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MY LITTLE DOVE.

epilogue. 

the citadel, 2249.

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SOME ASSURED DOROTHY THAT it would be a passing fancy, that it was a mere infatuation. They told her it would go away in a few months. But the problem was, it didn't go away. Dorothy Snow's love for Sejanus Plinth did not disappear. Her grief did not disappear. 

And whilst before when she heard the news, she was in shock. Of course, Tigris had to lower her down into a chair, but she did not seem to accept that Sejanus was gone. But now, Dorothy could not get out of bed without sobbing, the reminders coming back to her. Sabyn was dead. Sejanus was dead. Coriolanus wasn't the same. Nothing was the same. 

So it felt weird as Dorothy walked down the streets of the Capitol, hand tightening on the satchel that was hanging from her shoulder. It was rare for Dorothy to go out considering she had been cooped up in her apartment since her graduation, but Dr Gaul had demanded her presence. Oh, that vile woman.

The moment Dorothy neared the Citadel, the Peacekeepers immediately recognised her, waving her right through to the elevator. "She's waiting for you in the lab."

Dorothy had to swallow a lump in her throat as she tried to hold her tears in. The wave of mourning came and went. Sometimes, it would hit her so hard, she would collapse against a wall as tears poured down her cheeks. But then, there would be days where she was so numb from the pain that she couldn't feel anything at all. And whilst today was bordering those two examples, Dorothy couldn't help but feel the rage filling her up as she saw Dr Gaul wave her over. 

"Ah, Miss Snow!" Dr Gaul hummed. Dorothy joined her, eyeing a cage that was filled with a half bird, half mini lion creature.

"Dr Gaul."

"Have you seen your brother lately?" Dr Gaul asked her.

"I saw him this morning." Dorothy gritted her teeth. "Before he went to the University."

"Mm, I see some jealousy there," Dr Gaul said. "Am I correct?"

"No, you're not."

Dr Gaul turned her head slowly as she stood up straight. Her hands were folded behind her back as her eyes narrowed at the sight of Dorothy. The Snow girl tried to focus on the creature instead.

"You're one of the rare people that don't disappoint me, Miss Snow. I've always had a soft spot for you and I've liked you more than I like your brother," Dr Gaul started to say. "I remember having a conversation with you when you exited the arena that night, a conversation about your two sides. Do you remember it?"

"Of course," Dorothy told her harshly. "I remember you telling me to not waste my time on romance and hope because it won't get me anywhere. You told me not to throw away my future for some boy and measly district girl."

"And so I did." Dr Gaul laughed. "And I also said one side of you wanted power while the other side wanted love and that it was only a matter of time before one side completely took over the other—"

"Is that why you've asked me here?" Dorothy snapped. "You've pulled me out of my mourning so you can ask me what side has taken over?"

"Sort of," Dr Gaul replied. "And whilst I'm getting to that, I must tell you the entire Tenth Hunger Games has been erased. Taken from the hands of history. It was a whole mess this year, a mistake getting the students mixed up in it. I didn't intend for them to start dying like a disease was going around."

"You erased it?"

"Every last copy and interview, it shall never be aired again." Dr Gaul smirked. "Of course, I've got a copy in the vault for my own entertainment."

"Of course." Dorothy huffed. With the recordings gone, Sabyn would be no-one. Sejanus would be no-one. "Is there anything else?"

"You're so impatient, Miss Snow," Dr Gaul told her. "I also want to tell you that you're idea of the parades and stylists is a keeper. As well as your brother's idea on betting. Your idea will be in full swing next year. Applications for jobs have already been released. You can take full credit, of course—"

"I don't want credit." Dorothy narrowed her eyes. "I don't want to be remembered helping the Hunger Games."

"Well, this next part is going to be tricky then," Dr Gaul spoke. "The reason I asked you down here is because I am asking you to study under me at the University as well as apply for a Gamemaker internship."

"You want me to be a Gamemaker?"

"Of course." Dr Gaul chuckled. "You're smart, Miss Snow. Smarter than any Gamemaker already here. With you're help, we can make the Hunger Games better than ever. Of course, you're going to need to study at the University so that will also take place."

Dorothy did not need to think about Dr Gaul's offer because the moment those words exited her mouth, she instantly thought of Sejanus and Sabyn. They both died because of Dr Gaul. They both died because of the Hunger Games. Dorothy was not going to be a part of the thing that killed the two people she loved most.

"Well, I'm flattered." Dorothy had to stop herself from snapping at the old lady. "But I shall decline."

"Decline?"

"I am not going to be a part of the thing that killed Sejanus and Sabyn and all other innocent people!" Dorothy spat. 

"I did not kill the Plinth boy," Dr Gaul said calmly. "I did not execute the boy. That was his own doing."

"The reason he went to District Twelve to become a Peacekeeper was because of you," Dorothy snapped. "He wouldn't have left if he didn't go into the arena to get Marcus's body. You're the reason Marcus is dead and therefore, you are the reason Sejanus is dead."

"Well," Dr Gaul drawled. "I have my answer to my first question. What side took over? You're really going to throw away your future for some dead bodies?"

"I am going to throw away my future for what I believe in," Dorothy told her. "And I will not taint Sejanus and Sabyn's legacy just so I can succeed. They died for what they believed in. I will not destroy their views. I will not help you make the Hunger Games better than ever. And if you use my name to credit the parades, I will tell everyone about what you did to Clemensia."

"Is that a threat?"

"Yes."

Dr Gaul studied Dorothy for a while before saying, "You'll come back next week, begging me for an internship."

"Maybe." Dorothy fiddled with the strap of her satchel. "Maybe not. We'll see."

"You had so much potential." Dr Gaul shook her head. "A pity your views got tarnished. A real pity. But I suppose I have Coriolanus."

"Well, you keep Coriolanus," Dorothy seethed. "I won't be some pet for you just because he is. Goodbye, Dr Gaul."

"I'll see you next week, Miss Snow."

Dorothy stormed out of the Citadel and onto the streets of the Capitol. She probably would regret that decision next week and come back later to beg for an internship, but right now, Dorothy wanted nothing to do with the Hunger Games. Instead, she averted her eyes from the park that was across the road and numbly made her way home. 

Well, it wasn't really home to Dorothy anymore. More of a place she lived in. New furniture and decor was put in place thanks to the Plinths', who had brought the Snows' apartment so they didn't have to move. This was because Strabo Plinth had chosen Coriolanus as a designated heir since he was too old to be adopted. And every time Mrs Plinth or Mr Plinth came over since they moved to live under them, Dorothy would lock herself in her room. She couldn't help but cry at every reminder of Sejanus. Her poor Sejanus.

A traitor, they said. Deserved to die, they said. And whilst Dorothy knew Sejanus had certain views about the Capitol and was irrational sometimes, she knew he never meant harm. He didn't deserved to be executed. He didn't deserve anything that happened to him. And Dorothy had been kept in the dark about his death. She wondered how he was caught, how it had happened, but every time Dorothy asked Coriolanus, he would pat her shoulder and tell her to forget about Sejanus, that he was a traitor. But Dorothy knew Sejanus and he was not a traitor. 

It would have been his nineteenth birthday today. Coriolanus had organised a quiet dinner to remember him and after that, he said they could all go on with their lives. Festus and Lysistrata were supposed to be there along with Mrs and Mr Plinth. Dorothy didn't know if she was going to attend. She probably should, but she could not muster any energy. Today had been the first day where she hadn't cried. It was a day of numbness, really. 

"Dottie!" Coriolanus's voice echoed around the streets. Dorothy groaned before turning around, seeing her brother walk up beside her in his fancy, new suit. Their friendship had taken a toll because of her mourning. "Did you see Dr Gaul?"

"I did." Dorothy nodded as she hurriedly began to walk.

"And?"

"And she tried to give me a place in the University as well as gaining a Gamemaker internship," Dorothy mumbled.

"Did you take it?" Coriolanus beamed at her. "Well, of course you did—"

"I didn't," Dorothy told him, smirking at how his face dropped.

"What do you mean you didn't take it?"

"I didn't take it, I declined." Dorothy stopped when she saw his scowl. "You of all people know I am not going to help that woman. Not with what she did to Sejanus and Sabyn. Not ever."

"Technically, Reaper killed Sabyn and Sejanus killed—"

"Don't be careless with their names!" Dorothy snapped. "I don't care what you think, I am not going to help the Hunger Games."

"Oh, come on, Dottie!" Coriolanus groaned as they continued walking. "You've always wanted to study at the University. You need to forget Sabyn and Sejanus. It won't do you any good—"

"Would you be saying that if this was about Lucy Gray?"

"Yes, I would be." Coriolanus narrowed his eyes as he looked at Dorothy, he body tense. Whatever happened between the two back in Twelve, it made Coriolanus never want to mention Lucy Gray again. "Because she does not matter. Sabyn Peterson doesn't matter. And Sejanus Plinth was a traitor. Don't let their views taint yours."

"You sound just like Gaul." Dorothy scoffed, shaking her head.

"One day you'll realise," Coriolanus told her. "And you'll regret throwing your life away because of them. This whole love thing will last for a few weeks and you'll forget about him."

"I'm not you, Coriolanus," Dorothy said. "I don't forget the people I love that easily. Whatever happened with Lucy Gray happened with you, don't force your views onto me."

"Don't say that name."

"What name? Lucy Gray?"

"You're so stubborn." Coriolanus shook his head.

"At least I know what is right and wrong," Dorothy said before quickly quickening her speed. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw Coriolanus smiling as they passed Pluribus's nightclub. "Oh, stop smirking and let's go. I want to get back."

Coriolanus obeyed and the two made it back to their apartment. Construction workers were moving in new furniture to the living room and as Coriolanus stopped to talk to them, Dorothy slipped past and went into her bedroom. She would lock herself in that room until the next morning. She would miss Sejanus's remembrance dinner, but it wasn't like she was going to go anyway. She had enough memories of Sejanus to last a lifetime and she did not want to cry again today. 

But on the windowsill, Dorothy oblivious to it, a little dove landed on the edge. It watched Dorothy as she laid on her bed, looking up at her ceiling as she began to hate herself even more. And then, when it realised she was all right, it would fly away.