"The word "love" was never really lovely to me- when I hear "love", I see a puke green. Maybe that's why I've never had a girlfriend."
Hello, and welcome to my humble abode. My name is Oren Harper. I'm seventeen years old. I have synesthesia. And I am the Victor of the Seventy-Ninth Hunger Games.
What? What's that? You didn't know I can see colors when you say words? Oh, yes. The word "pencil" for example, is a light lavender with apple-red spots. And don't ask how I know that. It's always just been my thing.
I won the Hunger Games. You know that, right? Oh, of course you do. That's obvious. Everyone in Panem knows my name. Oren Harper. The one who killed his District Partner. Ah, Aileen. She was a strange girl, you know that? Her name was a bumblebee yellow, but instead of the fuzzy black stripes of the honeybee, it had the black racing stripes of a wasp. And how fitting that was! She was nice on the outside, honey-sweet, but once you peeled back that layer she was sharp as a wasp sting.
I don't know how I managed to kill her. I really don't. One second, the dagger was in my hand, the next, it was in her chest. It happened so fast.
Don't look at me like that! I'm still like you. I'm just a child, a child of but sixteen. Yes, two other children have died at my hand, but why does everyone make such a huge deal of it? No one does this to the Careers when they win. They're celebrated in their District, their partner put to shame. So why do we Sixes condemn our Victors?
Come in. It's cold out there. Let's warm you up. Do you drink coffee? I have the finest brands. Beans from Eleven enhanced with cinnamon and spices, cream from Ten, sugar from Nine and Eleven. Oh, you don't want any? Well, you will in a few minutes.
Sit. Why are you here? Are you a reporter, here to interview me? Because if you are, there's the door. Are you a librarian, here to tell me my books are overdue? If you are, my books are all in, you have the wrong Oren.
But I don't think you're either. You are young, I can see. Young and scared. Scared of my home? Scared of socializing? Scared of... me?
The Reaping. Ah, I see. Trust me, I know. I was always scared of the Reaping too. I worried for Hover, my best friend. I worried for Finnley, my sister. And most of all, I worried for myself.
And when the escort- Lance, blue with gold stripes- pulled out my name, I thought my life was over. Literally and figuratively.
I was wrong.
Kid, your life doesn't end until you want it to. If you keep strong, if you stay positive, you will live on forever, even after you "die". If you are negative, skittish, afraid of every little thing, you may as well just plunge a knife into your chest right here, right now. Even then, you'll live, not "in the hearts of your friends and family" like they say, but in the flowers that bloom in the spring, in the apples that fall from trees in the autumn, in the fresh powder that coats the trees in winter. You're forever a part of the world.
And that, my dear child, is what kept me going during my Games.
So. Are you feeling better yet? Good. Now, before you leave, I have a special treat for you. No, it's not the coffee, though isn't that good? Tell me your name.
Annika. What a pretty name for a pretty girl. And I'm not just saying that.
Sterling silver with a baby pink residue. It's gorgeous. One of the prettiest I've seen in a while. And usually, when I have a gorgeous name picture, the person to go along with it has a great personality. I think that holds strong.
Let me walk you to the door. Thank you for coming to see me, Annika. Come back whenever you like. I have lots more to say, and sadly, no one to say it to.
And Annika?
A little bird told me you'll be fine at the Reaping this weekend.
Name: Oren Harper
District: 6
Gender: Male
Age in Original Story: 16
Original Story: The Garden of Roses by Reader Castellan
Training Score: 3
Original Placement: 20th of 24, killed by Cecelia Vertigo
Well, looky here, another story. I thought since it's my birthday I'd take some time to write for myself, and this is the result. I'm hoping to do one of these for each of my dead tributes, but there's like 25 of them so this story could take some time. I hope you enjoyed, though. :)
See you next time!
