▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

MY LITTLE DOVE.

(chapter ten, torn between power and love)

the snow penthouse / capitol arena, 2248.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄  

DOROTHY AND MRS PLINTH looked in horror as they watched Sejanus kneel down beside Marcus, rolling him onto his back. He tried to straighten the legs and fold the arms onto his chest before he started to sprinkle something over Marcus's body. He had done the same thing to Brandy after Arachne died and the girl got shot. 

"That's your son in there? What's he doing?" The Grandma'am asked.

"He's putting bread crumbs on the body," said Mrs Plinth. "So Marcus has food on his journey."

"His journey where? He's dead," the Grandma'am asked. 

"Back to wherever he came from," Mrs Plinth said softly. "It's what we do, back home. When someone dies."

And whilst Coriolanus thought of this to be silly, Dorothy couldn't help but crack a faint smile. It was a nice tradition and it made her feel something unexplainable. It was nice to have people care for you like that. Of course, someone like Coriolanus and the Grandma'am wouldn't understand. But before Dorothy could question anymore, the phone rang.

"One moment." Dorothy smiled at them before crossing to the phone in the foyer. "Hello?"

"Miss Snow, it's Dr Gaul." Dorothy felt her smile drop. "Are you near a screen?"

"Yes, I am." Dorothy sighed.

"What's going on with your friend?"

And whilst Dorothy certainly had something for Sejanus, she wasn't about to turn into a mutt. "We're not really... friends."

"Don't be stupid," Dr Gaul snapped. "'Hold my hand, Dorothy!' 'Come sit next to me, Sejanus! When I asked Casca what classmates he was close to, you and your brother's names were the only ones he could think of."

"Dr Gaul—"

"I don't have time for any 'Dr Gaul'. Right now, the Plinth brat's loose in the arena with a pack of wolves. If they see him, they'll kill him on the spot." She turned to speak to someone else. "No, don't cut away abruptly, that will only draw attention. Just make it as dark as you can. Make it look natural. A slow blackout, as if a cloud has drifted over the moon." She turned back to Dorothy. "You're a smart girl, Dorothy, smartest in your class. What message do you think this will send to the audience? The damage will be irreversible. We must fix this at once."

"What do you think we should do?" Dorothy muttered, turning away from the others, voice low.

"Well, we can't send in Peacekeepers or he'll bolt." Dr Gaul sighed. "We have to lure him out, but he doesn't like his father, he has no siblings, and no-one else cares for him except you, Coriolanus, and his mother. We're trying to find her now."

"She's here," Dorothy said. "She's right here with Coriolanus."

"Well, good, good," Dr Gaul said. "I want you, your brother, and the boy's mother here at the arena in twenty minutes. Nothing more, do you understand?"

"Yes, Dr Gaul."

"Good."

On the television, Dorothy could see that the image had darkened and that Sejanus's figure was barely seeable. "Mrs Plinth, that was the Head Gamemaker. She'd like you to meet her at the arena and me and Coriolanus are to accompany you."

"Is he in trouble?" Mrs Plinth hurriedly asked. "With the Capitol?"

"Oh, no." Dorothy shook her head whilst Coriolanus narrowed his eyes. "They're just concerned with his well-being because of the tributes and what not. We won't be long, Tigris, Grandma'am."

Dorothy managed to push Coriolanus out of the door, hurrying Mrs Plinth behind him. She speed walked to the elevator (which was working, according to Coriolanus) and through the lobby. Her car drove up and the driver nodded at Dorothy's request to be taken to the arena.

"We have to be there quick so please hurry," Dorothy mumbled to the driver and he nodded once more, gliding through the empty streets.

"First time I saw the Capitol, it was night, like this." Mrs Plinth clutched her handbag as she stared out the window.

"Oh, yes?" Coriolanus asked, obviously not interested. Dorothy nearly wanted to slap him. 

"Sejanus sat right where you are, Coriolanus, saying, "It'll be all right, Ma. It'll be okay.' Trying to calm me down. When we both knew it was a disaster." Mrs Plinth sighed. "But he was so brave. So good. Only thinking of his ma."

"He's a good person, Mrs Plinth," Dorothy assured her, reaching over and holding the woman's hand. "It must've been scary, a big change like that."

"It was... family and friends cut us off." Mrs Plinth nodded sadly. "No new ones to be made here. Strabo — his pa, that is — still thinks it was the right thing to do. No kind of future in Two. His way of protecting us. His way of keeping Sejanus from the Games."

"Ironic, really," Coriolanus said. "Given the circumstances... Dottie, what does Dr Gaul want?"

"Oh, I assume she just wants our help getting Sejanus out," Dorothy mumbled. "If you're up for it, Mrs Plinth."

"I don't know," she said. "Him so upset and all. I can try, but he'll have to think it's the right thing to do."

Before Dorothy could even question anything, the car pulled up to the entrance of the arena. Only a dozen or so Peacekeepers and a handful of Gamemakers were present. Dorothy supposed they were trying not to draw attention as she, Coriolanus, and Mrs Plinth headed to a van where a Capitol News monitor displayed a split screen with the actual feed of the arena next to the darkened version that was released to the public. Dr Gaul, Dean Highbottom, and a few Peacekeepers gathered around it.

"Ah, you made it on time," Dr Gaul murmured. "Mrs Plinth, I presume."

"Yes, yes." Mrs Plinth nodded hurriedly. "I'm sorry if Sejanus has caused any inconvenience. He's a good boy, really. It's just he takes things so to heart."

"No-one could accuse him of being indifferent," Dr Gaul agreed before turning to Dorothy and Coriolanus. "Any idea how we might rescue your best friend, Mr and Miss Snow?"

"What's he doing?" Coriolanus asked as he peered at the screen. Sejanus was just kneeling beside Marcus, still as stone. 

"Just kneeling there, looks like," Dean Highbottom murmured. "Possibly in some kind of shock."

"Can't you just send in some Peacekeepers?" Coriolanus asked Dr Gaul.

"And have him bolt like a rabbit?" Dr Gaul scoffed. "No, too risky."

"What about putting his mother on a speaker, or a bullhorn?" Coriolanus suggested. "If you can darken the screen, surely you can manipulate the audio as well."

"Yeah, on the broadcast," Dorothy told him. "But every tribute will hear that there's an unarmed Capitol boy in the arena. They'll attack him the moment they hear the speaker."

"She's right." Dr Gaul nodded. "We think someone he knows needs to slip in as unobtrusively as possible and coax him out. Namely, you two."

"Oh, no!" Mrs Plinth said with a certain sharpness. "It can't be Coriolanus and Dorothy. The last thing we need is to put other children in danger. I'll do it."

"What we need is someone who can make a run for it, if necessary. The Snow twins are the people for the job. Coriolanus can keep guard whilst Dorothy tries to get the boy." Dr Gaul gestured to some Peacekeepers and soon, the twins found themselves being suited up in body armour. "This vest should protect your vital organs. Here's your pepper spray and a flash unit that will temporarily blind your enemies, should you make any."

Dorothy immediately thought back to Reaper, who choked her on the ride to the zoo as Coriolanus asked, "What about a gun? Or at least a knife?"

"Since you two aren't trained, this seems safer," Dr Gaul told them. "Remember, you're not in there to do damage, you're in there to bring your friend out as quickly and quietly as possible. Like I said, Miss Snow will coax the boy whilst Mr Snow will keep watch for any tributes."

Dorothy knew it was pointless to fight Dr Gaul on the matter because she knew if the old lady wanted her to go in there, she were to go in there. But she was glad that Coriolanus was going in there as well with her. 

"You can't do this. They're just children. Let me call my husband," Mrs Plinth begged.

"They'll be all right." Dean Highbottom smiled. "It takes a lot to kill a Snow. Two at that."

Before Dorothy could even question what the dean had said, Peacekeepers flanked them as they forced the Snow twins to move to the arena. And whilst Dorothy had questioned how Sejanus got into the arena in the first place, it became clear that little security was put in place. One of the two doors to the arena was blown away entirely, leaving a wide hole framed with twisted metal. The only security put in place was a few rows of concrete barriers that went up to someones waist. 

Dorothy, Coriolanus, and their escorts made their way through the barriers and into the lobby where everything was covered in plaster dust, chunks of the ceiling and floor blown apart, fallen beams and broken pillars everywhere. There was debris everywhere, the turnstiles on the right being completely destroyed. The only real security there was a temporary set of bars encased in barbed wire and a half dozen armed guards. The ones on the left where the two were heading were untouched.

"So he had a token?" Coriolanus asked as they reached the turnstiles. 

"He had a token," a Peacekeeper confirmed. "Caught us off guard. We're not really looking for people breaking into the arena during the Games, only out." He dug into his pocket and withdrew two tokens. "These two are for you."

"How will we get out?" Dorothy asked as she grabbed the token.

"There," the Peacekeeper said as he pointed to the bars. "We can pull back the barbed wire and tilt the bars forward, creating an opening big enough for the two of you to crawl under."

"You can do that quickly?" Coriolanus asked, glancing at Dorothy. 

"We've got you two on camera," the Peacekeeper said. "We'll start moving the bars when you're successfully bringing him out."

"And if we can't convince him to come?" Coriolanus swallowed.

"We have no instructions on that," the Peacekeeper said. "I guess you two stay until the mission is accomplished."

"What about that?" Coriolanus pointed to the end of the passage where the barricade had been placed under the scoreboard. Dorothy remembered seeing Lamina, Circ, and Teslee crawling in and out of it. 

"That's for show, really. It blocks the view of the lobby, of the street. Can't put that on camera," the Peacekeeper told them. "But you two won't have trouble getting through it. Don't worry, we've got you covered up to the barricade. We've got your backs."

"Lovely," Dorothy muttered as she took a deep breath, placing her ticket into the slot, pushing the metal arms with Coriolanus following them. As they did, the turnstile reminded them, "Enjoy the show!" It made the Peacekeepers laugh. 

The Snow twins immediately clutched hands as they made for the wall on the right, walking forward as silently as they could. Dorothy felt her heart in her throat as she followed the red emergency lights. What if she saw Sabyn in the field? Coral definitely wouldn't hesitate killing Dorothy, but she wondered if Sabyn would. If she did, would she get herself killed for helping Dorothy?

Before she could think anymore of Sabyn, she realised she was now at the edge of the field, the moon high in the sky as Dorothy saw Sejanus still kneeling over Marcus. Lamina was still asleep on her beam and whilst it looked deserted, Dorothy knew that there would be multiple tributes hidden in the cracks. She thought of Reaper and Tanner, who roamed the stands during the day. 

"I'll talk to him," Dorothy muttered under her breath as her and Coriolanus stepped onto the field more. "You stay here and keep watch, like Dr Gaul said."

"Be quick," Coriolanus told her, looking at her with intense worry. 

Dorothy nodded her head before taking a deep breath, quietly walking across the dirt and towards Sejanus. She needed to get close enough to talk to him without anyone hearing, but not enough to spook him.

"Sejanus?" Dorothy hissed when she was a few feet from him. "It's me... it's Dorothy."

He went rigid, but soon laughed as he whispered, "We need to stop meeting like this."

"Honestly." Dorothy joined his soft chuckling. Sejanus looked up and noticed Coriolanus standing a few feet behind her. 

"They sent you two in to fish me out? What madness," Sejanus said as he rose to his feet. "Have you ever seen a dead body?"

"Yeah..." Dorothy mumbled as she walked closer to be by his side. She was close enough to see Marcus's corpse, his head nearly toppled off with Lamina's cutting. "During the war there was a lot."

"I haven't, well, not close up anyway," Sejanus said. "Just at funerals. First time I saw a body this close was at the zoo with Arachne and Brandy... I don't know if I want to be burned or buried."

"Well, let's not decide now." Dorothy sighed as her eyes scanned over the field. She swore she saw someone near the broken wall. She looked over her shoulder to see Coriolanus looking at the same thing. 

"You should go," Sejanus murmured. "You're trembling."

"I wonder why, Sej." Dorothy sighed. She didn't even realise she didn't use his full name. "And I can't. I'm not leaving you alone in here."

"Why not?" Sejanus peered at her. 

"Because I'm not going to let you die," Dorothy told him firmly. "If I leave you here, the tributes will kill you. I don't want you to die."

"I don't care if they kill me," Sejanus told her. "If I die, I can make a statement. Let the whole world see me die in protest."

"Well, that would be inspiring, but the thing is, no-one would see it." Dorothy sighed. He furrowed his brows in confusion. "They've blacked out the screen for all televisions. They'll just remove your body and say you died of a heart attack or something."

"They won't show it?"

"Of course not," Dorothy said. "You'll be dead for nothing. You would have wasted your chance of making things better."

"I don't have a chance—"

"You do," Dorothy told him. "You have a voice, Sej. And guts. I mean, you're the only one who dared to stand up to Dr Gaul. You can make a difference. Don't think you can't because you can."

"Thank you, Dottie."

"Dottie, we're being surrounded." Coriolanus came up behind them, fear in his eyes as he glanced around the field. A cough echoed from the stands.

"Come with us," Dorothy pleaded. "Make a difference because you sure can."

Slowly, Sejanus began to nod his head, lifting it as if he realised the danger of their situation. His eyes turned to the stands where the cough came from. "But I won't leave Marcus."

And so, Coriolanus hoisted up Marcus's lower half as Sejanus encircled his chest with his arms. Dorothy watched as the two boys half carried, half dragged the body towards the barricade, her eyes darting everywhere. And the moment they neared the exit, Dorothy felt a sense of glee that she managed to get Sejanus out quickly. That was until Coriolanus tripped on a rock, going down and driving his knee into the ground. 

"Coryo," Dorothy whispered as she helped him up. He nodded as he heaved Marcus's body once more.

But the moment the footsteps were heard, Dorothy looked over her shoulder to see a knife whizzing past, the blade slicing her cheek where the healing cut was from the bombing. 

Dorothy yelped as she bent down slightly, Coriolanus getting hit by a knife as well, the blade slicing his left upper arm. Whilst Dorothy was bent on the floor, blood dripping down her cheek and ultimately on her fingers as she grazed the cut, Coriolanus was engaging the tribute that was Bobbin from Eight. Sejanus knelt down by Dorothy as he tried to get her up.

"Dottie," Sejanus whispered in her ear. "We need to go."

She nodded as she got up, eyes wide in horror as she saw Coriolanus beat Bobbin to the ground with a wooden board. Blood splattered everywhere as Dorothy and Sejanus stood up.

"We have to go!" Sejanus shouted. Catcalls were echoing around as feet pounded down from the bleachers. Coriolanus tried to make a move towards Marcus's body. "No! Leave him! Run!"

Dorothy was glad to wear flats that day as her, Sejanus, and Coriolanus sprinted for the barricade. Her cheek was stinging as she tried to run, but suddenly, someone grabbed the back of her blouse, yanking her back. 

With a cry, Dorothy fell on her back and she nearly puked at the sight of Coral leaning over her, a smirk on her face as she drew her hand back in order to punch Dorothy. But she quickly rolled away, kneeing the girl in the stomach as she attempted to wriggle out. 

"Oh, no you don't!" Coral laughed as Dorothy tried to flee, grabbing her back again. And as she did, she managed to get a glimpse of Mizzen (the boy from Four), Tanner, and Sabyn. Sabyn. Sabyn was right there with a sword in her hand. She was wearing the cardigan. Her eyes were wide as she saw Dorothy, but the Snow girl had more things to worry about. 

Coriolanus and Sejanus were occupied with Mizzen and Tanner for them to worry about Dorothy, who had began to fight with Coral on the ground once more. They were rolling around as Dorothy tried to wriggle out from the girl, but Coral kept grabbing her back. But as Dorothy managed to get up and run away, she felt a knife cut deep into her ankle.

Giving out a cry, Dorothy managed to flee to where Coriolanus and Sejanus were. Only a few weak rays of moonlight illuminated the area as Dorothy felt the barb wire rip her blouse as she hurriedly went through. Coriolanus was at the front as he went crashing into wood and went face first into a slab of concrete whilst Sejanus smashed his forehead into a surface as well. Dorothy felt the blood gushing from her cheek and ankle as she felt someone try and grab her foot again. 

"What are you doing here?" Sabyn's voice growled as Dorothy looked back. The other tributes had begun to make whooping sounds as they rattled their weapons against the barricade, tracking the Capitol kids through the labyrinth. But before Dorothy could respond, Coriolanus reached back and pulled her along. 

"Sabyn—" Dorothy tried to call out, but her brother and Sejanus kept pulling her along. She had one chance to talk to Sabyn, but of course, it didn't happen. But at least the knowledge that she was alive made up for it. But Sabyn's face disappeared as Dorothy crashed into a red light. The passageway. Up ahead, the Peacekeepers were clustered at the temporary bars.

The tributes were still behind them as they ran towards the Peacekeepers. Sabyn must have been keen on talking to Dorothy as she raced for her, confusion on her face as she watched her mentor. Dorothy did debate stopping just for Sabyn, but Tanner's knife lodged itself in her vest. And so, she yanked it out with a shaky hand before running towards the bars, where the Peacekeeper's had managed to tilt them forward.

It went Coriolanus, then Sejanus, and then Dorothy. She dove, getting her hands under the bars, the Peacekeepers giving her a massive yank. She noticed that the soldiers had done nothing to help them.

"Thanks for having our backs!" Coriolanus began to rage at the Peacekeepers as Dorothy turned around to see Sabyn's face at the bars. And so, Dorothy pointed to Sejanus and then to the arena. Confusion was on her face when suddenly, realisation washed over her. Dorothy sent her a smile before the Peacekeepers moved them along. At least she was safe.

As the three of them were dumped outside the arena, no-one glanced at them. Mrs Plinth was gone. Dr Gaul and Dean Highbottom were in the van debating audio levels. The Peacekeepers stood in clusters as they waited for orders. And then suddenly, an ambulance rocked up. The three of them were ushered into it.

The medic gave Dorothy a pad to hold against her cheek as they hurriedly bandaged up her ankle with a cloth before turning to Sejanus, who had managed to get Tanner's knife in the back of his calf. And whilst Dorothy expected to go to the hospital, she nearly puked when they entered the Citadel. Unloaded into gurneys, they were transported deep down into the lab where Clemensia had been attacked. 

They were set in a small medical clinic where two white curtains divided the three of them. Sejanus was muttering one-word answers to the doctors whilst Dorothy's head ached and throbbed, the staff sticking an IV in her arm to rehydrate her and deliver drugs. And so, the pain eased and Dorothy closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep that she so desperately needed. Well, that was until Dr Gaul snapped the white curtain open.

"Rise and shine," she sung as she stalked towards her. "You're the last to be healed."

"Where is everyone else?" Dorothy asked. She winced when Dr Gaul's cool fingers placed themselves on her wrist, checking her pulse.

"The Plinth boy's gone home and your brother's waiting outside for you," Dr Gaul said. "You've been asleep for a bit."

"Why are you healing me?" 

"Well, I do have medical experience." Dr Gaul laughed. "Obstetrics. Wasn't really for me, though. Parents wanted reassurance, but how would I know what they'd encounter? Just like you. Who would've imagined Crassus Snow's darling baby girl fighting for their life in the Capitol Arena along with his little boy?"

"I'm assuming you've said the same thing to Coriolanus?" Dorothy asked her.

"Oh, yes." Dr Gaul nodded as she shined a light into her eyes, checking her pupils. "You know, Miss Snow. I've always liked twins. Always found them so interesting. There's always been stereotypes for twins. How they must act the same, look the same, do the same things. Just like those late Ring twins. But not you and Coriolanus."

Dorothy stayed quiet.

"You and Coriolanus are so different yet so similar," Dr Gaul murmured as she moved onto Dorothy's stitchings on her cheek. "It's like you have two different sides, Miss Snow, whilst your brother is just one person. You're more complicated."

"How so?"

"Well, one side of you wants power, wants to be the best at everything, and become something so mighty and noble," Dr Gaul explained. "And the other side of you wants love, hope, and peace. And it's only a matter of time before one side completely takes over the other."

Dorothy nodded her head. It was true. She was torn between power and love. One side of her was power-hungry whilst the other wanted to experience love.

"It's understandable to be confused. You are a teenager," Dr Gaul said as she stared at the cut on Dorothy's cheek. "But with who you are, you can become something mighty, just like your brother. But unlike him, you have been blinded by love."

"What about Lucy Gray?"

"Oh, that's some nonsense." Dr Gaul chuckled as she waved her hand. "It's a mere fancy and won't be nothing more. But I know love, Miss Snow." Dorothy raised a brow at this. "I do, you may not believe it, but I do. And the way that Plinth boy looks at you, even a blind person could see it. But don't let it take over you."

"Sejanus doesn't—"

"'Let's hold hands, Dorothy' 'Let's sit next to each other, Dorothy' 'Let me tell you about some mysterious girl that definitely isn't you, Dorothy'." Dr Gaul scoffed. "All the signs are there, you're just trying to deny it. And that love, hope, peace side? It's winning. Do you really want to throw away your future for some boy and this measly district girl?"

Dorothy furrowed her brows. Would she really give up her future for Sejanus and Sabyn? She did just lay her life on the ground for the boy and she had broken numerous rules for the girl.

"What are you saying?" Dorothy finally asked.

"You're in love with the boy, Miss Snow," Dr Gaul snapped. "What I am trying to tell you is don't waste your life on romances and hope, it won't get you anywhere. But power will. Smartness and strength will. Forget the boy and focus on your future. Become something great. Don't let their views tarnish yours."

Dr Gaul was bent down as she began to wrap a gauze around Dorothy's ankle. As she did this, the Snow girl began to think. She didn't love Sejanus. There was something about him, yes, but she didn't love him. But he had convinced her that she was this whole other person besides the one that others had manipulated her to be. And Sabyn had told her this as well. Would Dorothy really believe Dr Gaul over Sejanus and Sabyn?

"Well, that's enough of my pep talks." Dr Gaul hummed as she removed the drip from Dorothy's arm. "We'll need you back in a couple days to check the stitches on your cheek and ankle. Until then, I would keep the night's events to yourself. Better get home and get some sleep. Your tribute still needs you."

As Dorothy slid of the bed and put her shoes on, she turned around and asked, "Dr Gaul? What am I supposed to say about my cheek? I can't blame it on the bombing, that was last week."

"Don't say anything. Put concealer on it or whatever you have. Now, ta-ta."

Dorothy tried to sink all of Dr Gaul's words in as she exited the clinic, finding Coriolanus at the door. She didn't even register the hand he placed on her shoulder as they wondered through the labs, trying to find the elevator. Dorothy didn't love Sejanus. And Sejanus didn't love her. But then suddenly, Dorothy thought back to when Sejanus was explaining his mysterious crush.

"But she's beautiful, and she's nice and considerate, she's funny. And she's insanely smart. But she has a massive heart."

"Well, because the Dorothy I know is kind, considerate, thinks that even the cruelest person doesn't deserve death," Sejanus smiled. He obviously meant Arachne. "And you're smart, both educationally and common sense. You know what you're doing. You've just been manipulated by those around you."

And then Dorothy thought to when she asked Sejanus if she knew the girl. He had replied with no. But Dr Gaul's comments had changed Dorothy's perspective on that. Maybe Sejanus said no because Dorothy didn't know the side of herself that he was in love with. Or liked. Or whatever Sejanus felt. It was a long shot, but suddenly, Dorothy felt faint. 

She was so deep in her head that she didn't realise Coriolanus was ushering her into the Plinths' car. She didn't realise that they were already home with the driver giving Coriolanus a large paper bag. 

"Dottie?" Coriolanus asked Dorothy, hand on her shoulder once more. "What's wrong? You've been silent the entire way."

"I think Sejanus might like me."