The Power of Gamemakers

Stories From District Two

(Trigger Warning-
Brief suggestion of attempted assault off page.)

I let the other leave as my schedule claimed I had extra time in this room. At least until my political science class. The door closed behind the last one when her head scanned the room, "Snowball, still here, why?"

Checking my paper again, I stood up to get closer in case she wanted to see, "Well, Gaul gave..."

"Dr. Gaul," she corrected. Green eyes unblinkly.

"Dr. Gaul gave me an advanced schedule. I'm here for another hour," the last step I held out the paper.

Kallista glanced at it, then back to my face, "Fine, I believe you." The woman snapped her fingers and pointed to an extra chair, "Grab that and sit closer to the desk. This is a discussion, not a lesson, among coworkers."

I was trying not to complain since I had no good read on this woman, I complied. Only fools strick first, at least without discerning if it's necessary first. Kallista sat on the other side of her desk. For a moment, we stared each other down. Discovering, she had no good read on me either. "How did it make feel? Calling you out in front of everyone?"

Ah... a viper dressed on cloth, so when I reach up to pick it up, she can strike. Just like Lucy Grey. I'm no fool. I knew better this time. She meant it as mockery. "I'm not unfamiliar with plays on my name."

The grin that appeared on her face was not meant to be there. Yet there she was, looking as if I gave all the cards away. For some eery reason, I briefly believe I did. "No, not that. I'm sure you are... Pointing out your greatness by name?"

I remained silent as I didn't see it as pointing out my greatness, but... "You mean singling me out as something to be defeated by the others?"

Kallista leaned back, grin gone. The contemplation on her face was a win to me. Looking back up, she shook her head, "You have already played the game. True, the game never truly ends, but I'm not an enemy here. Unfortunately for you, Coriolanus Snow is as good as his father was. Unfortunately for me, he is as well suited for this job as Gaul told me," Kallista stood and headed for the door, "unfortunately for everyone else, Snowballs with ice in them hit the hardest, and he is a manipulative one." The door opened, and I was instructed to follow.

All Kallista did was make me follow her around. Asking what I thought of Gaul. I answered honestly. Gaul is scary, but we understand each other. Kallista had the same opinion.  However, when I told her I lived with the Plinth's, something in the air shifted. "Strabo still endures the Capitol after all... and their son?"

I winced as she asked about Sejanus, "Dead. Hung for treason, in twelve."

"He followed you, didn't he? Gaul mentioned you had a friend you turned in and had hung. A district two boy turned Capitol. I suspected, but I was never given a name." After confirming he followed me there, I was released she asked no more questions about Sejanus.

"Speaking of, your name is an odd one."

Kallista laughed darkly, "Yet it is mine."

"I never heard of your family before..."

Kallista stopped in front of me. Standing still and staring me down, "and you never will. That information is an honour Snowball. No one other than Dr. Gaul has ever had that honour. Understand? Stop trying to work me out. You won'tlike what you find."