THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES | Coriolanus Snow

part I: the mentor | 16

All eyes where on the screen as in a sudden burst of fury Sejanus sprang from his seat besides Coriolanus. The mentor section had five empty chairs in the front reserved for their missing classmates. Sejanus grabbed the one on the corner and hurled it toward the screen, smashing it into the image of Marcus's ravaged face.

"Monsters!" he screamed in anger and frustration. "You're all monsters here!"

Then he dashed backdown the aisle and out the main entrance to the hall. No one moved a muscle to stop him. No one even dared to look after him as he left. Everyone's eyes were once again on the big screen, that showed the tributes standing in a circle waiting for the Hunger Games to start.

The gong sounded in the very moment the doors shut behind Sejanus, and the tributes scattered. Some fled to the hole that led to the tunnels, several of which had been blown open by the latest bombing. Coriolanus could see Lucy Gray's bright dress heading for the far side of the arena, and his fingers gripped the edge of his seat.

Coriolanus anxiously watched the girl looking around not doing anything - not fighting - not running. "Run", he whispered only so loud he could hear it himself. Run - get out of there, he thought to himself.

Amidst the chaos, Lucy Gray, instead of heading for the safety of the tunnels, was searching for Jessup. Panic gripped Coriolanus as he scanned the tumultuous scene. Reaper, armed with a long knife, seemed ready for confrontation, while other tributes engaged in brutal fights, resulting in the demise of many tributes within the first fleeting moments of the Games. Every kill elicited a jarring noise from the speakers, followed by their image being replaced by a man holding two swords crossed in an X.

Lucy Gray's desperate calls for Jessup echoed through the chaos. Spotting Jessup, Lucy Gray raced toward him just as Coral, a nearby tribute, lunged at her with a pitchfork. In a swift move, Lucy Gray evaded the deadly weapon and managed to reach Jessup. Meanwhile, Coral found herself entangled in a fight with another tribute.

Lucy Gray and Jessup, seizing the opportunity, hopped into the tunnels getting into some kind of a room and quickly closed the door behind them, leaving the pursuing tributes frustrated. Despite their attempts to reach the pair, Lucy Gray and Jessup had gained a momentary reprieve, the door acting as a barrier between them and the relentless danger that lurked outside.

Lupinia, unable to tear her eyes away from the distressing scene, felt a sickening churn in her stomach. Despite the gruesome nature unfolding on the screen, she couldn't afford to look away, the fear of something happening to her tribute lingering in her mind. The safety of Coriolanus and her district's tribute remained intact for the moment, but the volatile nature of the Hunger Games could change in an instant.

Glancing over at Coriolanus, she noticed his focused expression suddenly shift to confusion and curiosity. Intrigued, she turned her attention back to the screen, where Lamina, the female tribute from District 7, was approaching Marcus. Climbing up to him, she touched his face, making him face her. A fleeting moment of eye contact passed between them, and Marcus whimpered in pain. Lamina stroked his hair, then reached for her axe.

As Lamina held Marcus's head up, exposing his throat, a mix of empathetic and determined expressions crossed her face. With a swing of her axe, she severed his throat. Blood ran from the cut throat down over his whole body. A collective hush fell over the audience, with many students looking away from the brutal scene. Coriolanus and Lupinia were no exception.

Overwhelmed by the cruelty of the moment, Lupinia turned to the side, using her hair and hand to shield her face as she quietly sobbed. A gentle hand reached out to touch her shoulder, a comforting presence that she knew belonged to Coriolanus. Gathering herself, Lupinia wiped away her tears, put her hair back in place, and looked back at Coriolanus with a grateful smile, however just a slight second then her smile disappeared and was replaced by the focused and somehow pained expression. His hand reached for her cheek, brushing away the last tear. They didn't had to say anything to each other and so not a single word passed between them, yet their eyes said it all.

The sudden, thunderous noise shattered the somber atmosphere, piercing through the heavy silence that had enveloped the room. It was Lamina, who cut free Marcus with her axe. The echoes of Lamina's axe swinging against the stone resonated through the room. Then a last noise was heard as Marcus's lifeless body hit the ground, marking the tragic end of Marcus's life. The hall seemed to hold its breath for a moment before the grim reality settled in, as Lamina received money from sponsors.

That was how it was - some people in the Capitol truly enjoyed the Hunger Games, betting on lives, sending money to their favorite tributes to support them, watching with anticipation. Lupinia was shocked. Of course, she knew that many people supported the Hunger Games, but sending money as a gift for killing a hung-up, tortured boy was something else. Or was it a gift for Lamina, for freeing the boy from his pains? She was confused, not knowing the intentions of either the sponsor or Lamina.

Yes, of course, Lamina was in there, and she wanted to win like every other tribute to get back to her home district, to her family. Yet, Marcus was of no threat to her. Was it necessary to kill him, or was it an act of empathy? Lupinia couldn't make up her mind. Yet, this was only one of the first kill, and there were many to follow. Lupinia didn't know how she was going to manage watching the Hunger Games for the next few hours or days even. But somehow she did cope with it.

As the hours passed and the sun dipped below the horizon, most students left - going home. Eventually, Tigris approached the mentor seats.

"Coryo, I'll leave now, it's getting late. See you tomorrow," she said.

"Oh, yes, of course. Be careful and come home safely," Coriolanus responded, aware that Tigris would have to go home as they couldn't affort any other mean of transportation.

"Goodbye, Lupinia," Tigris said looking over at the Evergreen girl.

"Good night, Tigris," Lupinia replied with a smile.

Then Tigris made her way to the exit of the hall her heels clicked on the ground and echoed through the room.

A while later Lupinia felt how the tiredness overcame her. Her eyes began to fall close and then she slid her seat closer to Coriolanus, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm so tired. Wake me if anything happens, yeah?" she requested, waiting for his confirmation.

"Of course," he answered, giving her a kiss on the head. "Good night."