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"Alright. There's only five of us left. May as well say good-bye now, anyways." Maysilee said looking over at Haymitch who wouldn't move from the edge of the cliff. "I don't want it to come down to the two of us."
"Okay." He said.
She waiting for something else but nothing ever came some she headed back through the hedge and into the woods on her own. She felt on edge alone.
Suddenly she heard the deranged laugh of the one remaining Career, a girl from 1. She looked around ready to defend herself and pulled out one of her darts, dipped it in poison and got in really going out of view. She waited breathing softly for the attack.
She saw her come near with her ax ready but she didn't seem to notice Maysilee yet. So she aimed and shot a dart into her neck. The dart went in but Maysilee waited until the cannon went off to come out but once it did she went over and took the girl's supplies and debated whether or not to take the ax.
She decided to just in case with how close the games were getting forty-four dead, four to go. She picked through supplies and left the body.
As the hovercraft picked it up she became conscious of the fact that if the other two tributes died before her or Haymitch it could still come down to the two of them. 'I really hope not' she thought.
She knew it sounded bad that she was literally saying that she hopes that one of them die soon but it was the way things had to happen. 'Stay focused' she thought.
She made her way further into the woods with another dart and the ax at the ready when he heard birds. Knowing that literally everything here was deadly she broke into a sprint in the opposite direction of the birds that in canon had killed her.
She made it several yards before stopping to rest. Shortly after she did so she heard another cannon and wondered if it was Haymitch but if he's still at his ledge she knew it was unlikely that anyone had found him. She pulled out some dried fruit from the Careers bag and started to nibble on a dried apricot.
Haymitch, her and one other tribute; that was all that remained.
"Three of us left," She sighed. 'Hard to imagine I even made it this far.' She thought. 'Maybe I could win after all. Still Haymitch is here still.' She counter thought herself.
She started walking again figuring it was best to keep moving for now.
She listened as hard as she could for noise.
She heard a scream and squirrel type noises then another cannon. She was officially in the final two and the scream had sounded nothing like Haymitch's. 'Of course it had to be him.' She thought. She sighed and headed back to where she had left Haymitch figuring he had never left and tried to figure out how this will even play out.
She found him there still staring at the force field. "Well, it's just you and me now." She gulped hating that fact.
"What?" He asked spinning around surprised.
"All forty-six other tributes are dead, Haymitch." Maysilee said carefully.
"So, just us?" He sighed.
"Just us, I don't want to kill you though, Haymitch." She said setting down both her weapons.
"I don't want to kill you either," He sighed setting down the knives.
"Well, one of us has to. They have to have their winner."
"I know that," He said.
"Then pick your knives back up." She said.
"Pick up your blow darts," He said.
"What about your brother, Haymitch? What about your mother or your girlfriend?" Maysilee said not doing as she was told.
"What about your mother and sister?" He asked. She looked down at her district token, the forever famous golden mockingjay pin which had been handed down to her from her mother but didn't dare to say a word. "Exactly now pick up those blow darts," He said.
"No," Maysilee said looking back up at him.
"Fine then," Haymitch said picking up one on his knives and before she could stop him plunged in through his own heart.
"NO!" She shouted running towards him.
It was too late though as a cannon went off, the hovercraft, picked up Haymitch's body, and the trumpets sounded, "Ladies and gentlemen! I present to you the victor of the 50th Annual Hunger Games, from District 12, Maysilee Donner!"
"No, no, no" She muttered being taken up herself. She was taken up to the hovercraft and repaired and made up to perfection and congratulated more times than she could count. She felt anything but that as she just sat there thinking about the other 47 tributes… especially Haymitch. No one knew that though and soon it was time for her interview.
She sincerely hoped her stylist had some better ideas though remembering the disaster of a parade. She was simply placed in a coal black dress. It wasn't too bad. It wasn't flashy but I guess that doesn't really matter anymore. She was a victor and no one can forget a victor.
Soon she was in front of Caesar for her interview. She looked over at her stylist, prep team, and escort that were on stage with her. Usually her mentor would be too but she didn't have one. "So how does it feel to win the second Quarter Quell," She was asked.
She knew that she had to lie and said, "It's amazing, to that that out of 48 tributes I was the one that eventually came out on top."
"Yes, you were a long shot in the beginning," He said.
"Yes I was but now here I am. District 12's second victor in all of history."
"Yes that has to feel good," He said.
"Yes it does," She lied evenly.
"Were you surprised by Haymitch's actions?" He asked.
"Most definitely, especially since when I left earlier that day it didn't seem like he cared that much at all."
"Yet he died for you to go home,"
"I know and I'm still trying to make sense of that fact." Maysilee sighed.
"He clearly wanted you to make it home."
"I guess he did but I didn't save his life for him to just throw it away with both hands."
"I can't understand how you must feel," he said.
"Well, now I'll have to go face Sagittaria on how I let her boyfriend kill himself for me."
"You could not have stopped him,"
"I guess not. I did try to though but it was too late."
"Yes, so maybe she will understand," He said.
"Hopefully, it's better than if I had killed him myself."
"I would hope so," He said.
"Can we talk about something else?" Maysilee asked.
"Of course, where did you learn to work with those poisons?" He asked.
"Well, a close friend of mine works at the apothecary."
"So, you knew some things were poisonous beforehand," He said
"Exactly, and from watching the other tributes it was fairly easy to figure out the rest."
"Very impressive," He said.
"Well, thank you, Caesar."
"Are you looking forward to returning next year as a mentor?" He asked.
"Yes I am. Hopefully I can get my district back on its feet so I won't be doing it alone for too long."
"Well, you would have your work cut out for you," He said.
Maysilee nodded, "I know but I will try my best."
"Well we will see how that works out," He said.
"Hopefully well," Maysilee said.
"We can only hope," He said.
"Well, you can only hope. I can work really hard to make sure of it."
"Right, well we are nearly out of time, anything else you want to say?" He asked.
"Now then let's see your victory video," He said.
Maysilee looked at the screen nervously but tried to keep her composure. The reel started showing her dash for the Cornucopia quite a while after Haymitch was well out of sight.
It went through most of the deaths, when she allied with Haymitch all the way up to the hardest part where she again had to watch as Haymitch stabbed himself.
She lost her composure at that part and started to cry but I guess that's forgivable since he was her ally. "What an experience you have been through," He said somewhat sadly. Maysilee nodded and wiped her eyes. "You poor girl," He said.
"I'll be okay." She said not wanting to seem weak.
"Alright well, do you have anything you want to say?" He asked. Maysilee just shook her head. "Alright then. Goodnight Ladies and gentlemen!" He called.
A few years later, Maysilee was well settled into her house in the Victor Village despite having no neighbors when there was a knock at her door. She cautiously made her way to the door to find President Snow. "Mr. President," She said honestly surprised but let him in knowing she doesn't really have much of a choice, "what brings you here?"
"I need to speak to you," He said stepping inside.
"Well, alright," She said very nervous now.
"Now Ms. Donner are you liking your new home?" He asked.
"Well, yes I am. It's a lot better than the previous living conditions." She said trying to sound calm.
"Good and your family is well I take it?" He asked.
"Yes they are." Maysilee said now getting very afraid that he's going to do something to them.
"So, you do not want to lose all this do you?" He asked. She shook her head and Snow just smirked, "Then I see no reason we shouldn't be able to come to an agreement."
"What agreement?" She asked.
"Well, as you probably know for quite a few years now the citizens of the Capitol have grown quiet fond of their victors. Because if this, any victor who is deemed particularly desirable is two be entering into what's known as the Victor Sex Trade once their old enough and you have been chosen." He explained maliciously.
"What, but that's sick," She said.
"Well, you are free to refuse but if you do I will personally see to it that your family, your friends, anyone who means anything to you; is executed."
"You would kill them?" She asked.
"Exactly, I've done it before and you would that would you?"
"Okay, okay I'll do it," she said.
"See, I knew you'd see sense. I'll just call you down to the Capitol when needed so make sure to pick up the phone." She nodded glumly. "Just one more thing, you can't tell anyone about this." He added before leaving on his own.
"Right," She sighed.
"Who was at the door?" Her twin sister, Noresc, asked ignorantly coming over.
"Nothing just reminding me there are papers I am needed to fill out later,"
"Oh, okay, are you okay though? You look stressed." Noresc observed nervously..
"No, just tired I slept bad last night." She said.
"Oh, more nightmares?"
"Yeah," She sighed.
"I'm sorry to hear that but I'm not sure what to tell you."
"Not your problem," She sighed.
"I guess. I just want to help you though." Noresc said sadly.
"I know," She said smiling.
Many years later, now thirty-nine-year-old Maysilee Donner sat in her mentor's chair on the stage of the 74th Hunger Games reaping. She still sat alone having not yet achieved her goal of getting a tribute out alive. Honestly, it was starting to seem like a lost hope. She watched the girls be drawn and was surprised to say the least when after the girls name was drawn a different girl broke her way out of the crowd. "Prim!"
"Katniss!" The first girl called.
She pressed on avoiding the Peacekeepers making her way towards the younger girls and pushing her behind herself protectively, "I VOLUNTEER!"
Shock was the look on all faces but the younger girls however quickly settled to panic, "No! NO!"
Then she was picked up and carried away by a boy. "Oh… well… it appears we have a volunteer." Effie said not really sure what to do in this situation. Maysilee briefly wondered how her own escort would have handled this. Then upon thinking about it was sort of glad she had retired.
Katniss and Effie's exchange was indistinguishable from canon before Haymitch's outbreak which obviously didn't happen.
Then she was sat down to wait.
Then the boys selection was drawn and the worthless piece of shit took his spot on the stage.
Maysilee did not like him already; he looked strong, but arrogant. She liked the girl though. She had real promise that just might achieve her goal. They shook hands and were lead into the Justice Building.
Maysilee sighed and headed to the train to wait. For many obvious reasons she can barely tolerate this train, "Drink Ms.?" A server asked.
"Just a water." Maysilee answered.
"Yes, ma'am," He said pouring her a glass.
"Thank you." She said taking it and drinking most of the glass right away.
Roughly fifteen minutes later they arrived on the train with Effie. She sat down her glass turned her attention to them but didn't say anything yet. "Maysilee," Katniss said.
The tone was bitter though and Maysilee knew why from Mrs. Everdeen and sighed unfortunately unable to explain herself, "Katniss, I'm not the enemy."
"No, but you're not that much better," She said.
"Can we please just put that behind us? I just want to help you get back to your mother and Prim as much as you do." Katniss sighed, but nodded knowing they had the same goal.
"Something wrong?" Peeta asked ignorantly.
"Nothing that concerns you," Katniss said.
"Well, she's my mentor, too."
"Well our issue has nothing to do with these games," Katniss said.
"Well, alright," He said in Peeta awkwardness.
"Good," Katniss said. She sighed turning to Maysilee and asked as the train left the station, "So, any advice?"
"Yes, first off eat you both want to put on some pounds," She said.
Katniss huffed slightly and headed to the dining car.
Maysilee sighed this was to be a long day. 'If you had any idea, Katniss.' She thought but knew that she can't and hopefully never will.
Their jaws dropped at the amount of food. Maysilee chuckled coming in, "Never seen anyone including myself not have that reaction."
"All this for us?" Peeta asked.
Maysilee nodded infuriated by his blunt stupidity and obvious questions, "Yes, all of it."
"Thank you," Katniss said gratefully.
Maysilee was surprised given her recent attitude but just gave a small nod. They sat down to eat none knowing what to say.
Katniss was done as quickly as she could and headed to her room not even throwing a passing glance at Maysilee. "No questions then?" Maysilee called out.
"I have some." Peeta said being absolutely useless on his own. Maysilee sighed turning to him and waiting patiently for a stupid question. "So what happens now?" He asked
"You'll be taken to the Capitol and made up for the opening parade which trust me can almost be worse than the games themselves."
"It can't really be that bad," He said so innocently stupid it was almost sickening.
"You'll see."
"Right," He said clearly skeptical of his wiser mentor.
"You can't possibly think you know more about the games then I do or you're even more arrogant than I thought."
"I am not arrogant!" He said.
"Of course you don't think so. No one who really is arrogant ever does."
"I just feel you are over dramatizing," He said.
"I wish I could say I was." Maysilee said thinking back to her own.
"Okay, got it" He said.
"Any other question?" She asked knowing they'll be equally stupid.
"What is wrong with Katniss?" He asked.
"She doesn't like that I'm a prostitute."
"You are?" He asked. She just nodded slowly. "Well, why? I mean you are a victor you don't need to do that." He said.
"That's none of your business." She said evasively unsure off any other explanation besides the one she can't give. "Besides, it's only with Capitol men."
"Still does not make sense," He said annoyingly insistent.
"It's still none of your business. Why do you care anyways?"
"It just seems odd," He said.
"Can we please talk about something else?"
"Right, what about arena strategy?" He asked.
"Get away from the Cornucopia as soon as you can but not completely empty handed and avoid the Careers at any cost. Do you know how to use ANY weapon?"
"Just a knife," He said.
"Then get one, a pack or one or two items nearby, and then get out."
"Got it," He said nodding.
"Good, now get out." Maysilee said getting WAY too frustrated with him for one meeting. He for once was wise and left the room. "What am I going to do about those two?" Maysilee sighed and looked at Effie who was all that's left there.
"Well, you are in a tough spot." She said
"Well, unlike the others Katniss has actual potential; I just have to get her to trust me."
"Well she seems dead set against it," Effie said.
"Well, the games themselves she pretty set on. It's the rest that I'm worried about." Maysilee said honestly.
"What do you mean?" Effie asked.
"The parade, the interviews, even getting off the train; She's not exactly a people person. I'm not trying to put her down but she just isn't."
"Well maybe you could coach her through it?"
"Maybe, I just have to get her to listen to me for long enough."
"Okay, so go walk into her room,"
"Are you sure that would be a good idea?"
"Do you have a better one?" She asked.
"Well, could you maybe try to talk to her first?" Maysilee asked.
"Why me?" She asked.
"Because, there's no one else here but the servers."
"Well...alright," she sighed, got up, and headed to Katniss' room.
She knocked and waited. "Go away." Katniss said thinking it was Maysilee.
"Katniss, it's Effie." she called.
She seemed to hesitate but went and opened the door. "What do you want?"
"Could I talk to you for a second?" Effie asked.
"Sure, come in," She said. Effie came in and they sat down on her bed. "So, what do you want?" Katniss asked.
"Well, I needed to talk to you about Maysilee." Effie said getting ready for what will inevitably come next.
"No!" Katniss said.
"Katniss, this is serious. Your mentor is your only lifeline in the arena."
"If she's not with some new guy when I need her," Katniss said.
"I'm sure she wouldn't do that to you." Effie said though she doesn't know the real reason.
"How do you know?"
"Because just from talking to her she really does care about you. She thinks very high of you, you know, said you're the first tribute she's mentored that has an actual chance of winning."
"Really? She said that?" Katniss asked.
"Yes she did. She just said that you'll need some help with working the crowd for the pre-games stuff and she can and wants to help you with that but she can't unless you let her."
"What if she abandons me?"
"Well, what's the alternative?" Effie pointed out.
"I guess there is not one," She said.
"So can you please at least try?"
"Okay I will try," She said.
"Would you mind too much if she came in here?" Effie asked.
"A little, but I can deal with it," She said.
"I could stay with if that makes you feel any better." Effie offered.
"Actually, it would," She admitted.
"Alright, I'll just go get her and be right back then."
"Thank you," She said.
Effie left the room back to the dining car where Maysilee waited nervously. "She will see you if I stay,"
"Alright, thank you so much, Effie." Maysilee said getting up.
"It was the least I could do," She said.
They both headed over to Katniss' room. She was waiting on her bed. "Katniss," Maysilee started carefully.
"Maysilee," She replied.
"Are you going to listen to me now?" Maysilee asked.
"Yes I am," She said.
"Good," Maysilee said.
"So, what do you need to talk about?" Katniss asked.
"We need to get through the interviews and chariots," She said.
Katniss sighed, "That would be a miracle."
"Well I know we can do it," She said.
"Do you have a plan?"
"Of course I do," She said.
"Alright, so what first?"
"You be yourself, do not talk unless you have to," She said.
"Myself is no good. I thought I was supposed to get people to like me."
"You are, and believe it or not people are drawn to you," She said
"You don't have to lie for me you know. We both know that isn't true."
"Katniss the whole District saluted you when you volunteered what does that tell you?"
"That I might as well be dead to them, you're from District 12. You know what the gesture means."
"Yes, given our history they will, but they all do not want to see you gone,"
"I guess. I'm not really sure what to think of that though." Katniss said with a sigh.
"It means the whole district did not want you to go," Maysilee said.
"Well, that is very surprising actually."
"Exactly you draw people," She said.
"Certainly didn't seem that way before the Reaping."
"You never bothered to speak to many people Katniss,"
"You can't blame someone for just trying to keep who they care about alive." Katniss said not realizing the irony.
"Yeah I can't believe me, but you never spoke to anyone outside of selling things,"
"I'm not a people person."
"Exactly and that draws people they want to know more about you,"
"Well, somehow I doubt that's what the Capitol will be looking for."
"You don't know do you?"
"Well, no I don't."
"Exactly," she said.
"I do know for sure that the Capitol and District 12 are immensely different in every aspect."
"Not really,"
Katniss sighed, "No way."
"Really just lifestyle," she said.
"The same people who are sending me to fight to the death for their entertainment. Somehow I find trouble believe that we're one in the same."
"You just have no faith," Maysilee sighed.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"If you have no faith than you lower your odds,"
"How does pointing out the differences between 12 and the Capitol say that I have no faith?" Katniss asked confused.
"Because you're treating it like they are not even human," she said
"So, that's how they're treating me. Not only now as a tribute but that's how they've been treating me my whole life and almost all the districts since probably even before the Dark Days."
"You are not looking at anything in any sort of positive light. Look I know that you have been through hell in your life, but thinking about only that here is going to get you killed. I know you want to get back to your family and I want to get you back, but if you refuse to listen to me you're going to die Katniss!"
Katniss sighed and said, "I guess."
"Thank you," She sighed.
"Why do you care so much anyways?" Katniss asked.
"Because, your mother is my friend I have watched you grow up Katniss and I want nothing more than to make sure you are still there for your mother and for Prim,"
"Fine, I guess we have the same goal then."
"So you will listen?"
"Yes, I will."
"Good we will get you through this,"
"What about Peeta?" Katniss asked.
"I will help him, if he proves he is of some use,"
"Well, he did save me and my family's lives." Katniss pointed out.
"True, but I cannot save you both," she said.
"I know that." Katniss said.
"Plus in his situation he has very little to help him,"
"Just another District 12 tribute I guess."
"Not you though,"
"Well, I'm okay." Katniss shrugged.
"You are great," she said.
"Not really."
"Really?" She asked skeptical she had seen some of the stuff he had shot.
"Really, I'm nothing that special." Katniss said. "Nothing like my dad was."
"I would not know. I never saw him shoot,"
"Well, he's amazing. He's the one that taught me everything I know… well… Gale helped me with most of the traps but besides that it was all him."
"He was a good man;"
"Yes he was." Katniss said looking down but keeping back any tears in a very Katniss manner.
"He would be proud of you," Maysilee said.
"You really think so?" Katniss asked.
"Yes, I really do," She said smiling a little sadly
"What happened to him?" Effie asked.
"He died in the mine explosion years ago," Maysilee said sadly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that." Effie said turning to Katniss.
"Not your issue," She said.
"I guess." Effie asked.
""Just forget it please," Katniss asked.
"Alright," Effie agreed.
"Thank you," She said.
"You're welcome."
"Maybe you should try to get some sleep though." Maysilee advised.
"Okay, I will try," she said.
"Good luck," Maysilee sighed and she and Effie left the room.
"Well that is some progress," Effie said.
"Definitely," Maysilee agreed. "Hopefully I can make more before she goes into the arena."
"I think we will,"
"I'm not sure. Katniss can be… very stubborn."
"So can you," Effie said.
"Then I guess we'll just have to see whose stubbornness prevails."
"Should be interesting," Effie said.
"I still say she's a winner though." Maysilee said looking over at the closed door to Katniss' room.
"She has the potential to win if her attitude says anything," Effie said.
Maysilee nodded. "She has the skills, too. Even though, she tries to downgrade them."
"You have a lot of confidence in her," Effie said.
"Someone has to and she won't."
"Yes, but you never had this much faith in the others," Effie said.
"None of the others had as good of chances as Katniss does."
"Then maybe you'll have a victor," Effie said.
"She will. She can shoot a bow and arrow, she can hunt, she can identify edible plants, according to her mom she can even swim which could come in handy. Remember the seventieth games?"
"Then if she plays her cards right she can live,"
"Exactly, well, I'll go see how little sleep I can scrape up tonight."
"Goodnight," Effie said heading to her own room.
I hope you liked it so far. Just so you know the bitterness towards Maysilee was mostly based off of when Katniss had first met Finnick with her attitude towards him for being a prostitute. Review and you are welcome to flame. Detailed contructive criticism is greatly appreciated and will make me very very happy that way I can make my writing better.