Cage me like an animal • F Odair¹ •

II

"Can you stop yelling at our mentor?"

•∘♛∘•

Athena and Kai were conducted into separate rooms after being ushered into the Justice Building. Mayor Trenton followed Athena into one room, which was small but stylishly decorated, with silk drapes and leather seats. The mayor gestured for her to sit in the chair opposite the desk that sat opposite the door. Athena shuffled forward and sat down wordlessly. Mayor Trenton walked over to the other side of the desk, but did not sit down.

"How are you feeling, Athena?" the mayor asked her, smiling bracingly.

Athena knew now was the time to beam up at Mayor Trenton and tell her that she was great, she was fantastic, she was so, so excited to be representing her district in the Games. She couldn't bring herself to do it, though. She couldn't bring herself to speak or even react to the mayor's words at all, simply staring blankly ahead of her.

"Athena?" said the mayor again, but she still couldn't speak. Mayor Trenton pressed on regardless. "Athena, you have an hour to say goodbye to your loved ones before you get on the train, but you can't leave the room. Stay here, anybody who wishes to say goodbye will come to you. Okay? Nod if you understand."

Vaguely, Athena wondered why the mayor was bothering to tell her any of this when one of the first things taught in the academy was what happened directly after getting Reaped, saying goodbye and all the rules and regulations that followed it. She figured Mayor Trenton had to know that, but she didn't say it out loud. She wasn't sure she could bring herself to say it even if she wanted to, so instead she just nodded once. The mayor looked relieved.

"Good," she said, sounding a million miles away. "Now I have to go speak with Kai, but just wait here, okay? Your loved ones will be here any minute, don't move."

Athena wasn't really sure why the mayor was going through so much effort to stress to her to not leave the room when she knew for a fact that Peacekeepers were standing guard outside, waiting to detain her if she tried to run. Maybe she didn't want Athena to do anything to embarrass her and all of the district. Either way, Athena nodded again to show that she understood, and Mayor Trenton gave her a smile and moved out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Through everything, Athena took a moment to be grateful that she wasn't crying. There would be more cameras at the train station, and the last thing she needed was for all of Panem to see her tears. People would already be doubting her for her lack of confidence when her name was called. She needed to do what she could to make up for that mistake. She needed to be smiling and confident and bold when she got to the train station. She needed to stop feeling like her chest was closing in on itself, or at least learn to ignore it within the next hour. She needed to remember how to breathe right. She needed to survive this, she needed to get back to her family, she needed-

The door swung open, bringing her out of her shock. Suddenly alert and desperate to see her family more than anything, Athena leapt to her feet, turning around. To her surprise, though, it wasn't any member of her family rushing towards her, but a short girl her age in a bright orange dress, with long blonde hair plaited down her back and vibrant green eyes that were alight with anger.

"What the hell, Athena!" Iris Dunne said furiously, striding forward and shoving her up against the desk.

"Iris? What are you doing? Get off me!" Athena protested, shoving her away and taking a few steps away from the desk, but at a safe distance from Iris. "What is your problem?"

This was the very last thing Athena had been expecting. Iris Dunne attended the academy with Athena, and was the top trainee in their whole year. Though she excelled in nearly every area taught in the academy, she was best at throwing knives with deadly precision, wielding short-range weapons (she was best with a sword), and instantly identifying different types of plants from different environments. She looked forward to the Reaping more than nearly anyone Athena knew. Athena and Iris weren't particularly close, but Athena considered them - or, at least, did consider them - as friends, since they usually got along fine and even enjoyed each other's company (only when they weren't talking about the Games, though).