𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐀 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐗 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 - Finnick Odair

𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

Very minor 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' spoilers in this chapter!

The voice made chills run up Phoenix's spine. It was the all too familiar voice of President Coriolanus Snow. The man who was responsible for everything single bad in Phoenix's life. Yet somehow it was through President Snow that Phoenix met Finnick Odair.  The man who was one of the best things to happen in Phoenix's life.

While the hazy whereabouts of Finnick still lingering in Phoenix's mind,  she felt herself almost unable to move. " Well, come on in Phoenix. " Snow suggests, his tone still the usual calm one. Taking a deep breath Phoenix prepared herself to go inside. Yet before she could move, Phoenix was met with another jab in the back from the gun of the PeaceKeeper behind her.

Phoenix jerked at the force and began slowly making her way inside the room. She was met with an abundance of different paintings, each scattered throughout the white walls of the room. Her head turned in every different way, observing each one individually. Phoenix felt herself stop in front of one painting, in particular, something about it had caught her eye. Yet Phoenix didn't know what about it was so captivating.

The painting depicted what seemed to be a rooftop with a beautiful garden blooming widely throughout it. Looking closer at the painting, Phoenix noticed that the flowers that were blooming on the rooftop garden were none other than roses. She thought about the flowers, the same ones that had been waiting at her bedside table when she woke up. The same flower that had been a staple within the Snow family.

" Do you like it? " President Snow's voice asked. Phoenix flinched a bit at his voice, not knowing he had been behind her. She nodded her head, still captivated on the artwork in front of her. " It's beautiful. Flowers like that didn't grow too much back in District 5. " Phoenix mutters, her heartbreaking a bit more at the thought of her home district.

Snow was now standing next to her, admiring the painting alongside the victor. " It was inspired by my youth. Specifically by my grandmother. " He revealed, remembering back to the years shortly after the war had ended. " She had a garden on our rooftop my whole life. Tended to it with her life, it was so beautiful. " The memories flooded back and President Snow swore he could almost smell the rooftop garden from his youth.

Phoenix said nothing, standing their surprised as he continued telling her stories of his youth. " She is the reason there is a rose garden on the grounds of the mansion. Maybe you would like to come and visit it sometime? " He asked Phoenix. She was almost stunned by the way he was speaking to her. Almost like they were old friends. Almost as he was unaware of the pain he had caused her throughout her life.

Yet this question and it's almost caring demeanor made Phoenix grow confused. Upon walking into the room she was prepared for the President of Panem to bring hell upon her from the moment she stepped in. Yet here he was, inviting her to his rose garden and telling her stories about his grandmother. Like they were some kind of old friends or like he cared about her one bit. And Phoenix knew both of them were both anything close to true.