Nothing else seemed to happen for a while after Treech's appearance. At one point, Teslee came out to collect another drone, but other than that, the arena was fairly silent.

That was until later in the afternoon. When Reaper appeared from the stands. 

Slowly, the boy from Eleven approached the bodies in the center, unable to make sense of it all. Especially Lamina. The girl who had shown him nothing but kindness earlier that morning.

After dazing off for a while, Reaper finally sprang into action, picking up Lamina's body gently before walking her over to where Bobbin and Marcus lay. Afterward, he did the same with Tanner, Dill, and Sol, arranging the tributes into his own makeshift morgue. 

And then, he ripped down another part of the flag -- once again earning a loud gasp from the audience and draped it over the bodies as if to say; here lie the children of the districts, slaughtered by the Capitol.

Then, he shook out the ripped flag he had given to Lamina earlier in the day before tying it around him like a cape. Reaper seemed to grow strength wearing Lamina's flag -- having enough energy to run around before retreating back to the stands exhausted. 

"He sure likes to make a scene," Urban had commented, shaking his head.

"He's making a statement," replied Vera, "It's his way of fighting the games."

"Maybe he should focus on the actual games," Clemmie spat, twitching slightly after. She was still clearly not herself. 

"Oh for heaven's sake, at least feed him, Clemmie!" Festus cried out, annoyed at Clemmie's erratic behavior.

"Mind your business, Festus," Clemmie shot out, venom dripping from her lips.

Slowly, Vera approached her, putting a hand on her arm in comfort as Festus muttered the word 'heartless' under his breath.

"Are you okay, Clemmie?" Vera asked, concern evident on her face. For a moment, Vera could see Clemmie's eyes filled with pain as she melted into Vera's warmth before turning right back to that icy gaze she'd held for the past few days.

"I'm fine," Clemmie replied, pulling her arm away as she faced the screen again.

"Crazy," Festus muttered as Vera walked back to her seat, causing Vera to send him a look.

-

After a while, the group had been dismissed for a break before dinner. Quickly, Vera made her way outside, hoping to get some fresh air as she thought over a strategy to help Treech survive. Sadly, her fresh air grew stale as Dr. Gaul approached. 

"If it isn't the little Phoenix," Dr. Gaul taunted, "How's your wound."

Vera let out a sigh before turning to the woman with a fake smile.

"Much better, thank you," Vera replied, hoping to keep the conversation brief. Dr. Gaul did not seem to have that same intention.

"Let me ask you, girl. How well did you know Gaius Breen?" Dr. Gaul asked, inching closer with an odd smirk.

Gaius Breen? What did he have to do with anything?

"Well enough," answered Vera, "He's my classmate after all. Though I haven't seen him since the bombing."

Vera's response garnered a hum from Dr. Gaul as she nodded her head.

"Yes, well, he's dead," Dr. Gaul replied nonchalantly as if she hadn't been talking about the death of a child, "Complications from the bombing."

Dead?  Vera thought. How could he be dead? It felt like only yesterday that Vera had been listening to one of his silly jokes before their lectures began for the day. 

"Oh. That's awful," Vera breathed out as she thought about her old classmate. 

"Rest assured, there will be repercussions," Dr. Gaul admitted, clapping her gloved hands together as she sent Vera a monstrous grin, "The districts will pay for this starting with those in the arena."

Those in the arena?

"What else could you do to them? They're already fighting for their lives in a game of life and death with only one survivor," Vera shot back, jaw clenching. Dr. Gaul let out a loud laugh as she placed a hand on Vera's cheek.

"Oh, my dear girl. How clueless you are," Dr. Gaul muttered as she scanned Vera's enraged face, "Too bad your boy isn't going to be able to slither his way out of this one."

What could she have meant by that? Vera thought as she watched Dr. Gaul walk away triumphantly. 

Quickly, Vera made her way back into the building, looking around for any clues as to what sort of punishment Dr. Gaul could've been brewing up. There were none.

No, Vera thought. It had to be in her words. Think.

'Too bad your boy isn't going to be able to slither his way out of this one.' she'd said. 

And suddenly, Vera understood. Slither. Like a snake. 

She was going to set her mutant snakes loose in the arena.

But how would she save Treech from this without cheating?  Surely Treech was used to snakes back in Seven, but still, would he be able to avoid them on his own? Vera thought that maybe he would. Maybe, Treech would be fine if he had an even playing field. 

But knowing Coriolanus, she knew he didn't.

How could she change that? What would he even do to cheat?

And then, just as she was about to give up, she turned her head to see Coriolanus. Coriolanus who had been absentmindedly playing with the handkerchief he had used to wipe Lucy Gray's face.

His handkerchief. Vera needed to get her hands on that.

-

"Coryo?" Vera called out as she approached her 'friend', faking sad eyes as she looked up at him, "Do you mind if we talk?"

Coriolanus glanced at the ground before examining Vera's face, eyes softening slightly as he nodded.

"Not here though," Vera mumbled, "It's about the other night."

Coriolanus let out a sigh before glancing around at the fleeing crowd. A few moments ago, the dean announced that everyone was to be sent home for dinner as gamemakers needed to make some changes and have a meeting before everyone reconvened.

"Fine, let's go to my place."

-

"What's with the gloves?" Coriolanus asked as he noticed the gloves on Vera's hands. Vera only rubbed her hands together with a chuckle.

"Festus wouldn't stop bothering me about the little cuts on my hands from the arena. He doesn't believe me about my bike accident. It doesn't help that all three of us had the same excuse," Vera lied. 

Festus hadn't brought up her accident besides the occasional 'are you okay?' since the first day she had come in with a bloody shirt. But Coriolanus couldn't know the real reason for the gloves.

Coriolanus, oddly enough, seemed to buy the excuse though, shaking his head as he muttered the phrase 'of course he is' under his breath. 

"You can wait in my room. I'll make us some tea," Coriolanus muttered as he took off his jacket. Vera quickly did the same, placing hers next to his as she smiled and took a seat on his bed.

"Okay," Vera replied, smiling at him until he walked out of the room. Instantly, her smile dropped as she crept toward his jacket, rifling through his coat pocket and pulling out the handkerchief.

Quickly, Vera examined the color before shoving it into her pocket and walking out into the hallway.

"Hey Coryo? Do you have any tissues I can use?" Vera called out as innocently as possible. Coriolanus didn't seem to bat an eye, calling out from the kitchen without even turning to face her.

"Top drawer in my room," Coriolanus responded, "Plenty of handkerchiefs there."

"Thank you," Vera called back as she made her way into the room muttering an 'idiot' as she opened the drawer and grabbed two handkerchiefs. One white like the one Vera had stolen -- embroidered with his father's initials -- and the other baby blue.

He wasn't lying when he said he had plenty, Vera thought. At least he won't notice any missing.

"Find it?" Coriolanus called out as he approached the room. Frantically, Vera ran toward the jackets, slipping the white one into Coriolanus's pocket before sitting back on the bed, patting her nose with the blue one.

"Got it. Thanks," Vera muttered as she pretended to wipe her nose, placing the handkerchief in her lap as she accepted the tea from him.

Part of Vera felt bad for taking food from the Snow's now that she knows how poor they are. Especially when she was about to possibly get Coriolanus in serious trouble if he did what she expected him to do.

But then again, Coriolanus was a manipulative liar. Maybe she shouldn't feel bad for him.

"So," Coriolanus spoke as he paced around the room for a moment, "What did you want to talk about?"

Vera clenched her jaw as she wracked up a conversation in her head that wouldn't completely set him off.

"Why'd you lie to me all these years?" Vera asked the boy in front of her. If she was going to have to sit through this conversation, she might as well get answers.

Coriolanus clenched his jaw as he looked to the side momentarily, letting out a loud exhale.

"It's embarrassing, Vera. We lost everything in the war. I couldn't just go around telling everyone that and ruin my family's reputation," Coriolanus replied, voice shaking slightly.

For a moment, Vera almost wanted to take back everything she had just done as she watched Coriolanus's usually poised persona falter. 

"But I'm not just anyone, Coryo. I'm your best friend," Vera replied trying to reach up for him, "Why couldn't you trust me?"

Coriolanus just looked at the ground, letting out a loud sigh as he shuffled his feet and pulled away from her. 

Vera shook her head at his reaction. She'd known her Coryo had changed, but she'd never imagined that he'd never felt the same affection for her as she felt for him.

"Are you gonna answer me?" Vera yelled, growing increasingly frustrated. Coriolanus's head jerked up at her tone, face hardening.

"There's no need to yell, Vera," Coriolanus responded, gritting his teeth as he looked around the apartment to make sure no one had heard them. Vera let out a scoff at that. Of course, he cared about his reputation more than mending their friendship.

"God, Coryo," Vera muttered, standing up to be level with him, "Why are we even friends anymore? Do you care at all that you've hurt me? And not just because of the fight earlier either. It's all your lying and secrets and games. Do you understand that?"

Coriolanus let out a scoff as he looked at Vera's angered face, taking a step closer so that he was towering over her.

"Don't be ridiculous, Vera," Coriolanus spit out, "These games have gotten to your head. Why don't you sit down?"

Vera's eyes widened at his response, shocked that he had the nerve to dismiss her like that when she'd been the one to stand by his side through everything. 

And with that, any regret or guilt Vera felt for betraying Coriolanus Snow faded.

Vera let out a bitter chuckle before staring Coriolanus in his eyes and inching closer.

"No, I don't think I will."

And then, Vera grabbed her jacket, put it on, and felt around for the handkerchief before smirking and heading for the door.

Bewildered, Coriolanus turned toward her, following like a lost puppy.

"Where are you going?" he asked as soon as she reached the door. Vera only turned around long enough to see the anger rising in his face before she opened the door and walked out.

"See you in the arena."

-

a/n: soo Vera seems to have a plan... to be fair !! it's not cheating (kinda?) will it do much? maybe ?? (well obviously I know but) 

and to be fair, she's not technically betraying him unless he actually uses the handkerchief to cheat... but I think we all know what happens there,,, 

anyways my class yesterday was canceled bc of the weather :( I was so ready to get classes started again 

as always, thank you guys for all your support,,, it means soo much to me that you guys enjoy this fic !! I'm forever grateful for all the support

love you guys,

hannah <3