BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

7

Ember

The sound of my shoes squeaking against the marble tile echoed throughout the room.

Snow's eyes never left mine, and I refused to be the first to look away. So, as I sat down, I stared deeply into his snake-like irises.

"Miss Black, I am sure you are aware that I have a problem," he said, his fingers laced together on his white desk.

I stayed silent. "A problem that arose the moment your name was called as victor."

"I'm not a fan of underdogs," he said, no trace of a smile on his wrinkly face. "Unfortunately, the people in the Capitol are."

He took a moment to pause. Studying my body language that gave nothing away. I sat there emotionless. Taking every word in like my life depended on it. Because it did.

"Which is why I stationed Mr Odair at the train platform when you reached District Four," he said with a grin. "But I assume you already know that."

The word, "Yes," came out dry. I tried to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat to no avail. I thought I knew where he was going with this, but his next words took me by surprise.

"Tell me," he said, pausing to take a sip from his teacup. "Have you decided on your victor talent yet?"

I shook my head no. He smiled once more at this.

He rose to his feet, turning around to fiddle with a device behind him. "The Capitol seemed to enjoy dancing with you last night."

"Before you had to be...removed from the party that is," he said knowingly. I scowled at his turned back.

Snow turned back around with a small sphere in his hands and I replaced the scowl with a more neutral expression. "They also seem to enjoy speculating about your love life."

He placed the sphere on the desk and clicked a button that projected a...dancer of some sorts? "Ahh..." he said, eyes locked on the woman spinning around a pole. She wore minimal clothing and the highest heels I had ever seen.

Snow's eyes lingered up to meet mine. He didn't even have to say the words before I knew of what he wanted from me. "I," I started, swallowing that lump back down again, "I-don't even know how to do that."

"That is why you will learn," he said as he took his seat once more. He rested his hands atop the desk and leaned in closer. "If you wish for your brother to live to see another day that is."

My face fell at the mention of him. The projection switched to footage of Wes and Mabel walking across Victor Village, hand in hand.

"What a lovely boy."

A lone tear escaped and cascaded down my cheek, but I didn't dare move to wipe it away. My eyebrows furrowed and eyes narrowed into slits. But this reaction only pleased him. My trembly hands reached to push those stray hairs from my braid back behind my ears.

He returned to spinning that golden spoon again, watching Wes intently. "I thought you would see things my way."

End of Part I