CHIONOPHILE - Coriolanus Snow

GALÈRE

Galère (n.) A group of undesirable people.

"All are equal in the grave." - Richard Kadrey
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Calida nervously bit her nails, a habit she sensed Corionaus found particularly irritating, though he refrained from voicing his annoyance.

Inside the car, a small casket containing Isaac's remains occupied the space, casting an ominous atmosphere.

Calida couldn't shake off the fear that gripped her.

She hesitated to step out as they neared one of the dilapidated structures, resembling countless others they had passed in the last 20 minutes.

The weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air.

"You need to calm down, Calida. I'm here, and there are three peacekeepers with us. They won't be able to hurt you," he reassured.

Calida frowned, frustrated by Coriolanus's failure to understand her perspective.

Her fear stemmed not from personal safety but from the apprehension of witnessing Isaac's mother's profound grief.

The potential resurgence of grief, like an unwelcome echo, haunted her thoughts.

"I don't think we should bring three peacekeepers armed with weapons," Calida voiced her concern, eyeing the rifles with a furrowed brow.

"It's either that or you won't give the woman her son's dead corpse back," Coriolanus asserted, prompting a glare from Calida.

The urge to unleash her frustration on him pulsed through her, but she suppressed it, opting to follow the peacekeeper guiding them to Isaac's mother's door.

Walking down the decrepit corridors, the presence of peacekeepers caused parents to usher their playing children inside, their expressions a mix of fear and dread.

They reached a door that mirrored the worn-down appearance of its neighbours.

Calida firmly gestured for the peacekeepers to step back, turning to face Coriolanus.

His icy gaze sent a shiver down Calida's spine."Can you at least put on that charming smile of yours? I know you can fake it," Calida remarked, scrutinizing Coriolanus. "You look like you have a stick up your ass."

Corionaus scoffed a disdainful response.

Ignoring him, Calida turned back, lightly rapping on the door.

After a brief pause, a young woman emerged, her demeanour mirroring the fear seen in others they had passed.

"Hi, I'm Calida," she introduced herself, extending her hand. "Are you Isaac's mother?"

The woman, visibly shaken, reached forward hesitantly."N-No," she stammered. "But she is here. I'll go get her."

Casting wary glances at the peacekeepers and Coriolanus, Calida reassured her, "I'm sorry for them. They won't hurt you; we're here to give Isaac's mother something."

She let them in the door, revealing a cramped yet surprisingly tidy apartment.

Despite its limited resources, it bore a semblance of cleanliness, a testament to the occupants' efforts.

The woman disappeared into another room, returning shortly with Isaac's mother.

The resemblance between the boy she had mentored and the woman, was striking.

"Hi, I'm Calida; I was Isaac's mentor," Calida introduced herself.

At the mention of her son, Mrs Nash seemed to hold back tears.