FRAGILE GIRL || THE HUNGER GAMES ¹

17.

"UH, TAKE ME TO HIM, I GUESS?"

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( WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! THIS WILL MENTION PROSTITUTION / BEING A 'DESIRABLE'. DO NOT READ AHEAD IF YOU DO / CANNOT HANDLE THIS! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! )

Letting out a shaky breath of nervousness, she stands rather awkwardly in the doorway of the room, wanting nothing more than to sink into the ground and just die. Mustering up as much of her courage, she slowly walks further into the room, the squeaking of her shoes making her presence known. Cringing on the inside at the sound, she regretted wearing those shoes.

Gulping the thickening lump in her throat, she could see President Snow sitting at a desk, a bouquet of white roses on a vase. Wrinkling her nose up at the smell of the roses, she could smell it from where she was standing. Sickeningly sweet and so artificial Chewing on her bottom lip, she tries to not pee her pants from just his predatory gaze that was fixed upon her.

"I wish to have a talk." He states, cutting the silence short.

"I, um, what kind of a talk? What kind of talk, President Snow." She manages to squeak out.

"You are growing into a very pretty woman, Miss Grey. In some lights you even resemble⎯" He stops himself, "Many have taken note of your pretty face, Miss Grey."

"What?"

Furrowing her brows together in confusion at what he was getting at, she nervously picks at the skin around her nails, the skin cracked and raw. What was this? What was this about? About her growing up pretty? Was that a bad thing? Almost as if he was sensing her confusion, he stands up from his seat, his hands laying flat on the desk as he slowly towers over her. Was she in danger?

"You're a desirable girl, Miss Grey. Many want to meet you, to be around you. It would be wise of you to surround yourself with your adoring fans." He explains, "It would be rude to not do so."

"You..You want me to spend time with my fans? In what kind of a way?" She asks, unsure.

"Guess." He taunts, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"I don't know, like to sing and dance with them or something like that?" She asks, trying to not show how uncomfortable she was.

"Now, now, I know you are a smart girl, Miss Grey. You showed that in your Games and during your training. You still do to this day. I think you know what I am trying to say, Miss Grey." He states, a neutral look on his face.

Staring at him with a confused look on her face, it takes her a good moment to process what he was trying to say to her. He wanted her to spend time with her 'fans'. What was that supposed to mean? Like at parties? Chewing on her bottom lip, she tilts her head up to meet his gaze, her eyes meeting his. Two dead blue eyes stare her down, a glimmer in it.

It was the kind of glimmer that you would see in a really really really bad nightmare. It clicks, he wanted her to spend time with them in a not so friendly way. No. No. No. No. He wanted her to do things with them. Shaking her head as the horror fills her, she tries to speak up, her voice not coming out for a second. Licking her bottom lip, she tries again to speak up.

"What? No, no, no, I can't. I won't! That's not right." She shakes her head, trying to argue.

"It's the price of being a Victor." He states, his voice icy cold and void of emotions.

"But, but, I didn't! I don't want to do that! I won't do that, no, no, no, I won't!" She stutters out, stumbling over her words. "I will not do that, I have no reason to do that!"

"How else are you going to repay all of those Sponsors from your Games? You are indebted to them, you owe them it at the very least." He states, "You must repay them in some way, Miss Grey."

No. No. No. No. No. This could not be happening. This had to be a really bad nightmare. Soon, Pixie was going to come inside and wake her up. This was all just in her head. This was all in her head. Swallowing the thickening lump in her throat, she holds back the urge to burst into tears. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. No. No. No. No. No. Don't do it.

"Why do I have to do that? Why can't I just spend time with them at parties?"

"There are some debts that need to be paid with more than just a little time at parties, Miss Grey." He states, making her feel worse.

"But, I.." She mumbles, her voice shaking.

"Miss Grey, look at me." He coldly states, "Didn't your Mother ever tell you that it is rude to not look at me when you are speaking to me."

Shifting her gaze from him onto the ground, she stares at her shoes, the polished leather of her shoes smudged. Thinking about her Mom, it took everything in her to not burst into tears. Would her Mother get mad at her for not listening to President Snow? Would President Snow even accept her response? Would she get in trouble for not paying off her debts? Sniffling softly as tears started to bubble up in her eyes, she looked up at him, seeing a sick joy in his eyes.

"She did teach me, President Snow." She mumbles, struggling to not cry.

"A debt must be paid. Did you not think that there would be some payment needed for all those Sponsors? For your Games and for your tribute Games?" He asks, an almost condescending tone to his voice. "Gifts cost money."

"I don't want to do that, I want to go home." She mumbles, her voice weak.

"Go home then, but be aware." He pauses for dramatic effect, "There will be consequences for not repaying your debts, Miss Grey. A great one, I hope you can handle it."

( WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! THIS WILL MENTION PROSTITUTION / BEING A 'DESIRABLE'. DO NOT READ AHEAD IF YOU DO / CANNOT HANDLE THIS! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! )

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And I am done with the chapter! Stay safe out there guys!

I hope you all are doing okay emotionally and physically! I love you all!

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