𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟗𝟎

coin's death was sudden and shocking. no one had expected it. the cause of her death was poisoning and it was suspected to be from the food she ate. everyone that worked in the kitchens had been questioned but there was no evidence to prove they had done anything. even the eight friends were questioned as they were the top suspects but they had spent the whole day in the gardens and many people could confirm that.

so, coin's death was left a mystery. the murderer had gotten away with it. while most people were glad that she was gone, it was still sinister to think someone close to them had killed. yet... all the victors had killed before as well.

"this is all so crazy." jihyun said as the friends walked to the meeting room.

"why are they even bothering questioning people?" chenle asked. "she's dead. everyone should be thankful."

"murder is only acceptable in the arena or for executions apparently." she mumbled, pushing open a large door.

the rest of the victors, ten and the commanders from other districts were already inside waiting for them. they took their seats around the table.

"us commanders have already discussed many things and we have come to an agreement that i will be the next president of panem." commander paylor of district eight began.

"so that's settled then?" ten asked.

"however, some of us also believe the eight of you," she gestured to the best friends sat together. "could help with running things in panem on an official committee. and then one day, one of you could become president as well."

"sorry what?" mark asked, leaning forward in surprise. all of them were completely caught off guard and not sure how to react.

"we think all your experience and such will be useful. there's so much to do. we have to rebuild panem from the bottom. you can help us."

"havent we done enough?" jaemin spoke, his hands gripping the hard wood of the table. "haven't we been used enough?"

"we're not trying to use you." paylor replied. "we just think you could help us do great things here."

"we don't want to have any part in this all anymore. we just want to live normal lives again." jisung said.

paylor began to speak again but the sound of a chair screeching against the floor was the only thing that could be heard. jihyun stepped away from her chair and walked straight out of them meeting room without saying a word. she had been eerily quiet the entire time and everyone had thought it was odd.

concerned, her friends followed after her. they found her out on the balcony, her arms resting on the railing as she looked over at random people walking by the presidential palace.

"ji?" jeno called.

"i couldn't breathe in there." she said, turning to look at her friends. "i'm sick of this constant cycle of being the puppets."

"me too." chenle said, resting his back against the railing.

"what do we do about it...?" haechan asked.

"what can we do? nothing." renjun sighed. "we're going to be on this train forever."

"you all trust me right?" jihyun asked and they nodded or gave responses. "i know what to do."

♆

the presidential palace was quiet. most people had gone outside because it was a hot day. doyoung, hana and eunjin were inside because hana was tired from staying up all night to calm down the baby. she wouldn't stop crying and it was the first time she cried all through the night. hana had fallen asleep in the morning and doyoung had preparations to make for their wedding they had been planning for in the summer.