Congratulations Emma. That was a fantastic match. May I present to you your First Place Medal.

The Edge

When I wake up I'm in some sort of hospital room. I'm hooked up to monitors. There are IVs into my arms. I'm on O2. There is no one else in the room. My leg is throbbing. My throat is very sore. I hear someone come in and I look to my left and see a woman I presume to be a nurse.

"Hello Emma." I nod. "You're in the training center medical ward."

"Addi?" I manage to get out a faint whisper. The nurse leans in to me.

"We all thought she would win but she slipped off the cliff. You won." I nod and tears come to my eyes. Tears of joy that I survived. Tears of sadness over the senseless loss of life involved in these ridiculous games.

"You have some visitors." The door opens and it is Lannie, Tigris and Fushcia.

"Hey sweetie. I know you can't talk and you need your rest but we just had to see you." Lannie says.

It's nice to see them. Even though they participate in this barbaric spectacle I appreciate what they've done to help me. I give them a faint smile. The three of them kiss me gently as the leave the room. I grab Lannie's hand and pull her in to me. "My Mother?"

"I spoke to your Father. They're both very proud of you. They can't wait for you to come home." I nod. Unfortunately I didn't ask about my Father but my Mother. I hope she's alright. Oh geez, how long will I have to be here. Let this all be over with. Let me go home. But unfortunately it won't end. I've got the final show. A victory tour. Next year's games. Then next year, then next year and on and on and on forever.

The next day I seem to have recovered my strength. I'm no longer on any IVs or O2. My throat is still sore but I can move around. I pull the covers away and look at my leg.

It is bandaged from the top of my thigh to my ankle. Although it's not in a cast the bandages are so thick I can't bend it.

I lay there for a second and think about Addi just standing there looking at me before I passed out. I see her standing there. I can't remember what happened next. My memory is foggy. And that's impossible for me. Maybe it's the anesthesia.

I ring for the nurse.

"Hello Emma. This is Doctor Cranston."

"Hi Emma. How are you today?" He looks at my eyes, my throat and my leg. "You suffered quite a lot of damage to your leg. Muscle and tendon damage. You might need more surgery later." I nod. "Your throat is going to be sore for a while."

"Why?" I whisper.

"They put a breathing tube down your throat. You were fading fast. We almost didn't have a victor." Oh, does he remember who he's talking to? He's so nonchalant. I just nod accepting his answer.

"How long will I be here?"

"Just a couple of days. Don't worry. Your victory ceremony and final interview will come up soon." He truly is oblivious to the fact that I don't care. That I just want to go home. I smile politely.

"You have visitors." The doctor and nurse leave and the room fills up. Fushcia, Tigris, Lannie, Brutus and Tress appear. Except for Lannie they are all smiles. Congratulating me and each other. Lannie just holds my hand.

"Brutus. Sorry about Simon." I say.

"Don't worry. You called it. And after the first ten minutes I helped Lannie with your cause."

"Thank you." I whisper.

"So Tress. You can wash out this dye and attach my blonde extensions back."

"Are you crazy?" I look at him confused. "Your hair style is all the rage. Short and pitch black is in. My shop couldn't be busier. I'm even bottling your hair color. The package has you on it. It just says "Emma" I'll show you it as soon as they've finalized the layout."

"Wow. I'm a model. Who knew."

"Tigris, Fuchsia. Thanks for all your help."

"You're welcome. Listen get better." Fuchsia says.

"As soon as your ready the Tress and the rest of the team will get you ready."

I nod. They all start to leave but I hold on to Lannie's hand. I wait for them to leave.

"My mother?"

"I haven't been able to speak to her. Your Father always picks up the phone. He's always home. I had a friend of mine try to see her but your Father was there and she did not want to approach him."

"I understand."

"Bye sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Now I'm worried. Where is my Mother. What has he done to her. They must have interviewed her. I turn on the TV. It is all Games on all channels. I'm hoping that the interview with her comes up.

I watch but it's hard. All the blood that is spilled. There is actually very little of me. I didn't kill anyone and there is very little action. Except for my few fights I just ran around and hid.

There's the opening. There's Simon. Oh geez. He was killed by Boy One. Wow, killed by his own alliance. Brutus was right, I did call it.

The interviews come up. There is El, she's so excited and full of energy. "Hi El." I wave to the TV. There are some of my school mates and girls on the track team. There is my Father. He talks to the interviewer like he's talking to a recruit. He doesn't answer any questions. He says what he wants to say. My Mom should be next.

But she's not. Oh damn, why wasn't she interviewed. Something must be wrong. Did he hurt her so bad she couldn't appear on TV. He is a government official. I'm sure they would cover for him. Oh I have to get home and get her out of there.

I'm released from the hospital two days later. I'm still bandaged up and I'll have to appear in the interview with my leg like this. The doctor is amazed at how fast I heal. My memory is also coming back. I close my eyes and concentrate. I see Addi. I see her drop the knife. Then it becomes foggy. Nothing more. Well it was a little more than yesterday.

Fuchsia appears. "Ready?"

"Yes." I say.

"Oh your voice is much better. Your interview will go very well."

She wheels me out of the hospital and we're on our way to the training center to be prepped for tonight's interview and then the crowning ceremony.

The usual happens. I'm scrubbed down. But it isn't harsh. They're being very gentle and especially around my injured leg. The bandage is a little looser and I can at least bend my knee a little. This will allow me to sit for the three freakin' hours this interview will take. We'll watch replays. I'm glad I watched some of it in the hospital so I won't be shocked when I see it on stage.

My dress is yellow but this one is not made for a school girl. This is a gown made for a celebrity. No more bow around the back. This one will cling to my body. Showing every curve I have. It also has a lower neckline. This one shows me off. I am no longer a girl. I am a woman and a victorious one at that.

My interview is difficult. My leg is throbbing. I can't sit comfortably. I answer Caesar politely but I have no sense of humor. And three hours on stage is a long time. Watching bodies stabbed and hacked to death is just not my choice of entertainment. Caesar is very good at his job though. He keeps crediting my demeanor on my injury. I guess I should thank him.

When the interview is finally over it is time to be crowned Victor. Normally I should stand but I can't support my weight. They give me a tall chair I can sit in. The President appears with the crown. It is plain. No jewels or embellishments, just a gold ring. On the inside it is engraved "Emma Dever, Victor of the Fifty-Seventh Annual Hunger Games."

The President speaks to me. Congratulations Emma. I told you we expected big things from you.

"Thank you." I bend my head down and he places it upon my head. He takes my hand and raises it above my head. Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you, Emma Dever, Victor of the Fifty-Seventh Annual Hunger Games." The crowd roars. I smile politely.

The train ride back home is short. I sit by the window looking out of the window. Keeping quiet and to myself. My whole team and Brutus are celebrating. Lannie is sitting next to me holding my hand. She's been a comfort to me since the games ended. I haven't seen her drunk or hungover. She dresses less provocatively and she's more serious. I think she cares for me and is worried about me. She knows what my Father is like and how I would react if he hurt my Mother.

While sitting there looking out the window it comes to me. I see Addi fall back. Off the edge. She didn't slip, she committed suicide. I guess the Capitol edited the footage. They don't want to show a tribute taking their own life. "Thank you Addi. I owe you my life." Unfortunately I can't tell anyone. Maybe El but no one else.

We're pulling into the District Two terminal. I choose to use the crutches instead of the wheel chair. The crowd is tremendous. There are banners all over the terminal. Congratulations and well wishes. Up front in the crowd I see El and my classmates but neither of my parents.

The first to exit the train is my prep team. The crowd cheers. They are now celebrities. They are actually signing autographs and having their pictures taken with those in the crowd. Tigris get off next. The crowd is even louder. I didn't notice it before but she has a fan cub here. A whole group of girls are wearing cats ears, have whiskers painted on their face and are in leopard print outfits. Some even with tails.

Next is Fuchsia. She politely accepts her applause. But she is all business and she is making sure we are all on schedule for our luncheon with the Mayor.

Brutus escorts Lannie off the train. Although he wasn't my mentor he is very popular here. And Lannie is equally now.

An attendant helps me get up and escorts me down the stairs to the platform. I wade into the crowd trying to keep my balance. I look around for El and my Mother. I see El being brought to me. She throws her arms around me "I'm so happy you're okay."

"Where's my Mother I ask her."

"I don't know. I haven't seen her for days."

Damn, this isn't good. I start to cry in El's arms. Something must be wrong. He's finally done it. Hurt her so bad she can't be here or even killed her. I start to sob uncontrollable.

El releases me a turns me around. I'm crying so much I can't see in front of me. But I recognize the voice. "Emma I'm here." My mother takes me in her arms. Oh she's seems okay. No bruises. Nothing.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Yes. I'm fine."

"Where's PaPa?"

"At work. He got promoted. He's Vice-Commandant of the academy. It's kept him very busy. He'll be at the luncheon this afternoon."

Wow. Promoted. I had forgotten about that. "When did he find out about the promotion?" I ask.

"The day you won."

This is too much to be just a coincidence. Was his promotion conditional on my winning? Why would it be? Why would they care who won? Thinking about it, why would the President make those comments to me about expecting great things from me? This is all too weird. I can't think about that now. I should be glad I'm home. My Mother is safe. I can move her and me into my new house. I'm out of school and of age. I can be free of my Father for the first time in my life.

My name is Emma Dever and I am the Victor of the Fifty-Seventh Annual Hunger Games.

Thanks for reading, reviewing and sending me the PMs. I'm not sure what is up next for Emma in this universe. I might show how she became an assassin working for the Capitol or pair her with Katniss during Mockingjay again in an adventure.

If you've read my other stories you'll notice that Emma is in all of them. She's quite serious in the two FireGirl stories. Aftermath is the current one being written. But Emma has a sense of humor in the two funny, sexy Katniss stories. The Wedding and the current one We're Having a Baby.

Write me on your idea for the next Emma Dever story.

Thanks