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WHEN HER BROWN EYES OPENED, THE HEART RATE MONITOR BECAME ERRATIC. Dr. Gaul loomed over Eulalia in her hospital bed, predatory smile on her face as she stared down at her final hostage.
"Little Blue opens her eyes, terrified of me," she leaned forward. Eulalia pressed herself further into her pillow, seeking any asylum from the beady eyes of the Gamemaker. "I do surmise, she wishes to flee."
Despite the aching in her body, and the shivers she felt under the woman's watch, she rolled her eyes, "I'm really tired of your riddles."
"Then let me speak clearly: I don't have much use for you, girl." Gaul sat at the edge of the bed, "After those bombs, I have quite a few people calling for your head— Lady Ravinstill for one."
"Felix put a stop to that one?"
A fleeting smile washed over the Gamemaker's features, but it was gone in a blink. "Felix Ravinstill is in critical condition, Miss Creed."
What?
"You see, the only purpose I have for you now is to encourage your tribute to perform."
"Why not kill me and give someone else my tribute? I'm sure there would be plenty who would jump at the chance." Normally, she wouldn't speak so bluntly, especially if the woman she spoke to had held her over a tank of bloodthirsty snakes not that long ago. But the threats were growing repetitive, the anticipation a silent killer that reached her long before the noose, guillotine, ( whatever method it may end up being ) could.
"I doubt anyone else would have much of a shot with your tribute." With that, she stood and turned to leave.
"Wait." Eulalia pushed herself back up; the invisible force of fear that held her to that headboard letting up, "Festus is alright, right?" There was the small memory of him speaking to her after the bombing, but the edges were fuzzy, like a dream.
Dr. Gaul gave a disapproving click of her tongue, head shaking as she paused in her exit. "I should never have let Porcius Creed buy his way to the top of that list. Plenty of other families would've and did understand your place." A moment of silence fell over them as the regret filled the room, "That boy is not your brother, and you are not Capitol, understand me?"
Eulalia swallowed thickly and nodded, a meek whisper falling from her lips, "Yes, ma'am."
The suffocating presence of the mad scientist was replaced by a hesitant smile from a nurse. Well put together, she approached Eulalia calmly, drawing a penlight from her jacket.
"Follow the light." Eulalia did as told, her mind elsewhere as her pupils contracted. "Good...how do you feel?"
She shrugged, "Fine as I can."
The nurse nodded, "Your brother will be happy, wouldn't leave your side until Dr. Gaul kicked him out."
No wonder she had left the way she did. She witnessed first hand the attachment one of the Capitol elite had to a hostage, the loyalty to her over his classes he was meant to be at.
