Chapter 10: A Victor's Glory?

Everything had been a blur after the death of Sinder; the cannon had fired…I had heard them announce me as the winner…they had picked me up…made a ridiculous amount of fuss over my bloody appearance, as if they didn't know what I had done.

I had told them the blood wasn't mine…and that aside from a few cuts and bruises here and there…and my ankle…I was fine.

When I was cleaned up I was reunited with Felix, Katrina and Serilda and together we watched the highlights of the Hunger Games…I personally had no desire to see them…but it was kind of required as I would need to know what happened to the other tributes when I went on the Victory Tour.

Jett had died in the pit, that I knew…Amber had been killed by Sinder.

Sloan had fallen into frozen lake and drowned when he crashed down that slope; swallowed by the freezing cold water…I didn't wish that death on anyone. Adra was killed by Sinder's tree trap.

Evan from district 3 had been killed by Amber and his sister Edna had been killed by Mason.

Finn, from district 4, had been killed by Elysia, that I remembered and Brenna by the avalanche.

Rory from district 5 had also been killed by Mason, and I could barely stand to watch Elysia's fate again…I still felt guilty at leaving her.

Poor Cheryl, from district 6, hadn't even stood a chance, she had been killed by Adra right away…and there was my inhuman slaughter of Mason…was that really me?

Keith was killed by Mason and Sylvia as well.

Fuller from District 8…he had been the boy grappling with Adra in the bloodbath and then Amber had got him from behind with her spear…and then Lacey killed by the avalanche.

Colby, from 10, was killed in a flash by Sloan in the bloodbath and Laura had briefly fought with Brenna before being killed by her.

I didn't want to see anymore…this was killing me, but breathed a deep sigh and kept watching.

Tyrone was killed by Mason and Alana by Sloan in the bloodbath.

Arden and Kimberly from 12 had fought together, as a team, and tried to kill Jett but he had taken out both of them.

As the highlights came to a close I stood up 'so what happens now…can I go home?'

'Not quite' Katrina replied 'you have an interview and then President Snow congratulates you for your victory.'

'Then I go home' I ask curiously.

'Yes…until the Victory Tour' Felix replied 'but you don't have to worry about that for months.'

When I got back to my room I picked up the nearest thing I could find, a vase, and hurled it across the room with a scream of fury, letting it shatter into a dozen pieces; I couldn't handle it, the guilt…the blood on my hands…the people I'd left behind…Lacey, Elysia and most of all…Sinder.

I collapsed onto the bed and curled up like a mouse, whimpering, letting tears flow freely…how could I ever face my district now…or any of the other districts for that matter…how could I face my family…or Sinder's…they would never forgive me.

I sat next to Caesar Flickerman, the post Hunger Games interview just beginning.

'Well Willow' Caesar smiled at me 'I have to say when I heard about your score…I knew you were something special…but to actually win…I think it's fair to say you have surprised a lot of people.'

I sat there, staring off into the crowd, my mind lost in the horrors that had passed; I had barely heard a word he had said. I hadn't slept at all since the arena, every night I dreamt of screams and faces…Sinder's last expression as he looked up at me…Lacey's look of horror as the rocks swallowed her. I would sooner die than return to the games.

'Are you alright my dear' Caesar smiled sweetly, putting a hand on my bare shoulder where my dress cut off.

Was I alright…how could he ask me something like that I turned to him and put on a smile 'as well as I can be.'

Caesar nodded 'yes…I'm sure, but it is over now. Tell me, how does it feel to not only win…but be the first ever victor from your district.'

I was silent for a long moment before I answered…I could feel the weight of the crowd on me…but I no longer cared what anyone thought of me…what more could they possibly take from me that they haven't already taken.

'I'm not proud of anything I did in the arena' I said slowly and clearly, hoping people understood I meant the way I killed Mason, I rose my head to look high and towards where I knew President Snow and the Gamemakers would be watching 'after all we weren't the ones made to fight this way…we're given no choice. My best friend is dead; he died so I could win…for our district...and I'll never be able to thank him.'

The silence that followed my words was chilling, I wasn't sure if I'd overstepped my boundaries, saying something like that.

I hardly remembered the rest of the time in the Capitol…I was congratulated by President Snow, he placed the usual crown of the victor on my head and smiled at me as he did.

'A lovely speech you gave in your interview Miss Sawthorne, truly moving, I look forward to seeing you again' he said to me quietly before stepping away.

The journey back to District 9 was all a blur, I sat at the front of the train, my legs folded under me, and watched the scenery fly by outside the window.

Due to my clear distress, Serilda had decided to ride back with me and Felix; at that moment she came into the front car, joining me and sat opposite me, staying silent.

'I saw it all you know, what you did…what you went through' she said at last 'your behaviour is perfectly understandable…but you have to be careful what you say…especially when you go on the Victory Tour.'

'Why' I said quietly 'those families deserve to hear the truth.'

'Personally I agree…but President Snow can make the rest of your life hell for it' Serilda replied 'you're a mentor now, my duty passes to you, as a trainer of the Capitol I have no responsibility for your district now that you are here.'

The thought of being a mentor hadn't even occurred to me, but I guess I was…how was I supposed to teach others to survive the Hunger Games…I had barely done it myself.

'The rest of your life is about working as a mentor for the Capitol Willow, no one really wins the games…they just survive…'

Thinking about what she said I continue to look out the window.

When I arrived home there was cheering, there was celebration, there was food…there was my family…and then there was fallout. I knew it was coming, but no matter how much I had prepared myself for it I still hadn't been ready.

My older brother and I were walking away from the celebrations, talking as happily as we could under the circumstances.

'You did it sis, see I knew you could' he said giving me another hug and sluggish punch on the arm.

I smiled, rubbing my arm where he'd punched me 'I hardly did much, you saw that.'

'Took out that last guy pretty good…you did what you could' he said reassuringly 'we all understand that.'

I lowered my eyes, somehow I doubted that…and that was when it happened, Fay, Sinder's feisty younger sister launched herself at me and hit me hard, slapping me with the back of her hand 'you bitch, he was you friend…your best friend! And you let him die!'

I staggered back and my brother held Fay back 'whoa hey easy, she couldn't have saved him Fay and you know that!'

Spitting in my direction Fay scowled angrily at me 'he loved you…you meant everything to him…and you let him die…I bet you never even knew.'

With that she turned and left, I watched her go and sighed…this was just the beginning of a very different life for me.

(Note: This is not the end of Willow's tale, I am continuing the story to show the after effects, the Hunger Games has on her life and those around her and how she subtly connects to the story of Katniss in the future…of course this is all fan fiction so if you disagree you are free to dismiss it, it's not like I'm out to publish anything here. I hope you have enjoyed the story so far and please feel free to send me any reviews, comments or feedback as they are always welcome. As I am busy writing multiple things I do not know when I will be sending out the next chapters…hopefully not too far in the future.)