❃Isadora Coral Baird (Beffery)❃

Fortunately, it wasn't as hot in the carriage as it was in the station concourse. Lecan also seemed to relax in the circumstances. He still wasn't smiling.While Isa and Lecan shared the back seat, Janine sat next to the driver of the car. In general, Janine seemed happier now that they were in this vehicle. Of course, now she was back home.But Isa didn't have time to spend any more time with Lecan and Janine. There were so many buildings and they were so huge. Quite different from what she had seen of District 12. There were also so many people walking around, Isa stared at them all. They were wearing the most colourful clothes, it reminded her of the dresses her ma used to sew.

Maybe there was still time to explore everything before the games. At least Isa hoped so, because she had never seen anything like it. However, she didn't feel cramped or crushed by the tall buildings, on the contrary, they made her feel like she was part of this huge work of art.

The only thing that bothered Isa were these meadows, which were neatly cut. They gave everything an artificial, unreal impression.Isa didn't like this austerity at all.Time flew by and Isa would have liked to spend more time travelling around the Capitol."So, I expect you to behave well by your standards. I'm sure you can pull yourselves together once. Before you die in a few days."Isa loved Janine's motivating manner.She looked at Lecan, who replied with a roll of his eyes. He was visibly annoyed with Janine and didn't hesitate to say it to her face:

"You don't have to go into a bloody arena and fight for your life! You don't have to kill innocent children! You won't be forced to change your motto in life to kill or be killed! You don't have to accept that you will soon be dead! You also don't have to face the fact that your family will die with you because no one else can provide for them!"

Janine was silent for a moment and Isa also had to swallow a lump in her throat. Lecan had sounded pretty harsh. But the sad thing was that he was right about all that. His family couldn't make it without him. The car stopped carefully. Apparently they were there."Lecan, I don't want to hear another word from you. Fortunately, I'll only have to see you both in the first few minutes of the games. We part ways here. Chalton will take you to your stylists. Normally I would say: May luck be with you always, but since luck won't help you, you certainly don't need it."

With these words, Janine opened her door and climbed up.And that was probably it. Janine walked towards the road with her head held high.Chalton, the driver of the car, hadn't said a word yet."Come along, we haven't got all day. The parade starts in a few hours," he grumbled in a low voice.Then the burly man grabbed Isa's wrist and did the same to Lecan. Lecan gave Chalton an angry look. Isa was sure by now that it would be a good idea not to make an enemy of Lecan.

✵Coriolanus Snow✵

Coriolanus sat, to his regret, next to Shane and Dr Gaul. Not his favourite choice of seat."Dr Gaul, I've already finished my essay. 56 pages on 10 possible scenarios in the Hunger Games." Coriolanus opened his bag and pulled out the notebook with his pages. Satisfied, he handed it to Gaul."Finished already? There you go." She skimmed over his answers rather roughly and carelessly tossed the notebook aside. A few of the sheets crumpled with the loud impact."Dr Gaul, my work." He gestured towards the notebook. "I've been working on it more than all night."

"Yes, and your problem with it, Mr Snow?" "Well, they were complex scenarios, some of which were not easy to answer. I put in a lot of work and effort, and not for them to carelessly throw the booklet away without reading through my answers."Dr Gaul looked at him dismissively. "Go and get the binder, my planners and my water." Coriolanus didn't really understand why he should do it. Gaul had Avoxe for such tasks.He stood up without saying a word. There was no point in resisting. He was wasting all his chances. Although Coriolanus didn't turn round, he could feel Shane's curious gaze. 

They had been sitting in the stands for five minutes, even though the parade wasn't due to start for another two hours. However, Dr Gaul preferred to be overly punctual. Coriolanus was aware that he could not wait for Gaul's natural death. Only when she had appointed him as her successor could he resort to poison to put an end to all this. Then only Shane would follow, and his position would be secure. Coriolanus bent down to pick up the loose-leaf binder. He patted the dust off, then walked over to one of the tables where Gaul's planner was. As he picked it up, a letter slipped out. Coriolanus looked round. No one was watching him, Shane was talking to Gaul. Good, she didn't need to know about his action. Coriolanus slipped the envelope into his jacket pocket.It certainly wouldn't do any harm to have something against Dr Gaul if necessary. Provided there was something important in the letter. She hadn't opened it yet.All he needed now was water. Coriolanus went to the buffet, took an empty glass and filled it with water.

Then he returned to Dr Gaul and Shane. "Dr Gaul, here are your things. And my stapler." Gaul didn't even look at him, no, she preferred to look at Shane. Then she gave him an apologetic look and took the things from him. Apologetically? From Dr Gaul? You could tell she wasn't getting any younger.

But she didn't have long to live.

So, that's it. Did I promise that this chapter would be about the parade? Yes. I'm sorry, it got too long and I didn't want to squeeze the parade in. Then it will definitely be in the next chapter!