REIN and SNOW ∞ louis & tom au

Chapter 5

As the tributes were herded across the station to the main entrance, Coriolanus felt his chance slipping away. He had not secured Louis' trust. He hadn't done anything except amuse the other boy.

Clearly, he thought I was useless, and maybe I am. But with all that was at stake, I can't lose him.

Coriolanus ran across the station, catching up to the pack of tributes. "Excuse me," he said to the Peacekeeper in charge. "I'm Coriolanus Snow from the Academy." He inclined his head toward Louis Rein. "This tribute has been assigned to me for the Hunger Games. I wonder if I might accompany him to his quarters."

The Peacekeeper snorts. "Is that why you been hanging around all morning? To catch a ride to the show?" He slurred his words, reeking of liquor. "Well, by all means, Mr. Snow. Join the party."

It was then Coriolanus saw the cage on wheels that awaited the tributes. The bed was enclosed by metal bars and topped with a steel roof. This wagon was meant to confine wild animals...

Following orders, the tributes presented their cuffs for removal and climbed into the cage. Coriolanus was uncertain, but when he saw Louis' gaze fixed on him from within the enclosure, he knew this was the moment of judgment. If he backed down now, Louis may dismiss him entirely.

Coriolanus took a deep breath and hoisted himself up into the cage. The door slammed shut behind him, and the truck lurched forward, knocking him off balance. He grabbed for the bars and faced his fellow passengers.

Even in the open air, the stench of cattle car manure and a musty unwashed human scent was overwhelming. Up close, he could see how grubby the tributes were, with their bloodshot eyes and bruised limbs. Louis was crammed into a corner at the front, hands placed onto Edith's shoulders who leaned back against him. He was still eyeing Coriolanus with attentiveness while the rest of them stared at him like a pack of feral animals. He quickly began to regret his decision.

If they attack him, he'll stand a chance. He's in better shape then they are after all, he tried to convince himself, making a fist around the stem of the rose. But would he stand a chance against so many of them at once?

"You in the wrong cage, pretty boy?" the guy from District 11 spoke with a grim expression.

The undisguised hatred rattled Coriolanus, but he tried to look unimpressed. "No. This is the right cage."

"What you doin' here?" The girl from District 11 inquired.

"Who cares? Let's kill him!" Another boy spat viciously. "Can't do nothing worse to us." Several other tributes murmured in agreement and took a step in.

Before Coriolanus' mind could even register what was about to happen, Louis Rein's melodic voice broke the tension. "Not to us, maybe. You got family back home they could punish?"

This seemed to put a stop to the other tributes' belligerence. Louis wriggled through and positioned himself in front of Coriolanus to prevent anyone from harming him.

"Besides...he's my mentor. Supposed to protect me, or something."

"How come you get a mender!?"

"Mentor." Coriolanus corrected, giving the tributes a quizzical look. "And you each get one," he explains, trying to sound on top of the situation.

"Where are they, then?" The guy from District 11 challenged. "Why didn't they come?"

There was silence.

Coriolanus looked at Louis and thought, why am I here? I could've just waited until Monday to see him along with the rest of my class and give a token then.