Chapter 1.
"Find light in the beautiful sea
I choose to be happy
You and I, you and I
We're like diamonds in the sky"
Shine Bright: Prolouge, Part 1
Leonerd Mace, 19, District One, Victor of the Sixth Hunger Games
"Becoming a Victor is neither a reward nor a punishment."
"It's just something that happens to one teenager every year. They fight for survival, the losers die, and the victors survive. That's as far as it goes."
"Us seven, we were merely survivors in the grand scheme of things. I fought to survive, you fought to survive, and, well, we all fought to survive. We were the successful ones and, now, we can live. It's as simple as that."
"So, would you say you're quite impartial towards your victory?" I ask, leaning in towards my subject and at least pretending to appear a little interested. I'm really not. I've interviewed all of these other victors a hundred times before and they always say the same thing. They are dull, lifeless, and, quite frankly, they are just depressing to listen to.
They pretend that our victorship is more like a curse, some go as far to suggest it's worse than death, but I simply can't find anything negative about it. Why must they make something so delightful sound so...disgusting?
Linden Eaton, the victor of the Third Hunger Games, lifts his shoulders in a shrug. "I guess I am." I resist the urge to sigh as I continue to show my bright smile.
My fellow victors are as bland as a martini without an added lemon. I pray for the day that we get someone with a little added sparkle. 'Please?'
They call us the fabulous Seven, although some of us-namely me-, are clearly more fabulous than the others. At first, the Capitol saw the victors as someone to hate, to look at with spiteful glares instead of glowing smiles, but all of that changed the year I won. It was almost as if the Capitol suddenly realised the entertainment value which the Hunger Games could bring.
I went from being booed at the tribute parade, having eggs and tomatoes thrown at me, to having a doll with my face on it; all in the matter of weeks. It was insane. It was amazing.
They actually loved me.
I didn't ask for it. I almost expected myself to react the same way as the others, to completely hate myself for killing innocent kids. I don't. I never have. When my sword pierced the skin of that other kid during the bloodbath and the blood spluttered over my arms, my heart stopped. But I wasn't shocked that I had killed someone. I was shocked because I didn't feel anything. Not a hint of guilt washed over my body, I felt fine, as if I didn't just steal the life of another human being.
At first, I thought I was mad, but I know now that isn't the case. I am perfectly normal; it is the other victors who have clearly lost their minds.
"What about you, Roland, you won last year. How would you describe your victory so far?" I ask.
The good-looking boy from District Two snaps to attention as he looks up at me, his hand nervously pushing his hair back from his face. "Uh, yeah, it's alright," he whispers. "I mean, it has its highs and its lows. I set out and achieved what I wanted to do, I brought honour to my district, did them proud...yeah."
"You volunteered; you were the first volunteer to win the games. Do you regret it at all?"
"No," he says, uncertainty lying in the mist of his voice. I know his true feelings, we all do. He's starting to second-guess himself. God knows why, but at least he's doing a good job at masking it. He at least acts content.
"What advice would you give to the tributes wanting to follow in your footsteps and volunteer?"
Hopefully District One will be sending careers this year, for the first time ever. Ever since I allied with the career tribute in my own games, I have wanted to let my District follow in the footsteps of District Two. We have our tributes selected, and it will be magical. It will be the fourth games since the career movement kicked into place, it is growing, and eventually it will take the games by storm, making them better than ever before.
Districts such as District Ten, Eleven, Twelve, and even District Four, may never follow the career movement. They are still struggling to survive, but if we can get Districts Three, Five, Six, and every other District that wishes to, to follow this movement. The games can turn into something positive. Never again will a kid lose their minds and end up with a broken souls.
Roland's adams-apple bobs as he swallows down his nerves. He has never been very confident in front of the camera, always hiding his face from the journalists who follow him around. Some people shine like diamonds in front of an audience, others fall into the shadows. Much to my own surprise, Roland locks his eyes onto the camera as he prepares to answer my question.
"Watch your back and don't fall down," he says.
"Shine bright like a diamond." (Diamonds- Rihanna)
A/N: This is now closed. Enjoy all the same though :)