𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝙄𝙑𝙀
—𝘪 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱—

     "𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙄𝙎 𝙄𝙏 with guy tributes and the roof?" I snicker for a short moment, taking a seat on one of the familiar stools. "So, why am I up here again?"

"I don't know," Marvel shrugs, leaning on the railing. "I just thought it would calm you down."

"I'm already calm," I mutter. "I was calm the moment I got away from your district partner."

"She seems to have that effect on people," He chuckles, turning to look at me. "Even me. Honestly, I hate her."

"She's too stuck up." I state, playing with my fingers. "But I guess that's just career talk, right? Say anything you want, and get away with it without a second thought."

"We're not all like her," He sighs. "Only select few aren't 'stuck-up.' The Capitol got lucky this year with Clove and Glimmer. They've always had a thing for the perky and vicious tributes."

"So you aren't vicious?" I raise an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

"I prefer the term 'slacker.' It's fits the situation a little better," Marvel grins. "But no, I'm not what you'd expect."

"That's good to know," I nod. "That doesn't mean I'm not watching out for you, though. I can't trust anyone here."

"I'll take it," He replies. "Trust issues, or a pushy mentor?"

"Both," I say swiftly. "Johanna really got to me this morning. I might not show up to training tomorrow, she was dead-set on me telling her where I was last night."

"Oh, sneaking out, are we?" He wiggles his eyebrows, taking the seat across from me. "Who were you with? And where did you go?"

"Cato left me a note on my bed." I say, shifting my focus to the floor. "So I came up here to see him. He apologized for the way Glimmer was acting at the tribute parade."

"What else?"

"Nothing really," I respond. "He just sorta snapped at me when I told him I couldn't trust him."

"So you do have trust issues?" He laughs. "I've already gotten you figured out."

"I think not," I roll my eyes. "I haven't even figured myself out yet. It's too complicated for anyone."

"You're an open book," He says. "It's easily done."

"Then tell me," I tilt my head to the side. "What do you know about me?"

"I'm guessing that you underestimate yourself," He starts, slightly frowning at his own words. "Maybe you even think you can't win the games. You think lowly of yourself, no matter what anyone says. And because of that, I think someone close to you passed, causing it all."

I open my mouth, but close it immediately, staring at Marvel with my eyes full of tears. I look down, biting the inside of my lip.

"I'm sorry-"

"It's fine," I shake my head. "You're right. About everything."

This time, he doesn't dare speak as he stares at me. I break our moment of silence by clearing my throat.

"You know, Glimmer told me that Cato would be the person to kill me. That the quiet ones are always the first to die," I say, allowing a single tear to roll down my cheek. "And now I'm starting to believe her."

"Why should you believe anything that comes from her mouth?" He raises an eyebrow. "Casey, she's lying right through her two front teeth. You know that just as much as I do."

"She got Aspen to leave me," My bottom lip begins to tremble. "He was all I had, Marvel. And it only took a second for her to do it."

His facial expression softens as he takes in my state.

"What am I supposed to do?" I whisper, my tears flowing openly. "I can't do anything with her around. I'll die without him, Marvel."

He stands from his chair, pulls me up from mine, and embraces me in his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck, and sob into his shoulder.

The quiet ones always die first.

Looks like you've got him wrapped around your finger. I'm sure he won't be for long.

After everything we've been through together— in just these short couple of days— he left me. And without even a second glance. I honestly don't know why I even got my hopes up in the first place.

Why would I even try to make friends here? In the end, one comes out. And that definitely won't be me. So why make friends with someone who could potentially slaughter me, without an ounce of remorse?

Even if I were to have an alliance, there's a high chance that if get stabbed in the back. Literally.

"I promise he won't kill you, okay?" Marvel murmers in my ear, rubbing my back soothingly. "I'll make sure he doesn't. You can trust me."

"That's what everyone says," I shove away from him, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "Cato said that. Cato! Any he's going to kill me."

"I already told you that he won't," Marvel sighs. "Casey, you need to stop putting up walls. Just trust me."

"Dropping walls and trusting people gets me nowhere," I snap. "It gets me hurt. "

And without another word, I dart to the elevator, leaving Marvel behind as I fall to the elevator floor in tears.

___♕___

"I didn't think you'd be back this early," Johanna raises her eyebrows, glancing over my tear-stained face. "What happened, Case?"

"Careers," I reply, stepping out of the elevator. I take a seat on the couch across from her. "I was with Cato last night. And before you yell at me- I want you to know that it was stupid, and I'll never do anything like that again."

"Cato?" She grits her teeth. "Casey, he's not worth the time. Careers are manipulative jerks, who only want to kill you. Don't listen to any of them."

"I know," I nod. "That's obvious."

"Now tell me, what happened at traning?"

"Aspen- he's a career now," I close my eyes, holding back the reappearing tears. "Glimmer asked him to join them, and he did. He didn't care about leaving me."

Her jaw drops, before she throws her coffee cup to floor, the glass shattering immediately at the contact. She storms into her room, and disappears for a few minutes, before coming back with a phone in her hand.

"Finnick?" She speaks into the phone. "I need your help. Come to District seven headquarters right now."

I furrow my eyebrows at the mention of Finnick. Finnick Odair? How could he possibly help?

"I don't care what you're doing!" She growls. "Get over here, I need you!"

And with that, she slams the phone onto the dining room table. She runs her fingers through her black hair several times, muttering incoherent words under her breath.

"Casey, I'm sorry, but Aspen is stupid for leaving you," Johanna says, finally re-entering the living room. "I have some back-up allies, if that's what you need. They're guaranteed to keep you safe, and they won't kill you while your back is turned."

"No thanks," I turn down the offer, speaking softly. "I'm okay, I don't need anyone. Either way, I won't make it out alive."

"We'll see about that," She crosses her arms over her chest.

The elevator makes a 'ding' noise, before the door glides open, revealing Finnick. I don't look in his direction, keeping my attention focused on the floor as I think.

Maybe I can trust Marvel. After all, he was pretty sincere with what he said earlier. But couldn't he be just like Glimmer? Could it all just be an act? Maybe he's even playing me, based on Glimmer's choices.

They're District partners, so it would be natural if they were allies. So they could even be plotting against me, planning to kill me the moment I trust Marvel the most. I couldn't let that happen. I won't let it happen.

"Casey?" Johanna questions, pulling me from my thoughts. "This is Finnick, my best friend."

Finnick flashes me a gorgeous smile. I give him a weak smile back, before looking back over to Johanna, waiting for her to talk.

"Aspen, my other tribute, has left her for the careers," Johanna tells Finnick. "So I was wondering if your tributes could ally with her."

"Oceana has already allied with the tributes from District five," Finnick says smoothly. "But River could ally with her. He's eighteen, and is incredibly good with the trident. He's actually been requested to be a career, but he turned it down."

"Sounds perfect," Johanna grins. "Do you think he'd agree to protect Casey?"

"I don't need to be protected," I object. "Isn't it already obvious that I'm weak? That I'm going to die quickly?"

"Stop worrying about it," Johanna huffs. "You won't die."

"Of course he'll protect her," Finnick says.

"That great," Johanna grins. "So, will you talk to him after training, and let me know?"

"Of course," He nods, then gazing at me. "And Casey, don't underestimate yourself. I was fourteen when I won my games."

"But-"

"Thanks for coming, Finnick," Johanna hugs her best friend. "Make sure River doesn't say no. We need him."

"I'll inform him of the situation at hand," He states. "He won't say no."

I shake my head as he leaves, placing my face in my hands.

What has Johanna gotten me into?

___♕___

"Casey, it's time for dinner," Johanna knocks on my door for the third time. "Come on, you need to eat. You can't stay in your room forever."

"Yes I can," I snort. "Jo, Aspen is out there. I'm not leaving my room until I'm guaranteed that I won't see him."

"Case," She sighs from the other side of the door. "You have to face him at some point."

"And that point will not be now," I say. "I'll just wait until he goes to bed."

"Actually, we have a problem." Johanna says louder. "Code red. CODE RED. CODE RED!"

"What?"

But before I even get the chance to question Johanna further, the door is opened.

And standing in the doorway, is none other than Aspen.

"You have got to be kidding me."

_______