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MY LITTLE DOVE.

(chapter eight, you don't own her)

the academy, 2248

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DOROTHY WAS TO READY Sabyn for the interview, which had been set for Saturday night. Each mentor-tribute pair had been assigned a classroom to work in. Two Peacekeepers were on guard, but Sabyn had been freed from her chains and cuffs. And Tigris had made sure to put a little package together of things that could help clean up Sabyn since Dorothy had told her the state she was in as well as offering to clean up her dress. Dorothy swore she heard Sabyn cry when she helped wash her hair, ridding the dried up blood.

And whilst Dorothy had laughed many times in her life, she had never laughed or chuckled as hard as she did when she watched Sabyn do her set. It had to have been the most amusing thing she had ever watched and her heart swelled with pride.

The Hunger Games: A Night of Interviews was performed in-front of a live audience in the Academy auditorium while broadcasting throughout Panem. It was hosted by the Capitol TV weatherman, Lucretius 'Lucky' Flickerman, who definitely held a personality. He was dressed in a high-collared blue suit with rhinestones glued on, his hair dusted in a coppery powder. The back curtain of the stage looked much like a starry sky. 

After the anthem played, Lucky welcome the crowd to a brand-new Hunger Games for a brand-new decade, a Games where the citizens could participate in by sending a variety of basic foods to a tribute of their choosing. Then, Lucky began to explain the gambling system. And after he had introduced the new feature, all he had to do was read the cue cards.

Tigris had managed to work her miracles on Sabyn's dress, the green being as clean and fresh as it was on the day of the Reaping. It also improved Sabyn's mood, for now that she was cleaner with no soot or blood in sight, it made her more happy. It  made her even more joyful when Dorothy pressed a white rose on the chest of her dress, a replica of what was on the Snow's suit jacket.

"You make them laugh until they're dead, Sabyn." Dorothy smirked at her. 

"I will." Sabyn nodded. "You'll be beside me, right?"

"Every step of the way."

With Sabyn's clean appearance and Dorothy's neatly pressed uniform, the crowd clapped loudly. They were the first act on, of course, and whilst Dorothy could tell Sabyn was nervous, she knew that the district girl would be a buzz in the Capitol. With this in mind, the Snow girl didn't waste time asking Sabyn questions or introducing her and so, she greeted the crowd and stepped to the side. 

There was many major guests in the audience, some who Dorothy had met and they were always tense, stone-faced, but as Sabyn told her jokes and did her quips, everyone was caught laughing or chuckling. At the start, the district girl was obviously nervous, but as more people laughed and laughed, she got loose and did better than Dorothy ever would have expected. And when she caught Pluribus's eye at the back, he was red in the face from one stupid joke that had everyone wheezing. When he recovered, he sent her a massive smile and thumbs up.

And as Dorothy watched everyone in the crowd laugh because of the jokes Sabyn was telling, she truly realised that the girl had a chance at winning. She had easily charmed the audience, she was said to be strong, and she was smart. Sabyn wasn't stupid, she wasn't brainless, she knew what to do. She knew what to do to survive. And she hadn't expressed any fear to Dorothy just yet or maybe that was just because Sabyn was good at hiding things. Whatever it was, Sabyn could actually win. 

But then there was the matter of Coriolanus and Lucy Gray. If Sabyn were to win and Lucy Gray to die, Coriolanus would be destroyed. He would hide it well, but he would be torn apart. And if Sabyn were to win, he would resent Dorothy. He was in a bad mood when she had managed to dodge scoldings with Dean Highbottom and the Grandma'am, but if Dorothy were to win the Hunger Games? If Dorothy were to complete her assignment of being a mentor and have a better chance at entering the University, Coriolanus would congratulate her like any good brother would do, but he would be distant and detached. Everyone in the Snow household knew how desperately Coriolanus wanted to go to the University, but they also knew how badly Dorothy wanted to as well. That was the problem with having twins. 

With a massive, thundering applause, Sabyn bowed to the crowd when her time was up. But suddenly, she extended her hand to Dorothy and after a hint of hesitation, she joined her at the front of the stage, taking one final bow before Lucky Flickerman reminded them that their time was up.

"Sabyn, you were amazing!" Dorothy nearly screamed when they got to the wings, Io Jasper and her tribute nearing them. "Truly! You were incredible!"

"I hope you didn't doubt my humour." Sabyn laughed. "I've never made so many people crack up."

"Well, you have now," Dorothy told her, taking ahold of the girl's cheeks. "You are brilliant, Sabyn Peterson."

Two Peacekeepers materialised beside her, asking if Sabyn was ready to go. Her performance definitely had an effect on the soldiers as they were trying their best to contain their smiles. Dorothy was beaming as she watched Sabyn be escorted, so much that she practically skipped her way through the wings. That was until she saw Coriolanus and Lucy Gray standing in a corner. Dorothy stopped as she stared at them. Something stuck out. The way Coriolanus looked at her. 

"Coryo!" Dorothy called out, resuming her smile as she walked up to the two. 

"Oh, Dottie," Coriolanus breathed as he gave his sister a hug. "Uh, this is Lucy Gray. Lucy Gray, this is Dorothy, my sister."

"It's an honour to meet you, Lucy Gray." Dorothy extended her hand out to the girl in the rainbow ruffles. She squeezed it rather than shook it and it made Dorothy smile even more. 

"You too, Dorothy," Lucy Gray said. Her voice was hoarse and it made Dorothy wonder how she was going to sing. "I assume you had a good show?"

"Oh, it was wonderful." Dorothy beamed. "It really was amazing. Sabyn was perfect."

"That's good, Dottie." Coriolanus nodded. But the nod was forced. The smile was forced. Everything was forced. Of course it was. "That's really good."

"It is, isn't it?" Dorothy smirked. "Anywho, I'll be sitting in the crowd with Pluribus, okay? Have a good show, Lucy Gray, I'll be cheering you on loud and clear."

"Thank you, Dorothy." Lucy Gray smiled at her. It was not forced and rather genuine as she smiled at Dorothy's temporary cheery mood.

Dorothy waved them goodbye as she skipped through the wings, twirling with excitement as she did. She felt high, drunk on Sabyn's success. And it felt good, the adrenaline rushing through her veins, the laughter of people echoing around as her heart swelled ten times bigger. And it continued to do so as Dorothy sneaked into the crowd, plopping herself at the back next to Pluribus.

"Good job, Dots." Pluribus smirked at her as they watched Io and her Three boy. "She's real funny, that one."

"Isn't she just?" Dorothy smiled. "God, it's like I'm floating right now."

"Floating on success, kid." Pluribus nudged her as they continued to watch the show.

Coriolanus was to go last and so Dorothy and Pluribus sat through all the shows. Of course, it wasn't mandatory so only half of the mentors actually showed up. Well, the ones that had a tribute anyway. Some mentors offered up background information about their tributes while trying to throw in something memorable and urging the public to sponsor them. An example of this came from Twelve where Jessup, Lysistrata's tribute, lifted her over his head easily whilst she sat in a chair. Io Jasper's boy, Circ, said he could start a fire with his glasses, and she, with her scientific know-how, suggested various angles and times of day where this project could work. And then there was Juno Phipps, a snooty girl that Dorothy did not like, who admitted that she had been disappointed to get Bobbin, the boy from Eight, but that he had won her over when he told her five different ways he could kill someone with a sewing needle. And then there was Coral, Festus's District Four girl, who showed her ability to wield a trident, flipping an old broomstick around with such skill. Festus was giggling away on stage and Dorothy couldn't help but smile. And then there was Domitia Whimsiwick who got Tanner, the muscular boy from Ten, to talk about slaughterhouse techniques. Somehow, it was the most popular event just behind Sabyn's. But then thing Dorothy was excited for was the last show of the evening. Coriolanus and Lucy Gray.

They got a round of applause as they appeared on stage. Like Dorothy, Coriolanus didn't bother with asking questions, just introducing herself and stepping back, leaving Lucy Gray in the spotlight.

"Good evening," the girl said. "I'm Lucy Gray Baird, of the Covey Bairds. I started writing this song back in District Twelve, before I knew what the ending would be. It's my words set to an old tune. Where I'm from, we call it a ballad. That's a song that tells a story. And I guess this is mine. 'The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird.' I hope you like it."

Dorothy had heard the girl sing before at the Reaping and at the zoo, but she had never heard such a voice like the one that echoed around the auditorium. A haunting melody started and her voice was husky as she began to sing. And whilst Dorothy should have been paying attention to Lucy Gray, there was something peculiar that was going on with her brother.

When they were younger, Dorothy could always tell what was wrong with Coriolanus. She could tell what was bothering him and when he was upset. And he could too. They could both identify when the other one was down. But now, Dorothy couldn't quite make out what type of emotion Coriolanus was feeling. A hint of jealousy, Dorothy registered. And whilst she was confused at first, she listened closely to what Lucy Gray was singing. 

So who will you turn to tomorrow, I wonder?

For when the bell rings, lover, you're on your own.

And I am the one who you let see you weeping.

I know the soul that you struggle to save.

Too bad I'm the bet that you lost in the Reaping.

Now what will you do when I go to my grave?

It was silence when she finished. Some in awe whilst others tried to figure out why their brother was rotting away with jealousy as some girl sang a love song. Pluribus's voice shouted something out and then a thunderous applause followed, but Dorothy was still trying to figure Coriolanus out. He even hesitated to take Lucy Gray's hand when she extended it to him. And then it hit Dorothy. 

Coriolanus had always thought Lucy Gray was his, thought in his mind, thought it out loud, others saying it to him. It was always his girl. His. His. His. No-one else's. And so, hearing that Lucy Gray presumably had another lover somewhere, it made him jealous, angry Dorothy figured, that someone else who Coriolanus did not know, held the heart to something that was his. In his mind, he owned Lucy Gray. 

"Coryo!" Dorothy pushed through the crowd and went backstage, grabbing her brother's arm as she dug her nails into him. He winced visibly. "Don't you dare think that."

"Think what?"

"You know what." Dorothy scoffed. "She isn't your's, Coryo. Her heart does not belong to you. So don't let it get into your head that it does—"

"I don't think that—"

"Oh, please, I've known you all my life." Dorothy sighed. "I know what's going on that head of your's. Lucy Gray isn't your's. Her life isn't your's. If she has a lover, then so be it. You are nothing more than a mentor to her... you don't own her, Coryo."

"Says the person who was skipping around, gloating about her tribute's success," Coriolanus snapped as he yanked his arm out of Dorothy's grasp. "You act as if you own Sabyn and don't deny it!"

"I don't!" Dorothy told him, appalled. "Sabyn is her own human being just like Lucy Gray is her own as well. I was happy because my friend did amazing. I was happy for my friend whilst you were drowning in your jealousy."

"Sabyn isn't your friend." Coriolanus chuckled. "You're just a mentor to her, nothing more. You don't know her, Dottie. She isn't your friend, she's just using you to survive."

"What about Lucy Gray, huh?" Dorothy challenged. "Would you be saying this if it was about Lucy Gray?" 

Before Coriolanus could even answer, the two twins had to put on a mask as Sejanus and a little woman in an expensive, flowered dress on his arm came walking over to him. Coriolanus was obviously upset about their conversation prior and so it was Dorothy who had to do the talking as Sejanus introduced his mother to them.

"Mrs Plinth, it's so lovely to meet you," Dorothy told the woman softly as she curtsied slightly. "Please forgive us, we've been meaning to write you a note for days, but concussions are always hard things to pass. Thank you so much for the delicious food."

Mrs Plinth gave an embarrassed laugh, but a genuine smile as she said, "It's for us to thank you, Dorothy. We're so glad that Sejanus has such good friends. We've heard a lot about you, Dorothy." Dorothy's brows perked up as Sejanus muttered something under his breath. "If there's anything you need, I hope you'll know you can count on us."

"Well, that cuts both ways, madam. We are at your service," Coriolanus said as he shook the woman's hand, giving her a warm smile. He really was laying it on thick and it seemed to work since Mrs Plinth was rendered speechless as her eyes filled with tears, pulling out a lace-trimmed handkerchief as she began to blow her nose. Fortunately, Tigris came and took over chatting with the Plinths. 

And whilst Coriolanus and Tigris were joking on their way back home, Dorothy couldn't help but think if her brother was right. Did she act as if she owned Sabyn? She had tried not to, maybe it slipped every now and then, but never had she purposely thought that she had owned Sabyn. Sabyn was her own person destined for great things. Did Coriolanus really think that?

"What's got you upset, Dottie?" Tigris peered around Coriolanus to see her. "Surely you're not upset about Sabyn's performance. She was amazing, Dottie."

"Oh, I know she was." Dorothy nodded. "But it isn't Sabyn that's the reason for my mood. It's Coriolanus."

"Oh, don't be a child." Coriolanus chuckled. "You have no idea what I think, Dorothy. Don't assume you do."

"But I do, Coriolanus!" Dorothy scoffed. "I've been by your side since birth. I know exactly what goes on in your mind, I know when you're upset and what's bothering you. I am your twin after all."

"Yeah? Well, sometimes I wish you weren't."

That quip should not have pained Dorothy the way it did. If it was any other brother that had said it, the sister would brush it off and say the exact same thing. But Dorothy and Coriolanus weren't like other brothers and sisters. They were twins, together since birth. They had endured a war together, went through their parents's passing, went through their baby sister's death. Everything in life, Dorothy and Coriolanus had conquered together. They were perhaps the closest sibling duo there was. They had the most tightest friendship in the Capitol. 

"I do hope you don't mean that, Coriolanus."

With that, Dorothy sped ahead, not bothering to stay behind and hear whatever scold Tigris would bring upon Coriolanus. Instead, Dorothy practically ran to their apartment, pushing the glass door open, and bolting up the steps before reaching their apartment. 

When she opened the door, tears rolling down her cheek, it was the Grandma'am that consoled her. The old woman was sitting at the table, but at the sudden appearance of her granddaughter sobbing, she immediately got up and held the girl. No words were exchanged except from when she ordered the girl to bed, wiping her tears away as she did. Dorothy cried more the moment she realised that one day, she would have to go to the Grandma'am's funeral. It was an odd thought, but somehow, it popped in her head. 

The moment Dorothy heard Coriolanus and Tigris get home, the Grandma'am demanded to know why the girl was crying. Tigris explained what had happened and whilst Dorothy was tucked away in her bed, she could still hear the massive scolding the boy got. The Grandma'am had never yelled as much.

And then Dorothy remembered the assignment that Dr Gaul had assigned them. And so, with a sigh, the girl pulled herself out of bed, wiped away her tears, and then settled down to write about everything she loved about the war. But after nearly an hour of brewing ideas, nothing came to her mind. And then it came to her. The one thing she loved about war was that she knew in the end, peace would follow. War was essential to have peace. And so, Dorothy loved that the war would lead to peace, writing: Whilst many think that war won't end with peace, they are wrong. War is essential for peace, a necessity for order. In some ways, war always ends with peace, even if it's short-lived. That is what I loved about the war. The mere knowledge that it would lead to peace was what held my heart. But somehow, that did not quench Dorothy's thirst and so, adding an extra paragraph, the girl wrote about how she loved the order the war came with. And then the power. The knowledge of peace. The order. And the power. They were all things Dorothy loved about the war.

The next morning, Dorothy and Coriolanus did not speak as the remaining mentors walked in for the Sunday meeting. They reviewed the previous night's performances. Dorothy, Sabyn, Coriolanus, and Lucy Gray were the top shows and Dorothy's mood became much more happier when she heard Lucky Flickerman say that Sabyn had managed to scrape up a handful of gifts from sponsors. But somehow, Lucy Gray got more than her.

"Look at all these people," Dr Gaul said. "Sending bread to a slip of a girl with a broken heart, even though they don't believe she can win. What's the lesson there?"

"At the dogfights, I've seen people back mutts that can barely stand." Festus shrugged. "People love a long shot."

"People love a good love song, more like." Persephone Price smiled. She was the daughter of Nero Price, the man that Dorothy, Coriolanus, and Tigris once watched cut the leg off a maid. Dorothy could not get close to Persephone without wondering if the girl knew what was in her dinner during the war.

"People are fools," Livia snapped. "She doesn't stand a chance."

"But there are a lot of romantics." Pliny Harrington batted his eyes at Livia, making sloppy kissing sounds that Dorothy had to bite her lip to refrain from laughing. 

"Yes, romantic notions, idealistic notions, can be very attractive. Which seems like a good segue into your essays." Dr Gaul sighed as she sat down on a lab stool. "Let's see what you've got."

Rather than collecting them, the old woman had them read bits of theirs out, everyone having an idea of what their classmates wrote. Most of them wrote about the courage of the soldiers, the chance to maybe one day be heroic themselves, the bond between the soldiers who fought, the nobility of defending the Capitol.

"It felt like we were all part of something bigger," said Domitia. "Something important. We all made sacrifices, but it was to save our country."

"Mm." Dr Gaul nodded as she walked up and down the aisle. She was the type of person who couldn't sit still, apparently. "Miss Snow, can you read your last paragraph?"

"All of it?" Dorothy mumbled as she scanned it. When Dr Gaul nodded, she sighed and readied herself for the disapproving sighs she probably would get. "And yes, whilst I say I loved the peace and order the war came with, the peace that was bound to follow whether short or long, and the order that always comes with the military and war, it was something else that had caught my attention. Power. Power was something that I loved and yes, whilst I ridicule my peers for bragging about such a thing, I too desire to brag about power. The Capitol held such ability during the war, so much strength and nobility that even the most innocent, moral person couldn't deny that they had a hint of love for the thing. Maybe I fell in love with it because of its strength, or maybe because I knew that without power, none of us would be here. Yes, I say I loved the knowledge of peace and the order that came with the war, and whilst I did, it was the power that held my heart. Power was what I had loved most about the war."

Dorothy, for some reason, nearly cried when she heard Sejanus sigh. She didn't have a reason to care what Sejanus Plinth thought. But for some reason, that sigh caused a knife to rip through Dorothy's heart.

"That is perfect..." Dr Gaul nodded. "That is truly perfect... you know, you'll do great things one day, Dorothy Snow. Mark my words. Don't let anything change that."

All eyes were in Dorothy even as other students read their essays. She had received the most highest praise from Dr Gaul, even after the snake incident. But then Sejanus's sigh, everyone's eyes. If Sabyn were to hear what Dorothy had just said, she would be appalled.

"Mr Plinth?"

Sejanus had been silent the entire class, but with another sigh, he flipped a sheet of paper over and read, "The only thing I loved about the war was the fact that I still lived at home. If you're asking me if it had any value beyond that, I would say that it was an opportunity to right some wrongs."

"And did it?" Dr Gaul asked.

"Not at all. Things in the districts are worse than ever," Sejanus told her. Objections flew around the room, but the boy ignored them. "May I ask, what did you love about the war, Dr Gaul?"

She paused for a long time before smiling. "I loved how it proved me right."

But before anyone could question it, Dean Highbottom announced the lunch break. Dorothy had forgotten lunch and nothing would be provided since it was a Sunday and so, she stood on the steps, admiring the view until someone creeped up behind her.

"The essay, did you mean it?" Of course, it was Sejanus.

"Like I said, Sejanus," Dorothy muttered. "It's just a mask."

"A mask?" Sejanus sighed. "It didn't seem like a mask."

Dorothy turned around, staring at the boy. He had his brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed as he stared at her. And whilst Dorothy Snow didn't really care for ones opinion in some sense, it was Sejanus Plinth's opinion that, for some reason, she cared about.

"Fine, it wasn't a mask." Dorothy huffed. "It wasn't a mask, I did mean what I said because guess what, Sejanus? I love power. Power is basically what I dream about. We are nothing without power. I love power."

"Power isn't everything," Sejanus muttered. "It isn't. It's love, friendships, hope, that keeps us going. Power isn't the key to everything."

"It is if you want the upper hand." Dorothy swallowed a lump in her throat. "I know I sound crazy, I think I sound crazy, but power is what is keeping us going."

"And not love or anything else?"

"Love is just an imaginary thing, so is purity. It's like what I said on the swing," Dorothy said. "Yes, I want to experience love, but I don't think I'll ever get it."

"You never know, there's so many boys here that are interested in you."

"But I don't want them." Dorothy chuckled. "I want real love. I want someone to love me for who I am. My power-hungry, sympathetic, self."

"You're very confusing, Dorothy." Sejanus smirked. "I don't want believe you want power. I believe it's those around you that have made you think like that."

"Hm? And why do you think that?"

"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."

"You don't know me, Sejanus."

"Well, I want to."

Before Dorothy could say anymore, Satyria took the mentors over to the Capitol News station so they could be familiar with the behind-the-scenes machinery of the Hunger Games. The Gamemakers worked in small offices and the control room was rather disappointing. Dorothy expected something flashier and bigger for the annual event. But nonetheless, the Gamemakers were excited about the new twists to the Games and spoke mostly about the mentor commentary and sponsor participation. The Gamemakers were busy testing the toy drones designated to deliver the sponsors' gifts. The drones found the tributes by facial recognition and could carry just one item at a time. 

That evening, Dorothy and Coriolanus walked back to their apartment. It was still tense between the two, but it wasn't because of their argument. It was because they had to prepare for their final meeting with their tributes. And whilst Dorothy did think Sabyn could win, there was something in the back of her head thinking that the girl could be dead by tomorrow.

"I'm sorry."

Dorothy whipped her head to the side to see Coriolanus looking at her. She sighed as she said, "You better be."

"You were right," he mumbled. "I know I don't own her... and I'm sorry for everything I said to you. I didn't mean it."

"I would say it's all right, but it's not." Dorothy shook her head. "It hurt, what you said. Considering what we've been through. But do I actually act like I own Sabyn?"

"No, no, of course not." Coriolanus was quick to shake his head. "I was just... jealous, like you said. You don't act like you own Sabyn, you act like her friend. You've made a good friendship with her."

Dorothy nodded and the two twins didn't speak after that. What Dorothy was focused on was trying to find a gift for Sabyn. The girl meant so much to Dorothy, she had spent most of her time trying to build a friendship with her and now she had to go to her death. The Snow girl had to find something to show Sabyn that she truly cared. But before she could, Tigris had called them to the table. 

She had bought a pound of chopped beef and fried up five patties. Her's was considerably smaller, but she always nibbled on the raw meat while she prepared the meal. Tigris craved it and would have eaten her entire meal uncooked if the Grandma'am didn't forbid it. Two of the patties were reserved for Sabyn and Lucy Gray, both layered with toppings and nestled in a large bun. Tigris also made fried potatoes and creamed cabbage slaw. The twins picked out the finest fruits and sweets whilst their cousin laid linen napkins in the two small cardboard boxes they managed to find hidden away. They arranged the feast for the two girls, topping the white fabric with two final rosebuds from the Grandma'am.

"Tell them," said Tigris. "that I am rooting for the pair of them."

"Tell them," the Grandma'am added, "that we are all so sorry they have to die."

Dorothy looked at the box and then remembered something. She quickly raced to her room and went through her cupboard. At the very back, there was a cardigan she wore when she was around twelve. It didn't mean much, but since Sabyn was so small, she figured it would fit her. She would give her that and the feast. She truly hoped Sabyn could win this thing.