CHAPTER 14

I sat at my dressing table as the Avox servant stood behind brushing my hair. Strands of thick golden locks fall to my face as she then ties a white ribbon to keep them back. I note how calm she looks and how focused she is. I wonder what she might say to me on this day - the day of my graduation - if she were able to speak, if she would speak to me at all.

We never have the same servants. Each year, each special occasion, a new Avox team is sent to us. I can only assume it's so we don't learn more than we are allowed. That never stopped me from trying.

Occasionally I will try to strike up a conversation with an Avox servant, offering them a pen and paper to answer me, or even a shift in their eyes. Each failed, too scared what may happen to them if they were to again step out of their boundaries. That is why they are Avox; they had rebelled against the Capital in some form and are punished with silence.

I sneak a look at my reflection as she finishes little details of my appearance. I look beautiful yet plain, almost similar to how I feel; I'm excited, yet I feel numb. At the corner of the mirror my eyes catch another pair staring from my door frame.

"My little girl, all grown up." My father smiles reassuringly as he walks into the room. I stand from my chair and wrap myself in his arms for an embrace. My emotions are in a mix and he makes me feel safe; because that's what fathers are suppose to do, help their children feel safe. "Are you nervous?" he asks.

"A little," I reply still in his arms.

I hear the rumble of chuckles in his chest, "You'll do fine." he pulls back to look at me, I'm expecting him to tell me to "Shine", our own little way to calm our nerves. Only he doesn't, instead he kisses me on the head and smiles, before heading out of my room.

Two out of three chairs, on stage, fill with Principal Brooke and my father Mayor Undersee. I glance at him sitting in his assigned seat on stage, reminded about how it was almost two weeks ago we were in this similar position. With him on stage and me watching from afar, with my hair up and the same white dress. I again graze my thumb over the small pin hole that once held my Mockingjay pin; the one I have given to Katniss as a gift. I miss it. It was a symbol of strength for me, and memories.

The third seat is assigned for Mrs. Hallvine, who is now at the podium, welcoming everyone to today's event. It's mid morning, all of us dressed as of the day of the Reaping. Only today when our names are called up it is to congratulate us for graduating school and not being sent to the games.

"And now, Principal Brooke." She announces.

Just as Mrs. Hallvine mentioned his name, the principal steps up to the podium and begins his final speech to us. This is something I will miss. So much so, I just might bump into Mr. Brookes one day and ask for advice. Because his speeches are always a way of taking something awful and making it into something bearable.

"...and we can all agree, after this morning's event - I think we all could use a time to pause and reflect."

I shutter over the thought of what happened this morning. The idea of Tracker Jacker poison sipping through my veins. I'm just grateful the games are in a way paused due to so many of the tributes knocked out.

"...remember to forget the hurt from the past, but never forget what it's taught you."

Principal Brookes then explains how we will enter and exit the stage, and as if that were my father's cue, he rose from his chair and walked over to stand next to the podium with Principal Brooke and Mrs. Hallvine. Our names are then announced one by one, by our last names in alphabetical order. It won't be long before I'm called from how small our class is now. Since students are taken away for the games each year our class as of now doesn't come close to how many there were of us on our first year of school.

They're now to the E's and I'm again reminded both Katniss and Peeta will miss today. The day they graduate. It is already logged in, if either were to return, neither would have to attend school. Even if they hadn't graduated. Just surviving the games is enough education. This morning's events were proof to that. I catch myself fiddling with my ribbon and it calms me down as I recall what had happened. The seal of the Capitol shined above Katniss while the anthem blared out last night. My father and I watched as she began to awkwardly drag the knife back and forth against the branch of the tree. We were at the edge of our seats, sitting side by side on his office sofa as we watched Katniss on the right side of the screen and the group below sleeping on the Left. The Anthem continued to shield the noise from Peeta and the Careers down below her. I wonder how Katniss had managed to not disturb the nest above her.

I don't know much about Tracker Jackers, except what we've been taught in school, and that alone keeps me from ever going near them. Because they are mutations created by the Capitol and that alone should send a red flag. These killer wasps were created in a lab and strategically placed, like land mines, around the districts during the war. Larger than regular wasps, they have a distractive solid gold body and a sting that raises a lump the size of a plum on contact. Most people can't tolerate more than a few stings. Some die at once. If you live, the hallucinations brought on by the venom have actually driven people to madness. And there's another thing, these wasps will hunt down anyone who disturbs their nest and attempt to kill them. That's where the tracker part of the name comes from, and why I'm surprised Katniss had even considered it.

After the war, the Capitol destroyed all the nests surrounding their city, but the ones near the districts were left untouched. Another reminder of our weakness, I suppose, just like the Hunger Games. Another reason to keep inside the fence of District 12. Rumors around of some being spotted past the fence gives us relief that they haven't found resting on our side. The horrific event this morning was enough to explain it all. Once the Anthem finished Katniss was forced to stop. I'm not certain how much later it was before I passed out. The last I remember from last night was a generous gift from one of her sponsors.

I awoke next to my dad. His snoring forcing me to awaken more. The light from the morning sun creped in through the window. Not much must've happened after I fell asleep. Father must've fell asleep sometime after I did. I hear faint screams, when I glanced towards the television still on glaring. I see Peeta drenched with a spear in hand pushing Katniss away from him. He shoves with more force,

"Run!" he screams, "Run!"

Behind him, Cato slashes his way through the bush. He's sparkling wet, too, and badly stung under one eye. Admittedly Katniss runs. Holding tightly to a bow and arrows. I'm confused as I continue to watch. Where did she get those? What happened? I glance to the second set with Peeta who is now in combat with Cato. Both seeming sluggish just as Katniss on the right of the screen. When I register the faint screams and swollen wounds on both Cato and Katniss, I finally put two and two together, about the Tracker Jackers.

I shook my father awake, "What on earth?"

Just then Katniss blackouts on the ground. Cato continues to fight Peeta only to become weak again as he fumbles back. Peeta admittedly takes the shot, and sends Cato to the ground only to be sliced in the leg by Cato's sword. Peeta jumps up, in pain as he grabs hold of his thigh that is now bloody. He runs when he sees Cato trying to force himself back up, but just as Peeta disappears through the bushes Cato blacks out as well.

I wasn't sure if Peeta was attacked by the Tracker Jackers, but the loss of blood he was facing with his wound; he will no doubt be falling down unconscious very soon. He was the only one still fighting on screen as he was making his way towards the river. When just a brush away, collapses to the ground. A battle such as this has not been seen in quite some time, and I could hear the silence fall throughout the districts.

From such a battle, all that was left to show on screen to the audience, was District 11 male who remains safe in the high grasses on the other side of the woods, and the female who continues to make her way around by one tree to the next. The girl from District 5 continues to hide out, once in awhile will emerge to steal food where ever she can. District 10 male, who seems to be weak from lack of nutrition, or water. He hasn't been a popular view to show. I'm surprised he's lived this long from his injured leg. District 3 has been the most popular on screen at the moment, as he continues to disarm the metal mines that were used in the beginning of the games. Usually even an idea of adjusting the Game Makers game in anyway causes them to attack, but from how he has remained untouched, they are probably just as curious about his plans as we are.

I then hear my name called and a boost of energy pushes me forward. Halfway to the stage, I look to my father as he continues to clap along with the crowd as we do for each student. He stares back at me and nods a little, a gesture to tell me how proud he is. My footsteps falter. I wish mother was able to be here, see me graduate. I take a breath before climbing the steps. Principal Brooke offers me his hand. I take hold, surprised by how smooth his skin is.

"Congratulations," he shakes my hand as I then move on to Mrs. Hallvine who pulls me in for a hug.

"Congratulations sweetie," I don't know if it was the fact of not seeing Mrs. Hallvine as often or the fact of how much I wish it was my mother here saying those words to me. Either way, I pulled her in a bit tighter before finally moving onto my father.

He shakes my hand as he has the previous students. Then ties the red ribbon with gold trim around my wrist for the sign of graduation. I look at it, marveled by its appearance, it's not just a ordinary ribbon or a sign of graduating, to me it's a symbol of surviving the Reaping's and Games for this long. One more year, that's all I have.