Hey guys so here is the first chapter of my sequel to The Girl Who Changed Everything. Let me know what you think!
It has been six months since I arrived home from the 74th Hunger Games. Life has been hard. I am now eight months pregnant and I still haven't seen the father Cato Valentine. We have exchanged letters a few times, but that is all. My nightmares, and day terrors haven't gotten any easier on me either, and I worry that all this stress is going to have an effect on my unborn child. The games haunt my dreams, and I sometimes see things that aren't real. I feel trapped by my own mind that is slowly driving me crazy. At this time all I can do is try and deal with it until the victor's tour that starts next week.
"Zoey your stylist is here," June calls from the hall. I drag myself from my desk and head down stairs. I smile as soon as I see Holden. He really has been a friend to me ever since I was reaped and sent to the capitol. "Zoey it is nice to see you," Holden says as he hugs me. "It's great to see you to. So I'm going to take a guess and say you have some lovely outfit to wear for the interview?" I ask curiously. "Yes, I do. So are you ready to show your talent to all of Panem? Holden asks. "I guess. I don't really want to share it, but I guess I don't have a choice," I say with a shrug. In two hours capitol people will be swarming my district again to interview me before the upcoming victor's tour. At this interview I have to display my new hobby that I have taken up since I won. Ever since I got home I can't help but write. I write stoires, and poems that are all based on my dreams. Some of them are disturbing and I had to be careful when it came to choosing what poem I would be sharing with Panem. By the time two hours have gone by Holden has me dressed in a simple silver dress, he also has my hair curled and my make up matches my dress. I walk downstairs and wait for the interviewers. "You look nice," Emerson smiles to me. "Thanks," I say. The relationship between Emerson and I has been strained. Every since I came home he has done all he can to take care of me, but I can't help but notice that he acts more with drawn with me. I know this has to do with the fact that I came back from the games carrying another tribute's child. I wait in the living room until there is a knock on the door and in a span of five minutes capitol people and cameras swarm my house. "Hi, I'm Theo Kelly and I'll be carrying out this interview today," A young man says as he shakes my hand. We decide to start the interview in the living room and soon the lights are shone on me and all eyes and cameras are pointed in my direction.
"Hello, Panem I'm Theo Kelly and I am here with one of the 74th Hunger Games victors Zoey Nightshade." I smile into the camera. "First of all I must say you are just glowing with your pregnancy," Theo exclaims. "Thank you, this child will be due within a month," I tell him. "How has the pregnancy been going any strange cravings?" Theo asks lightly. "Well everything has been pretty smooth, except that I have been craving pumpkin of all things of late," Everyone laughs at my comment. "Now I have to ask how are things with the father Cato Valentine?" Theo asks. I was hoping to avoid this topic, but I knew it was something that was going to come up. "Well we haven't seen each other since the games, but we have been writing letters back and forth," I tell Theo. "Well that's not the answer I was expecting, I was hoping for something a little romantic," Theo gushes. "Well there hasn't been much romance between us since we left the arena," I say quietly. "I am sorry to hear that. Well why don't we move on and see this new hobby you have taken up," Theo says trying to shift the mood. I lead the camera crew and Theo to my room. All over the walls I have posted different poems and short stories. "Well, ever since I got back I have been writing alot, and I guess I will share something that I wrote with you," I say as I walk over to my desk and pick up a small notebook. I flip through a few pages until I find what I want to read then I begin,
The flashlights came out I know that this is going leave you now The house that I know Losing all control
The sound of them move
The wet of the ground
You're starting to lose
You took every breath
You traced all my steps
To start in the streets, and end what is left
I know that this is going to take you down
I know that this is going to take you out
The flags they will blow
The races are where the current will go
The threats underway
The summer lit fades
Will start in the streets, and end in my veins
Losing all control this light you will find
You're losing all control
Losing all control you will fall behind
This was more than I had ever been afraid of You got me deeper than deep and I'm constantly blinded
Another life
Another happy ending cuts like a knife
Another place, another time
Another hand to touch, another sun to shine
I'm running around but there's no place to hide
I start to talk in my sleep, our souls have divided
Why can't they forgive me these demons inside
My heart starts to shiver for I was letting up
Time will tell People never tell you If I'm true to myself
A single day could help me break this spell
Don't want to be alone
When will I be understood when is my kingdom to come
Another boy, another life
Another happy ending, and I'll be aliveDid I ever tell you,
How you live in me?
Every waking moment
Even in my dreams
And if all this talk is crazy
And you don't know what I mean
Does it really matter?
The way they truly feel
I would die for you gladly
If I knew it was for real
Nobody else can take the place of you
But I've got to move on
Tell me what else can I do?
As soon as I stop reading I realize the entire room as fallen silent. It takes a few minutes for Theo to collect his thoughts before he starts to talk again, "Wow that was beautiful." We finally wrap up the interview and after some food everyone leaves. I sit in the kitchen with Holden and Emerson. "That is the first time you have ever read what you write to anyone," Emerson says. "I know, but I didn't exactly have a choice now did I," I say. "I thought that was beautiful. Very deep," Holden tells me. "Thanks," I mumble. That poem means alot more to me than anyone would realize. "Zoey you should probably get some rest, we leave for the victor's tour in a few days," Holden tells me. I nod and head up stairs and collapse into a world of nightmares.