18

Summary

• Coriolanus is struggling to accept his family's financial troubles and potential loss of their home.
• The family has six weeks to pay the back taxes equivalent to a year of Tigris's income.
• Selling their possessions wouldn't cover much more than a few months' worth of bills.
• Tigris tells Coriolanus to focus on winning the Hunger Games prize to help their situation.
• Coriolanus is well aware of the public shame an eviction would bring to his family.
• He dreams about the events of the arena and wakes feeling unsettled.
• Coriolanus worries if they move, his grandmother may lose her spirit to sing their anthem.
• He covers his wounds with powder before heading out, accepting tokens from Tigris without question due to their dire financial situation.
• The idea of asking the Plinths for money crosses his mind, but pride and the image of the Snow family stops him.
• At the Academy, mentors get ready for the cameras and discuss the Hunger Games, with Hilarius obsessing about the tributes.
• Coriolanus skillfully handles his media duties, highlighting his tribute Lucy Gray's virtues and securing sponsorships.
• An interaction between tributes Reaper and Lamina is narrated, involving a negotiation and use of the nation's flag which upsets the audience.
• Mentors watch as their tributes form alliances and betray each other in the arena, resulting in Lamina's death.
• Coriolanus experiences disdain for his colleagues and their lack of compassion towards their own tributes.
• As Lucky Flickerman entertains the audience with his pet parrot and discussions with Dean Highbottom, Coriolanus reflects on his life.
• Coral betrays Tanner, killing him and then bandages Mizzen's knee as they leave the scene together.
• Domitia exits gracefully, sharing thoughts on trust and the nature of the Games.
• Reaper collects bodies of dead tributes, drapes them with a piece of the flag, and then wears another piece as a cape.
• Reaper's actions cause public disapproval, but Coriolanus considers using the situation as an opportunity to reach out to Clemensia.
• Coriolanus learns that his classmate Gaius Breen has died from the bombing injuries and must keep it confidential.
• Dr. Gaul hints that something could happen involving Lucy Gray if she wins, reminding Coriolanus of a paper he owes.
• Coriolanus encounters lab assistants discussing a tank of snakes, potentially being moved for an unknown purpose related to the Games.
• Dr. Gaul's previous mention of repercussions and the arena causes Coriolanus to fear for Lucy Gray's safety from the snakes.
• He secretly drops a handkerchief into the snake tank, but the purpose and consequences of this action are not explained.