I NO LONGER WISH FOR A LIFE WITHIN THIS MANSION. With lilac colored walls from my childhood surrounding me, reminding me of my youth that was gone too soon. Where the worst memories haunt me and swallow me whole as soon as I flick that light switch off. 

My father is so rich he could get me anywhere I wanted in this life, but it's still not enough and I'm afraid it never will be because I'm stuck in this damned country where the government is dividing its citizens from one another--pitting children against one another and forcing 23 of them to die each year. 

"You okay, Mari?" Sejanus' voice startles me as he reaches for a porcelain bowl from the cupboard. 

I release the spoon back into my bowl of cereal, my fist unclenching as I set it on the marble countertop. "Mm-hmm." 

He doesn't have to face me for me to know he's likely furrowing his brows in disbelief but remains silent. 

"Hey, do you know what Dad's plans are for the prize? You know he doesn't tell me that stuff." I purse my lips, my leg beginning to bounce up and down, hitting my red-painted fingernails. It's true, my father hasn't told me a plan of his since the move here when I was eleven. Now, we're almost strangers who smile at one another in the halls of this manor when he's actually home. 

He begins pouring his own cereal into the white dish and shakes his head. "Sorry, Mare. Dad would've told you if he wanted you to know." 

I feel a scoff escape my mouth before I can help it. "Right." 

I don't ever intend to be rude, but when it comes to few people, and few things--my anger speaks for itself. And with my father, almost anything cuts my sweet act. 

I place my palms against the cold-to-touch countertop and pull myself up off the barstool, my tongue licking against the front of my teeth as I remove any lost grains of cereal. 

"You're done already?" Sejanus asks me with a hint of sadness in his tone. 

"Yes." My response is simple and curt as I allow the sound of my bowl clanking against the small pile of dishes in the sink to echo throughout this large kitchen. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, Mari--" 

I ignore him, turning the corner and jogging up one of the two spiraled staircases at the entrance of the house, and I return back to the bedroom I've grown out of. 

My bare feet brush against the cold floor, sending a chill down my spine as I lurk toward the closet door in the corner of my room. Sliding it open, I push inside--revealing racks and shelves of more clothing a girl could ask for. 

My fingertips trace against the small rack hidden in the back, filled with only red uniform blazers and skirts. 

Thankfully, today isn't a day I'm forced to wear the bright red uniform, so rather, I select the black blazer from the neighboring rack and almost smile.

I pull the velvet clothes hanger out from off the rack and slide the drawer beneath it open, tugging out a skirt and a pair of off-white socks. 

Just two more years, Marian. I remind myself whilst buttoning my blouse on. Just two more. 

I ALWAYS HATE ARRIVING TO ANY KIND OF function with my family. It's unfortunate enough to walk into the academy with my brother every morning, but walking with my mother's arm linked with mine today only makes it more insufferable. 

After minutes of awaiting the perfect time to slip away from my parents, I think I finally have a golden opportunity. They're only talking about some business mogul with Sejanus anyhow--something I tuned out the minute I heard the sentence planning for your future. 

It's when I pull my arm from being linked with my mother's that I can feel pairs of eyes on me. Confirming my suspicions, I look up and see Arachne, Felix, Festus, and Coriolanus all staring directly at me, all glaring at me with envy but Coriolanus, with pure distaste. Nothing uncommon. 

I pull a tight-lipped smile on my face and allow my heels to clank as I walk toward them. I'm not even able to get a word in before Festus makes a comment. "I thought we had to... button up our blouses. Some slut policy?" 

I don't bother hiding my eye-roll, finally making it to the circle they've formed. "Mm, see, I thought we weren't to look poor either but..." I grimace at the sight of his shoes. "Your 'old fashioned' shoes clearly didn't make the dress code requirements either. Some..." I feel a wicked grin tug at the corners of my lips. "Poor person policy?" 

A blush creeps upon his cheeks and I hear a chuckle threatening to spill out of Felix from my side, bringing my faux smile to a real one from satisfaction. Felix only tolerates me because he's had a crush on me since I moved here, but the other three hate my guts. 

"Nice one, Mari." He sputters a laugh, but given the looks granted by his friends, he silences it with his glass. 

"Ma and Dad didn't care to see you go?" Festus teases me some more, straightening his posture as he pretends I haven't wounded his ego with my comment, barely giving me a chance to speak for myself. "You know, if your parents couldn't give two shits about you, and your brother keeps going on about how immoral these hunger games are, I'll put you two in the arena myself--" 

He cuts his own sentence off when Sejanus joins me at my side, a smirk present on his lips. 

"Sejanus." The brunette greets with nervousity. "You made it to the reaping for once." 

"And you made it to Graduation, Festus. We're both shocked." 

I chuckle, my arms crossing over my chest as I hope this will continue; already amused. 

"Spill it. Who won the prize?" Arachne cuts right to the chase and I'm not sure why I'm surprised. No matter the conversation--when Sejanus is around, I'm left in the shadow. Suddenly non-existent.

I let out a deep sigh, any smile now fading off of my lips with the tip of my high heels now tapping against the floor impatiently as I block the remainder of the conversation out. 

And soon enough, the introductory music goes off, saving me from my own well of pity. 

No thanks to anyone, I'm left with the final seat next to Arachne. She only spares me enough of a glance to glare at me as I sit against the velvety feel of the chair beneath me. My leg crosses over the other and find myself observing as my brother's face as he talks to Coriolanus--I watch as his face contorts with sadness as he whispers something to the blonde. And given the feature change on his own face, I can tell that whatever Sejanus has told him is far from good. 

Coriolanus turns to look back at me, brows furrowed and lips set in a frown. I'm not sure exactly how to read his features right now (something I never thought I'd say as I'm always observing) but it's something in his eye that causes my gut to twist--almost as if he's punched me in the gut just by looking at me. 

Dr. Gaul's laugh intensifies the uneasiness swirling in my belly but it's enough to pull Coriolanus' attention from me. 

"How tantalizing to see all of your shining young faces on this auspicious day." She says, a wicked grin on her face outlined with purple lipstick. It's reaping day. And although I no longer have to worry about today, nothing about it is or ever will be auspicious. "I am Dr. Volumnia Gaul, your humble head game maker. In charge of the war department and all its affiliated concerns."

She continues with an introduction and as she does, I can feel my leg begin to bounce up and down for the second time today. My restlessness has only gotten worse with the approaching Reaping Day, plus with the exams they regularly put us through surrounding this time. I'm the youngest amongst us, barely 17 and not supposed to be in the same grade as them. Something Coriolanus has always envied me most for--almost being better at academics than he is when I'm nearly two years younger. 

I blink, retracing my thoughts back to the world around me and I see that Highbottom is now standing where Dr. Gaul previously was. And it seems my mind has granted me perfect timing in this instance because the next thing that comes out of his mouth is that the Plinth Prize will no longer be determined by who has the best grades, but by who is the best mentor in the Hunger Games. 

I feel something in my body shift; like a realization that has just locked into place. 

"As the reaping progresses live, I will assign each district tribute a Capitol Mentor." He points, referencing all of us. "Behind the scenes--who must... just persuade them to perform for the cameras."

My first instinct is to look at Coriolanus, he has his head facing forward but I still look at him, and I wonder if this is what Sejanus had warned him of. Although winning the prize has never been a possibility for me, or something I need to attend University--but for Coriolanus, it is. And none of us here know how to mentor someone through something so cruel. 

Festus and Arachne issue a few complaints and Highbottom waves them off, explaining the remaining rules and smiles. "Let the Reaping Ceremony begin!" 

Soon enough, the screens at the top of the wall above us fills with a boy on the left and a girl on the right, their names in text displayed like banners on each. 

"District 1 boy. Goes to..." he pulls out a reading glass from his pocket and places it over one eye. "Livia Cardue." 

I look to my left to see her grinning from ear-to-ear as if this is some granted prize, like she's a dog and he's throwing her a bone. 

"Girl goes to Palmyra Monty." he says. "District 2--boy goes to Sejanus Plinth." 

This catches my attention, my head shoots up to read the screen and on the left, I see a boy I don't recognize but on the right... on the right, I see a dirtied and beaten face that belongs to a girl I recognize all too well. 

Mia Rowe.

BLAKELY SPEAKS !

expect to see short chapters; i find chapters much easier to follow and much more refreshing to both read and write when they are shorter. and shorter chapters allow me to do daily (or maybe even double) updates!!