𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏)

Chapter 1

Isadora Coral Baird

"Shall we go now?" Isadora Coral urged her mum. Lucy Gray calmly tied her shoes without being disturbed by her daughter's pestering. "Yes, wait a minute. I'm going to get something. "With these words, Lucy Gray disappeared into the hut. When was she finally coming back? Isa had always wanted to watch mockingbirds hatch. She definitely didn't want to miss it. She came back with ropes. "For the traps?" asked Isadora. Her mum nodded and put them in a cloth bag. They walked to the back of the small clearing. There were some beds and a small pond.

Lucy Gray Baird 

"We're off now, don't worry." "I'm just afraid I'll miss it." Lucy Gray understood that only too well. When she was younger, she had also gone to watch the mockingbirds with the Coveys. When she looked at her daughter, she reminded her a little of Maude Ivory. It was sad that the two would never get to know each other. But Isa would never find out about the Coveys, she had sworn to herself.

Fortunately, Isa didn't often ask about her childhood or her father. But she knew it was on her mind. She would tell her the first batch at lunchtime today and the next batch tonight. Everything at once would be a little too much and overwhelming.At noon she would tell her about the Coriolanus. Not everything, but some of it.In the evening she could explain the Hunger Games to her, the reason why they lived in the middle of the forest. Perhaps also about the fact that her father supported these cruel games. Games in which children had to kill each other. The longer you thought about it, the worse the Hunger Games became. Now that Lucy Gray's own daughter could be chosen, she found the games almost worse than when she herself was chosen.But that was why they lived away from District 12.

Coriolanus Snow

"Mr Snow, for these games we need something better than last year. Better than the surprise gases. Also, you'll be designing the arena with Ms Ralkio." Coriolanus nodded. "I'll bring you all the documents for the 26th Hunger Games in a week, Dr Gaul."

Coriolanus had arrived at his penthouse within twenty minutes. He wouldn't be able to wait much longer before he had to poison Dr Gaul. She had already taken him a long way up the career ladder, the next stage of his career was head playmaker. But he knew Dr Gaul, she wouldn't give up the job even on her deathbed. From here and now, he could carry on himself. He sighed and sat down before starting to sketch out ideas for this year's arena. Then Coriolanus remembered that he was supposed to work with Shane. He liked her, but unfortunately she was also a danger to his career. He got up from his dark wood desk again and went to his telephone. Tigris and the grand madam had moved into a flat of their own. Ever since he had managed to get stylists through to Dr Gaul, Tigris had been living her dream. This year she would receive the tribute from District Two, one of the richer districts.

"Shane, this is Coriolanus Snow. Has Dr Gaul informed you yet? Then that's good. Yes, that's fine. Right, see you soon!"Just a few minutes later, Shane Ralkio was at his door. He welcomed her in and shortly afterwards they were sitting at his dining table, surrounded by blank sketch paper. "Right, let's get started then." Shane sounds as if she has to force herself to sound motivated.

"What do you think of this?" she asked after a good twenty minutes. Coriolanus looked up from his first sketch."A normal forest? Any mutations or anything else?" He wasn't convinced."I was thinking of mockingjays, then the tributes could send messages to each other.""No way. No mockingjays."She looked at him in confusion. The rejection had shot out of Coriolanus far too quickly. He could have avoided that."It's connected to District 12, your time as a peacekeeper, isn't it?" Shane put down her sketch and looked at him sharply."What makes you think that? I don't have a problem with mockingjays, we can take them inside.""You're not talking about that, are you? My brother was also a peacekeeper in 12, I know about your mockingjay action with the Plinth boy."

Coriolanus jumped up angrily. Did he overreact? No."I don't like talking about it, okay? Now please, let's finish this damn arena!" That came out a bit heavier and louder than he intended. Shane just raised her eyebrows and continued sketching as if nothing had happened.He took a breath before sitting back down on his chair. He hadn't meant to be so loud. Now Shane knew all the more that the thing with Sejanus was still getting to him."Seems to be a touchy subject, District 12."

If he could have killed with his gaze, there would be a dead body on his desk right now.

Isadora Coral Baird

The mockingjays were singing one of the untitled songs their mum sometimes sang. It sounded simply beautiful. The sun shone softly through the green leaf canopy while a small butterfly joined them.It could have been so beautiful if it wasn't for those pesky mosquitoes with a penchant for biting only her. Her mum so rarely got a bite, while she could count new ones every day. Isa quickly reminded herself why they were actually here. The spectacle that only happened once a year. The hatching of the young mockingjays. After what seemed like twenty endless minutes, it happened: the first shell cracked slightly and the little bird seemed to pick up sounds immediately. One by one, the other birds hatched and chirped everything they heard.

"Fascinating," was the only thing Isadora could manage to say. Her mum nodded. They moved away from the nests very carefully.