An Ode to Her - Coriolanus Snow

Chapter 4

"Enjoy the show!"

The robotic, monotone announcer of the Arena rang out as the tributes and their mentors stepped through the gate. Coriolanus found himself in the front, standing next to Carolina. Briefly, and he wasn't even positive that it happened, their hands held each other. The touch sent electricity up his spine.

"Pretty fancy." Carolina pursed her lips, squinting as the dome opened to reveal the light of day.

Coriolanus nodded, walking around the edges of the Arena. There were rows and rows of stands. If she could just escape up into those and wait it all out, maybe she had a chance of winning. Chairs lined the middle, with a small table in between each one. The place where they would strategize, he decided.

After getting a long look at the open building, the pairs of students and tributes sat down in their respective seats. Coriolanus felt Carolina bumping her foot into his, rubbing his shin with her ankle, a sinister smirk sat on her lips.

He felt himself growing flustered, but regained enough composure to start their conversation. "We only have an hour, so we should use it wisely."

Carolina's hands were shackled, locked to the table in front of them. She blew air out of her mouth, her cheeks puffing up.

"How dreadful," she began. "I can't believe I'm going to die in such a boring place."

The corners of his mouth twitched. "You're not going to die in here."

She bent her head down and looked up at him through thick eyelashes. His cheeks burned. "You promise?" she asked.

"I promise." He wish he had not said that. Now he was obligated to save her by all means necessary. Sure, he could just lie and it wouldn't make a difference. Still, he felt guilt like a stab in the heart. He hoped that he would grow out of it soon.

"How do I get sponsors?" she asked. "How do I get them to help me?"

"Your singing," he said plainly. "People are enchanted by you every time. Sing like that in your interview, and we have a ride of passage to gifts."

She nodded, seemingly weighing his words. "So, at this interview thing, I just gotta sing? Tell a story?"

"That's all you have to do. You can leave the rest to me." He reached over and squeezed her hand gently. The warmth from her hand soothed his cold ones, immediately making his stomach flip like it usually does when he sees her. How pathetic.

She glanced around uneasily, letting go of his grip. "Coriolanus..." She was suddenly very solemn. "I don't think I can kill another human. It's just not who I am. Not who I was raised to be."

"You might not have to," he whispered. "Look around..." He nodded to the competition. A coughing girl from 11, a sobbing boy from 6. And Arachne's tribute, from 10, she was shot dead. The only real threats were Festus and Clemensia's tributes. Reaper, Clemensia's guy, was sitting alone. Clemensia hasn't returned from the hospital. Her 'flu' has gotten worse, but she's stable. At least, that's what Coriolanus was instructed to tell people.

"You have a real chance here," he continued. "Don't give up on yourself just yet."

"Thank you," she said. "Really. Thank you for always believin' in me. I know I'm not the one you wanted..." He looked down, ashamed. "But I give you all the credit for steppin' up. It takes guts to do that, and I hope you know that."

His eyes started to fill with tears but he blinked them away. If he cried in front of her, what message would that send to the other mentors, to the other tributes? No, he could not cry. So he said nothing, and only nodded.