I knew it was coming. 3 years, that was what every Victor got before they had to go and train petty, weak children who were sure to die, but I wanted longer. True, I was given those 3 years after being told I would be a mentor straight away after my victory. I guess the Capitol decided I was too vulnerable to train anyone, plus, a 16 year old mentor would be a terrible one. I sat, staring outside the large oval window of my bedroom out onto the street below. Not many Victors were around tonight, they were probably out celebrating the day before the Reaping's.
In all honestly, I actually hated everything about being a Victor. The constant reputation of victory that followed me around like a beacon, the tacky distasteful Capitol parties I was forced to attend and fake that I really loved being a Victor when all I wanted to do was cry. But one thing that annoyed me the most were the homes. How could something so luxurious be so horrible? The large interior of the home I was given was too large, with many vacant rooms gathering dust. All the furniture was bland in colour and lacked the rustic, loving look of being created from nothing like the normal furniture I used to own. I couldn't understand how something so precious and extravagant could make me feel so hollow inside whenever I walked around it. If I could, I would have moved into my old house in the woods with my brothers, but I wasn't aloud. Victor's were owned by the Capitol, we were like puppets, if they pulled our strings we did as they said or we'd face the consequences- Johanna Mason learnt that lesson quickly.
The evening was particularly cool tonight, unusual for the summer in District 7 which was normally swelteringly hot. The sky was a rich red, pink and orange and a few stars had blinked awake in the distance. The sun was an oval disk in the sky tired from it's long day, it was ready to close it's eyes and be extinguished from existence for a few hours. I wish I could do that. The light bulb in my chandelier that offered a bright shine to my bedroom flickered, ready to break. I looked away from the window and turned around in the orange window seat to look at an old painting on one of the walls. It was of the woods at the end of summer after I had won; I had asked the Capitol to take it for me as a small reminder of what home really was. The sun shone in the picture and illuminated the golden textures in the fallen, autumn leaves. A bird soared into the sky, wings spread elegantly as it flew away from the menacing Capitol Peacekeepers. It was a beautiful snapshot of my old life cross-stitched into my vacant new one.
"Cleo?" A voice called from downstairs; I ignored it. In the three years since my victory I had become a bitter, miserable shell of my former self to the point were my own brothers couldn't recognise me any more. I couldn't even recognise my own reflection in the hundreds off mirrors draped around the house. Normally I would have done everything with my brothers, but now they had to fight to get me to leave my room. A footstep creaked on a floorboard outside.
"Cleo, are you ok?" Diego asked, quietly. I think Kovu and Diego feared I would spring and attack them if they annoyed me. True, I'd done it before and had accidentally been holding a knife, but there was no harm done. Everyone in District 7 thinks I'm insane but I was tested and the Capitol said I was perfectly fine, although I and many others beg to differ. I'm not fine, my mind is cracked and fragile, one blow could cause it to shatter completely. The oak door opened and a messy blond haired figure stepped inside.
"There's some food downstairs if you want some?" Diego offered, smiling as sweetly as he could considering the fact he was talking to his emotionally insane and severely pissed off adopted sister.
"Not hungry," I answered bluntly. Returning to look outside at the overly clean street. Diego shuffled across the thick dream carpet and sat on my freshly washed bed. I wanted to jump up and straighten the bed sheet he had crumpled and organise the orange and yellow pillows he had caused to slip, but I resisted. My room was the only thing I cared about now; I enjoyed keeping it clean, it was my way of organising my disordered thoughts.
"You haven't left your room in days, Cle. We miss you." Diego muttered, I ignored him, something I've become really good at. "Cle, if it's about what we told you..."
"It's not that." I answered sharply.
Recently my brothers had admitted that they were a lot more than just friends. At first it was the weirdest thing I'd ever heard. Diego, Kovu and I met at the orphanage and the very idea that Kovu and Diego were dating made me sick. I considered Diego my blood brother despite the fact we were not blood related. But upon reflection it seemed obvious there was a lot more than just friendship going on, they never dated anyone else and I guess my Games brought them closer together and made them feel confident enough to admit their affections for one another.
"It's going to be ok Cleo, you're not the one fighting there." Diego soothed, walking up to me and giving my shoulder a squeeze.
"I won't be fighting but other children will be. I haven't been to the Capitol for more than a day since my Games, I don't want to go back Diego, I really don't." Diego sighed, sitting down beside me and wrapping his arms around my frail body.
"I know Cleo, but Kovu and I can come with you. We can offer to help train the Tributes, you know the Capitol always wants new trainers, especially since there's a lot of tension around the Districts and no one wants to help anymore." I look up at Diego, a slight smile on my lips.
"You'll do that?" I ask,
"If that's what you want." Diego answered, I nod, placing my head on his shoulder. "What do you do in here all day?" Diego asks,
"I clean and stare out the window," I say with a shrug. Diego smiles,
"Are the Victors that interesting?" Diego smirks, I shake my head.
"Cleo if you don't come and eat downstairs I'm going to drag you by your hair kicking and screaming into the kitchen!" A deep voice growls from the bottom of the stairs.
"He'll do it you know, don't tempt your brother he hasn't had a fight for ages." Diego warns with a smile, I rolled my eyes and walked downstairs, defeated by Diego's small offer of escorting me to the Capitol.
I stood on stage, the large population of District 7 staring at me. I rarely did public appearances so it was humiliating having so many people looking at me. James Ostana, my Mentor when I was in the Games, stands beside me. He doesn't wave so neither do I. I have no idea why the other Districts view the Victors of District 7 as gothic, anti-social freaks because personally I think we're the height of socialising standards in Panem- not. Zion Lumberton, the District Escort waddles on stage dressed in a purple suit that makes him look like a grape. It looks like he's put on even more weight, which seems utterly impossible considering how large he was 3 years ago. James and I sit down in our wooden chairs and stare out into the see of blank, terrified faces. I hear a faint buzzing sound that signals the camera is zooming in on Zion's long winded speech. I feel James' blue eyes look at me, scanning my face for any change. My stomach twisted and my heart thudded. I know of all the people who've ever spoken to, James will sense how much pain I'm really in after my Games. 5 long minutes later Zion's speech finally ends and only then does James look away from me.
"And now it's time to announce the winners of the Reaping!" Zion says, enthusiastically, as if he is about to draw a name for somebody to win a holiday to the Capitol. I fight the urge to throw a high heeled shoe at his face, whenever Zion is around I feel my blazing streak of violence activate. Zion's fat fingers rummage in the bowl of girls names. The whole thing could look beautiful in a way, a lovely naming ceremony with crystal glass bowls and a woodland scenery, but I know from experience that the crowd will be feeling pure, undiluted horror. Zion snatches up a piece of paper and smiles greedily, he unfolds it painfully slowly and the silence in the District plaza is so deafening it hurts my ears as he reads out the name,
"Cecilia Greenwood!" I scan the crowds and spot a blond haired girl trail slowly forwards. She keeps her chin up but her eyes are watering and her lips are trembling. I reach down into the crowd and help her onstage; her hand shakes like a leaf.
"How are you feeling?" Zion asks the girl,
"How do you think she's feeling?" I spit, viciously. Zion ignores me and turns to the boys bowl, he knows he won't get an answer out of the now crying Cecilia. I keep hold of her hand and sit her down in my chair, I decide to stand in front of her and block her from view so she can have a little privacy as she cries. I didn't hear what poor boy was reaped but he has made his way onstage and looks down at the floor, his legs trembling. With a pound of dread I realise something horrible. These two people are no Victors, no matter how terrified the other Tributes were, no Victor has ever cried on stage. This pair is weak and I don't think these children will survive past the first day no matter how hard I train them. The crowd cheers slightly as we all walk off stage into the Justice Building, I escort Cecilia into a room and sit her down in a blue chair. She looks up at me, brown eyes watery with tears and shock.
"How could this happen to me?" She asks, her voice weak.
"Because the world is cruel and the odds are not in your favour." I answer, repeating the phrase adored by the Capitol. Cecilia starts to sob again,
"Will my family come and see me?"
"Of course, you can spend some time with them before you leave." Cecilia try's to smile, but it's so fake and forced it makes my heart hurt. I awkwardly turn around and leave her in peace, hoping she has enough time to say goodbye to her family. Zion and James are sitting around a black coffee table in a large room, waiting for the half an hour the Tributes have to say goodbye to be over.
"Come and join us, Cleopatra. My, it has been a long time." Zion says with a smile.
"Shut your fat face or I will stab you in the throat." I hiss. Zion gulps, surprised by my violent outburst, in all honestly, I'm surprised at the fiery response I fired at him. James smiles into a cup of black coffee, his eyes flicker towards mine but I look away.
I walk to the furthest possible corner and sit down, drawing my knees under my chin. This room is cold and threatening, the ceiling seems a million miles away from the floor and everything is draped in gray and molted green. The carpet underneath me is scratchy and thin with threads coming loose at the corners. Along each wall is a plaque with the names of every Victor from District 7 and a famous quote they surposedly said. My plaque is next to the exit, I strain my hazel eyes to read it. Cleopatra Ivy: "You should count yourself lucky, you never got smashed in the ribs with a rock." I frown, I can't remember ever saying that, but I do remember my broken ribs. Sometimes it still hurts to lift heavy things around the house and I'm terrified that somehow my ribs didn't heal properly and they might shatter inside my chest.
The doors to the Justice building open and Kovu and Diego walk in.
"What are you doing, you're not aloud in here, get out or I'll call the Peacekeepers!" Zion exclaims, struggling to stand up.
"Shut up Zion, no one ever listens to your threats." The Kovu sneers harshly, stalking towards me.
"We're aloud to come and train the Tributes in the Capitol, we've both been recruited and have filled in forms if you need to see them." Diego says, I roll my eyes, Diego always did hate conflict. Kovu sits down beside me, sighing.
"So, you're aloud to come too?" I ask, Kovu nods.
"Not that I want to but at least we get good food." Kovu pulls me into a hug and I smile, sometimes it's nice to be hugged by my only living blood relative. I think Kovu and Diego sense my sadness, that's why they both try extra hard to show affection towards me whenever they can. Kovu and I used to be inseparable, we would hunt animals together and practice fighting almost everyday. I once asked Kovu to make daisy chains with me when I was sick at the orphanage and despite the fact it was raining heavily and he hated it, Kovu still made them me. I smile at the sweet memory. Diego sits in front of me, putting away his permission papers.
"What are you two going to teach the Tributes anyway?" I ask
"How to be awesome!" Kovu exclaims,
"How to tone down the arrogance." Diego replies, Kovu scowls jokingly at him. I laugh quietly, almost enjoying the company of my brothers.
After what seems like the longest half an hour of my life the Tributes appear, shaken up and devastated.
"Sit, come and have some coffee, the car will arrive soon. Although there certainly will not be enough room for all of you to come." Zion looks accusingly at Diego and Kovu, Kovu lifts up his middle fingers and swears at him.
"I recon it will be three days before Kovu punches Zion." I say, producing three gold coins from my coat pocket and putting them on the floor in front of me.
"No, I'm betting two days." Diego says,
"Three coins for the winner?" I ask,
"Bets on, Cle." Diego and I shake hands to seal the deal.
"Y'know, I could just punch him right now?" Kovu says, standing up and brushing invisible dust from his black trousers. Diego shakes his head and Kovu smiles, he wouldn't hit someone for no reason.
"You two are both going to have to walk to the train station." Zion declares, stuffing a cream donut in his mouth.
"I think the walk to the train will do you good fat arse. I'm going, come on Diego." Kovu says walking outside, Diego bursts out laughing and trails after him. Zion blushes bright red with embarrassment and anger. The two tributes sit awkwardly, attempting to sip coffee out of politeness.
"How dare he?" Zion booms.
"Oh calm down, you know you're fat." James mutters, pouring himself his third cup of coffee.
"Don't worry, I'll walk there instead." I decide, wanting to stretch my legs and leave the stuffy room. I turn around and walk outside, leaving behind Zion's angry, mumbled rant. I begin the long walk to the station, hoping that I will arrive too late and the train will leave without me. Maybe I should just avoid it completely and walk away from it all? Away from a loving family where I feel so unloved; away from a District of supporting residents were I feel unsupported; away from a life of luxury where I feel like I have nothing at all.
Authors note:
So I said I would write this sequel soon, but I procrastinated so much that it's taken me 6 months or something to write this. Sorry. I hope you like it and if you have any questions about the characters message me! If you're reading this and feel like you've missed some extra information, you have. This is a sequel to my story, Don't just Die and if you could read that and review I'd be eternally grateful and give you a cup of James' favourite coffee. Thanks for reading and I really hope you'll enjoy this sequel. One thing I think I should mention is this is an OC story set in THG world, but there may be some errors so I can make the story realistic. Also, some of the errors will be explained later on in the story so try not to worry about them too much. Thanks for reading and REVIEW!