Catching Fire: The New Story

Suspicion from the Old Man

Author's POV

The president sat ideally at the head of the desk in his office. Sitting across from him was none other than the new Head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee. As he adjusted himself, the Gamemaker's factory made, leather chair squeaked. The silence cut like a knife at Plutarch's throat. The president, as contently as could be, stared at him amused.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Plutarch spoke out.

"Why yes," Snow smiled. "You talked to Miss Everdeen, yes?"

Snow narrowed his eyes at the gray-haired man, wondering if the Gamemaker did as he was told. While so, Plutarch noticed the sharp stench of roses and something like blood. He had indeed noticed this ghastly smell the last time he sat in his president's office. Plutarch was taken back at the question in his head: was Snow drinking it or was he wearing it as perfume? Plutarch didn't know which one was worse. He had a hard time not wrinkling his nose in disgust.

"Yes, I did. Just as you asked. May I ask as to why is it taken to your concern again, sir?"

Plutarch tried to seem innocent as he asks this question again. Snow's increased interest in his and Katniss's conversation at her engagement party has gotten Plutarch suspicious himself. He had thought meeting Miss Everdeen couldn't have gone better. She seemed like a lovely young girl and her fiancé was everything a woman deserved. Plutarch did indeed challenge how opposite they seemed, but noticed how the pieces fit perfectly and how the love shined in their eyes.

"Well, I'm suspecting that she is up to something diabolical with that boy of hers and that drunk mentor. I may as well add that this is not something we want at the moment, due to the- bumps around the districts," says Snow, covering up the bigger picture. But Plutarch nods his head, agreeing and showing he was following along.

"Why would she need to do something to upset you, sir? I am quite sure a girl her kind are only doing such things to merely save her skin." Plutarch didn't mean to disagree with Snow – he actually did, but he would never admit to it – but he was playing dumb and only being kind. Snow could see that, and as planned, nothing underneath. "I mean, what I met of her, she was kind and in love. I can't see what a young woman like herself would want to get you so upset."

"See, she doesn't much like me, and by her winnings, she doesn't agree with the way I run my country," – Plutarch could tell he meant the Games – "I have been watching her over the past months since she arrived home. And I've noticed something quite interesting." President Snow chuckled at his discovery. The skin around his mouth and eyes wrinkled a thousand times, making Plutarch wonder how old Snow actually was. Snow tapped an object on his desk that Plutarch recognized as a projector. An image appeared in thin air, something that seemed private and intimate, something the men shouldn't have been watching. It was Katniss standing in front of a boy, not Peeta, who looked young, but not as young as Katniss, and quiet handsome. The two looked so alike, they could be siblings. But Plutarch knew that boy, his name was Gale and he was her cousin as he told the world in his interview when Katniss came up in the top eight. Plutarch took into perspective that scenery around them and faked a gasp to convince Snow.

They were in the woods, hunting probably. Plutarch knew practically everything around Katniss Everdeen and her 'cousin'.

The couple seemed to be speaking in a calm way, Katniss was saying something in a quiet tone for only the two of them to hear. Once Katniss started up again talking, her eyes traveled around her to the woods and sky as if she were thinking. Gale took a step forward, stopping her from continuing what they couldn't hear her say, connecting his lips to hers. She seems surprised, and did not return any affection. Her eyes were wide until the boy realized her lack in the kiss and took a step back. He asked her something, his hand on her cheek, and she screamed at him in anger. Snow cut off the machines projection before they could see anymore. He leans back into his chair, waiting for the Gamemaker's reaction.