THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES | Coriolanus Snow

part I: the mentor | 15

The sun was rising through the window, casting a warm glow on Lupinia's face as she awoke. Carefully opening her eyes, she let them adjust to the light.

"Hey, Darling," a familiar voice greeted her. It was her mother, sitting at her bedside with breakfast. "Are you hungry?" Beatrice asked. Lupinia sat up and took the paper bag from her mother's hand, checking its contents. Her eyes fell on a sandwich with ham and egg. Taking a huge bite to silence her hunger, then after swallowing her food she asked, "How late is it?"

"7 am, darling. No need to worry about the academy right now, you are excused," her mother explained.

"I-I can't miss today. The Hunger Games start today, Jessup needs me," she answered.

"A doctor will check you out one last time, and if he says you're good to go, then you can. Otherwise, you'll stay here, no discussion. Your health is more important, darling," her mother said, worry evident in her voice.

"More important than Jessup's life?" the girl asked, upset.

"No, of course not, darling. You know that wasn't what I meant. Your primary thought, however, needs to be your health," her mother reassured her.

"I'm fine, Mom."

"If the doctor confirms you can go." Just then, Dr. Wane entered the room.

"Hello, Miss Evergreen. How are you feeling?" Dr. Wane inquired.

"Better, much better," Lupinia replied.

"Okay, can you please stand up and walk around the room a little?" he then requested. Lupinia carefully placed her feet on the ground, noticing that her ankle was still weak. She secretly bit down on her lip to suppress any pain and stood up, walking around. Her gait wasn't as elegant as usual, but she did her best to walk normally.

"Oh, I see. Your ankle is a little weak, it will take some days to regain strength and stability. Try not to move too much. However that is normal and I don't see a reason to keep you here any longer. You are good to go. Mrs. Evergreen, is there anything else I can do for you?" the doctor then asked Lupinia's mother.

"No, that's all. Thank you," she said, gathering Lupinia's belongings and helping her daughter out of the building. They walked to the car and took a seat, then the driver closed the door and soon after the car began to move.

"You sure you want to go to the academy today, darling?" her mother asked once again, attempting to convince her daughter to stay at home and rest after all her daughter had just survived a bombing. Deep down, she already knew the answer. If Lupinia had her mind set on something, she would pursue it with determination. Her mother gently stroked a strand of Lupinia's hair behind her ear, smiling proudly at her daughter. Lupinia was a force of energy, power, and kindness, and at times, it was almost unbelievable that she was her little girl.

"Mom, I told you I need to be there. And don't worry, as long as Coriolanus is with me, nothing will happen to me," Lupinia assured her mother.

The car came to a stop in front of the academy building. Lupinia's mother embraced her daughter tightly, still reluctant to let go after the harrowing incident in the arena. "Be cautious," her mother advised as Lupinia stepped out of the car. "I will," Lupinia assured her, limping towards the academy entrance. At the doorway, she noticed a blond boy.

"Hey," she greeted him as she approached. Suddenly, she stumbled over the last step, nearly losing her balance. "Easy there, Evergreen. The ground isn't as interested as I am, you know" Coriolanus teased, chuckling as he caught her just in time. Lupinia found herself in his arms, and he whispered playfully in her ear, "Let's save tripping over me for some other time."

"Considering the circumstances, I'd say the ground is only a close second to your charm.", Lupinia answered playfully. Taking his arm for support, and together they entered the academy, inside a crowd of people was gathered, buzzing with excitement for the upcoming events. Lupinia and Coriolanus navigated through the throng, their presence not going unnoticed by curious onlookers.

Lupinia and Coriolanus stepped into the room, flanked by grandstands on each side for the other students to observe the Hunger Games. At the front, a large screen dominated the space, accompanied by smaller screens displaying images of each tribute. Rows of seats with desks and computers were meticulously arranged for the mentors. The room buzzed with a blend of excitement and tension as everyone was waiting for the Hunger Games to begin. The entire school had gathered by now, as attendance was mandatory for everyone, regardless of whether they had a tribute or not.

Lupinia suggested, "Let's not sit in the front. I don't want that camera right in my face when he's killed." Coriolanus nodded in agreement, and the pair took seats in the second row. Moments ago, Lupinia and Coriolanus were playing around, but the gravity of the situation now weighed on both of them. They exchanged a glance that mirrored the collective apprehension in the room. The gravity of the situation pressed down on them, and the very air seemed to carry the burden of their mentorships. It was a moment of shared discomfort, a collective holding of breath before the storm.

Coriolanus gave Lupinia a reassuring press before he let go of her hand. The seal of the Capitol appeared on the screen, and the anthem prompted everyone to rise to their feet.

Then Lucky Flickerman extended a welcoming gesture, declaring, "Ladies and gentlemen, let the Tenth Hunger Games begin!" The big screen displayed a wide shot of the arena's interior, focusing on the fourteen remaining tributes arranged in a large circle, ready for the opening gong. However, all attention shifted away from them to the pair of steel poles near the main entrance.

The poles, twenty feet high, connected by a crossbeam, held Sejanus's tribute, Marcus. He hung from manacled wrists, battered and bloody, initially appearing lifeless. As Coriolanus watched, Marcus's swollen lips moved, showing broken teeth, confirming he was still alive. The sight made Coriolanus feel ill, unable to look away. It would have been horrifying to witness any creature displayed in such a way, but a boy? And a boy whose only real crime had been to run for his life?

Lupinia felt a similar nausea, tears welling in her eyes. He didn't deserve this. It was a demonstration of Capitol power, a reminder that no one could escape its reach and Lupinia was sick of it. He was only a boy, yet he hung there like someone, who committed the worst crime. It was a scene so grotesque, so utterly inhuman.