The Heiress Of Panem (Coriolanus Snow X Reader)

Snap Out Of It (Henry Creel/001 x Fem! reader)

"I wanna grab both of your Shoulders and Shake, Baby say snap out of it.."

Masterlist : Request Info

(Summary: You start Dating a guy named Lucas and Henry gets jealous.. well because you are his and his alone and he doesn't like to share.. things get steamy..)

Word count: 1.7k

(Warnings: Not PROFF read, bad writing, Jealousy, smut, possessive)

~~~~

You were 20 when you started at the lab or well was forced, so that you could be one of the nurses. You were highly trained and freshly out of college being only at a two year school that had been year round school you had no breaks except a few weekends or for special holidays. Which was stressful but got the four years you needed to become a nurse before you ended up in this hell whole.

But there was a upside you had made good friends with the other nurse close to your age Shelly Wheeler she had helped you getting to know the office space. But there was one person that helped you the most and that was Peter/Henry you had met him on your first day. He had shown you around and since you both had grown a very deep connection..

Neither you or Peter/Henry expected this to happen especially not Henry, but he could sense something different about you. You didn't treat him differently than the others at the lab.. you weren't like the others at the lab at all.

Not like the other pests of the world..

Their was connection so deep that it went as far as sneaking into each others rooms late at night when you would have to stay late, long deep conversations, lingering touches, all the way to making out in the nurses office or one of the empty closets, and well also...

For months until, Brenner was starting to get suspicious. Which resulted to you not staying at the lab and instead going home immediately after your shift for. While he even had one of the orderlies walk you out as soon as your shift was over. To having one of them walk you everywhere. He had even threatened you with both of you getting hurt and even your family as well as friends.

So you had asked Henry to meet you slipping a note in 011s file handing it to him. He had came during everyone's lunch break and you told him that you guys couldn't do this anymore. That you couldn't do this anymore. You couldn't let him or your family and friends. He had tried to tell you that he wouldn't let anything happen but you knew or so you thought he couldn't do anything about it.

He guessed he had to try and wait ever so patiently for you to snap. out. of. it..

Before, he had left you kissed one last time or so you thought . Since then your days had been lonely and boring so when your one friend Alison out side of the lab said something about her setting you up with someone. You had excepted.

You, Alison, and Shelly were all very good friends so the night before your big date they had helped you pick out a stunning dress that you could change into after work before your date. You remember that night so well.. it was after your shift and you were just about to leave.

You were just finishing up a few finishing touches. Before the door open, you looked over your shoulder to see Him.

"You look stunning." Henry said , quietly coming up to you. You turned your head away sighing.

"What are you doing here?" You asked, trying not to get pulled in.

His fingers traced up and down your arm. You had grabbed his hand softly before turning around still holding his hand, before lowering it and letting it go.

"We can't do this.." you stated, while Henry eyes were flickering from your face to your body, taking in your form.. everything about you.

He hated that you of all people couldn't trust him and that you kept denying your wishes.. he wished he could grab both of your shoulders and shake snap out of it. And That you would snap out of it.

Before you had left, you told him you had a very important dinner to get too. He had grabbed your wrist spinning back to him before kissing you possessively then bring his lips to your ear whispering.

"Don't forget who you belong too..."

His voice was so dark and sinister like. Completely unlike the soft angelic voice he has. It made you shiver before you got your purse and left.

It turns out that Alison had set you up with Lucas. You had both been hanging out with each other a lot recently lately but never got to the date part.. well until now..

After that night, you both hit it off really well it was the perfect first date. You both had started dating.

Now, it's a few weeks later and here you are on your lunch break with Shelly gushing over your relationship.

"I can not believe you are dating Lucas! I mean you told me that you had hangout but how or when did that even start?" Shelly one of the nurses at the lab asked.

"I-I honestly don't know how or even when. It just happened. We just started spending a lot more time with each other just never got to the point of a date.. well until Alison." You replied, with a slight nervous laugh. While you could practically feel a certain someone's eyes burning into you.

  Henry was furious he overheard Shelly talking about you being in love or well near enough.. He just wanted to grab both of your shoulders and shake you to snap out of it. You were his and his alone.. the thought of another guy being with you or around you. Drove him wild..

  He was going to get you back.. and teach you who you belong too and make sure this time he doesn't let you out of his web..

  Once your lunch break was over you said goodbye to Shelly and started walking back to the office before you were dragged into a room that had been abandoned that you were passing. And Shoved up against a wall with harsh possessive lips attached to yours. You pushed them away already knowing that it was Henry. You looked into each other's eyes both filled with lust and want.

Snap...

  Before, your lips attached again harshly and passionately while he picked you up legs wrapping around. Arms held up. Clothes discarded. Henry's lips went down to your neck nipping biting sucking leaving marks all over you. While one hand went down to your slit and started rubbing in a circular motion earning those beautiful sounds he loves..

"It's time to show you who you belong too.. for good." He whispered in a dark husky tone, which almost sent you over the edge.

  Henry wanted to tear you apart. Make you his. Make sure you never think about another guy. Never let another guy touch or make you feel the he made you feel. He wanted to you to know who you belonged too. He wanted to snap you out of whatever you had with this guy Lucas. leaving him. Denying him.

Out...

  He ripped you off the wall and onto the floor before removing the rest of your clothes and thrusting into you at a hard fast pace making you cry out in both pain and pleasure. You got used to it quickly. Fluttering eyes shut before he grabbed your face making you look at him then making you look down. Making your eyes go wide and blow with more lust as he made you watch he fucked you. He lifted your head back while you breathlessly  moaned eyes fluttering shut eyebrows furrowed.

  While you took him in feeling as his cock stretched you perfectly feeling how far he was in you feeling him hit your cervix. He moved a hand and presses down where the bulge of him in your abdomen. You gasped, in pain while he pulled your hair.

"Yeah you feel that?." Henry asked you whined.

"That's my spot.."

"I own it..."

"own all of it..."

"I own You.." Henry growled with each thrust. Making Your eyes rolled to the back of your head.

Of...

    He went faster up till the only sound was skin slapping noise coming from both of you and panting. You were about to come before..

"Nuhuh. Tell me Y/n who do you belong too?"

  Henry knew exactly what he was doing and he wanted to make sure you knew. Exactly. Who. You. Really. Belong. Too.

"Hmm? Tell me darling." He said with a hard thrust with his hand around your neck.

"Uhh.. you.. always you."

"No I want you to tell me who you belong.." he growled while biting your spot on your neck that gets you the most. You gasped in pain and pleasure.

"You! Henry I belong to you.." You cried out.

"P-please let me cum.." you begged. He smirked while slamming in and out.

"Come for me darling.." He whispered.

  You let out a pornographic moan loud enough he put his hand over your mouth as the knot in your abdomen burst sending a huge wave of pleasure and relief. He helped you carry out your high, while still chasing his high.

"Going to cum in you. Hmm.. you that you me to fill you up? Hmm?"

  You cried out.

"God your perfect." He started to slowly slow down thrust getting sloppier. Shoving himself deep inside you spilling his seed. Marking you as his once and for all.

And he finally made you Snap Out Of It..

It...

wait a damn minute…

Y’all said yes and shall receive. Get ready for more Henry/001 x reader💀 And might also post my Coriolanus snow story.(at least what I have) definitely will be more especially of the other characters!

I Beg You Don’t Embarrass Me (Barty Crouch Jr. x Black!Reader)

(Summary: reader is part of the black family and everybody teases her about dating Barty but he doesn't embarrass her.)

Word count: 314

(Warnings: Not fullyproff read, Short & Sweet, fluff, teasing)

"Heartbreak is one thing my egos another I swear you don't embarrass me motherfucker.."

~~~

"It must be so embarrassing for you dating somebody like Junior.." Bellatrix cackled.

Ever since fifth year when Y/n started seeing Barty it was always the same thing.

"It must be so embarrassing to ever date that fool!" A student said, after Barty had caused a ruckus in the great hall.

"Sis I love you. I do but.. Crouch? Really?" Sirius/Padfoot teased.

"I'm going to have to agree with Sirius on this one.. even though Barty is a good friend of mine.." Regulus Agreed with Sirius. Y/n rolled her eyes as she saw Sirius smirk.

"Wait.. you're seriously dating him?" A Ravenclaw guy who had kept trying to ask her out asked.

Has lead to this very moment, to Barty realising maybe he is an embarrassment for her and that his father was right. Just like everyone else..

"Maybe this isn't meant to be.." Barty said, his eyes and head lowered.

One thing about Bartimus Crouch Junior is as much as he acted like he didn't care. He did.. it got to him like his father has multiple times. Which makes him second doubt.

"Hey look at me." Y/n said, lifting his head. Making him look at her.

"Heartbreak is one thing my egos another. I beg you don't embarrass me... Bartimus Crouch Junior." She declared placing a soft kiss on his lips. She pulled back giving him a small smile only for him to pull her back in.

"You have a way with words black." He said, smirking. Pressing a kiss to her jaw.

"Don't I know it, Crouch." She replied. He pulled her down flipping her onto the bed as she squealed and laughed.

Fucking BAWLING MY EYES OUT💔😭

jj maybank, you deserved better.

Masterlist

Request~ Open

Request info

Started: 03/13/2025

Last Updated: 05/01/2025

Total Works: ?

Fluff : 💫

Angst:🥀

Smut:🔥

Stranger Things🩸✨🧇

Henry Creel

Short Imagine:

You being Jonathan's & Will's sister and Henry being obsessed with you

Long Imagine:

The secret 💫

Taking Back What’s Mine💫🥀

Never Gonna Lose Me🥀💫

Back to you/Banshee💫

Snap Out Of It🔥

Seven Wonders💫

Like Her 1 2 💫🥀

Steve Harrington

Spring Days (Requested)💫

Harry Potter⚡️👓

Barty Crouch Jr

Short Imagines:

I Beg You Don’t Embarrass Me💫

Long Imagines:

Theodore Nott

None

Hunger Games/Tbosas🏹♟️

Coriolanus Snow

Imagines

Because you love me 💫🥀

The Man Who Can't Be Moved💫

Our Dirty Little Secret 💫🔥

Tragedy In Admits of Happiness 🥀💫

Worst Fear🥀💫

A Toast🥀🥀

The Heiress Of Panem💫

Wake Up Call🥀🔥

Headcons

Cardew Reader Headcons

Series

St. Tropez

relationship Aesthetics

Oc's

prologue

Ideas

A Toast🥀

suggestions

Finnick Odair

“I’ll be in it Forever…” Coming soon...

Other🌊🐺👻

Wally Clark👻

Imagines

So High School 💫💫

Stiles Stilinski🐺

None

JJ Maybank🌊

None

I honestly meant to make/mention this a while ago but I forgot💀

BUT!! Here is my wattpad where I have 2 stories that are both published a Coriolanus Snow Fanfic and a Henry creel/001 Imagines+others. That I am slowly working on them! So no i didn’t forget!! and my TikTok where I make edits!! 🫶🏻

So please go check them out and follow (if you want💀😂) :)

Links:

I do have the aesthetics and Prologue but I am asking because I’m wonder who would read it in here.

Netflix you know what you’re doing

Shadows of Affection

warnings: death

slow burn Coriolanus Snow x reader, slight Felix Ravinstill x reader

Chapter 16: Aftermath

You wake up feeling dazed, disoriented. The ceiling above you is unfamiliar, high and intricate with golden detailing carved into its moldings. The bed beneath you is too soft, the sheets too smooth, like silk against your skin. You shift slightly, trying to sit up, when an arm tightens around your waist. Your body stiffens.

What the fuck?

Panic shoots through you for a second before last night’s memories come flooding back. The exhaustion. Felix insisting you come home with him. Falling into bed before you could even think twice about it.

Oh no. No, no, no.

You groan internally. You were tired, sure, but how could you have let this happen? Felix’s house. Felix’s bed. Felix’s arms wrapped so tightly around you that escape feels impossible. And when you get home—if you get home—Quincy is going to have a field day. He always does. Though lately, he’s been too busy. You don’t see him as often. You don’t sit down for dinner together. You try to come home after everyone’s asleep and leave before they wake. But he’ll know. He always knows. And you have no explanation to give him.

You shift again, trying to pry yourself from Felix’s grasp, but he groans in annoyance and only pulls you closer.

“Felix,” you mutter, voice still rough with sleep. “I have to go.”

He buries his face against your shoulder. “No, no we don’t have to go anywhere,” he mumbles sleepily. “Stay. Let’s get breakfast. Let’s take the day off.”

You shake your head. “I can’t. I really can’t.”

Felix sighs, rubbing at his face before propping himself up on one elbow. “Why?”

You sit up, already scanning the room for your clothes. “I have to talk to Dr. Gaul. She’s going to be expecting me.”

His expression shifts, his easygoing sleepiness fading into something more tense. “Why do you always have to leave?” His voice is sharper than before, tinged with frustration. “Why can’t you just stay with me?”

You glance at him, confused by the sudden shift in tone. “What are you talking about? You know I’m busy. So are you. I can’t just take a day off.”

Felix scoffs, running a hand through his messy hair. “Is it Coriolanus?”

You freeze for a second before rolling your eyes. “Oh, please. You’re being dramatic. This has nothing to do with Coriolanus.”

“It always has something to do with him,” Felix presses, his voice darkening. “I saw it. The way you looked at him.”

You push against his chest, trying to create space between you, but he doesn’t let you. “Felix, you’re blind.”

“Then prove it,” he says. “Stay.” His grip tightens on your wrist. “Stay with me. Stay in bed.” His voice softens. “Please.”

You inhale sharply, heart hammering. “No. I can’t.”

Felix exhales slowly, finally loosening his hold. But even as he releases you, his fingers remain tangled with yours. He always does this—always finds a way to touch you. Whether it’s a hand on your knee, fingers brushing against your wrist, his presence always lingering.

He sits up, watching you as you move around the room, aimlessly searching. “Where are my clothes?” you ask.

“I had them thrown away.”

You turn sharply. “What?”

“They were filthy,” Felix says simply. “They were torn. You weren’t going to wear them again, so I had the maids bring you something new.” He gestures lazily. “They’ll bring it to you in a minute.”

You let out a slow breath, trying not to get more frustrated than you already are. “Fine.”

Minutes later, the maids arrive, carrying a neatly folded dress. You take it, holding it up in front of you. The fabric is luxurious, softer than anything you’d normally wear. The cut is modest—but just barely. If it were any shorter, it would cross the line from refined to provocative.

And it’s white.

You frown. White. You never wear white. It makes you feel like a child bride. And you know, without a doubt, that Felix picked this. He didn’t choose something you’d like—he chose something he would like to see you in.

You slip into the dress, brushing out your hair, trying to ignore the way it fits too perfectly, like it was tailored for you overnight. You stare at yourself in the mirror, lost in thought, when Felix moves behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist. His lips brush against your neck. “Stay,” he murmurs against your skin. “We could be comfortable. Come back to bed.”

You stiffen. His kisses become sloppier, more insistent. You know exactly what he’s trying to do.

“No,” you say firmly, stepping out of his grip.

Felix’s hands drop to his sides, his face darkening. For a second, it looks like he might argue, but instead, he lets out a heavy sigh. “Fine.” His voice is flat. “Call me later.”

You nod, barely listening.

“Call me tonight,” he repeats, watching you carefully. “We’ll go to dinner.”

You exhale. “Okay.”

Felix calls your driver, and soon enough, you’re slipping out of the house, walking through the eerily silent halls of the President’s mansion. It’s strange—so many people live here, so many servants, so many visitors from powerful families, and yet it always feels... empty. Hollow. Like the walls themselves are absorbing all the life inside them.

Finally, you step outside, into the fresh air, and climb into the car waiting for you. As soon as the door shuts, you let your head fall back against the seat and sigh.

You moved quickly through the corridors of the Capitol, your footsteps echoing off the pristine marble floor. The peacekeepers at the entrance barely gave you a glance before granting you access to the underground levels, where Dr. Gaul’s true domain lay.

The air grew colder the deeper you went, the artificial lights casting long, eerie shadows. As you descended, the scent of raw fish curled into your nose, unmistakable and putrid. A sharp chorus of squeals rang out—feeding time. Then, silence.

You swallowed thickly, keeping your eyes forward, pretending you didn’t hear, pretending you didn’t know what happened in these halls. You had always done that, because fear made it easier. Fear kept you from wondering too hard about what went on behind the reinforced glass or what kind of creatures lurked in the shadows of Gaul’s twisted creations. Fear reminded you that if it ever came down to you or them, you would always choose yourself.

When you reached the lab, Dr. Gaul was standing over a steel enclosure, dropping chunks of flesh into it. A wet, slithering sound accompanied each drop, followed by quick, greedy gulps. Your stomach twisted, but you forced yourself to remain composed.

Dr. Gaul turned to you, her smile wide and unnatural. “Oh, my little dove,” she cooed. “How was your little excursion last night?”

Your spine stiffened. “Eventful.”

“Eventful, she says,” Gaul chuckled, tilting her head. “Come, let’s check you up.”

She stepped forward, her gloved hands reaching out to examine you. Cold fingertips brushed against your wrist, then your jaw, tilting your head side to side as Gaul’s grin stretched wider, inspecting you like you were just another one of her projects. You forced yourself not to recoil.

“I started out as a medical doctor, you know,” Gaul said conversationally, stepping back. “Sterile. How awful, you must imagine, to be the first thing a baby sees in this world.” She sighed dramatically. “Parents always expect reassurances, but what can I possibly tell them? How could I know what their children would face?”

You said nothing, but you knew where this was going.

“Like you, last night,” Gaul continued, voice filled with an eerie amusement. “Who would have imagined the darling daughter of Lason Royce, fighting for her life in the Capitol arena? Not him, for one.”

Your lips parted slightly, but you had no response. You barely remembered your father anymore. His face was always a blur, shifting in your memory like a phantom you could never quite catch.

“What was it like?” Gaul asked. “The arena?”

You met her gaze, unwavering. “Terrifying. Just like it was designed to be.”

Gaul let out a laugh. “Yes, indeed.”

You exhaled sharply.

“What about the tributes?” Gaul smirked. “What about them?”

You hesitated.

“What did you think of them, now that their chains were removed? Now that they tried to kill you, not because they had to, but because they wanted to?”

Gaul’s eyes gleamed. “Ah. You’ve seen it, haven’t you?”

You thought back to the escape, to the sheer bloodlust in the tributes’ eyes even after they were free. “I felt like an animal. Like prey being hunted.”

“But you weren’t.”

“No,” you admitted. “But I always am. No matter where I go, I’m always prey.”

Gaul let out a delighted hum, as if you had just said exactly what she wanted to hear. “Mission accomplished, then.”

She walked over to a counter, idly flipping through a file. “That little one from Eight—Snow beat him to a pulp. Now we’ll have to fabricate some lovely tale for Flickerman to spin. What a wonderful opportunity for you.” She glanced up, her grin sharp. “Transformative, wasn’t it?”

You felt the phantom sensation of blood on your skin, the memory of Coryo bashing into that boy’s face over and over again. The sickening crunch, the shiver down your spine. It brought back too many memories—war, home, the never-ending cycle of violence.

Blood. Blood. Blood.

It was all you ever saw.

Gaul tapped her fingers against the counter. “Wasn’t it more than you could’ve hoped for?”

You inhaled slowly. “You needed me to get Sejanus out of the arena, obviously. But you also wanted me to… what? Experience it?”

Gaul’s grin widened.

“Even if it killed me?” Your voice tightened.

“That was a risk.”

“Without the threat of death, what’s the point of a lesson?” Gaul mused. She gestured vaguely. “What happens in the arena, my dear, that is humanity undressed. The tributes. And you. How quickly civilization disappears. All your fine manners, your education, your family background—it all falls away in an instant, revealing what you really are.”

Your stomach twisted, but you weren’t surprised. “And? What was the point? I already knew all this.” Your voice sharpened. “I’ve always known. I’ve seen it before.”

Gaul let out a pleased hum. “I thought you might need a reminder, little dove.” She stepped closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t want you going soft.”

Your jaw clenched.

Gaul tilted her head, watching you carefully. “I need you to realize where you are in this world… and where you will stay if you don’t change it.”

Your breath hitched.

Gaul’s voice turned saccharine, condescending. “You can’t stay my little dove forever.”

Your fingers curled into fists at your sides. You had nothing to say to that. Because deep down, you weren’t sure if you wanted to argue.

Gaul simply smiled and turned away.

The conversation was over. But the lesson lingered.

The main student body had been told to report at 7:45, so the early arrivals consisted of active mentors and a few aides tidying up the hall. You couldn’t help but throw a guilty glance at Juno Phipps, who sat discussing her strategy, knowing she could’ve just slept in. Your thoughts wandered to how they would announce Bobbin’s death and how Coriolanus would react—but you doubted he would care.

Everything from yesterday had already been set up, and since the crowds hadn’t arrived yet, you decided to join Festus. The only thing being served in Heavensbee Hall was tea, which brought grumblings from Festus. “If we have to be here early, you’d think they could at least feed us,” he muttered.

“You’d think,” you replied.

Coriolanus sauntered up beside Festus, casually joining the small group. “What happened to your face?”

“Bike accident,” Coriolanus said loud enough for everyone to hear, his eyes briefly glancing at you. He tossed a bag containing a roll to Festus.

“Thanks, this looks great,” Festus said, digging in immediately.

Conversations continued around you, but you barely paid attention. Your mind drifted, replaying the events of the past few weeks. Your life had suddenly become a living nightmare with the start of the Hunger Games, and it didn’t help that Coriolanus kept making eye contact with you. As the rest of the school arrived and took their seats, you chose to separate from the group, heading toward the game makers’ station to observe behind the screens.

The monitors showed little change—except for the disappearance of Marcus’s body. No one seemed to question it. You assumed it was still by the barricade, where Coriolanus and Sejanus had abandoned it last night, just out of range of the cameras.

At the stroke of eight, the anthem played, and everyone stood. You weren’t much of a singer, so you remained quiet as Lucky Flickerman appeared on the screens, welcoming everyone to Day Two of the Hunger Games.

“While you were sleeping, something pretty important happened,” Lucky announced. “Let’s take a look, shall we?”

The feed cut to a wide shot of the arena before slowly panning in on the barricade. As you expected, Marcus’s body lay nearby, but your stomach twisted when Bobbin’s battered form came into view. He looked much worse than you had imagined—his limbs twisted unnaturally, his swollen face barely recognizable. Coriolanus had really done that to another boy—a young boy. You stole a glance at him, but all you saw was the back of his head. Even from there, you knew he was nervous. He might have seemed like a good liar to everyone else, but you always knew better.

After a long look at the bodies, the show cut back to Lucky, who pondered aloud who might have committed the act. His mood abruptly shifted. “One thing we do know is that we’ve got something to celebrate!”

Confetti rained from the ceiling as Lucky blew wildly on a plastic horn. “We’ve just hit the halfway mark! That’s right—twelve tributes down, only twelve to go!” A string of brightly colored handkerchiefs shot from his sleeve as he swung them around his head, laughing and cheering. When he finally calmed, he adopted a somber expression. “But that also means we have to say farewell to Miss Juno Phipps.”

A man approached Juno’s side to escort her out, but she suddenly spoke up. “Something seems off to me,” she said. “I mean, what’s he doing over there with Marcus’s body? Who moved it? And how did Bobbin end up dead? I can’t even imagine a likely scenario.”

The reporter, intrigued, pressed further. “What exactly would qualify as foul play?”

“I don’t know exactly,” Juno admitted. “But I, for one, would really like to see a replay of last night’s events.”

Good luck with that, you thought. But then the idea lingered. Maybe a recording did exist. Maybe there were two versions—one for the public and another kept private. You’d have to look into it later, though you doubted you could access it or that Dr. Gaul would even keep such a thing.

Juno was dismissed with a patronizing pat on the back, still sparkling with confetti. Lucky, oblivious to her frustration, leaned toward the camera with barely contained glee.

“And now, I suppose you’re all wondering about our extra big surprise! Especially if you’re one of the twelve remaining mentors.”

Your eyebrows furrowed. What the hell was he talking about?

Before you could dwell on it, Lucky bounded across the stage to reveal two men sitting side by side—his father, Strabo Plinth, whose stern expression was as immovable as the granite of his home district, and Sejanus, looking hollow-eyed and stiff.

Lucky took the host chair and patted Sejanus’s leg. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a moment with you yesterday to comment on your tribute’s… unfortunate demise.”

Sejanus merely stared, uncomprehending. Lucky seemed to notice his injuries for the first time. “You look like you’ve been mixing it up yourself.”

“I fell off my bike,” Sejanus rasped.

Two biking accidents in twelve hours? That seemed highly unlikely.

“Ouch! Well, I guess you’ve had some pretty big news to share with us,” Lucky continued, nodding encouragingly.

Sejanus hesitated, while neither he nor his father acknowledged each other. A silent battle raged between them. Finally, Sejanus exhaled. “The Plinth family would like to announce that we will be awarding a full-ride university scholarship to the mentor whose tribute wins the Hunger Games.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Several mentors gasped in delight. You rolled your eyes, knowing that most of them didn’t need the money nearly as much as others did.

As the interview dragged on, your thoughts churned. Sejanus had been right—his father was trying to cover up his son’s disgraceful behavior with a generous bribe. Not that it didn’t merit damage control. You hadn’t heard much gossip about the outburst with the chair yet, but you suspected stories were already spreading.

As the interview ended and the Games were broadcast once again, nothing particularly interesting happened throughout the morning. The tributes seemed hesitant to make any bold moves. Coral and Mizzen roamed together for a while, collecting food and water from their mentors, Festus and Persephone. The two mentors had been strategizing together, and it was clear that Festus had a crush on Persephone. It wasn’t exactly breaking news—he’d harbored feelings for her for a long time. Still, every time you looked at Persephone, you couldn’t help but think of Coriolanus and the story he had told you about her war time stew.

Would you tell one of your close friends that their crush was a cannibal? It seemed unorthodox, even cruel. For all you knew, Persephone herself might not even be aware. But the thought lingered, unsettling you as you moved through the uneventful lunch period. At least, this time, when people sent food or water, the drones didn’t crash. You had one of the other Gamemakers bring you whatever was being served—a small sandwich, nothing remarkable.

Later in the afternoon, You had the Gamemakers reduce the mentor seats to twelve, leaving only space for those whose tributes were still in the Games. “It makes it easier for the audience to keep track of who’s still a contender,” you told them, instructing them to keep removing seats as more tributes fell. A grim game of musical chairs, but with real consequences. The decision seemed to make livia even more bitter, if that was possible. You felt a twinge of sympathy—but only a small one. What caught your attention more was how this change forced Coriolanus closer to Clemencia, who remained scaley, snake-like, and entirely focused on him, her glare never wavering.

As the afternoon stretched on, your exhaustion caught up with you. Your head grew heavier, and at one point, a fellow Gamemaker had to nudge you awake—twice. Perhaps it was fortunate that so little was required of you today, given how last night had nearly killed you.

Tributes remained mostly hidden until late in the day when the Hunger Games finally delivered the kind of action audiences expected. The girl from District 5—a wiry, forgettable thing whose name escaped you—was caught wandering the arena. Lucky Flickerman managed to connect her to her equally forgettable mentor, Iphigenia Moss, the daughter of the man who oversaw agriculture and the distribution of food across Panem.

Contrary to expectations, Iphigenia always seemed on the verge of malnutrition. She had a reputation for giving her school lunches to classmates, sometimes blacking out from hunger. Festus had once mentioned that it was her only form of revenge against her father, though he refused to elaborate. True to form, Iphigenia funneled every bit of food she could to her tribute. But even as the drones made their long trek across the arena, the trio of Coral, Tanner, and Mizzen emerged from the tunnels, hunting.

After a brief chase along the bleachers, they surrounded the District 5 girl. Coral ended it with a trident to the throat, making you cringe.

“Well, that’s that,” Lucky said, unable to recall the girl’s name.

When prompted, Iphigenia had already left the dais. “Her name was Sol. Or maybe Sal,” the reporter said with a shrug.

“Not much more to tell.”

“Nice job getting her to the second day, alibina,” Lucky added.

“It’s Iphigenia,” she corrected over her shoulder as she exited, not bothering to glance back.

“Right,” Lucky continued smoothly. “And that means we’re down to just eleven tributes left!”

Thank God, you thought. I’m one step closer to finally going home.

The rest of the day passed without much excitement, and as you were finally being dismissed—something you were immensely grateful for—Lucy Gray made an entrance.

You groaned aloud as she sprinted out of a tunnel, her braid unraveling, her hair flying wild behind her. In your head, you were already hoping that one of the trio—maybe Coral—would kill her just to get this over with. Then you could finally go home.

But before you could even guess what was chasing her, Jessup staggered out of the same tunnel. At first, you thought he was wounded—maybe he’d been protecting Lucy Gray. They were from the same district, so it made sense that they would have formed a pact. But if they were allies, why had she run?

As the cameras zoomed in, it became clear that Jessup wasn’t injured—he was sick. Stiff, feverish, twitching with erratic movements. He swiped at the sun, crouched, then sprang to his feet again in an unsettling cycle. His behavior made your skin crawl.

Your first thought was poison. Had Coriolanus’s little songbird found a way to get rid of her own ally? But that seemed unlikely. Jessup was a valuable protector, especially with those other tributes prowling around. Any number of things in that arena could have sickened him—contaminated water, spoiled food.

But then, you saw the telltale foam bubbling over his lips.

Oh, God, you thought.

Jessup had rabies.

Rabies had made a comeback in the Capitol during the war, with doctors needed in the field and medical faculties and supply lines compromised by the bombings. Medical treatment had been sketchy for humans, and for a lot of people, it had become essentially nonexistent. Pampered pets were no longer a priority when people couldn’t even afford bread.

How it began remained a matter of debate—an infected coyote from the mountains, a nocturnal encounter with a bat—but the dogs spread it. Most of them were starving, abandoned casualties of the war themselves. From dog to dog, then to people, the violent strain developed with unprecedented speed, killing over a dozen Capitol citizens before a vaccination program brought it under control. You remembered the posters alerting people to the warning signs in both animals and humans, adding just one more potential threat to your world.

And poor Jessup had been bitten—by what, you weren’t sure. But it was on the neck. The quicker the virus reached the brain, the quicker you died. And of course, he was half-starved and weak. Poor Jessup, you thought. Even his death had to be horrible.

The recognition of Jessup’s illness put the audience on edge, setting off a wave of comments thick with fear and revulsion.

“Rabies? How did he get that? Must’ve come from the district.”

“I bet he’s gonna infect the whole city.”

“A little unprecedented, but not after seeing it spread through the city once.”

“The Capitol should just put him down. They knew he had it before he tried to spread it around like some apocalypse.”

The students seemed to draw back into their seats, not wanting to miss anything, but the murmurs of unease were unmistakable. The disease dredged up childhood memories of public warnings, and no one wanted to see its horrors play out again. You stayed silent, watching Jessup zigzag across the arena in Lucy Gray’s direction. There was no telling what was going on in his mind. Under normal circumstances, maybe he’d protect her, maybe not. But he had clearly lost his reason. If she had any sense, she’d run for her life.

The cameras tracked Lucy Gray as she sprinted across the arena, scrambling up the broken wall into the stands. The press box occupied a midway position, somehow spared in the bombings. She stopped a moment, panting, considering Jessup’s erratic pursuit. Then she made for the debris of the nearby concession stand. The skeleton of its frame remained, but the center had been blasted to bits and the roof flung thirty feet away, strewn with bricks and boards. It was an obstacle course as she traveled until she planted herself at the top of the mess. The Gamemakers took advantage of her stillness, zooming in for a close-up.

Much to your delight, she looked like hell. You didn’t know why you disliked her so much—you just did. And you weren’t sure you were ready to tackle the whole of that dislike just yet.

An order for a bottle of water came through from Coriolanus, which you approved with little interest, sending a drone out. Jessup, meanwhile, had made his way across the arena, climbing into the stands after Lucy Gray. His balance wavered as he entered the debris field. He fell twice, with such force that he opened gashes on his knee and temple. The second wound produced a fair amount of blood. He sat, somewhat stunned, reaching a trembling hand toward Lucy Gray, his mouth moving, but only foam dripped from his chin.

Lucy Gray remained motionless, watching Jessup with a pained expression. The scene created a strange tableau—rabid boy, trapped girl, bombed-out building—a tale that could only end in tragedy. Star-crossed lovers meeting their fate? A revenge story turned inward? A war saga that took no prisoners?

Just die already, you thought. Enough with the dramatics.

A drone carrying the water flew into the arena. Lucy Gray lifted her face, tracking its wobbly progress. Her tongue flicked across her lips in anticipation. However, as it passed over Jessup, something in him registered the sight. A shudder raked through his body. He swung at the drone with a broken board, and it crashed into the stands, the water pouring out of the cracked bottle. That was when he truly lost it.

Suddenly, five more water orders came through from Coriolanus. Then ten. You approved them absentmindedly, wondering what he was trying to do. And then it clicked. Hydrophobia. Rabies victims couldn’t swallow and went wild at the sight of water.

Clever, you thought, glancing down at the screen where Coriolanus seemed to be arguing with Sejanus. You couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Lucy Gray had worked herself into a tight spot. To her left was the high back wall of the arena; to her right, the thick glass side of the press box. As Jessup continued his pursuit, she made several attempts to escape him, but he kept cutting her off. When he came within twenty feet, she spoke to him, holding out her hand in a soothing manner. It stopped him, but only momentarily before he lunged again.

Across the arena, the first bottle of water began its flight toward her. The machine was steady and true in its course—a rare feat that disappointed you, given the drones’ tendency to crash. The small fleet that followed was more unpredictable. As soon as Lucy Gray spotted them, she stopped retreating, patting the ruffles of her skirt over a pocket, checking for something. Then she pointed at the drones, shouting, and succeeded in turning Jessup’s attention toward them.

Jessup froze, his eyes bulging with fear. The drones closed in. He batted at them but failed to connect. Then they started releasing the bottles of water. The impact of the first smacking into the seats sent him into a frenzy. When the contents of one splashed onto his hand, he recoiled as if burned by acid.

He turned to flee, bounding down toward the field, but another dozen drones arrived and bombarded him. Since they were programmed to deliver directly to the tribute, there was no escaping them. He flew toward the front row seats, his foot caught, and he tripped forward—hurtling over the arena wall and onto the field.

The sickening crack of snapping bones filled the speakers. The audience gasped. Even you felt queasy. Jessup had landed in a rare pocket of the arena with good audio. He lay on his back, motionless except for the heaving of his chest. The remaining bottles rained down on him, his lips curled back, his eyes locked unblinkingly on the bright sun glinting off the water.

Lucy Gray darted down the steps and hung over the railing. “Jessup!” she shouted.

You weren’t interested. You were tired. You wanted to go home. So you did. You told the Gamemakers to keep things running until the students left, then dismissed them as well. And with that, you made your way out of Heavensbee Hall.