CHIONOPHILE - Coriolanus Snow

TACENA

Tacena (n.) things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence.

"The human eye is a wonderful device. With a little effort, it can fail to see even the most glaring injustice." - Richard K. Morgan

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As Calida entered the grand hall, she was greeted by a sea of academy students eagerly gathering to witness the televised reaping ceremony. The air was charged with anticipation and excitement.

The front rows were filled with the cream of the crop - the top students who had worked tirelessly to earn their place as the best in their class. To her dismay, she found herself among them.

Purposefully arriving late, she sought to avoid engaging in pre-reaping small talk. The topic of the games always made her throat constrict and a sense of unease settle in her chest.

As she settled into her seat, her friends welcomed her with eager smiles. With a meticulously practiced smile, Calida returned their greeting. Among them was Brit, whom Calida considered her closest confidant (although that term meant little in a place like this).

Brit leaned in with a discreet whisper, "Have you heard the buzz? They're continuing with top students mentoring tributes. I just hope I don't end up with someone frail who meets their demise within the first few minutes."

Calida sighed, annoyed that she was not late enough to avoid the discussion. "Yeah, let's hope not," she replied, her lack of interest evident.

Brit either didn't notice or chose to ignore it as she continued talking. "And you've probably heard that since Snow is now the heir of the Plinth family, he'll be given the honor of deciding who wins the Plinth prize," Brit said with glee.

Her words made Calida's body involuntarily twitch, her teeth grinding together in a habit that she had been reprimanded for countless times by her poised mother.

"They've also got a new arena. Didn't your father work on that, Calida?" Darius asked, obviously loving the Hunger Games for all it's worth.

"Yes, he designed it," Calida said flatly.

"That's wicked.» Darius exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Yeah, certainly wicked," she muttered under her breath, feeling a sense of bitterness and resentment towards the games and those who enjoyed them.

In times like these, she wished Sejanus were here, so she wouldn't feel so alone in her disdain for the games.

"Good morning, students!" Dr. Gaul announced, breaking up the chatter with her voice echoing through the auditorium.

"As you all know, just like last year, each of you will be assigned a tribute to mentor in the Hunger Games. This is a chance to not only witness the unraveling of humanity in its purest form but also be a significant factor in it. Your goal is not simply for your tribute to win, but to put on a show and leave a lasting impression."

She paused, a hint of a smirk on her lips. "Remember, strategy is key."

She stepped back, and Calida looked down at her lap, fiddling with the hem of her blazer, trying to gather her thoughts before the reaping would start.

Suddenly, another voice took the stage. Calida's head looked up, recognizing the voice as Coriolanus Snow. He had mentored the winning tribute last year and was now a highly admired figure.

She didn't know him well, only having exchanged shallow pleasantries in the past. He had been friends with one of her closest friends, Sejanus.

Snow's appearance and demeanor irked her. He just looked so... perfect, and it felt fake. It was most likely just the cynic in her, or that she never trusted pretty things.

Snow wore a charming smile as he addressed the crowd of students. "I have been given the honor of overseeing the mentors, and in the end, I will decide who is most deserving of the grand prize. May the best player win." He looked confident, with a certain glint in his eyes.

Calida furrowed her brows. Although she had not spoken much with Snow in the past, the man who stood on the stage did not seem like the same boy who had been friends with Sejanus. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at herself, catching herself in the habit of overthinking and overanalyzing things that she should not be thinking about.

Yet, it was hard to believe that this man had taken Sejanus's place as the son of Mr. and Mrs. Plinth. She might not know Coriolanus Snow well, but one thing was certain - he was nothing like Sejanus.

Snow soon turned to the screen as the reaping began.

The name of the tribute was displayed on the screen, and Snow would announce which student would mentor them. Some students would scream in joy as they were given a promising tribute, while others would scoff.

"District 8, Isaac Nash," Snow announced.

A young boy appeared on the screen, he was sobbing, with his mother's screams audible in the background. Calida felt a lump form in her throat as she watched. The boy was so small, with soft brown curls and innocent eyes, reminding her of her own little brother.

Isaac was the youngest tribute chosen in this year's reaping, and Calida couldn't help but imagine her brother in his place.

"He will be mentored by Calida Bellerose," Snow announced. Calida's eyes widened in shock and she frantically looked at her friends before turning to Snow, who didn't even bother to look up as he moved on to the next tribute.

Calida turned to her friend Brit in panic, and Brit gave her a sympathetic smile. "Remember what Dr. Gaul said, it's not about the tribute surviving, it's about using life they have left to put on a show worth watching."

Calida frowned and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She couldn't let her emotions take over, not in here.

After the reaping, the mentors were informed of when the train carrying the tributes would arrive, and then the students were allowed to leave. Calida wasted no time, quickly getting up from her chair and rushing out of the hall, making her way to the nearest bathroom.

She slammed and locked the door, finally able to take a moment to catch her breath. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but she forced them back. She didn't understand why she was having such a strong reaction, but she couldn't shake the horrible feeling in her chest.

Splashing some water on her face and taking a deep breath, she fixed her posture and unlocked the bathroom door, determined to go home and hug her brother.

As Calida made her way through the crowded hallway, lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the person approaching from the opposite direction. In a sudden collision, their bodies collided and both let out startled gasps.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," she mumbled, flustered. She quickly bent down to pick up the rose, realizing that she must have caused the person to drop it. The person she had collided with extended a hand to help her up. Embarrassed, she accepted with her head low, not wanting to make eye contact with whoever she had just crashed into.

"Well, well, isn't this a coincidence, Miss Bellerose? I was just looking for you."

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I am still deciding on the point of view for this story, but I will most likely switch between first person from both Calida and Coriolanus's perspectives and sometimes third person. If you have any preferences, please let me know so I can take them into consideration.

This chapter was challenging to write, as I always struggle with introducing characters. I want to avoid giving away too much information, but I also don't want to confuse you too much.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you joining me on this journey.