A/N: So I woke up a few days ago and the sun was shining! I live in Ireland so I actually thought I'd died. So I went into the woods and wrote this!
I own neither The Hunger Games nor the song (The Winner Takes It All by ABBA)
I stare down at the photo in my hands resisting the urge to scream at the top of my voice. The memory of when this photo was taken is enough to make my stomach churn. It was the Quell party, the one my dear 'friend' Andreana held for the second Quarter Quell. I remember hoe excited we were and the thought disgusts me even more. We were excited, excited to watch innocent people fight to the death for no justifiable reason, we were celebrating that twice as many had to do it. the thought of my fifteen year old self is enough to make me nauseous, I was so shallow and so pathetically stupid. The music playing changes and I soon find myself singing.
I don't wanna talk
About things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now its history
I remember my grandmother playing this song when I was little. How my family managed to hold onto it after the Dark Days is a wonder, this music was precious to me so I always made sure I had it saved on multiple devices. Just in case.
The gods may throw the dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
I'm singing quite loudly now. It's strange that something written so long before the Dark Days can so closely relate to the Hunger Games.
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
Its simple and its plain
Why should I complain
My thoughts shift to the rebellion, how those in the Capitol didn't understand it at all, they didn't se the problem with how Panem was run. You couldn't really blame them though, that was how they were raised, I was the same until I met Haymitch. My opinion changed the moment I saw the look in his eyes, vacant yet terrified at the same time, it took all I had to appear cheerful after that but I managed.
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all
I'm belting it out by now, I wouldn't be surprised if all of twelve could hear me now. The image of their faces on reaping day threatening to bring tears to my eyes. Haymitch enters quietly but I don't stop, the look on his face makes me belt out the ending more confidently. I sing the last line as almost a whisper.
The Winner takes it all...
I linger on the last note for a moment and we stand silent for a while before I go back to sorting through photos. I smile at the next photo I pick up.
Our wedding day.