Light the Way

Chapter Seventeen

Desert was now being served around the table. A small slice of brown cake with a drizzle of fruit across it. Coriolanus tried his best to swallow the bile that had risen in his throat, not wanting to throw up over the entire table and ruin the dinner.

There were a few moments of silence after Victor announced Highbottom's death where the air was completely sucked out of the room. The trio ate for a few moments in silence before one of them dared to speak, hoping to shift the conversation. Victor, who had been rambling on throughout the entire dinner, was now quietly enjoying the chocolate dessert in front of him, leaving the two kids across from him to bear the burden of the silence.

"That just means we need to work even harder, isn't that right Coriolanus?" Olivia broke the silence, offering him a tight-lipped smile and her father a deathly stare.

"Oh, absolutely, dear! We need the youngest and brightest more than ever now." Victor perked back up, interrupting them, seeming to be pulled briefly out of his slump. Coriolanus was unsure of what to say next, the man was jovial one moment and then depressed. Hard to predict.

"That does remind me, all of this talk of betrayal made me forget! I have a gift for the two of you." Victor exclaimed, waving over at the Avox who was carrying a small white box. His mood seemed to improve dramatically, and Coriolanus hoped the room would maintain a healthy buzz. He felt overloaded with the information from tonight about death and betrayal and his arch nemesis Highbottom finally get what he deserved. He was struggling to hold back his smile, feeling it would be inappropriate to celebrate his death so publicly.

Victor returned with the box, handing it to the two across from him and taking his seat, unable to keep still from the excitement.

Coriolanus and Olivia worked together to pull the lid off the box, each taking one side. Inside of it housed a slim silver tube, about the length of a ruler, resting on a red velvet backing. There was a small button in the middle, etched a few millimetres below the rest of the surface and Coriolanus ran his finger over it.

"Ah, we're still in progress of developing it, but essentially it will allow for the games to be played from everyone's homes. A portable viewing device. Small enough that it can't be tampered with, otherwise it would be destroyed." Victor gushed, as if he were presenting them with a newborn child he created on his own.

"This can't be repurposed for anything then, can it?" Coriolanus asked, just as intrigued now. Victor Lumen nodded almost aggressively, his eyes twinkling, and he sipped more of his drink. No retrofitting these into bombs then.

"What's the button for?" Olivia asked, running her finger across the smooth surface. Her first guess would be the on and off function, but knowing her father, it could be anything.

"It's intended to be the source of audio eventually. Do you think it should be for something else?" He asked, staring over at the little gadget. Coriolanus could see the similarities now, between him and Dr. Gaul. Both fascinated by their own fields of choice, equally wishing destruction upon the rebels. Both harboring the same anger everyone else did, just dressed up differently. Directed towards different facets and outlets.

"It should be a listening device." Coriolanus said, meeting both of their eyes. Twirling the piece of metal around in his fingers. "No on or off buttons either. Once the games air it can't be turned off. Can't be covered up. Will each family get one of these?" Coriolanus thought aloud, his own ideas floating to the surface. A way to solve both of their problems. Force the Districts to watch the games and listen in on their cries for change.

Victor nodded at the boy, watching him. Coriolanus reminded him so much of himself when he was younger. Wondering if he harboured any other kind of useful ideas in that head of his. He was exemplary – and would be a good addition to the council, no doubt. He understood why Dr. Gaul and Olivia had taken such a liking to the boy.