An Ode to Her - Coriolanus Snow

Chapter 13

The hanging tree stood at the edge of the woods, the winding branches reaching out to grasp the man who was being guided to stand below a dangling noose. Underneath him, a splintery platform with two trapdoors waited, ready to swallow their victim. Coriolanus shivered as he and several other Peacekeepers stepped up on either side of the noose with their guns pointed skyward. He hoped he wasn't shaking as the people of District 12 began to file in the town square. Starving, lifeless faces stared back at him from below. He was itching to leave, to get it all over with.

The convicted man, someone they called Arlo Chance, was dragged up by two Peacekeepers through the center of the crowd after being shoved out of a car. It reminded Coriolanus of the one that the tributes were taken in from the districts. Like a cattle car.

Coriolanus stiffened as Arlo approached the noose. He was bruised, and must have been freshly beaten to receive the cuts on his swollen face. Could this be any harder?

It could.

In the sea of faces, Coriolanus spotted Carolina. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she locked eyes with him. What was she thinking? Did she think he was cruel? It wasn't his doing, but that was obvious. Wasn't it? Surely she knew this was just part of his job, and if he could get out of it, he would. She'd understand. She'd have to.

"The man who stands before you has been convicted of taking three innocent lives in a childish attempt at a rebellion." Coriolanus's eyes shot to the man who had spoken. Commander Hoff, the elderly head Peacekeeper. He was the one who had requested Sejanus and Coriolanus attend the hanging. So they were there for decoration, then. No threat would come their way. But then again, their guns were loaded...

"Arlo Chance will now be hanged for his crimes," Hoff continued in a gruff manner. "Let this stand as a reminder to all those who think they still stand a chance against the Capitol's power." He gave a curt nod to the executioner, who positioned himself to let the platform go. Before he could, however, an exasperated voice called out from the crowd.

"Arlo! Arlo!" A woman fought her way through the people, most just stepping out of her way to let her pass. She made it about half-way before a group of Peacekeepers snatched her up and started dragging her in the opposite direction. She started struggling, and a man stepped in to help her, but he was quickly ignored.

Arlo lifted his head. "Run, Lil!" he shouted. "Run! Run, Lil-" His voice was cut off by a quick zip!, and his body hung freely from the noose. Coriolanus questioned his sanity when he heard Arlo's voice ringing out again, and again, and again. He winced and looked around frantically. As Lil was being thrown into a car, her voice too rang out from above. What was happening? Did ghosts really travel here? Coriolanus was about to scream at the noise to stop when someone grabbed his shoulder.

"Jabberjays." He turned to see Commander Hoff staring solemnly at the sky. Coriolanus followed his gaze and finally noticed the gaggle of birds flying from branch-to-branch on the hanging tree.

"Run, Lil! Run! Run, Lil-" they repeated.

"Pardon, sir?" Coriolanus questioned over the sound. Hoff gestured for him to follow him as they stepped aside from the sight of the saddened crowd. The people of District 12 left the square quietly and quickly to return back to their work, whatever that may entail.

"They were mutts we used back in the war," Hoff explained. "They repeat anything when instructed to. We tried to use them on our enemies, to hear what they were planning, but the rebels eventually caught on and were relaying false information back to us. Sneaky little birds."

"I don't like them," Coriolanus admitted before he could stop himself. He paused and closed his eyes for a moment. Did that seem too immature? Too impulsive?