CHARADE | Glimmer (THG)

Chapter Thirteen

Trigger warnings: Mentions of a death

Just in case I'm being watched, I head down the corridor and into the bathroom. Then I go on my search to find Finch.

In the room that Gwen left me in, the food tables have been moved slightly to the side so that more people can dance. On a makeshift stage, musicians are dressed as cats. One is playing what seems to be a large, deeper violin which is as tall as the musician, whilst others are blowing into wooden and metallic instruments as they prance around. Capitol people sway to the music, laughing, clapping and cheering. I scan the room for Finch but there's no sign of her.

The next room has a floor which is flashing in a series of different lights. Wolves are on the stage, blowing into golden round instruments whilst a woman in front plays some kind of stringed instruments and screams into the microphone. It's loud- unbearably so- and there's so many more people in this room that the last one.

A woman nearby me is gripping a tall drink and shouting along to the singer. It takes me a moment to realise that it's in fact Gwen- but she's lost her brown wig, revealing short, greying blond hair.

"Gwen!" I shout.

She looks over at me, beaming, "Oh Glimmer! Come and join us, dear!" She gestures to a group of men and women behind her dressed as various plants, "It's my favourite band- The Red Pack! Aren't they good?"

"Gwen, I think I'm going to go!"

She cups an ear, "What?"

"I'm going to leave!"

"Oh, okay dear," She looks disappointed, "See you later!"

I head back to the set of doors leading to the first room. My last vision of Gwen is her throwing her head back and forth, her drink splashing in her hand. I force my way back through the throngs of people in the first room, and then make my way to the room on the left where soft violin music filters through.

Moving in the room, I see that couples are dancing in a circle. Cakes, pastries and bottles of alcohol line the tables along the walls. To a room further to the left, I can see a large table with ornate chairs. Likely the Dining Room where President Snow is.

"May I have this dance?"

I turn to see a young woman, dressed in a badger costume, curls of brown hair peeking out from her wig of black and white hair. She smiles at me shyly, extending a gloved hand.

"Uh....I....uh..."

An arm suddenly wraps around me, making me jump. There's a flash of orange, and a voice says close to my ear, "Sorry, she's with me. Isn't that right, Princess?"

"Right," I say hurriedly, "Sorry."

The badger-woman looks like she might object, but Finch leads me by the arm and out of the room.

"I found it," She hisses, "Let's go."

It takes me a moment to realise what she means and why I brought her along in the first place. The Gamemaker's room? It was in the President's Mansion, like Arion said?

"Wait," I say, "You found-"

"I'll tell you when we're back in your room," She interrupts quietly, "It was pretty easy to access. What have you been doing all this time? Flirting?"

My cheeks redden but I don't respond. We head through the entrance hall and out into the Capitol street. It's colder and dark now, but still packed full of people, singing and drinking. We head to the Tribute Centre and pass two guards, who are playing with a pack of cards.