Light the Way

Chapter Thirty Three

Olivia wished the rest of the train ride had gone by quietly.

She wished the two sibling Tributes from Four would have pressed their young faces up to the glass windows and looked out in awe as the train cart blew through the trees. Watching the speckles of houses and buildings from the other Districts they may never visit, the anticipation building as they neared closer and closer to the beloved Capitol.

The siblings, however, busied their time with more arguing. Their incessant whining and pettiness was starting to build up into a throbbing headache for the mentor, and she wished they had abandoned their plan and picked District One. They would have been more grateful.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Olivia shot Coriolanus a pointed look, silently begging him to step in before the pair tore each other apart. They'd need to keep them apart until they got into the arena, that was her new goal.

Coriolanus huffed out, fixed the sleeves of his red jacket and moved to physically stand between Mags and Isaiah, the latter giving him a dirty look.

"Stay out of this one, mentor." Isaiah sneered, earning him an eye roll from the blond boy who stood a full head taller than him.

"Easy there, you should be saving your energy for the arena." Coriolanus shot back, placing himself directly in the middle of the pair, squaring his shoulders towards Isaiah. "Wouldn't want to have to head back to Four and draw another name, now would we?" Glancing over at the peacekeeper who dutifully kept his finger on the trigger of his gun, ready in case any of the Tributes made a move.

With a huff and wring of his hands, Isaiah took a step back, his eyes never leaving his sister's, who stood there with her arms crossed.

"We're wasting time," Olivia called out, addressing Mags, the Tribute she had assigned herself to be responsible for until it was clear who could be the winner.

She and Coriolanus had strategized after their tirade in the sheets – they'd put their individual efforts into one of the Tributes until the games grew nearer. When it was clear which sibling had more promise, they'd combine their forces and leave the other one in the dust. It wasn't about who was stronger of the pair, but who could win the crowd. Who could get sponsors, who could stand out and make the first Victory tour something worth remembering.

Maybe they placed a small bet too – between the two mentors, since they weren't legally allowed to bet within the Capitol.

Mags took the seat across from Olivia, shooting her brother a look of pure hatred, before turning her focus to her mentor.

"How can I prepare?" Folding her hands in front of her, leaning into Olivia and any wisdom she could spare. A part of Mags trusted the girl – she knew the Capitol better than she ever could. And if she was to win over the heart of Panem, she'd need her insight. Something had flipped for Mags last night as she laid in the massive bed much too big for her tiny body, if the games were different now, and not just about bloodshed, maybe she had a shot at winning.

Olivia shot Coriolanus another look and he led Isaiah to the sitting area for privacy, allowing the two to be mentored independently.

"Look, you're going to have to win over the crowd every chance you get. Especially if your brother plans on coming after you in that arena." Olivia's eyes darted over to Isaiah as she spoke, looking back to Mags. "It starts the moment you get off that train, we need to make every moment count."

Mags found herself nodding, processing, and Olivia placed her hand on hers, squeezing it gently.

"Try to separate yourself from him every chance you get. You want the sponsors to choose you, not your brother. Tell them about your family, about your life in Four, and how much you love the Capitol." Olivia continued, a fire starting to brew in those green eyes of hers, drawing young Mags in with her force.