I FEEL MY ENTIRE BODY RECOIL AS A SICKNESS OVERCOMES ME. I throw the purple comforter off of my body as I rush to the bathroom down the hall.

My hand instinctively goes to grab my hair and hold it out of my face as I pour my entire body weight into the toilet.

This is the fourth day this week I've lunged for the toilet as my first task of the day. Yesterday, I had a break and hoped that whatever stomach bug I had was gone, but, apparently not.

I let out another retching sound as more vomit pours out of me. The burning sensation going down my throat is enough to bring a stinging sensation to my eyes--it causes my eyes to prick with tears and I genuinely do want to cry because I'm so tired of being sick.

"You should see a doctor," Sejanus says from the doorway, startling me. I blow out a deep breath, giving myself a moment to breathe as my nausea calms down. "it's getting worse, isn't it?"

"I'm fine."

I wouldn't be surprised if I'd caught the flu or something minor--after all, I had been spending all day and night practically in that damned school.

I can feel Sejanus' eyes on me, examining me. It's clear he doesn't believe me but I really don't care.

I life myself up off the ground, flushing the toilet as I slowly begin to walk toward the sink.

"So... you and Coryo?" He teases, a playful smirk on his lips as he leans further into the doorway.

I roll my eyes, scoffing as I turn the faucet on. "Give me a break, Sej."

IT HAD BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE GAMES' completion, yet for some reason, Dean Highbottom has called me to his office.

I truly wasn't sure what he'd have to say when I got there, and honestly, I was scared.

My belly was racked with fluttering butterflies and my fist trembled as I went to knock on his open door, notifying him of my presence.

"Come in," he said, not bothering to look up from the papers on his desk. Slowly but surely, I walked inside. "Have a seat."

Obeying the request, I sit in the red tinted chair on the left.

My nerves are still all over the place—even before he removes his glasses from his face and sets them on his desk next to his clasped hands.

"Miss Plinth," he sighs, and it almost feels as though he regrets to inform me whatever is about to come out of his mouth next. "You've technically won the Plinth Prize."

My brows furrow in confusion. "What?"

Everyone was there when Coriolanus won—when Lucy Gray won.

"Well, it seems that the songbird didn't actually win. Mr. Snow cheated."

You've got to be kidding me.

Coryo would've—should have been more than capable to accomplish winning without cheating. He's smart—smarter than me—and was a damn good mentor.

"Cheated?" I scoff, completely in disbelief. "What do you mean cheated?"

"Well, I'm afraid I can't go in to much detail, but, I did want to offer you your diploma, and congratulate you on the win. You've got the internship—I'm sure you're going to do great."

Winning should feel better than this. Winning is supposed to feel better than this.

I've spent nearly half of my life working my ass off to best Coriolanus Snow in anything, but now that it's happened, I'm angry.

No, not angry. I'm furious.

I clench and unclench my jaw before swiping my tongue against my bottom lip. "Thank you, Dean Highbottom. But... shouldn't Festus have won after me?"

"Precisely, but the task was to put on the best performance. And, you and your tribute from District 2 certainly did that."

Mia. Her name is Mia, you bastard.

My blood is boiling and my entire body is made up of pure rage right now and all I want to do is punch something—someone. Maybe even Coriolanus.

"I hope you'll do good things with the scholarship, Miss Plinth."

Fuck the scholarship—fuck this entire academy. Fuck the Capitol and fuck this goddamn country.

He hands me a thick piece of paper that reads Plinth Prize Scholarship. With my name and my father's signature signed below but it means nothing to me.

I want to burn that stupid piece of paper and smile as it turns to ashes.

I grab the Scholarship from his hands and pull on a lethal smile, dripping in venom. "Thank you, Dean Highbottom."