Timber

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Last Supper

Hazel's stomach flipped, and it was as if the ground itself was shifting beneath her feet. She froze like a character in a play who had forgotten their lines. The audience was alive, buzzing with a sudden surge of murmurs and startled exchanges. Snow's face remained still, but his eyes sparkled while remaining fixed on her. It was only when Snow's eyebrow arched that she realized she had been staring and tore her eyes away.

Lucky reveled in the drama unfolding right in front of him. His face was alight with an almost predatory glee. "Well, there you have it, folks!" His smile stretched wide as he turned back to Hazel and Silus. "I do pride myself on my predictions! This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting games yet." He gestured for them to stand.

If she could have gotten away with it, Hazel would have sprinted from the stage. Instead, she folded the silk fabric handkerchief in her hand and tucked it away in a small pocket within her skirt. Silus's hand attached to her elbow; his grip was steady, but there was an undercurrent of tension in his fingers.

As they made their way offstage, Mia and Aaron from District Ten briefly met Hazel's eyes. Their eyebrows were raised, and curious yet confused looks colored their features. Silus managed a strained smile towards them while Hazel's cheeks began to warm.

Upon entering the waiting room, the air thickened with the silent judgment of the other tributes. Their stares held a patchwork of confusion, envy, and speculation. Hazel exhaled deeply as her face grew even warmer.

"Excellent job, team," Festus declared as Hazel and Silus approached. "The sponsor money is insane. Our funding is climbing by the minute."

Indira's face softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on Hazel's good shoulder, "Well done, dear."

Hazel sighed and nodded, willing her face to cool.

"Is anyone going to explain what's going on?" Silus demanded, his scrutiny oscillating between Hazel, Festus, and Indira. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were hard as stone, "What the hell was all that about?"

"Silus," Indira cajoled, "We are using the Capitol's rumors to our advantage. Lucky wasn't kidding when he said that there was talk in the Capitol about a secret connection between Hazel and Snow. And after that interview, it's not so secret anymore."

"It seems you're not the only one who's noticed Snow's actions," Hazel added.

Silus's voice rose, "I noticed something off, but I didn't think we'd actually play into Snow's hand. So, what now? Are we positioning Hazel as some kind of conquest for Senator Snow?"

Indira tilted her head in disagreement, but her tone was calm and understanding, "This isn't about turning Hazel into anyone's conquest. It's about survival, about using the Capitol's own game to our advantage. We're not confirming anything; we're just not denying their speculations. It keeps the sponsors interested, and that could be crucial for Hazel and your survival in the games."

"This is ridiculous," Silus countered, turning to Hazel, "And you're really okay with this?"

Hazel's eyes dropped to her hands, "Not exactly. But the reasons they've given for going along... it's hard to argue against it."

"And why wasn't I part of this decision-making?"

Festus moved closer, gripping Silus's shoulder, "We excluded you because we're aware of how protective you are. We didn't want your concerns to interfere with our strategy."

Silus's expression hardened further, "You're not wrong. This game you all are playing, it's risky. It could put Hazel in more danger...And what about Cedar?" Silus didn't flinch as he stared at Festus, "Did you know they were going to re-broadcast his death?"