Author's Note- Okay, so I got this idea while watching Beauty and the Beast, thus the title. But, no I swear it doesn't have anything to do with dancing teapots or candelabras. It's just about the Victors and the Hunger Games.

Machine

I know I am still human. Somewhere, deep inside of myself, I must still be human.

Humans experience emotions like patience, empathy, and sympathy. Currently, Katniss Everdeen is testing my patience, I am feeling rather empathetic towards Finnick for having put up with her, and sympathetic for Peeta who happened to fall in love with the most thick and annoying girl ever to exist.

But, sometimes I still have my doubts. After all, most of the time I am bitter, hateful, angry, and highly irritable. I've been this way for a long time, ever since my Dad got in a logging accident and my Mom ran off with that drunkard leaving me with Sergei and Mischa. It got even worse after the Games.

I came home to find Sergei had been beaten up and killed on the streets and that Mischa was just a shell of what she used to be. Despite the fact that I was now rich and had everything Mischa and I could ever want, I was still unhappy. I guess she was too.

What else could make you volunteer for a thirteen year-old you've never met and enter the Hunger Games? Trying to mentor my suicidal, emotionless sister has been one of the hardest tasks I've ever come up against. It was so difficult to remain somewhat calm when I just wanted to scream at her and ask why she stopped caring. It was even harder than watching her remain impassive while a vicious Career stabbed her in the heart.

The one good thing that year is that I met Finnick. I had won 4 years ago, Finnick had won 2 years ago, and Annie won that year. I remember sitting next to him in the Viewing Room reserved for Victors and Mentors, watching him watch the screens with intense scrutiny. Every time Annie was shone on screen, his face either lit up or became wracked with fear.

I don't believe he left the room once after the dam broke. Not until Annie got back in the Capitol anyway.

I used to be able to relate to being in love, even when it's kind of hopeless. I was in love with Rowan after all. Until she came along. It was during the Games. I had gone through those Games with nothing but Rowan on my mind. I wanted to win so badly so I could come home to him. Only, when I got home, he didn't care anymore. I got a "congratulations", but he didn't want to be together anymore.

Maybe that's why I hate Katniss so much. So what if she lost her dad? I've lost my mother, father, sister, brother, and boyfriend and I have no one left. I know she's terrified of losing them, but she hasn't learned one of life's greatest lessons yet- you have to enjoy everything while you have it. She shouldn't be so cautious with Peeta. One day, he may not be there.

I would tell her that. Offer it as a piece of advice. But only real people give advice. I'm not a real person I am a machine. I don't feel emotion and therefore I don't get hurt anymore. The old wounds are still there though. I guess things like that don't heal.

Some days, I wish I was human again. I've killed too many, though, and I hurt too much to ever return. I'm gone. But on days such as this, it's nice to return and imagine what could have been. Besides, in these Games who knows how much longer I will exist at all?