Calandra slowly woke up from what felt like a long nap. She squinted her eyes at the light, and saw, a... The person was talking with another person. From what she heard, both voices were females. "She is waking up."Replied one of the women, and once Calandra's vision cleared, she saw that she was surrounded by two females, both in uniform, though the brunette was wearing a white coat."Hello, Ms. Baird, I am Dr. Teresa Marson. You have been unconscious, for 12 hours, can you tell me what you can."She asked Calandra.
Calandra's head felt foggy, but she replied, "Me, my mom, my Aunt, my cousin, we're in our home, when all of a sudden, the peacekeepers came." she said in a preferred tone. Lucy Gray and Mary taught the girls that no matter what, they had to lie if they got separated and never reveal to the tribe not they were drifters.
Dr. Teresa nods and begins an examination. She checked Calandra's pupils, then her breathing, and finally, she put this cold gel on Calandra's belly and used to see her insides. The nurse helps set Calandra up in bed after the examination, and both she and the doctor leave with the promise of food and checking on her.
Calandra groans and rubs her neck before she looks around the room. There was wire and a tube attached to her with something covering her finger, and she remembers seeing, that the doctor in the clan used some of these things to help her patient.
She noticed how clean and sterilized the room was. The strange bed she was in was probably more comfortable than the bed back in her and her mom's shared tent with Lily and Aunt Mary. There was a television on the wall of the room, she saw one in the Clan leader's tent, it was playing on July 4th. Her mother and the other adults forbid the kids to come in during that time, but... Clanandra snuck in. She saw a young boy, being killed by a trident by an older boy covered in blood. Her mother caught her and dragged her out. It was the first time, that she heard her mother yell at her, and in tears.
That night, Calandra was sat down by her mother. Her mother apologized for yelling at her but then explained why she was to never tell or explain what was to be said in their tent that night.
-Flashback-
"Calandra, you know that we never go near the abandoned cities or the fences near Panem." Lucy Gray says and Calandra nods, Lucy Gray takes a deep breath. It was as if her mother was mentally preparing herself. Lucy Gray then spoke in a calm tone but filled with pain, "Almost 23 years a ton, there was a war between the districts and the Capital. The Capital won, but to punish the districts, the Capital decided to... Great a game." Lucy Gray says, her voice wavering in a tight and trembling fear-filled way that Calandra never heard before.
"2 tributes, from each of the 12 districts are selected at random. One female and one male. They are all then taken to fight in the arena. They select children of age 12 to 18, Only one tribute is allowed to live. This was a way to punish and keep the districts in line."Lucy Gray says trembling. "That is why you must never reveal this information to the others. You understand?" She said making it impossible for Calandra to refuse or to ignore. "Yes Mom," Calandra says, and Lucy Gray hugs and cradles her daughter. "I love you, my little rose." She said almost breathlessly.
-Flashback end-
Calandra kept true to her word and never revealed what her mother told her. The adults and elders of the clan looked at her, and for what felt like the first time she saw the pain in their eyes. The pain of ever losing their children to the games.
Calandra then finally began to remember what had happened. Her mind was now in full panic. She threw off the blanket and saw she was in a cotton shirt and pants, both in the color of grey, and began to remove the finger clips, wired, and carefully removed the tube. Once we were off the bed, she felt dizzy. However, she shook it off before heading to the door. She opens to be greeted by a bustling hall of doctors and patients.
Calandra slipped into the hallway, trying to find where Lily, Aunt Mary, and her mother were. Calandra walked past hospital rooms, but none with her family before she eventually found herself in another section of the large building. She found that she was surrounded by patients and that she saw Lily, "Lily!" She yelled and ran to her. Lily, was wearing a clean outfit(which was the same thing Calandra was wearing) in a pair of slippers, and her hair shiny and red.
"Callie!"Lily called back and got up from the bench and hugged her best friend. Both girls embraced each other before pulling away, "Are you okay? Where is Aunt Mary or my mom?" Calandra asks desperately."I don't know, but after we got separated and I woke up they did these tests before they let me eat. I manage to slip away and come here, but guess who found me?"Lily says and pulls Calandra over to the bench. Underneath the bench was-"Odyessus!" cried Calandra.
Odyesses managed to escape from the animal shelter and track his mistress to the large building. He managed to reunite with the girls to run. Lily before Calandra found them. Odyesses was groomed, clean, and given lots of shots from what the odd humans said as they were examining him. Hi
The trio soon made their way to track down their missing guardians. "If we are in Panem, where are we?"Lily asks, trying to figure it out. "No idea, but it has to be where they have lots of money and power," says Calandra as Odyesses tracks, but they are soon spotted.
The nurses, who were looking after both girls informed security. They were searching the building discreetly before spotting both girls," hey!" yelled the guard, causing both girls to run.
"This is your best idea! Running!" yelled Lily as Odysseus was possibly leading both girls to their guardians all the mean while escaping security. "Just keep running!" yelled Calandra, as they twisted and dodged the corridors filled with people. Then, they arrived at a room, and it held both Mary Blue Jones and Lucy Gray Baird, who were awake.
"Mom!" Yelled both girls as they ran in and hugged both women. Odysseus follows behind. "Oh my sweet girl, are you okay?" asked a frantic Lucy Gray checking her daughter. However, she just saw her daughter clean and with a bandage where her vein is from the tube. "I am okay, what about you? Where are we? What going on? Asked Calandra before a voice answered, "That is what I would like to know." Calandra turned around, ready to protect her mother when she saw him.
The man was tall, rugged, and fairly attractive, wearing a red suit with a white rose. He has snowy blonde hair, pale skin, and a strong jawline but what was shocking was his eyes. They were the same eyes as her own. Her mother told her she inherited them from her father. Everything was silent, until rushing behind the man was another man, with curly black hair, and tan skin, wearing a dark green suit."Coryo, the doctor just informed me that the girls are-" he turned to see both Lily and Calandra with their mothers. "Here. Okay, I now feel tension."He mutters, clearly nervous as much as Lucy Gray was.
The doctor, who was assigned to both women cleared both of them healthy before bringing lunch for the four. Both girls are taken to get lunch at the cafeteria with Odyessus to guard them. The silence was tense before Mary Blue finally had it, "Okay if no one going to say anything I will, what the hell is going on? " She yelled, clearly tired and very, "I like to say the same thing, especially the fact I found out we have a daughter, Lucy Gray!" Coriolanus Snow says, looking at the girl he has been pinning, and hunting for. "It been 13 years since I last saw you and 13 years since that day!"Lucy Gray yelled back, as angry and hurt as him. That day, as Lucy Gray referred to it, was the day Coriolanus nearly got her (and unknown to both their daughter) killed.
"Okay, whyn't we all calm down? Look, we are all hungry, tired, and have a lot to explain about. However, what is important is the girls. Yours and Coriolanus's daughter probably is putting things together. So, whyn't we be civil and talk? Me and Mary will go to a separate area and we both talk while you both stay to do the same." Sejunes suggested before they all agreed.
Once alone, neither said a word. Coriolanus studies his wild songbird. She has grown more beautiful than he remembered. Her tan skin glows from being out in the sun and from motherhood, while her hair, once brittle, is now soft and healthy along with her hands. Everything about her was healthy, even the small cuts on her hand from working to provide for their daughter. Their daughter, a surprise to know of.
He looked for her, for 13 years. He even went to the cabin, after five years during his rise to power, but nothing was there.
As he studied her, Lucy Gray was studying him. Lucy Gray how much her capital boy changed. His hair was not short or curly but slick back and his posture shows power and control. More than he had back then. He looked much healthier and handsome despite her trying to ignore it.
The silence is finally cut off when Lucy Gray says, "Why... After all these years why?" she says trying to sound energy to hide her sadness. "Because I could not let you go. You... You made me feel and do things no rational man would do. You made me want to hunt down any man who had you and show them you are mine."Coriolanus spoke, with anger and passion. Before he spoke in turn," Did you know... Before that day? You were... pregnant?" he asked and Lucy Gray shook her head. "No, it came as a surprise."She said tears in her eyes
Lucy Gray's voice trembled as she spoke, "13 long years... I have tried to move on, tried to leave everything behind. I tried to forget about you, but I guess that was too much to ask for." A hint of sadness and bitterness was evident in her tone.
She looked straight at Coriolanus and asked, "Why are you helping us? I can understand Sejunes, but you?" Lucy Gray struggled to hold back the hostile tone in her voice. She knew Coriolanus was married, and she did not care. Every time she saw a picture of him with his perfect Capitol wife, a burning flame ignited within her. However, she did not understand his motives for coming to their aid.
Coriolanus gazed deeply into Lucy Gray's eyes, which always had a way of sending him into a frenzy, whether he was awake or dreaming. "Lucy Gray, I love you!" he exclaimed, his words leaving her in a state of shock. "For the past 13 years, I've tried to forget you, but you keep appearing in my life like the Mockingjay. I can't summon any feelings for the woman who is my wife. You're the one I love, and I'll be damned if I can't have you and our daughter for all eternity!" As he spoke, they found themselves drawn to each other in a whirlwind of passion and desire. The kiss they shared was filled with anger, pain, loss, and grief, and it seemed to last an eternity.
After a long, intense kiss, Coriolanus held Lucy Gray in his lap as she leaned her forehead against his. They were both breathless and exhausted, but the intensity of their emotions kept them from separating. Lucy Gray spoke softly, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and hope. "I can't forget what you did," she said, "but I'm willing to work on us... for Callie's sake." Coriolanus nodded, his expression vulnerable and uncertain.
Lucy Gray continued, "But you need to set everything straight - your priorities, as a man and as a president. If you want me and our daughter in your life, you have two options. We can co-parent and set rules, or we can marry. Those are your two options." Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their implications.
Despite the gravity of the situation, they remained locked in their embrace, unwilling to face the harsh reality of the outside world. For a brief moment, they found solace in each other's arms, seeking comfort in the warmth of their bodies and the strength of their love.