An Ode to Her - Coriolanus Snow

Chapter 14

Sejanus grabbed Coriolanus's shoulder and pulled him aside as he entered the barracks.

"Where have you been?" he questioned.

Coriolanus ran a hand over his buzzed head. "I was just out. Did I miss anything?"

Sejanus scoffed but gave a weak smile. "Only the morning training. You were with Carolina, then?"

"Um." Coriolanus cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, I was. Don't tell anyone." No point in lying. Sejanus already know about his relationship with the girl.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Sejanus turned to get into the showers.

"And you, you're staying out of trouble?" Coriolanus asked before he could leave.

Sejanus laughed and called over his shoulder, "Yes, Ma!" Then he left to the bathroom.

Coriolanus chuckled but he didn't think it was all that funny. If Sejanus does something truly... unforgivable, he could jeopardize both of their careers, their reputations. With the stunt he pulled in the arena, there's no telling what he's capable of. Coriolanus decided it was best to keep an eye on him. Take him under his wing. It's the least he could as the superior boy.

Since he has already missed morning training, and there wasn't much to do until he had to clean the mess hall after dinner, he decided to write Tigris again. He never received a letter back from her after writing his first one, so he wasn't even sure if she had gotten it. Still, it was his duty to let her know he was doing alright.

So he told her of all the things that had happened. He mentioned the Hob, the lake visit, and even the hanging. It felt like he had already lived an entire life in the span of a few weeks, but it was still summer, and he still had time to figure things out. He ended the letter by reminding her of how much he wished he was there with her and the Grandma'am. He wondered what they were doing now. Watching television? Working? Moving into a smaller apartment? He dreaded her response, but he needed to know she was okay. When he had finished, Coriolanus licked the envelope shut and sent it on its way, praying he would hear back from his cousin soon.

By dinner he had become increasingly worried about Carolina. He hit his lip as he mopped the empty mess hall, squeezing the mop with his hands to get the muck out.

Was she mad? Was she tragically heartbroken? Maybe he should go and find her. It was late, and dark. No one would see him if he snuck out...

Coriolanus flew down the streets of District 12, practically out of breath by the time he reached the Seam. He found Carolina's house with ease, and ran to the front door. The inside was dark, it was well past midnight now. All was quiet, but he swore he heard the faint sound of a song drifting through the breeze. He craned his neck to listen further.

Are you, are you comin' to the tree?

Coriolanus followed the voice further past the Seam and into the Meadow. He knew he shouldn't have come this far, but he was pretty sure that was the voice of his girl. He had to check in on her. Even if he just watched from afar.

Where they strung up a man, they say, who murdered three

Coriolanus could see her now, sat awfully pretty on a rock, strumming her dingy guitar. A voice like that deserved a strong accompaniment. He should buy her a new guitar, with the money he'll get from working. A little out of the paycheck that goes to her can only do more good than bad. But now there was the question; what was this song about?

Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be
If we met at up at midnight in the hanging tree

The hanging tree? This was a horribly dim song. He did not like the hanging tree, nor anything that occurred around it. Coriolanus inches closer and closer, until he was only a few feet away.