A/N: Wow so many things have happened in THG world since the last time I posted! WE'RE GETTING A NEW BOOK ABOUT HAYMITCH AND ANOTHER FILM??? My thirteen year old self would have passed away. Then, there has been the tragic loss of our President Snow, Donald Sutherland, who was so incredibly talented and brought such fearful realism to his role. May he rest in peace!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this next chapter!

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CHAPTER TEN:

PAINS OF SNOW'S FATE

During his first week back home, Coriolanus had been enrolled in an elite school of officer training at the Capitol. The Department where he reported to everyday was a few blocks away from the city's northern shopping center, and so he found himself walking Tigris and Lucy Gray to Fabricia's most mornings. Lucy Gray had grown accustomed to following Tigris around, mainly to avoid any prolonged interaction with the Grandma'am. Coriolanus' grandmother had familiarized herself with the sing-song girl, taking advantage of her role as a sort of indentured servant in their apartment. Lucy Gray would do practically anything that she asked, but when she reached her limit of being ordered around she would seek refuge with Tigris. It wasn't much better to spend her days dying silk in a musty room, but at least she was spoken to as an equal.

After Tigris had entered the shop, Coriolanus pulled Lucy Gray into a usual embrace when they had reached the door. She always felt calmed by his touch and yet she ached for his attention. She could cling to him with all of her strength and yet know that she could never trap his thoughts. She knew that complicated mind of his was elsewhere, calculating how he was going to reach that gleaming trophy of Capitol success he had promised her. She was afraid of losing his heart. They had hardly even talked much this week, for he was always away training and then too exhausted to stay awake for long during the evenings. A certain excitement had faded between them.

"I miss you," she murmured.

"You miss me? But we're together almost everyday," he replied in amusement. Lucy Gray leaned back, gazing up at him intently.

"We haven't been alone in a while... We haven't been together like we once were in Twelve," she explained. Coriolanus recalled those happy days on the lake, his secret moments with her in the shed, how he had once felt dazzled by her up on stage. Little moments like those, although precious, were hardly on his mind now. The moment he had stepped off onto the Capitol's train platform, he had become hyper fixated on how to reverse his unfortunate fate.

"I know. We... we need our own place. A new penthouse, ideally. And more money so I don't have to keep worrying about all of us," he added in frustration. "When we have all of that... then, we'll be at peace again together. We'll have our times like before," he promised, brushing back her hair. Lucy Gray wanted their times before now. However, she agreed with him that their situation had to improve. They hardly even had the means to try and buy train tickets for her family to come. That dream seemed like a million miles away...

"I need to work. Fabricia doesn't mind me volunteerin' for her, but she certainly won't pay me. I need to sing, Coriolanus," she told him. If nothing else, it was the one thing she needed to have for herself. He nodded.

"I agree. When I get off today, let's go see Pluribus. He told me before he'd like to get you a gig at his club."

"Good. That'll put me in better spirits," Lucy Gray confessed. Often, Coriolanus forgot how difficult this whole experience must be for her. Here she was, completely relying on him to take care of her and yet hardly even seeing him throughout the day. He had left her at the mercy of his grandmother all too often. She had been treated as an unwanted guest and must feel homesick and out of place here in the Capitol. Once he had secured them a house and money, then he would work on making her feel special again.

He cupped her face, feeling her smooth brown skin beneath his pale and cold fingers. She radiated warmth, her skin hot and inviting. He kissed her slowly. She melted into him, enjoying his rather soothing cool touch. His hands moved down to her waist, but when he squeezed her she flinched. He broke away.

"Are you okay?"

"It's just the burns. I'll be fine," she shrugged. Coriolanus studied her face with concern, now noticing how flushed her cheeks were.

"I thought they were healing alright?"

"Me too, but I guess it will take some more time. You didn't hurt me, though. Not that bad. Let's... continue this tonight?" She whispered, gazing up at him with those arduous eyes that were his rare weakness. Oh yes, her charms still possessed him. How could he be expected to leave her now?

He felt elated and tried not to bounce down the street to the Department as he passed by the beautiful gated entrance to the Capitol's university. His old classmates would no doubt be there already, beginning their morning classes. He tried to hold onto the high that Lucy Gray had given him and not allow the dull pain of missing out on his education drag him down.

Fortunately, he had yet to meet anyone in passing whom he knew well enough to relate why he was currently wearing an officer's uniform and a ring band on his finger. However, wasn't he bound to meet some of his friends eventually? The Capitol wasn't that large. Of course, he had ruminated about how to fabricate the perfect story befitting of a Snow for why he left the Capitol and then suddenly returned. Most people he knew were patriotic and some were saps. They loved a fascinating tale. He would just have to explain his story with all of the slight exaggerations needed to earn sympathy and admiration rather than disdain.

Like the days before, Coriolanus found himself exceedingly pleased with his training at the Department. He appreciated the challenge, confident in his abilities which were often praised by his new commander. He foresaw how the time would fly by this autumn with a gleaming officer's badge in sight before December. He just needed to execute everything with precision. It was his highest priority.

After his afternoon physical exercises, he headed to the locker rooms to shower off and get into some fresh clothes before leaving for the evening. He thought of Lucy Gray and rummaged through his bag for a bit of cologne. Soon he would walk through the apartment door and into her arms. He ran into Commander Masculles on his way up the stairs, who seemed troubled.

"Good evening, Commander."

"Officer Snow, you seem to be in good spirits," the commander nodded to him.

"Yes, well just heading home... to my wife," he concluded, enjoying how mature that sounded.

"Ah yes, I forgot you were married. Well... I don't want to put a damper on your day, but I believe there is something I should tell you before anyone else does," the commander let on.

"Sir?"

"Let's step into my office," he gestured. When they sat down, Coriolanus felt uneasy. Perhaps this had something to do with him? Was it his performance? His time in Twelve? Could he never break away from cruel fate which seemed to constantly rip apart his plans?

"When you were in Twelve..." the commander began. So, he was right. Well, he might as well bite the bullet and endure whatever was to come.

"I take it you knew Private Plinth? He was your squad member?"

"Yes, he was in my squad," Coriolanus confirmed.

"And he was your classmate at the Academy as well?" He nodded.

"Well, it's unfortunate to learn what has become of him, especially considering he was a peacekeeper—one of our own. Commander Hoff has informed me that he has been found. Hiding out in some cabin in the woods outside of Twelve? Anyway, he's been charged with treason—helping out that rebel which you terminated," the commander spoke gravely.

"That's terrible," Coriolanus admitted, shaking his head. So, this was simply about Sejanus. He knew it would eventually come to this. He recalled that late night in Twelve on that dirt road how he had warned him of this. His radical ex-comrade couldn't run away from the severe mess he had made forever.

"Yes. A real blow for the Plinths. I can imagine that they are devastated. He will likely hang as a result. I thought since you knew him personally, you'd like to be informed by myself and not the common gossip," the commander explained.

"Oh, certainly, and I appreciate it. This is very unfortunate." When the words came out, Coriolanus realized how truly sorry he felt about the impending death of Sejanus. He may have been stupid, but he never stood for violence. And yet he would receive a violent end. He thought of poor Strabo Plinth, who now would have the answers he was desperate for about his son. And Ma... that woman would break like a twig upon hearing the news. Their money couldn't save Sejanus now.

He tried to shake off the weight of what the Commander had told him as he headed home. He was no longer tethered to Sejanus, and so he reminded himself that his fate shouldn't concern him. This is what happens to rebels.

He still had a happy evening planned ahead. He recalled how he had promised Lucy Gray that he would take her to see Pluribus. No matter, he would take her there first and then maybe they would go somewhere special afterwards. He began daydreaming about all of the places in the city he could take her. Wonderful places where he had gone as a child before the war. He looked forward to being able to indulge in love once he didn't have to worry about his reputation or scrape away for cash. He wasn't quite there yet, but soon he would be.

Upon arriving on his floor, he smelled the faint aroma of something delicious cooking. Very sweet... He hoped it was coming from the apartment and that Tigris had cooked up a good meal for supper. He was pleased that his new earnings could at least afford that and they weren't reduced to cabbage anymore. He fled through the door, ready to announce his presence, but his face fell when he saw that the main room was dark and empty. However, the kitchen light was on and something was bubbling on the stove.

"Tigris?" He called. The bedroom door to his left swung open and his frazzled cousin stood before him. She had hardly cleaned herself up after work, still wearing an apron covered in dye.

"Oh Coryo, you're back. It's Lucy Gray." She flew towards him, dragging him by the arm into the room.

Oh no.

Lucy Gray was lying on her stomach on the mattress. She was wearing a thin nightgown, her dark hair braided back out of her red face. Coriolanus felt his stomach plummet and the ice cold fingers of terror clutch him. Was she dead? He knelt beside her, noticing beads of sweat cascading down her face. She was seized by tremors, her hands shaking beside her. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and he thought she was half-asleep.

"What happened? I just saw her this morning and she wasn't like this!" He exclaimed, searching Tigris for an answer.

"I know, I know. She collapsed at Frabricia's. I somehow got her back here and she's been like this ever since. I think it might be her burns, Coryo," Tigris spewed. Coriolanus took the back of Lucy Gray's gown and ripped it open, revealing her inflamed back, her skin red and shiny. The burns had indeed become infected. Damn it. How many times had he told her to keep using the ointment?

"There's got to be something we can do. Should we—should we put something on her back?" Coriolanus asked in a frantic tone, feeling suddenly helpless with his lack of medical knowledge.

"I've been cooking a mixture of herbs on the stove. Mostly honey and aloe. And Grandma'am is telephoning the doctor," Tigris informed him.

"She is?" Coriolanus was a touch surprised. Unfortunately, he thought his grandmother would hardly care about what happened to Lucy Gray. He heard her cane announce her presence as she stepped into the room. He discovered her worn, concerned face staring down at him.

"Coriolanus, that girl is gravely ill. I don't know what's happened to her, but you'll be lucky if she makes it through the night. The doctor is on his way now. Let's hope he can do something about this," She told him in defeat, sinking into the chair beside the window.

"Thank you, Grandma'am." That was all he could say.

The doctor arrived and examined Lucy Gray. She hardly moved the entire process, still under the deep influence of the fever. Coriolanus wasn't optimistic about what he could do for her. Whatever medicine he offered to give her after the diagnosis, they couldn't afford it.

"She will survive this if you allow her to be relocated to the National Hospital and placed under strict care," the doctor related to them. Coriolanus felt his grandmother's eyes pierce him as he thanked the doctor and showed him to the door.

"You can't give her the help she needs, Coriolanus," his grandmother murmured when they were out in the hall.

"Don't you think I know that, Grandma'am?" He wanted to sound assertive, but instead he heard the sad defeat in his own voice.

"For all the afflictions I've felt, I'm sorry she's ended up this way. Truly, my boy. It's like your mother all over again," she added in a harrowing tone before slowly heading to her bedroom. That struck him. His mother. Was he going to relive what had happened to her with Lucy Gray? He had promised her on the train that he would never allow her to suffer a similar fate.

He felt his insides crumbling. He reentered the bedroom and sunk to the floor beside the mattress. Tigris carefully placed some long strips of fabric soaked with her concoction onto Lucy Gray's back before leaving the room. She knew Coriolanus wanted to be alone with her. He removed his shoes and cautiously laid on his side next to her. He tenderly took hold of her hand curled up beside her. He stared at her sleeping face for what seemed like ages, as if the stars had already burnt out into nothingness. And then he cried.

He knew that if she died, she would take with him his goodness. Every ray of sunshine that fell upon his life would be darkened. She was the only one who could tether him to sanity and encourage him to love. His ambitions seemed more and more selfish the less he pictured her in his life. Sure, Tigris and the Grandma'am motivated him, but beyond them all he could care about was himself. Lucy Gray hardly cared about herself. She had always cared about her family. She had always cared about him.

How could he save her? He had hardly enough funds, and he didn't have good credit to take out a loan for her medical bills. Who could he turn to for money? Nobody cared about him or his family enough to help them. Perhaps he could exchange something for money? But what? He owned nothing of value anymore.

He felt himself dozing off, nearly asleep when he sat up. There was one possibility. He didn't know if it would necessarily work, but it was his only option. He furiously wiped away his tear streaks, a bit ashamed for spilling them. He leaned over Lucy Gray and kissed her forehead before getting up and shoving his shoes on. Then, he raced out the door to visit the Plinths.