WINGS - Coriolanus Snow

TWENTY-SIX

"RAPHAEL?" Aria gasped, pure shock evident on her face. "What's going on?"

"Aria, don't be scared, please. We aren't here to hurt you, we'll explain everything as soon as we can," he replied.

Aria was still confused, but the main thing on her mind was the wellbeing of her friends.

"So is everyone... okay?" she asked, somewhat afraid of the answer.

"Yes, everyone's fine," Raphael reassured her.

"What about Coriolanus? Why didn't you take him as well?"

"We would if we could have, but it's too late now. I'm sorry, Aria."

"What do you mean it's too late? You aren't even going to try and take him with us?"

"He'll be fine, Aria. I'm sure he loves it in the Capitol."

It was true, Coriolanus was fond of the Capitol, having grown up there, but now, it was nothing without Aria by his side. Rich snobs, extravagant parties, none of it interested him without Aria.

Chaos had erupted all around the Capitol, upon seeing that rebels had infiltrated. Everyone was afraid of who they were after next, but the reality of it was that these rebels weren't much of a danger to anyone's lives. Everyone who had come together to rebel against the Capitol had decided that this rebellion wouldn't endanger anyone's lives, although not everyone had agreed to this, Raphael and Bug in particular.

"No, I won't stay here without him," Aria said, attempting to open the door of the dingy vehicle, but to no avail.

"You're trying to jump out of a moving car? Aria, you help us with this rebellion, and you will see him again, under different, more peaceful circumstances. Who knows, you might even be able to... get married, or something stupid like that," Raphael stated, a hint of longing in his voice.

Aria contemplated this for a moment, before giving a slight nod of approval.

"Atta girl," he said, patting her on the back with a grin.

They arrived at their destination, a small cabin up north of District 12. Everyone emerged from these cars, including Lucy Gray, Bug, Smiley, and Sejanus, and her Capitol stylist, Edith.

"Lucy Gray!" Aria squealed in delight, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "I thought you were dead!"

"You know me, Aria. I'm a lot tougher than I look," she smiled.

Aria was given a debrief from Raphael, who seemed to be some sort of leader, although he was outvoted by everyone else involved in regards to simply bombing the Capitol and taking over.

"Aria and Coriolanus stirred something inside of the people in the Capitol. I think they saw us as humans, more than they ever had before," Smiley said.

"Well, I don't see them as humans at all," Bug huffed.

"I know you don't, and damn right they don't act like it, but if we turn to violence with them, its going to come back and bite us in the ass," Lucy Gray replied, ruffling his hair.

"We plan on giving a message to them, detailing to extent of our suffering at the Capitol's hands," Raphael began, "most normal Capitol citizens don't know everything they put us through, although they know enough to realise we're treated like shit," he said. "We need Aria to be our spokesperson, as everyone in the Capitol has taken a liking to her."

Everyone turned to Aria, waiting for her response.

"Gladly," she smiled. "You want me to put on a show for everyone?" she asked.