Chapter Twenty-One
Rated M for violence, language, and sexual situations.
DISCLAIMER: The only characters that I own are Claire Moore, Logan Smith and the other characters that weren't in the original Hunger Games. All other characters belong to Susan Collins.
So I have decided that I will write a sequel the title will be The Forgotten Victor, but obviously it will not be out until this story is over. I will give you guys notice when it is out. I am super excited to write it because I have some great ideas for it, but I just hope that they won't make you hate me. But until then I hope you enjoy The Forgotten Tribute.
Panic, I am in complete and utter panic. The nightmares started the minute I closed my eyes. Images of Thresh and the other dead tributes flash before my eyes. Bolting upright I scream bloody murder. Curling up into the fetal position I begin to rock back and forth.
Peeta and Katniss are the first ones into my room.
"What's wrong?" Peeta asks. I can't answer I just continue to sob. Peeta moves over to me and wraps his arm around me.
"It's not real," he assures me. "Nothing is going to hurt you."
I am practically hyperventilating at this point. Katniss reaches out and holds my hand, which is extremely unlike her. After a while I calm down.
"Thank you," I say.
"It's fine," Peeta smiles at me before he and Katniss leave. I don't even attempt to go back to sleep. My night is spent pacing around that room until the sun comes out.
For the first time I am anxious for my prep team to get here. It will take them almost the entire day to get me ready and that will provide me with something to occupy my time with.
They arrive within minutes of sunrise, all of them look exhausted. For the most part I cooperate with them. They pluck at my body, soak me in numerous baths with all kinds of oils and soaps, paint my face and nails, and style my hair.
By the time Cynthia arrives to take over it's almost four in the afternoon.
"You all can go," Cynthia waves the team off.
She pulls out a dress bag and reveals the light blue dress inside it, "This is the dress you wanted, right?"
"Yes," I reply while taking the dress.
Once I'm dressed I gaze at my reflection. The dress fans out around my waist and continues to the floor. A small blue sweater covers my shoulders, and is tied around me with a ribbon. My hair is partially pulled back, so everyone can see my face.
"Gorgeous as always," I say.
"Clothes are clothes, you're the one that makes them beautiful," she comments.
"I'm just not sure if I can do this tonight," I'm referring to having to watch a recap of the games. That means I will have to relive those horrible and wonderful moments that I would just as soon forget.
"Yes, you can," Cynthia protests. "You're not going to be alone out there. Katniss and Peeta will be right by your side, and I'll be in the front row."
"I know, I'm just scared," I admit.
"It'll be fine," she assures me, and with a reassuring hug we go down. The stage has been transformed. The atmosphere looks almost friendly. The chairs have been replaced with one loveseat and two lonely chairs, all of them a light shade of yellow or orange. A huge television has been placed on the side of the stage where the recap of the Games will be broadcasted.
Soon Katniss and Peeta come down. Katniss is wearing a yellow dress, and Peeta a navy blue suit.
"Are you ready?" I ask weakly.
"No," they reply in unison.
"Neither am I," I practically whisper. Caeasar Flickerman struts out on stage and the audience cheers. Taking a deep breath the three of us enter the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen the victors of the 74th Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and Claire Moore!"
Katniss and Peeta smile like the lovebirds they are and I to walk out somberly. Caesar directs us to our seats; Katniss and Peeta share the loveseat and I am alone in one of the lounge chairs. I sit down stiffly dreading what is to come.
"Now you are about to watch the Games that the three of you have survived, how are you all feeling?" Caesar inquires.
"Petrified," I state.
"And you two?" he turns to Peeta and Katniss.
"Same," they agree.
"Well, we're all here for you," Caesar tries to comfort us. It doesn't work. "And without further ado play the video!"
The gigantic screen blazes to life, and the anthem blares. It begins with our Reapings. Katniss' little sister is chosen and the heartbreaking scene ensues. Peeta is Reaped with little to no reaction. My name is pulled and a hush falls over the crowd; the only sound I hear the occasional sob from one of the Home's children.
Cut to our magnificent appearances in the Parade of Tributes. Katniss and Peeta set ablaze with the fire concocted by Cinna. When my entrance is replayed I am in awe of it. The woman I see riding out is not me, there is no possible way it could be me. But yet it is.
The scene changes to snippets from our interviews. The only part that gets a good play is Peeta confession of love for Katniss. A brief snapshot of Katniss spinning on fire, and clips of me making sarcastic jokes are the only parts shown on the two of us.
Dread. That is what I feel when the screen displays our very first moments in the arena. So many shots of the bloodbath play. The camera focuses in on Thresh and me running to safety. I ball my hands into fists and beg myself not to cry, but I can still feel the tears welling up behind my eyes.
Shots of Katniss running, Peeta with the Careers, and Thresh and me fishing play next. Me murdering the boy is given close attention. I see the anger in my eyes as I throw the knife at him. Anger at him for attempting to harm Thresh.
An unfamiliar sight plays next. Katniss is trapped up in a tree by the Careers. They taunt her. The screen cuts to nighttime as Katniss is sawing off a branch that contains of hive of tracker jackers. At least one of the Careers in killed in this grotesque attack.
Then back to Thresh and me. This time we are kissing in the cave. For the first time I see the care and love in his face as he kisses me. This time I do cry. I don't even try to stop the tears from coming.
Just as I think it couldn't get any worse, they play the scenes where I go off into the forest. The fight between me and the boy is fully played. I see myself stagger off and collapse on a rock; passed out cover in my own blood. Thresh saving me, nursing me back to life, caring for my every need that is what is next.
Thankfully, they take a break from Thresh and me and focus on Katniss and Rue's alliance. The two of them talk and laugh and it breaks your heart. Fast forward to when Katniss blows up the Career's supplies.
The explosion fades out and the sight of Rue being speared is next. I almost am sick just watching it. Seeing that little girl dying is almost too much to bear. Katniss sings to her while Rue fades away, and then places flowers around her corpse.
Next is the event in which Peeta is stabbed and left for dead by the Careers. He disguises himself into his surroundings, and he disappears.
Before we see more of him the video goes back to me. This time it displays when Thresh and I get married. I lose it. I cry and sob into my hands. The act was completely symbolic and impulsive, but to me it made us real. It made all the difference to me, and I can barely hang on right now.
Caesar reaches out and lays his hand on my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me, but it does nothing but enhance my rage. He doesn't know what this is like. No one knows. No one can even attempt to understand what this is like, how I feel. I shrug his hand off and the presentation continues.
Images of Katniss caring for Peeta play. She feeds him just as Thresh fed me. She tends to his wounds, like Thresh did mine. I see parallels in their story and mine. All of us thrown into the same circumstances, but ending in completely contrasting ways.
The image shifts again, this time to my sickness. Then the feast. Clove's death; Thresh sparing Katniss' life. Katniss healing Peeta; Thresh healing me. It all goes by so fast. I want to cherish these moments and cast them aside at the same time. I need to remember the good times, but that also means recalling the bad. I'm trapped.
The moment that I have been dreading finally comes. Thresh is impaled and this time I scream aloud. Both Thresh's murder and my reaction from the bushes are shown. I see myself running to him and begging him to stay with me.
"Thresh stay with me."
"Claire."
Our final moments are played.
"Thresh please, you can't leave me."
"Claire, it's not going to work."
Our final requests are displayed.
"No Thresh, I need you, please. I love you"
"I love you too."
Our final confessions cast.
"Please, Thresh, please, you can make it."
"Claire, you are my soul mate."
Our final words said.
My screaming both on and off screen is traumatic. I practically shake with having to relive that moment; the moment where everything changed. I start to have a panic attack, I want to run off, but I know that is not allowed.
I allow myself five minutes. Five minutes to let it all out. At the end I begin to compose myself. The worst is over, the rest I can handle. I still hiccup, but other than that and the occasional shallow breath, I am managing.
Now we have reached the end. I join Katniss and Peeta. The mutts. The Cornucopia. Cato's death. I see myself holding him from the scruff of his shirt. Catching him just to plunge my knife into him and throw him into the vicious and unforgiving jaws of the muttations.
We have now reached to culmination of the Games. The three of us standing at the base of the Cornucopia waiting for the announcement that won't come. The rule change is spoken and Katniss pulls out the berries.
Even though we all know what happens, everyone holds their breath. We raise our hands to place the berries into our mouths and our victory is immediately proclaimed. A collective sigh is released and the screen fades to black.