Chapter 14

"Rue? Rue, are you awake?" I opened my eyes to find that I was in a hospital in some Capitol building. "Mom?" I asked, my voice groggy. "Rue, I'm so proud of you. You were amazing out there. Shortest games ever. Plus, you changed the games forever. A district change mid-games? So cool." I sighed. "Mom, that was all Jacob's idea." Mom smiled. "But it was your pen."
"Rue, have I ever told you how Auntie Prim died?" Mom asked, slightly teary. "No, I don't think so." Mom sighed. "Well, during the rebellion, the old President Snow had kept a whole bunch of Capitol children in the City Circle to keep them safe. But President Coin-the leader of 13-issued a whole lot of bombs to be dropped by a hovercraft. Auntie Prim was in this group of kids with the Medical Team from 13. No one survived the bombing. The gamemakers, they thought you knew this. They tried to break you and Jacob by bringing out the things that killed your loved ones. But you didn't know. That's how you won." By this time, Mom was crying. "So you mean, they wanted me to break down, just like Jacob did? But because I didn't know, I didn't?" Mom just nodded. I sat up on my bed and gave her a huge hug.
Once me and Jacob had recovered, it was time for the closing ceremonies. I got to see James again, and my prep team.
Alexander, Gadshill and Iris all came in a once, congratulating me more than before I went in the games. (You'd think.) The ever famous fire dust was out once again, certainly not for the last time. This time I was lightly dusted with it, everywhere.
Like when our parents won, me and Jacob saw eachother for the first time at the post game interviews. We rose up on stage with our prep teams and stylist, and then ran to hug eachother in the center of the stage. He looked amazing; he had a deep charcoal grey suit with a pale orange tie against his coal black shirt. "You look beautiful." he whispered in my ear as we hugged. Not knowing what to say, I just smiled to myself.
When we sat down, the highlights of the games began to play. Since the games were only 3 days this year, it wasn't too hard to fit it all into 3 hours. But still, I commend whomever did it.
The highlights started at the bloodbath, but didn't last for long. There were clips of me and Liam running, and clips of Jacob and the girl from 4 running, but not too far. Turns out, they snuck back into the Cornucopia and got some more stuff. Smart.
They showed Liam and I in the cave the first night, and how I had the dream about Nicholas. They showed some of Jacob and his partner sneaking out in the middle of the night, and her being killed early in the morning, before the sun had even come out.
The next segment was of Liam. He had left me early in the morning, and went out to find Nicholas. He found him near the career camp, and had tried his best, but even with his Hawthorne blood... I can't say it. I was in tears as I watched this clip on the large screen. I know Liam had died, I just really didn't want to know how. I really didn't. Aw, Liam. Why'd you have to leave? Why'd you have to go?
The next clip that was shown was Jacob nearly scaring me to death. That one brought out a few laughs from the audience as they watched the two victors fight. It was not that funny. At all.
Then there was me killing the careers, and the pen. The district papers. The lizards. The bombs. The force field. The kiss. The cannon. It was over.
"So... Victors." Ceasar started, "Tell me. When did you know that you would both make it out alive?" I looked at Jacob, and he looked at me. I nodded slightly as if to tell him to answer. "Well, Ceasar, there really was no telling. Even after the force field, we had no idea if we'd win or not. It really was nervewracking." The crowd was quite silent, to my surprise. "Rue?" I took a deep breath before saying what I wanted to say. "My parents, they changed the games forever. They caused a lot of trouble, but they're legacies. After the announcement was made, I knew. I knew we had won. That was it for me. It couldn't have been possible to lose my best friend again. It just doesn't work that way." The crowd cheered when they heard what I had to say. I was so confident, it wasn't even funny. "Rue, that is quite outstanding. Did you feel that you had to live up to your parents legacies?" Ceasar asked with a slight pretentious note in his voice. "Absolutely. And I know Jacob felt the same way. Finnick and Annie were amazing victors." Jacob put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a tight squeeze. The audience cheered some more. I couldn't understand how they could love two murderers so much. Murderer. That's what I am now. Kill count of 4. Well, 5 if you count the little girl. "Jacob, now that you and Rue are safe, how do you think your story is going to play out?" I saw Jacob smile for a moment, but then he stopped when he realized he didn't know wat to say. "Well, um, I think it will go on like any double victory would. I mean, sure. Rue and u have known eachother since we were little. Our moms are very close, and we've been to many victors' parties. But Rue was in love with a boy. A wonderful one at that. And he died to save her brother. Right now, I'm just here to be her shoulder to cry on. No matter how she feels, I'll be there for her. And that's a promise." The Capitol crowds were so loud, I could barely hear myself think. They were screaming, and cheering, and whistling. They loved us.
The victory tour was hard. We had a lot of dirty looks; the "why could you have changed districts mid-game" looks. And it was true. We were rule benders. But hey, My parents both won. In the quarter quell, my parents and Finnick along with some other victors, blew up the force field, and all escaped. (Ok, maybe not all.) It's in our blood to bend rules.
The worst were the career districts, seeing I had killed all of them, and district 10, since we basically sat there and watched her die. Poor kid. But nothing compared to District 4. Because this time, we didn't kill their children. No. We stole their victor. But no one could yell. No one could curse. Not out loud, anyways. Not in public. No. They had to act like it was ok.
When we were back in District 12, I had to face Gale. He knew, that it wasn't my fault. He was proud of me for killing Nicholas. But it's not that easy to get over the loss of your son. It really isn't.
A few months later, Annie was really beginning to miss the sea. As was Jacob, but Annie more. So Jacob came up with a plan. He pulled out a paper, and started writing.
Dear President Snow,
I am very sorry to inform you that my mother, victor Annie Cresta, is very unhappy in her new home in district 12. She misses the ocean, as do I. I have a proposition. Since District 4 and District 12 are so close on the map of Panem, the boundries do touch, have you ever considered combining the two? Think about it. District 14...