ON THE RARE OCCASION AELLA SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT she was awoken by the sound of distant screaming. She jumped awake with a start, her heart pounding heavily in her chest as her breath lodged in her throat. The nightmare she'd been trapped inside was one she'd lived through before. It was the one she had branded her 'recurrent' nightmare. Every Victor had one and hers unfortunately wasn't just a nightmare, it was a memory. It was of someone so important to her in the Games meeting their gruesome end, all because he was alone and they had split up to search for supplies.

That particular nightmare haunted her at least once a week. Some nights she'd wake with a start, others she'd scream through it until she woke herself up with the sound.

That night it was with a start—or at least that's what she thought. When she heard terror filled screaming echo through her bedroom again she frowned deeply. For a minute she sat and listened intensely but she didn't hear anything. She'd convinced herself that her ears weren't playing tricks on her when she heard it again. They were so quiet, almost inaudible but the Games had ensured every part of her was on high alert constantly. It was exhausting to be so overly aware of her surroundings twenty-four seven but fear made her do it. She hadn't ever be able to break the habit after she'd left the Games.

Aella peeled her covers back and got out of bed, her bare feet standing on the cold wood, and she walked over toward her window hastily. She hurried to pull her blinds up entirely and she opened her bedroom window outward and looked outside. The crisp night air took her breath away momentarily. She hadn't expected it to be so cold out but she reminded herself they were in the middle of the worst winter they'd seen in years. The temperature was the coldest she'd felt in all her years and she shivered as the air kissed her bare arms. In only a thin shirt she froze.

Her breath crystallised as she exhaled and she leaned further out her window searching down the dark streets. Living within the Victors Village meant she was away from the rest of the District but even a few feet away from the town square she could very easily spot the large fire in the distance. When she was least expecting it an explosion boomed through the District, reverberating off the walls and carrying into the clear sky. She ducked somewhat in her window following the sound as the fire she spotted doubled in size within seconds. The raging blaze lit up the town square and the residents of her District around it.

The chaos only grew louder as screaming followed. Aella moved to close her window, drawing herself back into her bedroom when she met the gaze of the Victor who lived across the road from her. Daniel Amor was already outside his house, closing his door and ten steps ahead of Aella. His face had twisted into one of anger and when he turned on his heel to run up into the town square he caught her gaze as she stood in front of her open bedroom window.

In the dim light they read each others eyes and mind perfectly and within seconds Aella was pulling her bedroom window in a hurry. She ran to her drawers and threw on whatever she could find that would keep her warm and pulled a pair of thick socks on before shoving her feet into her boots and hurrying to tie them up. She ran down her stairs, grabbing her long winter coat and pulling it on while wrapping a scarf around her neck and lower face.

She tore her front door open when shock consumed her. She didn't jump from the fright but her brows furrowed deeply as she saw her mother's best friend standing on her porch with a thick woollen blanket wrapped around her head and shoulders. Sal cried as she stood there and Aella's hands grasped her shoulders tightly as she searched for any sign of injury. Before the young woman could even open her mouth to speak, Sal beat her to it.

"Sam and Natalia," she sobbed, "Sam went out join and Natalia and I were separated in the crowd. We fled when the van exploded."

Aella tried to not let her words overwhelm her. While she had absolutely no idea what was going on she knew whatever it was she had to help. The people of her District sounded like they were in trouble and she wasn't one to sit back within the well built walls of her home and let them suffer. It wasn't in her nature.

"Okay. It's okay," Aella hurried to say as she saw Daniel waiting at the fountain for her out the corner of her eye, "I'll find them. Go inside and get warmed up. Lock the door behind you and do not let anyone in, Sal. Do you understand?"

The older woman nodded vigorously as Aella opened her door again to let Sal in. She thanked her repeatedly until she was standing within the safety of Aella's house and as the young woman grasped the brass handle to shut her door she called to her in desperation.

Aella froze, looking at Sal as she sobbed and said, "Please be careful."

The woman only nodded, "I will." She replied, the rest of the sentence lingered on the tip of her tongue but she knew better than to make promises. They were always broken, never meant to be kept. She knew that and Sal knew it. The last thing she was going to do was promise the woman who had cared for her the last three years that she would be safe and she'd find both her adult children. It wasn't something she'd ever be able to keep.

Aella shut the door, leaving Sal within the safety of her home and she jogged down her porch steps. Her eyes locked on Daniel's tense frame and she pulled her scarf over her face, "What the hell is going on?"

"Some kind of riot, I think." Daniel replied with hard eyes, "I have no idea."

Daniel Amor had been the mentor Aella never had. A man of his late thirties he looked exceptionally well for his age. He was eighteen when he was reaped—the oldest competitor within his Games and his brute strength had served him well. His deep blue eyes were enchanting and every woman of the Capitol swooned whenever he was around.

He wasn't around much following his victory. He spent most of his time in the Capitol 'networking' and following his spontaneous return to his District his entire family washed up dead days later. The Daniel Amor he had once been prior to his reaping had died and he'd become a man who hid within the confines of his house—a lot like Aella, only ever emerging at the same time every year for a period of three to four weeks.

Aella remembered the night Daniel had knocked on her door after her family had died and invited himself in with a grocery bag. He ignored the empty bottles of whiskey rolling around on the floor and the empty boxes of tissues and made her the first warm, home cooked meal she'd had in over a week. He'd been there through her darkest days and every week on Thursday like he had done that night he would show up at her door with a bag full of groceries and they'd sit and share a meal together together.

Daniel and Aella had formed an unbreakable bond. One that not even President Snow could break.

The one unfortunate year he wasn't selected to mentor was the year Aella was reaped and Daniel had been one to completely overlook her at home. He felt sympathy for her of course but he didn't ever think she'd survive the bloodbath, she was still a child. He'd been a minority in the millions who had anticipated her to be the first to die but when she survived and eventually went on to win and her story came to light the guilt that enslaved him was one he'd never felt before.

He'd taught her how to mentor—how to be the Victor she was. Aella owed all her survival skills to Finnick but she owed her hard faced persona and her ability to negotiate the Capitol to Daniel and even though he hadn't taught her how to survive in the Games he continued to fight and train with her behind closed doors. He was her punching bag and he was okay with that.

More screaming echoed through the District, fearful and scared, and the hairs on Aella's neck rose. She hated the idea of her District in trouble. They never fought back. They always obeyed the laws no matter how much they detested them. They stepped back and let the Peacekeepers reign out of fear but now they were taking matters into their own hands. Aella didn't know why but she wanted to.

"It doesn't matter," She said to Daniel dismissively, "We need to help them."

With a firm nod Daniel's eyes ignited in determination and the two of them ran together out of the safety of the Victors Village. They joined the residents of their District and helped those who were in need while Aella searched low and high for Sam and Natalia. It took her longer than she'd anticipated. She had been separated from Daniel long before she found Natalia within the houses to the left of town helping console the children as their town lit up in fire.

The residents had petrol bombed the trucks of Peacekeepers that had rolled in that night and the fire spread far and wide. They were lucky enough none of the buildings within the town square caught fire and that it was contained only to the trucks. They had managed to push the Peacekeepers out for the time being but Aella knew they'd regain control sooner rather than later.

She worked avidly to break it all up. To get the residents back into their homes before the Peacekeepers came and opened fire. She managed, too. Her presence was strong in the District. The residents admired her and they listened to her and she had just about managed to get everyone out of the square when the first round of gunfire echoed through the air.

The crowds dispersed and chaos erupted. Everyone began screaming. Aella grabbed Natalia's hand and ducked low to the ground to avoid the gunfire. The white uniforms of the Peacekeepers stormed through the barricade. Aella stood up, ready to drag Natalia back to her house when she saw a man who had been shot lying feet away from her on the ground.

The blood seeped from deep within his clothes, soaking his cargo green jacket and ran out on the ground beneath him. The chaos around her sent her back in time. For a minute everyone around her disappeared. Her ears rang loudly as sand emerged under her feet. The sun pounded down on her and the decrepit buildings crumbled.

Suddenly she was thirteen again, stumbling blindly through a sandstorm while dried blood of her fellow Tributes stained her pale skin and ripped clothes.

She hadn't been around blood—seen it in person since her family died and she went spiralling into overdrive.

Dozens of people gathered around the man as he gasped desperately for air—Natalia one of them. Aella glanced ahead to see the Peacekeepers homing in on them and she fixated her scarf around her face before rushing over and joining the commotion. He was only young, she'd hazard a guess at mid to late twenties and his face—even in the dark—was ghostly pale. He grimaced and withered, unable to do anything for the pain.

As she knelt by his head she locked eyes with Natalia and they seemed to share a knowing look. While her body shook and her eyes were fearful, she did a good job of holding herself together. Natalia forced a calm expression to her face though her eyes betrayed her true feelings and steadily she asked, "Where's my mother?"

"My house." Aella responded immediately, "But I've no medicinal supplies there."

Natalia rose her brow, "Nothing?" Aella shook her head in response and Natalia's shoulders sagged as she swore, "Shit."

"I know," Aella mumbled barely meeting her gaze before she focused back on the man, "But I never need anything."

Suddenly, Sam appeared out of nowhere dressed in dark clothing with wide eyes. His sister jumped in shock when she heard his voice but Aella eyed him from head to toe. She couldn't examine him much for his thick layers but from what she could see he looked physically unharmed. Her heart settled somewhat in her chest seeing him unscathed and when Daniel appeared beside him she released a deep sigh of relief.

"I can go home and get mom's kit."

Natalia glared furiously up at her older brother—ever the hero. Aella could see that her anger was fear driven but they all knew they had bigger things on their hands in that moment. She was sure the sibling duo would argue it out, that Natalia would end up in tears and Sam would feel guilty as sin but in the end they'd hug it out and he'd promise never to do it again... until the next time. There was a time and a place for that conversation to happen and it wasn't in the middle of the town square with a man bleeding to death around them and Peacekeepers homing in.

"Okay," Aella released a heavy breath, drawing in those around her, "Daniel help Natalia and this man's friends get him back to my house. Sam and I will go to his house and get Sal's kit."

"No, Aella—"

The young woman looked up to the man who stood by her. The icy fire that raged in her eyes was enough to silence him. He was five years older than her but her glare was a warning he'd come to listen to. In the years since her brothers passing Sam had stepped up to protect Aella but she didn't ever need it. Not really. He still tried his best. He owed it to his best friend to look out for his little sister, he just didn't expect to fall for her during the process.

Aella released him from her captivating glare and she hurried to help lift the man from the floor. Daniel stepped in and slung his arm around his shoulder as his friend took the other side. Between the two of them they supported all of his weight and Natalia was left to guide the way as Aella urged them away.

They began their flee but Natalia glanced back once to look at both Sam and Aella. Her eyes were wide with both fear and urgency and she said, "Hurry."

Aella nodded firmly in response as they watched them run for a few seconds. It wasn't until the brash shouting of the Peacekeepers echoed through the square did they move. The uniformed men broke the barricade together and Aella grabbed Sam's wrist, pulling him backward and away. Together they sprinted out of the square and turned left behind the Justice Building. Sam guided them into a darkened street—a shortcut toward their end of the village that not many knew about.

The Peacekeepers turned to distant whispers and all that could be heard was the sound of Aella and Sam's boots hitting the pavement as they ran and their shallow breaths. It didn't matter if her lungs were screaming, Aella wouldn't stop. The fight response had coached her into never stopping. From the day that starting cannon had sounded in the arena she had never stopped. She was one hell of a runner. She'd learned to run for her life and she'd continued to run for her life since.

The journey was familiar for Aella as they eventually turned into the street Sal and her two children lived on. The dull overhead street lamps illuminated certain points on the sidewalk but it wasn't enough to light up the whole street. Every house was in sheer darkness and Aella had a suspicion it was to do with the Peacekeepers threatening presence. Families would be curled up together within one room, too afraid to turn their lights on and it both sickened and enraged her. Her District—her people—were forever living in President Snow's clutches. They lived in fear every day.

When the house came into view Aella eventually slowed to a stop. Her eyes fell over the house to the left and her breath hitched in her throat. The familiar exposed brick and white painted door made her fingers tremble. She could still picture her bedroom growing up, the pastel pink walls were filled with photographs and paintings from her mother. The white bedspread matched the rug on her floor and the full view mirror sat next to her dresser in front of her window.

She hadn't stepped foot inside her old house since the day she was reaped. She'd never once journeyed back. She had the keys sitting patiently in the drawers by her front door right in the bottom where they'd been left untouched for years. That house held happy memories and she didn't want to tarnish them with the dark edges that clung to her everywhere she went. It was her childhood and her innocence and she wanted to protect that for as long as she lived. For that very reason she would never step foot in her old house again.

She pushed the memories away as she followed Sam up the pathway to his house. She stood guard, searching the darkened streets for any sign of Peacekeepers while he worked to unlock the door and once it was open she retreated backwards inside, locking the door after her.

"Can't switch the lights on." Sam murmured as he walked through his front living room. Aella followed him mindlessly through the reasonably sized home as he made his way through to the kitchen.

"The Peacekeepers will see." She agreed with him, watching as he walked into the study that had once been his fathers. He left the door open for her and pulled the rug back in the centre of the room, pulling up the floorboards that hid his mothers medical kit she had hidden outside of work. It had always been classed as contraband but everyone who worked within the hospital in District Five had their own kit at home even if the punishment was death by execution if you were found with contraband in your home.

Aella didn't let the thought linger in her head. If it wasn't for Sal's kit there'd be a man dying in the street. What they were doing was both highly illegal and a massive risk. They'd all be executed if they were ever found by Peacekeepers and that's why Aella told Daniel and Natalia to take him back to her house instead of bringing him to Sal's house. As much as being a Victor was often seen as a curse, Aella knew her title gave her protection. Peacekeepers were not allowed within the walls of the Victors Village. They wouldn't be able to search her home.

For the next few days until this all blew over—whatever this was—she'd home Sal, Natalia and Sam as well as the injured man and his friend. She had a feeling Daniel would be around more than not also but she didn't mind.

Her eyes focused on Sam as he moved to replace the floorboards and the rug but the more she stared the worse her anger became. She narrowed her eyes into slits as she remembered what Sal had said when she'd come pounding on her door in fear.

"Your mom told me what you did," She said coldly before her voice picked up into a scolding tone, "What the hell were you thinking, Sam?"

"It's time to fight back, Aella." He responded as she watched him shake his head. He picked up the black bag and turned back to face her, his tall frame loomed over her but it didn't threaten her. She'd grown used to tall men standing over her over the years. Sam had always been well built, his robust frame had only strengthened over his years at work on the Dam. Even through the thick layers he wore Aella could see the strength, his broad chest, large biceps.. the way he towered over her should have threatened her but it didn't.

The only source of light in the study was that of the moon shining through the window. It shone on his face, his sharp jaw clenched and crisp blue gaze bore into hers with determined intent. His black curls hung over his forehead and clung to the back of his neck.

She studied him with furrowed brows and confused eyes, "What do you mean?"

"The Districts are fighting back and it's time we joined in. There's been talk about it at work. Everything that happened tonight was planned. We knew that more Peacekeepers would be coming in for the Victory Tour and we protested after what they did in Eleven yesterday."

His words only made her brows furrow further. The notion of riots and Districts opposing President Snow's rule ignited the burning fire inside her. The thought excited her but she didn't know what had happened in District Eleven. She didn't make it a point to watch every stop of the Victory Tour.

"What?" She muttered, "What happened in Eleven?"

"They offered a months worth of winnings to the families of the Tributes," Sam said to her, "A man drew a three-fingered salute to them and the Peacekeepers dragged him through the crowd and up to the stage. They aimed their gun to his head executed him in front of the entire District."

Her eyes widened as a wave of nausea gripped her tightly. She could picture vividly the horrific scene. All of a sudden it was starting to make sense to her.

"Oh my, god." She mumbled in disgust.

Sam nodded firmly in response, "Exactly. President Snow thinks he can rule this country with no mercy but he's wrong. People are fighting back, Aella, and it started after Katniss and Peeta were crowned Victors."

"He bent the rules for them because they were going to defy him." She said quietly under her breath.

"And yet they still did anyways," Sam said, "and they're still alive."

She met his gaze again and arched her brow, "People are fighting back?"

He nodded in determination before saying, "They're starting a rebellion."

•  •  •

The walls of Aella's house hadn't seen so much life than in the last three years than what it had in the last three days. Sal had managed to save the life of the man who had been shot and she had nursed him back to health. He still had a long way to go, but between Aella, Daniel, Sam and his friend they had managed to sneak him out of her house and back to the safety of his own without being detected by Peacekeepers in the dead of night.

The already tight rules had been amplified and warning to anyone who dared to break them had been communicated over a mandatory meeting in the village square the afternoon after the riot had taken place. Any crime committed had been made punishable by death—the firing squad to be precise. Aella expected it to come but as she looked around and saw the fury in the eyes of her District she doubted they would be followed. They weren't afraid anymore and that was a turning point she'd never expected.

The days that followed that were spent preparing the District for the Victory Tour. It was due to reach District Five in just four short days.

Sal, Sam and Natalia stayed in Aella's house for a few more days while everything blew over. The first day following the riot had been precarious, especially with the man that had been shot. He'd been unstable according to Sal. Aella truly didn't think he'd make it through the night but he did. He'd gotten worse before he'd gotten better and when she awoke on the third morning to see him with some colour to his face relief flooded her body.

She found herself standing before her drawing room at one point during the night, staring at the dark wood and not daring to go any further. The events of the riot had played on her mind to the extent where she couldn't sleep and she was reminded of the day President Snow came to visit her and promised to burn her world to the ground. It was the very day she vowed to kill him and the memory weighed heavy in her mind as if it was just yesterday.

Aella trembled as she sat down on the cold leather of the arm chair. She had never made use of the drawing room in her house. The fresh bouquet of white roses sat neatly on the mahogany desk separating her and President Snow as he sat behind it. The rich stench of the flowers was almost enough to conceal the metallic smell that lingered in the air and perhaps if Aella hadn't of spent fifteen days surrounded by it in the Games she wouldn't of recognised it.

Her keen nose smelt it the second she sat down, however, and it added to the mixture of anxiety and dread swarming within her stomach. She had been warned about this by him before they had left the Capitol. She was sixteen now, President Snow would officially see her as 'of age'. There wasn't any way she could hide anymore, not when she'd grown into herself in all the right ways.

She'd only become more desirable in the eyes of the Capitol since her victory two years ago. The Golden Girl had lived on, wooing the Captiol residents during those years. She was still one of the most loved Victors, made even more special by her raw honesty and her 'heartbreaking' story of what she had gone through in the lead up to her Games.

So when Aella arrived home five minutes prior following a long four week stint in the Capitol and saw her mothers pale face and terrified eyes her heart fell from her chest. She never expected President Snow to be waiting for her when she arrived home. She had briefly spoken to that years Victor Johanna Mason about this—whatever this was. Everyone seemed to know what it meant when President Snow visited your home or requested to see you following your Hunger Games win. If he didn't request your presence, you weren't desirable enough.

Aella knew Johanna was desirable to the Capitol. She'd played the innocent and shy character the entire lead up to The Games and the second she got her hands on an ax it all changed. She couldn't even be branded the underdog like Aella had been because she very clearly wasn't. It was obvious that Johanna had played everyone for a fool right from the very start.

It was smart and it was cunning and that was what made the Capitol fall so madly in love with her. Once she had made it down to the final seven she unleashed a wicked ability to murder. It was quite shocking to watch but Aella loved the twist nonetheless, if her Tributes couldn't of won her next favourite to win was the seventeen year old from District Seven.

So while she had been warned she never expected to see the man who ruled Panem sitting in her drawing room.

The silence that lingered between the two was tension-filled and Aella tried to keep her composure. She built up her walls high like he had taught her and she sat in the chair opposite Snow with a poker straight back. She didn't move an inch. She didn't give anything away. She closed herself off and waited for her president to speak.

The man eventually leaned forward and plucked a white rose from the bouquet he'd brought for her. He examined it carefully, twisting the stem in his gloved fingers, careful to avoid the thorns while looking at the head of the rose. It had just bloomed, a pristine white colour that reminded her of fresh snow.

Aella met his gaze when he looked up at her. His grey coloured eyes fell upon her, old and weathered, he scrutinised her and narrowed his brows. The already formed wrinkles of his skin deepened and he said, "Do you know why I am here Miss Barnes?"

Yes, she thought.

"No."

Feign innocence. That was what he had told her. Hold him off for as long as you can. He won't use you now but he'll still want to know you're on his side.

"You're young, Miss. Barnes," He said, "You're beautiful."

Her brows twisted together neatly in confusion as she said, "Thank you?"

"You know people in the Capitol pay millions for a slither of your beauty." He said.

Her neatly plucked brow arched, "And I suppose I should count myself lucky." She said nonchalantly while her heart began to thud against her chest wall. It was coming... she knew it was.

He placed the rose back in the bouquet, "You have achieved what not many people have, young lady."

She didn't have to feign the confusion that swirled within her, "President?"

"People bet on you being the first to die. You had the lowest odds, the lowest score.. yet the second that cannon sounded you shot through that arena like a poisonous snake. A mere thirteen year old girl who—as I was told—was as innocent as they came."

Aella cooled her face into a stony expression and clasped her hands together tightly, "The Games do that to a person, President Snow."

He merely nodded with slight amusement written on his face, "You had a successful Games this past year didn't you?"

Aella frowned, "I'd hardly call it successful. They both still died."

"But you had one reach the top three and if I do recall that alone pays handsomely into your accounts." He countered.

"I have more money than I need now." She merely shrugged, "I have no need for anymore." And it was true, she already donated the majority of her winnings to her District and its people every single month. She straightened and added, "Is this what this is about? The past Games?"

They had only concluded three days ago. She had only just gotten off the train minutes ago. Why was he sitting before her?

"No." Snow replied, "Though I did want to congratulate you on your Tribute making the top three. It seems your mentoring skills are just as good as your own skills in the arena."

"She has—had—a name, President." Aella responded as nicely as she could while she raged on the inside. Both of her Tributes had died and the first thing she would be doing after this meeting was visiting both their families and offering them her condolences along with an offering of a small sum of her still piling winnings should the they wish to take it. It wasn't charity, never would be and she made it clear to every family she offered it too. She'd done it since her first Games as a mentor the year after her own and had no desire in stopping.

The aging man simply shrugged his shoulders and responded, "I only learn the names of my Victors, Miss. Barnes."

Aella read the words left unspoken. He had only bothered to learn her name when Claudius Templesmith declared her as Victor before she collapsed in exhaustion in a pool of her own blood. She tucked away the kernel of information for later and merely nodded.

"I would like to offer you a job, Miss. Barnes." Snow said eventually and Aella found her heart stilling her chest.

She willed herself to remain calm, allowed the soothing thoughts to wash through her body. She would not show him anything. Not her fear or her hesitation. She absolutely refused.

"A job?" She merely echoed. Her voice a chilling calm in a snow storm.

President Snow's brow twitched. If he knew or sensed something he didn't say it. Instead began his proposition, "You work for me. You visit my associates, business men, socialites, anyone and everyone who resides in my Capitol and you listen and report back to me."

Aella allowed herself to nod, only once, a slow and calculated movement as her brain combed through his every word carefully. He worded it so well. No mention of what the job truly entailed—of how she'd have to whore herself out to these people like he had said. That's what he had become, the Capitol's Whore.

She tried to force herself to smile, to laugh as she said, "I'm far too young for a job Pres—"

But he didn't let her finish. He only pushed, "You're desirable in my Captiol, Miss. Barnes. I see the way those people throw themselves at you. What I ask is nothing for your reward."

"My reward, Sir?" She asked.

President Snow's eyes gleamed, "Money, jewels, anything you desire I will provide should you accept my offer."

A life with him? Could he really give her that. The temptation stirred something deep within her. It had her contemplating, fighting against her morals, her inner voice, his voice warning her not to take his position—to spin every lie imaginable to worm her way out of it without saying the words 'no'.

"And what would it entail?" She asked carefully.

President Snow merely shrugged, "Your presence at a few Capitol parities. A weekend or two away from home every month. A small cost for such a great reward."

But it wasn't a small cost. The cost was nowhere near as 'small' as he made it out to be. No wonder he had fallen into the President's trap, she thought. It was easy to agree to something when the bigger picture wasn't painted.

"It is a big ask, President." She said as respectfully as she could, "When I was promised a life of peace should I win the Hunger Games. It has been three years and I am yet to experience any of it.... The peace. That was supposed to be my reward last time."

President Snow's eyes coiled and she glimpsed the menace behind them. Her very insides shuddered.

"May I think on it?" She asked him hopefully. Time...she needed time to think of a solid reason why she couldn't do it.

The man inclined his head but that wickedness still raged in his eyes—a warning, "You have one week, Miss. Barnes." He said and rose to stand, "But should you fail to respond, decline to accept..." He didn't finish his sentence. He merely looked down to a frame that sat on the desk that separated them. His gloved hands reached for it and he studied the photograph it held—the photograph Aella knew had been taken of she and her brother and her parents on her mother's birthday last year. His eyes shone in bright promise as he put the frame down and said, "What a lovely family you have, Miss. Barnes."

He had gone before she could even think to loose a breath and she hadn't seen him again until the following year when the Hunger Games forced her back to the Capitol—when Snow forced her back. Her excuse for declining his offer hadn't been good enough it seemed, or rather he didn't take no for an answer, but either way she still became one of his puppets.

She had managed to keep her dignity, to not become another one of his prized possessions who serviced his Capitol friends but she had still become a chess piece on his board. He had still killed her family but he did not confine her to a life of solitude trapped within the four walls of her house. No, he saw to it that she was hauled from that empty house every year to mentor, to present herself for the Reapings, for the Victory tours.

Like it always had, Aella's hand dropped from the brass door handle and fell to her side. She loosed a heavy sigh as Sal appeared at the end of the hallway with a sad gleam in her eyes. The older woman merely wrapped her arms around Aella, whispered, I know, and guided her to the kitchen and away from that horrid day.

•  •  •