Culling

Part II • Chapter I

President Hendricks ignored Mr McCoy's angry tone and elegantly placed his cup back onto the saucer. "You are the one who seems to think she has outsmarted the system and come up with some insane plan to find a husband by entering the games. Even though that makes no sense because, well, it's the games."

"Well, she's a woman. So of course they don't think these things entirely through!" He pointed at me angrily, but his eyes were still on the President. "She shouldn't even be here! Her actions have made a mockery of this entire process. This was supposed to be my year to shine! You promised me."

President Hendricks ignored Mr McCoy's rants. "In any case, even if your assumptions are correct and she somehow forced her way into the games. That just means that she was smart enough to rig the process in order to be selected to start with. That certainly requires a certain level of intelligence."

"She could have had help!"

President Hendricks rolled his eyes.

What was I watching, was Mr McCoy out of his mind? President Hendricks could have him executed with a single word!

"Did you join the games to find a husband, Miss Sorenson?" President Hendricks looked at me. Why was he asking me this? He knew I didn't. It was only a few days ago when he himself accused me of joining the games in order to spy on the Capital.

"No... I didn't j-" I started to answer, but he cut me off and continued to address Mr McCoy.

"See, I told you. She's smarter than that. I told you, she's their spy."

Oh, so he did still think I was a spy. I hunched my shoulders.

Mr McCoy glowered at him. "She isn't smart enough to be a spy!"

"But she's smart enough to rig the games to become a tribute? Stop this nonsense." President Hendricks waved Mr McCoy off, who turned his hate filled gaze back to me. I gulped and studied the teacup as I tried to ignore them both.

Clearly this was an ongoing argument between the two of them. Why was I even here?

"She's up to something with that Owen Blackbourne. They are somehow involved in all of this. I don't trust him." As he began to talk about Owen, the calm facade faded from President Hendricks disposition. "Why can't Blackbourne just leave things well-enough alone. People are happy!"

"If you think she's a part of it, why isn't she being questioned?"

I couldn't stop shaking now and the terror was overwhelming me. I began fidgeting with the napkin in my lap in order to keep my hands busy.

"You know why, you are not an idiot. The public loves her, and we'd be foolish not to use her to our advantage." President Hendrick's turned his attention back to me. "So tell me, Miss Sorenson, what suspicious activities has Owen Blackbourne and company been up to in the last few days?"

Suspicious activities? I haven't noticed anything suspicious, per say. "Um, I haven't noticed anything."

"My god girl," Mr McCoy growled at me. "It's been a week since you've been with them. Don't tell me you lack allure as well as brains! Did you not plan out your husband-searching routine?"

I could only blink at him, shocked. How was I supposed to reply to that? Plus, despite what President Hendricks told him, for some insane reason he still seemed to think I was in the games to get married. "Um..."

"I didn't ask her to seduce information out of them. Although that's an idea..." President Hendricks calmly addressed Mr McCoy, before he turned to me again.

"You are to use whatever feminine wills you women use in order to get information from Owen Blackbourne. Is that clear? I need a better report than 'nothing suspicious'. If I'm not 100% pleased with your next report, well..." He trailed off, leaving the rest unspoken.