“You know, I recommend the prawns,” the boy said, grinning “Fresh from District 4.”

 “D-do I know you?” I stuttered, thrown by his reappearance. I tried to settle my features into a neutral expression.

 “I think you’d recognise a blue haired boy in District 13, don’t you?” the boy replied. How does he know about my origin? How can he even know about 13?

 “There were three things that tipped me off,” he replied, lowering his voice as he read my mind “Firstly, your nails. Not only are they in an atrocious state, but you and your companion are the only people in the Capitol who don’t have these.” He shoved his nails in front of my face, showing me the extravagant diamonds studded over the surface of each and every nail. My heart thudded painfully in my chest. He knew. But he wasn’t yet finished. “Everyone has these nails. Everyone. Secondly, here in the Capitol, it is not unusual for strangers to come and sit with you, especially for lunch. In fact, I’d say it’s common. So your reaction just made you stand out like a sore thumb. Thirdly…what were you thinking? Wearing orange on a Wednesday? Wednesdays, we wear blue!”

 I must have looked like a frightened rabbit, but the boy just laughed.

 “I’m kidding with the last one,” he said “But really. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I’m not going to hurt you, or tell anyone. I just want to talk to you.”

 I leaned forward, frowning “Uh, yeah, you’re going to talk! How the hell do you know about 13?” I hissed.

 “Karissa?”

 Elliott was stood next to the table, mask completely slipping as he glared at the boy. The boy grinned and waved to him good naturedly.

 “What the hell is going on?” Elliott hissed. The boy with the blue hair suddenly leapt to his feet and pulled Elliott into a hug. I blinked, wondering if I was seeing things. When the boy pulled away, he grabbed Elliott’s hand and threw it into the air.

 “Everyone!” he shouted “We’ve got a birthday boy over here! Let’s give him the Capitol welcome he deserves!”

 There came a huge whoop and then from nowhere, a huge group of men who strongly resembled peacocks in their feathered attire scooped Elliott up like a baby and carried him away, singing something about celebration as they left. I could feel my mouth gaping, and discreetly covered it with my hand. Grinning, the boy slipped back into his seat.

 “I had to get him out the way. He was going to cause a problem,” he explained “Man, that was fun. It’s been ages since I’ve been able to do that. One of the things I’ll miss about the Capitol, I guess.”

 “Where are they taking him? And what do you mean you’ll miss?”

 “They’re taking him to the Birthday Bar,” the boy chuckled, casually scanning a menu “Let’s just say he’ll return drunk. Very drunk.”

 “You haven’t answered my other question,” I pointed out, when it became evident he wasn’t going to provide one.

 “So demanding for answers,” the boy sighed “Wouldn’t you just like to relax a while, order a drink-”

 Catching a glimpse at my expression, he shut his mouth sharpish, holding back a chuckle.

 “You District folk are so serious,” he said.

 “Do you blame us?” I snapped “This stops now. You’ll give me answers, or I’ll slit your throat. Your choice.”

 The boy didn’t appear to be fazed. He simply lowered his menu to the table and clasped his hands together in front of him on the table.

 “There’ll be no need for such a savage response,” he said “Perhaps we should start over.” He held out his hand for me to shake “I’m Finch. Finch            Stark.”

 I looked at the hand for a moment warily, before taking it “Karissa.”

 “Nice to meet you, Karissa. Now let me tell you what I’m here for. It goes like this. Settle down, Karissa, my sweet. It’s story time.”

 I found myself eager to find out what he had to say. The boy leant back in his chair, a smile on his face. He smiled too much.

 “Once, there was a young bird. Not a Mockingjay, as you may be thinking. No, not a Mockingjay. A raven.”

 My breath caught in my throat. Mother. He means my mother.

 “And this Raven was chosen to be put to death, in the arena, some years ago. A man named Eli Thimbletooth was her escort to the Capitol, and despite the raven’s tendency to have a nasty bite and use sharp words, he became fond of the young bird.”

 “Can I take your order?” a chirpy waitress arrived on the scene, interrupting the scene. Finch sighed.

 “Alas, the story must take a backseat a moment,” he said, ordering quickly. When the waitress was gone, he rolled his eyes.

 “As I was saying…he became fond of the raven. And in the arena, she prospered. Took flight, if you will. She lived and lost everything dear to her, and hence did something the President will never forgive her for. She tried to rebel. She killed a lot of important people, and in return, he took her tongue. Tried to bury her beak in the sand and hoped she wouldn’t show up again. She’s appeared since, as you will know, in your District. You know her, don’t you?”

 I didn’t trust him enough to tell him she was my mother, but nodded slowly “Yes. I know of her.”

 Finch nodded “Like the Mockingjay, a great deal of people put their faith in the Raven. Without the Raven, there would be no Mockingjay. The Raven inspired people, and the Mockingjay gave them a second chance. Which brings me back to Eli Thimbletooth. My very own father. He inspired my second chance.”

 My eyes widened. Finch and I, we were bound by forgotten connections. Our parents both knew one another, in the time of the failed rebellion. And Finch didn’t even realise I was Raven Verona’s daughter. I kept my mouth shut. It wasn’t the time to tell him.

 “Eli was a changed man after he met the Raven. He began to realise the horrors of the Capitol, noticing the interwoven secrets beneath the surface that are kept from the citizens here. He realised how wrong the Games are, how horrible not only the concept is, but the practise. He nearly saw the Raven die in there. And so he quit his job, retreated to the Capitol, and brooded on what he should do next. The answer came on the leg of a dove one Saturday evening shortly after the Raven was silenced.”

 The waitress returned with two hot, steaming plates, as well as a complimentary bottle of wine and fine bread rolls from District 3. I didn’t dare venture a guess as to what Finch’s dish contained. He thanked the waitress, but didn’t start his food.

 “There was a dove on his window sill. To its leg, a letter was tied. And when he opened it, he recognised the handwriting of Valeria Grey, the well-respected victor of the Raven’s same origin. She had left him something to mull over. It read The raven has fallen and so shall I soon enough. But the phoenix will someday rise from the ashes of District 13 and lead the rebels to justice. Be careful as to where you pledge your allegiance.  You only get once chance to choose. She wanted to give him his second chance at life. She wanted him to go to 13.”

 “But he never came to District 13. He knew she was there. Why didn’t he come?” I blurted. Finch looked nervous for the first time. Instead of answering, he dug his fork into his food and took a bite while he thought.

 “He was scared,” he admitted quietly “Everything is simple here. You’d be mad to want to leave. Most people here don’t have a clue. Don’t think the Games are wrong. Don’t realise we’re in the midst of a war. Just look at these people. Drinking wine and eating til they’re sick, just for something to do. Being judged for having the wrong hair do is the worst thing that can happen to you here. Believe me. I’ve endured it.” He smiled at his own joke. The smile faded quickly “So it takes courage to leave. And then he married my mother, and I guess he just stayed put. But he wants me to take the chance he never did. Get out of here. Start anew. And that, Karissa, is where you come in.”

 “You want me to take you back to District 13,” I finished for him.

 “You catch on quick, Karissa,” Finch grinned.

 “No. No way.”

 “Why not?”

 “The President…”

 “Snow?”

 “No. Coin. She rules 13, now that my mo…now that Raven Verona is older, and less…stable. She sent me here. And she said if I messed this up, she wouldn’t let me come here again. Or go anywhere, for that matter.”

 “Why would you want to come here?” Finch asked. He began to eat his food. He was clearly expecting me to talk now. I sighed, pushing a prawn around my plate.

 “I’m suffocated in that District. I want…I need to get out, experience new places. Have some form of adventure. Even if it’s dangerous. I hate being stuck underground all the time, like some worm in the dirt. I want to breathe. I need to come up for air. And that’s what I’ve done today. By coming here. If I take you back with me, she’ll call me a traitor. And she’ll never allow me out the District again.”

 Finch wiped his mouth on a napkin sheepishly “I had no idea. I’ll strike you a deal. If you take me back, I’ll say I caught you out, threatened to expose you to Snow. Then I can fight my own case. If she won’t allow me to stay, I’ll leave. I’ll walk back to the Capitol, if I must. But give me a chance, Karissa. Isn’t rebellion about helping everyone?”

 “I know…but I’m scared. Of having my freedom ripped away from me. In return for yours. I don’t even know you. You could be planning to kill me-”

 “And what would that gain me? You tell me that, Karissa,” he said softly “Ultimately, it’s your choice. But maybe I can help you. I can…I can open your eyes to new things. Things you’ve never seen before. I’ll keep you above ground, even when you’re trapped under. That’s my promise to you, if you help me. Then even if you never leave the District again, I’ll make sure the sun shines in the darkest corners of those underground floors.”

 I cocked my head to the side, and I saw something new in the boy with the blue hair. I saw a fear creeping beneath his skin. He drummed his fingers on the table, meal abandoned. His lips twitched, as though he’d have liked to have said something, but also to hide his emotions. I looked at him then and knew I was going to risk everything to save him from the hell otherwise known as the Capitol.