my little dove - sejanus plinth

EPILOGUE.

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MY LITTLE DOVE.

epilogue. 

the citadel, 2249.

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SOME ASSURED DOROTHY THAT it would be a passing fancy, that it was a mere infatuation. They told her it would go away in a few months. But the problem was, it didn't go away. Dorothy Snow's love for Sejanus Plinth did not disappear. Her grief did not disappear. 

And whilst before when she heard the news, she was in shock. Of course, Tigris had to lower her down into a chair, but she did not seem to accept that Sejanus was gone. But now, Dorothy could not get out of bed without sobbing, the reminders coming back to her. Sabyn was dead. Sejanus was dead. Coriolanus wasn't the same. Nothing was the same. 

So it felt weird as Dorothy walked down the streets of the Capitol, hand tightening on the satchel that was hanging from her shoulder. It was rare for Dorothy to go out considering she had been cooped up in her apartment since her graduation, but Dr Gaul had demanded her presence. Oh, that vile woman.

The moment Dorothy neared the Citadel, the Peacekeepers immediately recognised her, waving her right through to the elevator. "She's waiting for you in the lab."

Dorothy had to swallow a lump in her throat as she tried to hold her tears in. The wave of mourning came and went. Sometimes, it would hit her so hard, she would collapse against a wall as tears poured down her cheeks. But then, there would be days where she was so numb from the pain that she couldn't feel anything at all. And whilst today was bordering those two examples, Dorothy couldn't help but feel the rage filling her up as she saw Dr Gaul wave her over. 

"Ah, Miss Snow!" Dr Gaul hummed. Dorothy joined her, eyeing a cage that was filled with a half bird, half mini lion creature.

"Dr Gaul."

"Have you seen your brother lately?" Dr Gaul asked her.

"I saw him this morning." Dorothy gritted her teeth. "Before he went to the University."

"Mm, I see some jealousy there," Dr Gaul said. "Am I correct?"

"No, you're not."

Dr Gaul turned her head slowly as she stood up straight. Her hands were folded behind her back as her eyes narrowed at the sight of Dorothy. The Snow girl tried to focus on the creature instead.

"You're one of the rare people that don't disappoint me, Miss Snow. I've always had a soft spot for you and I've liked you more than I like your brother," Dr Gaul started to say. "I remember having a conversation with you when you exited the arena that night, a conversation about your two sides. Do you remember it?"

"Of course," Dorothy told her harshly. "I remember you telling me to not waste my time on romance and hope because it won't get me anywhere. You told me not to throw away my future for some boy and measly district girl."

"And so I did." Dr Gaul laughed. "And I also said one side of you wanted power while the other side wanted love and that it was only a matter of time before one side completely took over the other—"

"Is that why you've asked me here?" Dorothy snapped. "You've pulled me out of my mourning so you can ask me what side has taken over?"

"Sort of," Dr Gaul replied. "And whilst I'm getting to that, I must tell you the entire Tenth Hunger Games has been erased. Taken from the hands of history. It was a whole mess this year, a mistake getting the students mixed up in it. I didn't intend for them to start dying like a disease was going around."