So here's the sequel, I hope you like it. I do not own any characters or ideas written by Suzanne Collins.
75th Hunger Games - Kaylyn's story
Chapter 1 - Reaped Again.
"Kaylyn Taylor." He stutters out.
All eyes on me. All confused. 'What?' is all I can think as I struggle to come to terms with my name being read out. It takes someone to push me forward before I start to move. I'm not in the marked area for previous winners so I have to climb over the rope to get to the stage. Once over the rope peacekeepers escort me, they practically hold me up as I'm in a state of shock and my legs don't seem to be functioning.
'How did this happen? In any life I'm not a previous victor, how was my name in that bowl?' I think feverishly as I stumble on stage.
A grave thought then strikes my head
'Unless Snow found out. You did survive the games after all, only one victor allowed.' I think suddenly back.
'Not last year though' I argue 'yeah and look what's happened to them! If Snow found out, he wants you dead. You defied the capitol with your speech and being alive, even though no one knows it there is a possibility of people finding out. He wants you dead just as much as he wants Katniss dead.' I finish sternly to myself.
I realise Peter is about to read the Boy's name out and look over at him hoping it isn't Finnick.
'Surely this day can't get any worse!' I think pleadingly.
The never ending butterfly's in my stomach seem to increase their speed, so much so that I wonder if I'm going to be sick with worry.
His mouth begins to form words and "Finnick Odair" he says in the same tone in which he read mine out in.
'And it got worse.' I think grimly.
I want to break down then and there but I know that wouldn't help anything, so I compose myself and try to keep a blank face. Finnick manages to walk properly to the stage, clearly doing well to keep a vacant expression and hide his emotions unlike me. We shake hands and walk into the justice building escorted by Peter and some peacekeepers. I am taken to separate room than Finnick, but before we part ways we exchange glances that both clearly read 'How the hell did this happen?'.
I wait in the room for Michael. I try not to think about what to say to him as I've already done this once before and if Snow knows about me then I'm already dead. But I know I have to hide that to my 8 year old brother, I can't scare him with the fact I know I'm dead. I'll have to be strong and pretend I'll try to get out for him. I know when I don't come out Will will look after him. I pace the room endlessly before he comes in.
"You have to try!" Michael runs in sobbing into my arms.
I pick him up and carry him to the sofa.
"H-how did they find o-out it-t was you?!" he weeps out.
"I don't know little man, but I'm going to sure as hell try to get out of there for you." I say gently so not to scare him whilst stroking his hair.
"W-what about Will?" he sobs.
"He'll look after you, you like uncle Will? Yes?" I ask cautiously.
"Yeah of course I do! I-I mean w-will you t-try for him t-too?" he asks looking up at me.
This question shocks me. He's worried I don't care about Will. How can a boy of 8 be worrying about Will's feelings? Well at least I know Michael will feel ok about Will looking after him from now on.
"Of course I'll try for Will!" I say calmly but with determination.
At this point the gits in white walk in and haul Michael away screaming and kicking like last time. That was quick. Too quick. They're allowing less time this year which only adds fuel to my hatred for the Capitol. Once the door is closed I run my hand through my hair thinking manically about how Michael will cope with my death. I pace again, in desperation and hoping to wear out the carpet out of anger for the capitol. They've done it again! Forcing kids to go in once was one thing! But previous traumatised victors back in?! I now know how Finnick felt when he first heard. Scared, furious, desperate for revenge. I don't care if I die in these games, but until I do I will ensure a full blown rebellion will happen. Snow will not get away with this. This genocide stops. Now.
Will rushes in. I swiftly turn around to see his tear stained face. He walks over to me, takes my face in his hands and kisses me. He kisses me with so much meaning and longing that it makes me forget everything for the time being. I snake my hands around his neck as he deepens the kiss. This kiss says words to me, it says 'I'll miss you, I'll look after Michael, I love you.' He pulls apart and I'm brought back to reality.
"I love you. Never forget that. I'll be here when you get back. You will get back. They are planning something remember. Finnick will make sure you get back." He says quickly, almost to convince himself as much as me.
"There are some districts who aren't involved though, they could kill me. And anyway, if I'm going back in that means Snow found out, which means he'll make sure I'm dead." I say solemnly, trying to not admit defeat but failing.
Will puts his arms around me and pulls me into a hug.
"I'm not letting you give up love. You're not dying on me. No chance. I heard Mags is your mentor, I'm sure you'll have your sword delivered to you. Use it. You have to try. For yourself and for me. Please Kaylyn" he paused then before continuing "...Please...Tay".
The sound of my own name sends memoires rushing to the front of my head. My first games all come back to me, I was good with a sword then and probably am better now after all the training. Will is right, there is a plan, and Finnick said he'd come out alive and I know he isn't that selfish to win it all for him. He has a plan for a lot of people to live. I may have a chance but only if I try.
"Ok I'll try...for you and Michael. But promise me one thing." I ask looking timidly up at him, only pulling away slightly so I can just see him without leaving his embrace.
"Anything" he says.
"If I do die look after Michael for me?" I ask looking down, for some reason just now I thought maybe assuming Will would look after him was too rude.
I had to ask to make sure he would, I've realised I ask a lot of Will and he receives nothing in return. I get very jealous of him and other girls, but I expect him to be fine when it's just me and Finnick. He must go crazy at the thought of me going into the games again, as that is where I met and fell in love with what used to be Keeko. Of course he's changed now, but that's not the point.
Will lifts my head up so my eyes meet his and says "Of course I will, I see him as my own family now. But you're going to come out alive Tay".
He then pulls me into another deep kiss, it's the gits in white that pull us apart. We both exchange one last 'I love you' before the door is slammed shut.
That was again too quick. I hate the Capitol for not giving us as much time to say goodbye. They're being cruel for no reason. And then I think, did they ever have a real reason to kill 23 kids each year anyway? No. The only reason being because of some war years ago. Pathetic. They never have a proper reason for their acts of brutality, and once again these thoughts only fuel my hatred.
I am astounded for the second time when Finnick marches in with a very bruised eye and hand with Peter in tow. I stare at him in shock, and he gives me the same look back.
"How" I ask first to speak gesturing to his eye and hand.
"They refused to the let me out of the door to see you so I punched them, and it ended up in a fight that Peter, here, broke off saying there was no harm in seeing you now." he explains motioning to Peter.
I give Peter a thankful nod and walk over to hug Finnick, he hugs tightly back. We pull away and go to sit down on the sofa, I lean my head on his shoulder and he puts his arm around me. Peter leaves to give us some space.
"How did they find out?" I ask in a distressed tone.
Finnick runs his hand through his hair and replies "I honestly have no idea Kay, you may have been recognised by one of the district 4 peacekeepers, or the parachute I sent in may have been found and analysed and the pieces put together, the people in the hovercraft we knocked out could have blabbed and they may have thought we secretly got you out alive without the drug, or my house in 4 could be bugged...The last scenario is the more likely the case."
He sighs at this point and we sit in silence for a few minutes, both thinking deeply about the situation at hand.
Finnick eventually continues "We can't keep thinking about how it happened, we have to think about how to handle it." he says resting his head on mine.
I think about this for a while but reply with "I'll have to stay hidden, it's the only way, I'll be executed publically if I announce it, I'm going to have to pull this off otherwise...I'm afraid to think what the consequences might be." I say slightly giving up hope.
I then add to that with "I'll have to be careful if I get a sword in the arena, people may recognise the style, I'll have to try a different weapon." I pause to think of other possibilities but come up short "this is hopeless, Snow knows, so basically I'm not getting out alive!" I say as I feel myself beginning to cry.
I stop and force myself to stay strong.
Finnick pulls me close "No darling, you're getting out alive. Hopefully we all are with my and the other mentors plan. But you're right you must keep it up, Marcus will create a different look for you so it's harder to recognise you. Like you say use a different weapon in the arena that is similar to a sword but not too similar that people may connect you." he kisses my head and continues "remember people in the Capitol believe a lot of stuff, as long as you fool them, Snow will be happy, well for a short time anyway." he finishes leaving me to wonder yet again what he's on about.
I then think of a flaw in our plan. How are the Capitol going to pull this off if I'm not a previous winner?
"But Finnick, I'm not a previous winner, so how are they going to play that. I can't just say I am, because I'm 18, the earliest I could have won was 6 years ago, and I wasn't in the girls victors section like I was meant to be if I was a previous victor." I say desperately and fast paced, I pause but then continue "in fact I'm not a previous victor at all" I say slightly slower but with the same tone.
"You got to the square late, that's all and had to climb over the rope just as you arrived because you heard your name." he says as if it was obvious "We'll watch the showing of the reapings tonight, they'll show how the chosen victors won their first games, follow whatever back story the Capitol have made up for you, no matter how stupid it is. In the interviews just play it like you did last time, people won't connect that, plus they'll be too busy thinking about what the other tributes are saying about Snow to worry about who you are love" he concludes.
'He likes leaving me to think about what he's planning doesn't he' I muse. Peter calmly walks in at this point.
"Train is here" he says.
We both tense. Despite Finnick's plan I know these games are going to be unpredictable. Snow is trying to get rid of the rebellious victors to show that even the little hope you have of surviving can be taken away. It is completely unfair, but that is the Capitols way of doing things. I didn't want to board another train to hell, I want to stay here and raise a family and stop this from the rebels side, not from inside the arena. But I have no choice. We have to go in, and even though it is unlikely we will survive, we are going to try.
Finnick and I walk hand in hand to the train, seeing no camera's which was odd. We board the train and it takes off even before the door is fully closed. We move round to a window and watch our home disappear from site, wondering if we will ever see it again.