The Mentor. (Cato Hadley)

Chapter Five.

Coriolanus Snow is responsible for the death of Sejanus Plinth. It says right here in his journal, words he has written himself. I had already known most of what I have read, but viewing it from the eyes of President Snow gave me a newfound drive to find justice.

Ten years in, the Hunger Games had been dying out. The Capitol was losing interest, and Snow is the very reason that they had found their interest in the evil entertainment once again. The implemented the mentor program, and Coriolanus had cheated to win the game. His tribute, by the name of Lucy Gray Baird, was from District Twelve. I had heard many tales of the musical group named the Covey that traveled around Panem displaying their talents, but I had never expected it to be true.

Goodbye, Lucy Gray. We hardly knew you. I am bitterly curious to learn what had happened to the love of Snow's life who disappeared into the woods of Twelve. However, the one person who would have an idea has died in the Quarter Quell. I watched the Tenth Hunger Games, Snow's journal filling in the blanks. Everything needs to come full circle for Snow. He has to be reminded of his weakness; he has to be reminded of Lucy Gray. He has to be reminded of Sejanus Plinth.

"He's the reason Sejanus is dead," Cato and I lay in our bed, having decided to ignore our schedules to do our research. After all, this had been one of my special requests. "Sejanus was going to help people escape Twelve." I run my fingers along the page, the ink fading from so many years having passed by. "Snow recorded him with the Jabber Jays. He was hanged for his treason."

"Snow gave up his best friend?" Cato raises his eyebrows in shock. The moment takes me back to the scenes of the arena, when Clove was killed by the District Eleven male. Even Cato, hardened to the core from these Games, wouldn't have turned his back on Clove Kentwell.

"It gets much worse than that," I shake my head, glaring at the page. "He proceeded to move in with my great grandparents, and he was left half of the Plinth family fortune - Sejanus' half."

"I'm surprised he didn't try to marry your grandmother," Cato's eyes are trained on the book. "He could've gotten the other half."

"It looks like he did make an attempt, but she must've rejected him. Good choice."

"Does that say Tigress?"

I quickly read the passage he's asking about, familiarizing myself with the name. Tigress is Snow's cousin, and they had both been raised by their grandmother after their parents died. Snow's mother died in childbirth with his little sister, neither survived. His father was killed during the First Rebellion by a rebel trap, set in the woods of District Twelve. Add that to the list of reasons why Snow keeps Twelve at a disadvantage.

"It says here she had to prostitute herself for food during the Rebellion," I couldn't help but feel for the girl who had unfortunately been forced to share blood with Snow. "Unbelievable." I snap the book shut, looking up at Cato as he intertwines his fingers in mine. "He had watched his cousin have no other choice but to sell her body, yet he still did this shit to me. I wish Tigress was still alive, there's so much I would want to ask."

"Tigress is still alive, Marblyn," I raise my eyebrows at Cato, taking note of his refusal to look me in the eyes.

"And how might you know that?"

"After they got me out of the arena, I stayed with Tigress in the Capitol for three months until District Thirteen came to get me."

When I was first reunited with Cato, I had asked him questions about where he had been. He answered vaguely, and I took the hint that it isn't a subject he enjoys speaking on. So, I never asked him again. This is the first time since that I'm hearing him speak of our time apart.

"You stayed with Tigress for three months? Did she say anything?" I try my best not to ask too many questions. I don't want to overwhelm him or make him feel like he's forced into speaking with me.

Softly, he presses his lips to my forehead. "I didn't really ask too much. I had no idea what was going on. They didn't tell me anything until I was in Thirteen. They didn't tell me if it was your idea, if you were okay. They told me nothing. I spent months in silence. When I got here, that's when they finally explained everything."

"They made you sit in the dark for that long?" When I think about it, it's almost exactly the same thing that happened to me. I had zero idea if Cato was okay, if he was alive and well. The only difference is, for awhile I got to socialize and live my life. That is, until I was shoved into an arena for the second time.

"Worst three months of my life. Although, I will say that Tigress is quite the host." A ghost of a smile haunts his face as he talks about the woman. "She was rather fond of tuna."

"Did she say anything about Snow?"

"Just that she hates him."

Coriolanus Snow does not have a single member of his family who cares for him. His parents are dead, his grandmother died long ago. His cousin hates him. The only person that possibly cares is his granddaughter, the one who has been televised proudly wearing Katniss' signature braid.

"I really wish I had some alcohol right about now," I press my hands to my face, shaking my head. "This country, it's too full of secrets. I'm too full of secrets."

The blonde presses his lips to mine softly, holding me tight. "You never have to do what Snow forced you into, ever again."

"Maybe," my voice drops to almost a whisper. I know I shouldn't be speaking freely on this subject, especially not in the confines of District Thirteen.

"What do you mean?" A look of concern spreads across his features, an angry look in his eyes. "Do you want that to be your life?"

Quickly, I push him away from me. "No, Cato! Of course I don't!" I feel a familiar feeling of anger course through my veins, this time directed at none other than Cato Hadley. "Why would I ever want that to be my life? I don't want the life I had before, and I don't want the life I have now. Whether you want to admit it or not, we're prisoners. Coin is worse than Snow. Snow is many things but he never pretends to be perfect. Ever. Coin hides what she truly is, under the guise of being a savior for Panem. Coin is our worst nightmare." I head to the door, knowing I have probably just signed my own death warrant.

"Marblyn, wait," he reaches for my arm, but I quickly pull it from his grasp.

"No, Cato. I'm done waiting." I storm out of our shared bedroom, making my way to the only person I could trust right now. Katniss is being watched, currently in with Plutarch filming her propos. Gale is just like Cato in a few aspects, and I can't trust any of Thirteen or the Twelve refugees.

My brain doesn't even process where my feet are taking me until I raise my fist to knock on the white door. The only person I can trust right now is the one member of my family who's never turned their back on me.

The only person I can trust is Mark.