WAITING AROUND for something worthwhile to happen was tiring, even boring even. After the bloodbath, the tributes stayed hidden in their spots, afraid of the fate they might meet outside of their safe zones.
Considering the hours that have passed, a few mentors have resorted to seeking refuge in the comfort of their own homes. With dinner time nearing, mentors and students alike returned home to have a meal with their loving families. However, this wasn't the case for Vienna, who was still adamant about ignoring her ruthless parents.
Instead, she found herself wandering the town, searching for any sign of Sejanus. Vienna stopped by Sejanus's home, nervously knocking on his door, only to be met with his Ma. She told the younger girl that Sejanus came home only to leave again and hasn't returned since.
Determined, she set out to find him, navigating the deserted streets in search of any clue on his whereabouts. After what had happened earlier in the day, there was no way he was okay, and Vienna wanted to make sure he hadn't done anything stupid.
Vienna spent the hours she was meant to be eating, looking all around town for her newly considered friend. Her concern grew with every empty street; the thought of him being in trouble scared her, and she didn't know why. The lingering effects of Treech's influence added an emotional layer, heightening her anxiety as she tirelessly searched for any trace of Sejanus.
Without any luck, Vienna made her way back to the dreaded auditorium. The auditorium, bathed in dim lighting, seemed eerily quiet as Vienna stepped inside. As she moved to the stairs of the room, her footsteps echoed in the vast emptiness, stopping before she walked down the steps. The rows of seats once filled with mentors and students now stood vacant.
Vienna's eyes darted around, hoping to see anyone she could talk to. Catching a glimpse of Coriolanus, a conflicted expression crossed her face, torn between the urgency of finding Sejanus and the reluctance to engage with Coriolanus. He was closer to Sejanus than anyone she knew, so she guessed he would have to do.
Summoning her determination, she descended the steps, her footsteps echoing through the quiet space. "Coriolanus, have you seen Seja-" Vienna started to speak, her tone firm. However, she was caught off guard. Dr. Gaul stood towering over Coriolanus, who sat slouched in his chair.
"What's going on? Why is Sejanus in the arena?" She asked, walking close enough to see the Plinth boy on the screen, kneeling by his dead tribute.
Dr. Gaul looked up at the sound of the girl, putting on her infamous evil smile. "Nice of you to join us—quite perfect, really." Dr. Gaul reached out for Vienna, placing a hand on the younger girl's shoulder before continuing. "I was just talking to your friend, Coriolanus, here about a task I need him to complete. I think you would be a perfect partner."
Vienna looked from Dr. Gaul to Coriolanus, to the screen, and back to Dr. Gaul. Realization set in the girl's mind. Fully understanding the head gamemaker's request, she shook her head. There was no way she was going into that arena with all the tributes inside.
As Dr. Gaul's hand rested on her shoulder, Vienna felt a shiver run down her spine. Before she could voice her refusal, Dr. Gaul interrupted her with a sinister smile. "It's time for you to prove you are a Hawthorne," she stated, her words laced with ominous implications. The weight of her family name pressed on Vienna, and the chilling realization that this was more than just a request hung heavily in the air.
Vienna's gaze darted to Coriolanus, silently begging him to find a way out of this twisted situation. In the tense silence that followed, with Vienna's pleading gaze and Coriolanus grappling with the situation, Dr. Gaul finally spoke up. "It's settled, then," She declared with a chilling certainty, her voice cutting through the quiet auditorium. "You two best be going. Time is of the essence."
Vienna's heart sank at Dr. Gaul's words, and she exchanged a desperate glance with Coriolanus. As they reluctantly moved to comply, the echoes of Dr. Gaul's decree resonated through the dimly lit auditorium.
Venturing into the city, the uncertainty of what awaited them intensified. The walk to the arena was long and quiet; neither of the mentors had anything to say to each other—a stark contrast to how they acted in the previous week. Before the reaping, Vienna and Coriolanus were like two peas in a pod; although they would never admit it, they enjoyed the competition the other brought. Now, as the pair focused on the games, they barely said a word to each other.
The arena was in sight; its imposing structure cast a foreboding shadow over Vienna and Coriolanus as they approached. The silence between them grew heavier with each step, the quiet only being broken by the distant hum of the wind surrounding them.
Vienna's fingers absentmindedly played with the butterfly bracelet that once belonged to Treech. The delicate jewelry twirled around her wrist as she tried to shake the thought of him being inside the arena. A desperate hope ignited within her, yearning for a chance to speak to him. The anticipation and anxiety intensified with each step, and she held onto the fragile hope that fate might allow their paths to cross once more within the confines of the ruthless games.
Standing by the gates, a group of peacekeepers awaited, ready to let the two mentors into the menacing structure. Nodding to the peacekeepers, Vienna ordered them to open the gates. The peacekeepers, accustomed to following orders, promptly began the process of allowing entry. The creak of the gates echoed through the air, a dreary warning of the events that awaited them.
As the gate opened, Vienna prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead. Coriolanus, breaking the silence with his first words to her, placed an arm in front of Vienna. "Follow my lead. We grab Sejanus and bolt, got it?"
Vienna scoffed in response, her eyes rolling at Coriolanus's command. Rejecting his attempt to guide her, she shoved his arm away from her body, asserting her independence. As if she would ever follow his control. Without uttering a word, Vienna forged ahead through the arena entrance, where she intended to navigate on her own terms.
As the peacekeepers shut the door behind them, Coriolanus turned his back to the noise, watching as they trapped them inside. Vienna noticed the lack of footsteps following her, calling out to him. "Hurry up, Coriolanus. Get Sejanus and get out, remember?"
Nodding, Coriolanus quickened his pace, passing Vienna. However, as he neared the turnstile, Vienna grasped the imminent danger. "Coriolanus, wait," she whispered urgently, knowing that walking through it would announce their presence to every tribute in the arena.
"Enjoy the show!" echoed a voice as Coriolanus entered the turnstile. Vienna mumbled a quick swear, and not wanting to make any more noise, she agilely jumped over it herself, joining Coriolanus in the dimly lit expanse of the arena.
"Are you an idiot? Why didn't you jump over it?" Vienna scolded, her frustration evident. "It's like you are trying to get us caught."
Coriolanus brushed off Vienna's scolding, his focus shifting towards Sejanus, who stood underneath the beam in the middle of the arena. As he moved quietly through the arena, his gaze caught Lamina asleep on the beam. Vienna followed his line of sight, and her heart sank at the sight of Lamina, fighting the urge to help the younger girl.
Startled by their presence, Sejanus turned his head, recognizing Vienna and Coriolanus as they approached. "Thought they'd send my Ma," he spoke, his gaze returning to Marcus, who lay in front of him.
"Yeah, I wish they had," Coriolanus expressed angrily, earning a smack on the shoulder from Vienna.
"She's worried about you, Sejanus," Vienna chimed in as he stood up to face them, her words carrying a tone of genuine concern. The tension in the air was palpable as they confronted Sejanus, hoping to persuade him to leave the perilous arena with them.
"You two need to go." Sejanus warned, his tone louder than the other two mentors. Coriolanus, understanding this was going to take more convincing than originally anticipated, motioned for Vienna to stand guard and ensure no tributes were approaching.
As Vienna stood guard, she couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to Treech. The uncertainty of his whereabouts weighed on her, and a pang of longing for his presence tugged at her heart. The stark contrast between the freedom they once shared in this exact spot just days ago and his current absence intensified the emotional turmoil within her.
The realization that Treech was nowhere to be found weighed heavily on Vienna. He was somewhere in the arena, fighting for his life, with no knowledge of her presence in the arena. The proximity of their locations in the expansive arena emphasized the cruel distance between them, intensifying the emotional struggle within Vienna as she stood guard.
The memory of Treech's warning not to help him lingered in Vienna's mind, casting a shadow over her thoughts. Conflicting emotions surged within her, the weight of his caution contrasting with the need to provide support. She couldn't help but wonder if Treech ever thought about her, questioning whether he regretted the words spoken in a moment of tension and fear.
Breaking her out of her thoughts, Vienna heard footsteps approaching from a darkened hallway. She turned to Coriolanus and Sejanus, wondering if they had also caught the sound, but the boys remained engrossed in their conversation. Vienna couldn't help but notice their peculiar proximity—standing unusually close, it seemed as if they were on the verge of a kiss.
"Boys, I would hurry up if I were you," she alerted them as the footsteps drew closer. A loud clank sounded from the same area, seizing the attention of the boys.
"All three of us are dead if we don't leave right now," Coriolanus whispered, his words underscoring the imminent danger that compelled them to act swiftly. Vienna noticed a shadow peering into the darkness, calling out Coriolanus to just grab Sejanus and run.
Bobbin, the district 8 male tribute, emerged from the darkness, prompting screams from Vienna and Coriolanus as they instinctively urged Sejanus to run. With Bobbin chasing after them, he let out a scream in an attempt to assert his dominance over the mentors.
The mentors sprinted as fast as they could, with Coriolanus and Sejanus outpacing Vienna, who wasn't as fast as the boys. She found herself falling behind, cursing herself for not taking exercise seriously over the years. The echo of footsteps and the fear of pursuit intensified as they ran for the entrance.
As the boys reached the turnstile, Vienna lagged far behind, her pace hindered by the relentless pursuit of Bobbin. A collective scream pierced the air as Sejanus failed to clear the turnstile, injuring his leg, and Vienna succumbed to Bobbin's swift approach.
The sudden violence left Vienna sprawled on the floor, writhing in pain. The encounter with Bobbin had resulted in her arm being sliced open by his sword. As she lay on the floor, the searing pain in her arm intensified, a stark reminder of the brutality within the arena. The collective chaos and the screams of her companions echoed in her ears as she struggled to regain her composure. The metallic tang of blood filled the air, mingling with fear and urgency that permeated the dimly lit surroundings.
Bobbin left the poor girl on the ground, hopping over the turnstile as he aimed for the other two mentors. Coriolanus turned around just in time to see the threat approaching, his quick reflexes allowing him to dodge the weapon. In a brutal act of self-defense, he seized a fallen piece of debris and attacked Bobbin, the clash resulting in a vicious wound on the back of Coriolanus's shoulder.
"Enjoy the show!" echoed the voice from before as Coriolanus bashed the tribute's head. Bobbin fell backwards onto the ground, landing next to Vienna, who watched Coriolanus in shock. She saw the look in his eye as power took control over his body, as he couldn't stop the pain he inflicted on the tribute. Once more, Coriolanus bashed the head of the tribute, despite his already lifeless body.
Coriolanus, fueled by adrenaline and urgency, swiftly dragged the injured Vienna through the turnstile. The ominous echo of approaching footsteps intensified, underscoring the relentless danger that pursued them within the Capitol's treacherous games.
Vienna, clinging to Coriolanus, cast a curious glance back, attempting to discern the source of the approaching danger. The dimly lit space obscured the identities of the oncoming threats. As she strained to see through the darkness, the only discernible detail she could make out were four bodies approaching.
Still catching her breath, Vienna couldn't help but voice her thoughts out loud. "Wait, is that?" she whispered as the figures drew even closer. The dim light enhanced their visibility, leaving Vienna in shock. Her mind grappled with the possibility that she might be imagining things, attributing the figure she had been searching for to a coping mechanism for her injury. "It's really him."
haiiii sweethearts!!!!
im genuinely sorry for the lack of updates
im trying my hardest to write
everyday!
sorry for the lack of Treech in this chapter
but the next one will have a lot'
i promise :)
stay safe, ily 🦋