AS VIENNA followed Coriolanus into the classroom doors, the only thing heard were the sounds of her heels hitting the floor. The entire class was silent, staring at the two late students as they made their way to their seats. The late entrance had already become the subject of speculation among the classmates, and Vienna could feel the scrutiny that accompanied each step.
Ignoring the judgmental gazes, Vienna took her seat next to Felix, maintaining her natural composure. Felix leaned in and whispered, "Quite the entrance, Vienna. Here and the Capitol Zoo."
Vienna was about to respond to her friend before she was interrupted by Dean Highbottom, who had been quiet during their entrance. "Your little excursion was in violation of about five different Academy rules, Ms. Hawthorne and Mr. Snow. Chief amongst them: endangering two Capitol students"
Vienna looked towards Coriolanus, figuring it was best to let him take the lead on this. "What? Who?" Coriolanus asked, looking confused at the Dean.
"You and Ms. Hawthorne. I'm moving for the game-maker's to disqualify the both of you as mentors immediately." Dean Highbottom didn't look up once; his focus stayed on the papers on his desk.
"I dragged Vienna in that van with me, so don't punish her. Either way, you said we had to get our tributes to perform. Not that we had to stay away."
Vienna had no idea why Coriolanus was trying to get her out of trouble, but she didn't need his help. "With all due respect, I introduced Treech to Lucky on my own. Coriolanus had no part in that, no matter how hard he tries to take credit."
Both Coriolanus and Dean Highbottom ignored Vienna, causing her to let out a huff as she leaned back in her seat. Vienna tuned out of the conversation once she saw Felix give a playful smirk due to her attitude.
Vienna was pulled away from her thoughts upon hearing Arachne call her name. "And you, Vienna, holding his hand, giving him a bracelet to match that stupid butterfly necklace of yours? What would your parents think?"
Vienna winced at the mention of her parents'. Arachne knew it was a touchy subject and still used it against Vienna every single time.
"I was simply getting the Capitol to like him, Arachne. If they like him, then there is a better chance of me winning the prize." Vienna explained this to the pigtailed girl. It was true—Vienna needed to win the prize to prove to her parents she wasn't a disappointment.
"What about you, Ms. Hawthorne? You are always competing with Mr. Snow; will I see you helping him and Ms. Dovecote with these new ideas for my games?" She had no idea what was going on in the class anymore. It seemed as if she tuned out for a while, as Dr. Gaul was now standing in front of her. Vienna was shocked at how close the woman was as she began speaking to her.
Vienna was still confused by what happened, but she shook her head. "I don't want any part in helping your games. I just need to win the Plinth Prize." Vienna sneered at the woman, who was trying to get something out of her.
Dr. Gaul laughed a cruel laugh, almost as she expected the response. "So you are like Sejanus; you believe my games are wrong."
"Me? Like Sejanus? I could never be like him." Vienna truly hated him, but for what reason is what has she yet to figure out. Maybe it's because he has parents who care about him, or maybe it's the fact that he is free to express his opinions.
"I believe the districts deserve to be punished, but is there really no other way to go about it?" Vienna grew louder towards the end of her sentence as the anger took hold of her.
Vienna's defiance echoed in the classroom, her refusal to align herself with Dr. Gaul's gruesome vision evident in her words. The tension in the room intensified as the conversation unfolded.
"I see. I expected better from you. Have your parents not taught you what it means to be a Hawthorne?"
Dr. Gaul's mention of her parents struck a nerve, causing a flicker of vulnerability in her otherwise composed exterior. How was it that everyone knew her one weakness? Vienna squared her shoulders, meeting Dr. Gaul's gaze with a stern look. She was fed up; she couldn't stay in the classroom with everyone's eyes on her.
Vienna stood up from her seat and headed toward the door. Class was not over for another thirty minutes, but she did not care. She didn't say a word as she left the room, her departure leaving a lingering tension behind.
As the door swung shut behind her, Vienna's footsteps echoed in the corridor, each step a testament to her refusal to conform to the Games.
Vienna navigated to the academy's cafeteria, where she sat all alone in a quiet corner, collecting her thoughts. The events of the day had unfolded unexpectedly, and the weight of Dr. Gaul's words about her parents and the expectations tied to the Hawthorne name echoed in her mind.
As she sat in solitude, Vienna contemplated the implications of her actions. Deep down, she knew she couldn't keep up the 'perfect Capitol sweetheart' act forever. The Capitol's grip on its own citizens was suffocating, and she had just taken a bold stand against it.
Vienna would have to face the wrath of her parents one day, but she swore that day had not arrived. She spent so long building up her reputation—it was not going to crumble just like that.
She was a Hawthorne, one of the Capitol's elite families. Vienna was going to make sure everyone knew that. These games weren't going to stop her.
Vienna was disrupted as the cafeteria buzzed with the distant sounds of conversations and clattering dishes. Checking her watch, she realized lunch had been going on for around ten minutes, meaning she had been in her thoughts for forty.
Footsteps were heard growing closer and closer, causing Vienna to tense up. She looked up to find Felix approaching, concern etched on his face. He placed a tray of food on the table, breaking the silence Vienna sat in.
"Pack the food in your bag; we are going to visit our tributes." Felix smiled at Vienna as she looked up at him.
Vienna was very grateful for him; even after everything that happened in the classroom, he was there by her side. He truly was her best friend—someone who saw beneath the polished surface of her Capitol persona and understood the vulnerabilities of her family name.
Nodding her head in appreciation, Vienna started to pack the food in her bag. She was quick with her actions, desperate to see her tribute. Standing up, she grabbed the water bottle on the tray before she followed Felix out of the school.
Vienna matched Felix's pace, the water bottle cradled in her hands, a tangible reminder of the small comforts that anchored her in the storm of Capitol expectations.
As they stepped out of the school, Vienna's anticipation grew. The weight of mentorship, the desire to guide her tribute to victory, and the pressure to take home the plinth prize fueled her determination to connect with the one person who depended on her in the arena.
By the time they reached the closed-off area, Vienna noticed other students had also made their way to their tributes. Coriolanus seemed awfully close to Lucy Gray, speaking as if the bars were not separating them. However, Sejanus was having trouble talking to his tribute, as Marcus did not want the food he was being handed.
After Vienna's last talk with Treech, she prayed he would be cooperative. As she approached the enclosure with Felix by her side, she felt the eyes of her peers following her.
Ignoring them, Vienna walked over to Treech, who sat on a rock with Lamina next to him. She took notice of how close she was to Arachne, who was kneeling on the floor, talking to her tribute—well, more like toying. Vienna took a deep breath, steadying herself as she reached him.
"Lumberjack, I'm back." Vienna spoke in a sing-songy tone. It was her way of lighting up the mood, for both her and Treech.
"Really, do you have to call me Lumberjack?" Treech whined as he got up from the rock and approached his mentor.
"If you get to call me Butterfly, then I get to call you Lumberjack." Vienna smirked, knowing that the banter made way for a deeper connection.
Treech rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but let a small smile slip past his lips. A laugh was heard, causing Treech and Vienna to turn toward the sound.
It was Lamina, sitting on the rock where Treech had just been. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she observed their banter.
"Seriously, Lumberjack? Butterfly? You two are something else." Lamina remarked, her laughter contagious.
Vienna couldn't help but chuckle, and even Treech, despite his attempt to keep up his tough persona, cracked another smile. Vienna then remembered Felix, who had been standing by her side, smiling at the interaction.
"Oh my, Felix," Vienna said softly as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you go talk to your tribute? I'll be fine over here."
Felix nodded, acknowledging Vienna's gesture of reassurance. "Alright, I'll catch up with you later," he said, giving her a supportive smile before making his way to his own tribute.
Vienna turned her attention back to Treech and Lamina. "Right, so where are we?" She began to think about what was happening before. "Ahh, yes! I brought you guys food and water."
Vienna dug into her bag, looking for the food she had wrapped in the cafeteria napkins. "So, I have a sandwich and an apple." She said as she pulled out the foods one by one. "I'm sorry, it's not a lot; this is all Felix was able to grab for me from the cafeteria."
"So, is he your boyfriend?" Treech asked while grabbing the food from Vienna—partially to make conversation and partly because he was genuinely curious. From his point of view, the two students were extremely close to one another. He couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder, with a hint of envy.
"Who? Felix? Oh, God, no. Felix is the closest thing you can get to a best friend in the Capitol." Vienna noticed Treech let out a sigh of relief, causing her to smirk. "Why? You jealous, Lumberjack?"
There it was again—the banter the two teens loved, though they would never admit it to each other. As a matter of fact, they would never admit it to anyone, in fear of what others might think.
"What about that corny casserole guy? What's his name?" Treech took half of the sandwich and passed the other half to Lamina, who sat and happily watched the two talk.
The mention of 'corny casserole' guy brought a mischievous glint to her eyes. "It's Coriolanus, and no. There are absolutely no romantic entanglements there. I'm not dating every guy I talk to," Vienna replied with a sly smile, fully aware of the playful curiosity in his eyes.
Treech raised an eyebrow, feigning an innocent look. "Please, I bet you he's secretly in love with you."
Vienna burst into laughter, a genuine and carefree sound that echoed through the busy enclosure. "Trust me, theres nothing secret going on. Coriolanus Snow is just a guy who thinks he's better than ever else." The lighthearted exchange continued, creating a temporary escape from the intense reality of the Capitol.
For a brief moment, the weight of being a mentor in the Games, the expectations tied to the Hawthorne name, and the recent shocking incident faded into the background. In the banter with Treech, Vienna discovered a temporary refuge—a space where she could be more than just a Capitol elite and the academy's rigid structure momentarily loosened its grip.
Vienna glanced at Treech with a thoughtful expression on her face. "You know, I've been so caught up in Capitol life that I realize I know very little about you, Lumberjack. What's life like in District Seven?"
"Well, it's not glamorous like the Capitol, that's for sure. We are all about lumber, trees, and hard work. Been chopping down trees since I was a child." Treech leaned back, a wry smile playing on his lips. He loved talking about his work—he was proud to be from District Seven.
Vienna was intrigued. "So, you've been a lumberjack for a while?" She was genuinely interested; her parents never spoke much of the districts other than how they were horrible and defiant.
"Pretty much! But don't be fooled by my tough exterior. Theres more to me than just cutting down trees."
Vienna raised an eyebrow, the fire of curiosity growing bigger. "More to you? Care to share, Lumberjack?"
His gaze softened. "I've got dreams, Vienna. As much as I love them, I wanna escape the trees and break free from routine."
Vienna smiled, appreciating the sincerity of his words. "Well, Lumberjack, you're not alone in wanting more. Who's to say, maybe one day we can break free together?"
"Indeed, butterfly, maybe one—" Treech started to agree before he got cut off.
A guttural scream was heard, causing both teens faces to drop. Their heads whipped to the side to find that Brandy had grabbed Arachne by her uniform collar. All at the same time, the district girl grabbed the bottle Arachne used to taunt the girl, smashing the head off before stabbing it into the Capitol girl's throat.
"NO!" Coriolanus screamed at the same time as Vienna realized what had happened.
Vienna immediately took action, ordering Treech to grab Lamina and run for cover. "Don't get up until you know it is safe."
Vienna made her way to Arachne, ready to help the dying girl, but she was stopped as Coriolanus was already there. Felix quickly made his way to Vienna, covering her as peacekeepers made their way over. They shot their guns all over the area, successfully aiming for Brandy, who was now slumped over in the enclosure—presumably dead.
Vienna screamed at Felix to let her go as he dragged her away from the scene. "I have to see her; she can't die." Felix kept his hold on the crying girl, making sure she couldn't run.
As Vienna struggled against his grip, her eyes fixed on the chaotic scene unfolding. The guttural scream still echoed in her ears, a haunting reminder of the cruel world she lived in.
Felix held onto Vienna firmly, sparing her from the immediate aftermath. "Vienna, you can't go there. It's not safe," he urged, his voice filled with concern.
The reality of Arachne's condition struck Vienna like a punch to the gut. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked back sobs. "She can't die, Felix. I have to do something."
Vienna's heart sank as she reluctantly tore her gaze away from Arachne, her emotions a violent store. She looked past the dying girl, only to be met with Treech's worried face.
Holding onto Lamina, Treech watched Vienna instead of the scene in front of him, his eyes reflecting the shared shock and distress. He would do anything to be on the other side of the bars, holding her in his arms. He wanted to be the one comforting her and keeping her safe.
But he knew it wasn't going to be like that—it could never be like that. So he was thankful for Felix, who had dragged her away from the enclosure. Vienna's agony echoed through the chaos as she strained against Felix's grasp; it tore Treech apart.
Haiiii sweethearts!!
long chapter!!
i hate the first half of the chapter but
oh well!! I <3 Felix and Vienna's friendship,
them Capitol elites gotta stick together.
also I gotta fight Lamina for being the
#1 Vienna and Treech shipper
#Trienna or #Vreech ???
stay safe, ily 🦋