Coriolanus experiences a bombing and is terrified, seeking cover as explosions erupt around the arena.
He enters a state of heightened awareness he and Tigris call "bomb time," remembering the war and how they would take cover during attacks.
During the chaos, Coriolanus realizes the bombs were planted, not dropped from hovercraft, and notices incendiary devices.
Lucy Gray, nearby and restrained by cuffs, is advised by Coriolanus to cover her face with a napkin.
An explosion damages a snack stand, raining debris on Coriolanus and trapping him under a burning beam.
Lucy Gray hesitates when she sees an opportunity to escape, but ultimately saves Coriolanus, helping him out from under the beam.
The two collapse in the center of the arena, where medics later arrive to provide assistance.
Coriolanus is eventually taken away on a stretcher to a hospital, while Lucy Gray is violently detained by a Peacekeeper.
Coriolanus wakes in the hospital with injuries and learns from Tigris and the Grandma'am about heightened security and fears in the Capitol due to the bombing.
He discovers that casualties included mentors and tributes, and the chaos has significantly impacted the Hunger Games and the Capitol's sense of security.
Coriolanus thinks about the bravery of Lucy Gray and other tributes, and their possible motivations.
A visit by the twitchy Clemensia, another mentor affected by the incident, disturbs Coriolanus and raises fears about Dr. Gaul's intentions.
As Coriolanus's condition improves, he watches his own performance from earlier events, considering his own significance and the tragedies befalling others.
Coriolanus is discharged from the hospital and continues to be haunted by the events of the bombing.
He reflects on Lucy Gray's actions and his feelings of indebtedness to her for saving his life.
At the Academy, the consequences of the bombing are clear, with empty chairs representing the tributes and mentors who have died.
Lucy Gray and Coriolanus have a conversation where she expects him to truly believe she can win the Hunger Games, reflecting a change in their dynamics due to her life-saving actions.