Eradication Chapter 12, a hunger games fanfic

I feel beautiful. It is hard to believe that the girl in the mirror is me, but she smooth's out her dress just as I do. It's strange seeing me in something like this, because there is just so much of the dress.

The one strap comes over my shoulder into the fitted deep blue bodice of the dress. It then goes outwards, looking like dark waves coming off me and spilling to the floor. I have never been this, covered, before for an interview. It feels like a nice change.

"One more thing." I watch in the mirror as one of my prep team members places the crown on my head carefully. It sits in front of the bun that my hair has been pulled up into in the back, though pieces hang down by the side of my face.

I recognize the piece. The blue jewels inset along the front contrast against the silver that was used for the year.

"My Victor's crown."

"It suits you, makes them remember what you've accomplished." I just nod my head and turn, walking out the door.

The heels I wear click against the floor as I make my way down the hallway, towards the voices I can hear that come from behind the makeshift stage that the interviews will take place on. The screens that are places around on the walls show the crowd that is growing just outside and the stage that we will soon file onto.

"Heartless!" I turn and grin as Johanna walks over to me. She runs her eyes over me and I smirk at her. "You look nice."

"Thanks Jo, you too." And she does. The light green dress fits her well and brings out her eyes. "My-" I snap my mouth closed as I see them come in. "You've got to be fucking kidding me," Katniss Everdeen wears a white wedding dress, and Peeta in a white tux by her side. "their stylists are brilliant."

"Hell they are." Johanna is grinning along with me, and I leave her, going over to the two youngest Victors.

"Nice dress Everdeen." It's a sincere compliment, and she does not understand this at first, looking up at me, her eyes narrowed. But they soften slightly when she sees I'm not kidding.

"Thank you." I grin and look to Peeta.

"Knock'em dead bread boy." I wink at him before sauntering off, having spotted Finnick walking towards me.

I meet him a few feet away from Mags, who trails behind him slightly. His hand finds mine and I bend down, kissing Mags on the cheek while I squeeze Finn's hand.

"You look gorgeous my girl, as always." I smile at her.

"Thank you."

"Tributes , please line up." A voice comes over the speaker, and we all move to get in line like we were told to a few days ago. Side by side with our District partner and in order of District.

"Be good." Mags tells us both and Finnick feigns hurt, placing his free hand over his heart.

"I'm an angel." Our mentor glares at him before hitting him lightly. He sticks out his tongue before dragging me over to where we are supposed to be. We stand together behind Beetee and Wiress, and his arm slips around my waist. "You look beautiful." His breath tickles my neck, and causes me to shiver when he presses a light kiss onto it.

"You look handsome." He does too. Black slacks and a white button down shirt are simple on him, but fit just right. He wears a tuxedo vest that matches the color of my dress, a black tie tucked into it.

"Why thanks my lady." I laugh slightly at him as he spins around in a circle. The music starts up as he does, and I hear Caesar Flickerman's voice come from the stage.

"From District One, Gloss and Cashmere!" The two walk out, and the crowd erupts into cheers for them. Caesar goes through the next two Districts, both pairs leaving before it is our turn.

"From District Four, Stellar and Finnick!"

"Don't even look at them." I whisper it quickly before we go off. I walk slightly in front of Finnick, my hands by my sides as appear for them. My steps are big and purposeful and I can feel his hand on my lower back as we go to our seats.

The Capital goes completely silent. I glance at them sideways for a moment before looking away, holding my head higher. I get a glimpse of us on-screen; I almost stop at how stunning we look.

"Ladies and gentlemen, undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in all of Panem, and Victor of the 68th Hunger Games, Stellar Mere!" I stand, my hand falling out of Finnick's as I walk down the steps and to Caesar. I take his extended hand and he kisses the back of it, smiling at me as the crowd applauds stridently.

"A pleasure as always Caesar." I cross my leg over my prosthetic after I sit down across from the man, whose makeup is unnecessarily extravagant, as usual.

"No, the pleasure is all mine. I do have a question Stell for you. Out of all the Victors here, you were the only one who seems genuinely excited to be going back into the arena. Why is that?" I let a big smile grow over my face, letting out a sigh as I glance away from him for a moment before answering.

"It's where I belong Caesar. Once you go into the arena, there is a part of you that never leaves. Killing others is what I do best, despite what most men here would think," A loud whistle goes up from the crowd and I wink before continuing. "but really, I get to go back in and be myself. I'm just sad that people so dear to me will be in as well." This causes Caesar to lean forward, and I know what his next question will be.

"Yes, about that. Mr Odair is going in alongside you. How will that be for you?"

"Hard." I say, glancing back at Finnick, who smiles sadly at me from his seat. "I think that is the worst part of these Games. I can take so much pain, but that I won't be able to go on with my life with Finnick. That's. That's what hurts the most. Because I know he wants me to win. I'll never know what we could have been if these Games didn't happen, but I guess it's too late for that."

A cry goes up from the crowd and I look out at them to see many of them crying. I feel a lump in my throat, and I know my next words are the truth. "It's just so hard to lose someone who you love." I stand as the buzzer sounds for me and walk back to my seat, Finnick stands as I get to my seat, kissing me softly before making his way down to face the mostly sobbing city.

His interview is spectacular. He reads a poem. A poem about a boat on the ocean, about the waves that crashed against the hull all night long and how it never broke. The sails never got lost in the harsh winds. It's a poem about love, how undying it is and how strong it can be.

He says he wrote it for his one true love, and as he sits next to me after he's finished, he whispers that it was for me.

"If it weren't for the baby."

Total chaos ensues after the words leave Peeta's mouth, the last thing that breaks the Capital citizens. Peeta makes his way back, and as the anthem blasts over the sound of citizens scream and cry for the Games to be canceled, we all stand like we are supposed to. Peeta takes Katniss's hand, and I reach out to hold Finnick's.

I look down the line to see Johanna and Blight take hands, Cashmere takes Brutus's hand, and Enobaria takes a hold of Gloss. It goes down the line, and I take Beetee's hand in mine. I'm the first to raise both of my hands in the air, to show that we are connected. We are one, and together, no one can beat us.

The lights go out in the square then, and shouts from peacekeepers that flood the stage surround me as I'm pushed. A man in white comes towards me, not looking at my face before shoving me forwards with the butt of his gun. I swing out, punching him in the jaw. He falls to the ground and I feel hands on my shoulders, pulling me away.

"Stell, we need your help, come on." I turn and see Everett. A man who I spoke with multiple times at rebellion meetings. I nod and follow him, through a door and into another building before going up a flight of stairs. The room we come up in is old and covered in dust mostly. A few couches are placed around the room, and makeshift controls have been brought up. A piano sits in the corner by a guitar.

There is a camera, and I'm positioned in front of it. "We're broadcasting you over all the screens in the Capital and Districts Two and Four; you need to break them down more." I nod, this was my agreement. So that I would not have to go to any more meetings, I agreed to do one thing that they asked of me on the fly, and this is it. "Do you know what you're doing?" I look around and my gaze falls on the piano, I nod, walking over and sitting down.

The red light goes on and I start, playing one of the songs that I learned while playing with this being my talent.

"I've seen the world
Done it all, had my cake now
Diamonds, brilliant, and Bel-Air now
Hot summer nights mid July
When you and I were forever wild
The crazy days, the city lights
The way you'd play with me like a child

I've seen the world, lit it up as my stage now
Channeling angels in, the new age now
Hot summer days, rock and roll
The way you'd play for me at your show
And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul

Dear Lord, when I get to heaven
Please let me bring my man
When he comes tell me that you'll let him in
Father tell me if you can

All that grace, all that body
All that face makes me wanna party
He's my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds

Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful
Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful
Will you still love me when I'm not young and beautiful?"

No Person POV

The screen comes to life above the crowd in the Capital, and most stop and point to the screen where they see Stellar Mere playing on a piano.

""I've seen the world
Done it all, had my cake now
Diamonds, brilliant, and Bel-Air now
Hot summer nights mid July" Her voice carries over the city, echoing off walls and down alleys.

An image replaces her on the screen, and there she stands, younger, being crowned as Victor from her Games. And then her and Finnick Odair, his arms around her as they stand on the beach.

"Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful"

Clips of the two, appearances, dances, parties. Everywhere together in the past year.

"Hot summer days, rock and roll
The way you'd play for me at your show
And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul"

Finnick kissing her, over and over again. The two running and laughing together in their apartment in the Capital, during a photo-shoot they were called in for.

It finishes back showing her now, playing and singing on the piano.

This isn't right, this isn't fair. The Capital people each realize this, it's not just Katniss and Peeta who need to survive for their child, it's Finnick and Stell, who never really got to love each other. Whoever dies, someone loses, whoever wins, they will have major loses.

Men and women alike break down in the street, but there is nothing they can do. The Games will go on, and when the gong sounds in the morning, everyone will be watching.

Chapter Facts:

Stell's song is Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey. It's from The Great Gatsby and I thought it fit Stell's situation perfectly as well. All she is known for is her beauty and sex. Not so much for her talents. It's a song asking if Finnick will still love her once she loses those things, when she's old and no longer beautiful.