I know I said I wasn't going to start this fic for a while, but personal stuff has happened and I needed to escape to another world so I ended up writing this chapter and half the next one. This takes place the day after ***Spoilers if you haven't read the 63rd hunger games*** Sapphire commits suicide. I originally planned for this story to be only two chapters long but I think its gonna end up being between 5 and 7. Updates should be out every week or at least every two weeks. Enjoy and please tell me what you think.
Chapter 1: A web of lies
Zoey's POV
Sapphire's been acting really weird since she came back from the victory tour. I think it's just because it stirred up stuff with Carter again though. It's best to give her space when she's upset. We don't really talk about Carter much, I bring him up in conversation her eyes start to water and I hate seeing her like that. She's like a sister to me. A sister crossed with a mum and a best friend. I was so glad when she offered to take me in. My parents used to beat me but I couldn't tell anyone because I'd have had to move to a community home. From what I had heard, community homes sounded a lot worse than my parents hitting me.
Carter was the first person who ever properly cared about was before. He saw a bruise on my arm. He asked me who did it.
"My mum." I replied. There wasn't much point in lying. No one would care if I told them the truth.
"I have some salve for bruises at home if you want me to bring it in?" That was the first time we ever spoke. The first time ever, before then we had never even said hi to each other in the corridor. That conversation was the first of many. I don't remember them all. I remember when I first fell in love with him though. It was the day of our first reaping. After I'd got into my only dress and tied more hair up in two neat plaits, I went to Carter's house. When he opened the door, he just looked so cute in his suit, I fell in love with him. I think I liked him before that moment, but that was the moment I realised. That was the moment I went he was the one.
He didn't notice me for another six months though. Or maybe he did and we just never realised we liked each other. Either way, I spent six tortuous months being his best friend. In those six months we grew closer than ever. He stopped people at school picking on me, and by the time the victory tour rolled around, I could barely take my eyes off him. I had a constant ache in my heart to be with him. When I was with him, all I could picture was our hands holding and lips touching. His soft touch, pushing back a stray strand of hair. A loving look in his eyes. Those six months I grew to love him so much more. His little habits. His quirky ways. I fell in love with it all.
The winner was a girl from 2. When she came to 1, she was wearing a red silky dress that flowed to her knees.
"That dress is beautiful." I whispered to Carter when I saw it. He looked at me and everything between us changed. Everything that was or ever could be. We were no longer just friends.
"Not as beautiful as you." He replied and then we kissed. It was perfect. There was no other way to describe it. That was when before became now.
Watching him commit suicide in the games was the most painful thing I've ever done. I get why he did it though. He loved Sapphire and did the only thing he could to make sure she lived. I don't blame her like her parents do. Carter was always stubborn. She would never have been able to change his mind.
Sapphire didn't really speak to me much once she got back from the victory tour yesterday, she was in the attic for most of the time. I knocked on her door when I went up to bed and she seemed a bit upset, but that was bound to happen over the victory tour. I just go downstairs to make some breakfast when I see a note on the table. It's addressed to me.
Dear Zoey, [the note read]
I'm so sorry. I just wasn't strong enough to carry on. Whatever you do though, whatever you do now, don't blame yourself. This is so much more than just us. What I am going to tell you will put your life in danger, so pretend you don't know anything about this note. Burn it.
When I was at the presidential palace, Snow came up to me and threatened me. He said if I didn't become a well a... I had to have sex with whoever would pay him a decent sum of money. He told me if I didn't do it, he'd kill you. Not just you, everyone I love. So I did. But I can't do it. I can't play his sick little game. It was my life or yours. I had one of three options. 1) I carry on as a prostitute. I couldn't do that. I felt trapped, like I was drowning. It wasn't really an option. 2) I could let him kill everyone I love. That wasn't really an option either. I had already lost Carter. I can't lose anyone else. 3) I stop living. Nothing can be worse than this. It would mean those I love are safe.
So yes Zoey, this is what I have picked. Suicide. I'm sorry I'm not strong enough for you. I just can't go on like this. Rose will look after you. Once you've burned this note go to her house.
I'm sorry this is the way it has to end, after everything I've been through. I can't see a way out though. A way through this web of lies. The tangle of deceit. This knot of death. And for that, I'm sorry. Live a god life for me Zoey. That's all I ask. Carter wouldn't have wanted you to have mourned for the rest of your life, and neither do I.
With all my love
Sapphire
I sigh. I wish she had told me sooner. I read the note until I have memorised it and then drop it in the fire and watch as it is consumed by the white paper turns brown and furls in on itself as it ashes.
My whole I kind of divided into two parts. Before and now. Before Carter, and then now. But Carter's gone. Now is over. After has begun. After, after it all. After Carter, after Sapphire, after the reaping that killed the two days people closest to me. Directly or indirectly. If it weren't for the reaping they'd still both be alive. I want to kill the whole Capitol.
I go up to the attic. That'll be where she died. I see I'm right when I see body hanging from a rope attached to the ceiling. That's when the grief hits me. The web of lies have now ensnared me.
