followed by the history of the Covey. How was it started by the Baird family for many generations? They were slowly bringing me back to my roots. A part of me wonders what my life would have been if Granny Maude and my mother were still alive. So much has been ruined out of fear, precaution, and safety.
Time seemed to vanish as the children returned from the school, the wives and women, and several miners. All were surprised to see me. Yet Aunty Barb made it clear that I am back. And I will be respected.
I felt like a fish out of water. Seeing the family, I had avoided for their protection. But now, they are targeted if I step out of line. My list is getting larger, and I must do what I can to protect them.
I was a fool.
.o0o.
I made my way back to the Victors' Village, emotionally exhausted. Despite it being winter, I came in to see Peeta in the garden at the front of the house. I came over to him and sat down. Peeta looked up, eyes widening to see my appearance.
"You alright?" he asked.
I shook my head, "My head is spiraling."
Peeta nodded. "I think all of us are."
I rested my head on his shoulder, "Peeta, I am so sorry."
"What for?" He asked.
"Out of all of us, you deserve better," I answered.
Peeta shook his head, "So do you?"
I shook my head. Knowing partially the truth. As I mentally went over the list in my head.
I am the daughter of Haymitch Abernathy, the Second victor of District 12 and the Second Quarter Quells winner.
I am the cousin of Lucy Gray Baird. The First Victor of District 12 and winner of the tenth Hunger Games.
I was placed in the 69th Hunger Games to spite Haymitch as punishment. I came out as a victor only to bodily alter to look like someone no longer alive. Forced to be a songbird since they lost their own.
I genuinely don't know who I am anymore.
I will only lose so many people who have tried to save me.
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