NCT DREAM + THE HUNGER GAMES
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Iris gets sent to the Hunger Games, and so does Chenle. But why did it have to be him? Why did he have to go with her?
She couldn't kill Chenle.
But the odds are never in our favor.
𝘈 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪...
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"Iris, come here, please." I turned around to see Mark gesturing for me to follow him. We had just entered the room with the chariots a few minutes ago, and Jeno and Chenle were off talking to people from another District.
Confused, I followed Mark. He wove around horses and tributes until we got to the doorway leading back into the Tribute Center. He went back through, went left down a hallway, right, then left again. When he finally entered what looked like a deserted classroom with chairs stacked against the walls, he closed the door behind me and finally turned around to look at me for the first time since the room with the chariots.
"Mark?" I asked hesitantly. His face was nowhere near the cheery face I saw this morning, looking more mentor-ish now.
"Look, Iris. Jeno and I have been talking to some... people," Mark said slowly, and a weird look appeared on his face like he was searching for the right words.
I didn't know who he could have possibly talked to. Someone back at our District? Why would he want to tell me, of all people?
"Go on," I said after he stopped talking for a few seconds, eyeing him skeptically.
"These people, they... well..." his face contorted again as he searched for the right words. "How do you feel about the Capitol?"
I stood stock-still for a minute. Did he know? What if he got mad at me? Could I tell the truth? What would happen if I did? Why did he want to know this?
"Tell me the truth," Mark said after my hesitance. I swore at myself mentally. I thought back to yesterday, which seemed like years ago. I had looked into the big screen and saw...
A face that hated the Capitol.
I inhaled sharply, deciding I wasn't going to tell him. "I don't think this is the time for politics, Mark—"
"Iris," Mark cut me off with a mocking laugh. "Iris, Iris, Iris."
"Mark? What the hell are you laughing about?" I replied, almost nervous. I couldn't think of how to describe the way Mark was acting. I backed up a step.
"Iris, if you hate the Capitol, just say so. I do," he said, and with a faint smirk, finally returned to his serious look again.
I whipped my head around, away from Mark. I looked for cameras, windows, other people; anything that could signify that someone was listening.
"Mark!" I whispered harshly, "Not here!"
"Iris, it's now or never. There is a Rebellion on the horizon. We just need people to make it happen," Mark whispered, taking steps toward me until we were barely a foot apart. I could here his steady breathing, and felt the way his breath fanned over my face.
"And I am here... why?" I asked him quietly.
"Reese, Iris. Isn't your brother dead from the same fate you have ahead of you? Why did your parents die together and there were no records of it? Why was it kept quiet?" Mark said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
