Chapter 21:
There's the familiar cheering and bright lights that await me in the theatre. I suck in my breath, as instructed by Aspen, and gracefully walk up the stairs onto the stage in my white flowing dress like a bride to her groom. But there is no one there at the other end waiting for me except Ceaser with his big blue hair and pale skin. I was dreading this all morning during my makeover. Zendaya, Cassandra and Aspen were again at my feet and hair like the first time I met them. I was waxed and washed. They didn't talk to me this time, no comments about my filthy nails or tangled hair. They must understand the pain and fear the victors have after just leaving the games. They just cleaned my nails, brushed my hair, washed me down and left without saying a word. I would occasionally say ouch when Cassandra brushed out my knots, but she would only say sorry in reply. No yelling at me for not brushing my hair before. Only Aspen spoke to me throughout the whole thing congratulating me on my success and helping me fit into my dress. She was brilliant with the design and I complimented every inch of it. From the flowery design at the top to the mockingjays sewn into the hem. Then she gave me my sun necklace. I remembered Celeste had the exact same one in the games, and it only brought back horrible memories.
"Most victors never talk much when they get back from the arena." Aspen said styling my hair.
"There's not much to talk about, it's a bit painful to talk about." I said.
"Keeping it in won't help either. It's better to just let it all out. That's what us stylists are here for." She said applying my make-up.
"It's just…painful." I said. There was nothing else to say. No other words that would help me describe the pain in my chest right now. Unless I could rewind time and never have this happen, the memories would haunt me throughout my life.
"I understand, there's nothing else you can say." She said bringing a mirror to my face so I could see the work she has done. I looked like an angel or a ghost. I touched the rhinestones that surrounded my cheek. The design was beautiful, and it was perfect for the final interview. After that, I would take my victory tour, and then back home where I belong. In the safety of district 11, and back to Ruven and mother. I got up form my chair and hugged Aspen. She was the only one close I could talk to, until I got home.
"Let's go, they'll be waiting for you." She said leading me through the doors back to the theatre for my interview. I sat across form Ceaser on a bright colored couch.
"Let's congratulate our victor everyone!" Ceaser cheered clapping. The rest of the audience clapped along with him. I waved and smiled at everyone like Aspen told me to.
"It must have been a rough two weeks for you Camellia. But you made it out alive and in health." He said.
"It was pretty rough out there. Lots of surprises waiting for you around the corner." Is said smiling. 'Surprises like watching your best friend and fiancé die a brutal death and going through the pains of starvation and dehydration' I said in my head.
"You did great for a girl in your district. Let's watch some recaps of your days in the arena." Ceaser said turning on a big screen behind us. It was able to show two weeks in only five minutes. From the blood bath to my black out. I almost felt sick watching Lei stab my ankle with the knife, and then seeing the same knife pierce her eye. The crowd cheered at every gruesome scene. It showed me killing the girl form seven and jumping over the waterfall. I still wasn't sure that was real and was more certain Marcus dragged me in with him. I wouldn't willingly jump over a hundred foot waterfall into a river unless was possessed. I watched Celeste fall out of the tree and land on her back, then her final goodbyes. I remembered Elliot and had to make sure I talked to him during my victory tour. Then the final scene when Lei threw the knife at Marcus. I watched his face turn white then fall. I looked away trying to hide my tears. Then I listened to his final words.
"You are beautiful Camellia." He said to me. I wiped away my tears and faced Ceaser not realizing the video had ended. Ceaser and the audience were clapping and cheering. I smiled at everyone and blew kisses trying to act strong and tough.
"What an amazing video right?" Ceaser said.
"It was very detailed wasn't it?" I said smiling.
"Every piece of your time in five minutes." He said. "Time to wrap things up, anything special you want to say to the millions of people watching you at home?" he asked. I sat up and looked straight into the camera.
"I'm alive and I won." Is said with the straightest face I could possibly make at the moment considering I'm feeling like crawling under a rock and crying until my eyes bleed. A buzzer went off and Ceaser and everyone else got up and started heading out. Ceaser shook my hand and congratulated me. Aspen took me by my hand and led me out. As soon as we were out of sight, I started crying my eyes out.
"It's all okay Camellia. You're alive and that' all that matters." She said rubbing my back.
"Tomorrow they will be starting you're tour and then you'll be able to go home in peace." She said. "I need to ready your preparations for leaving, tomorrow will be the last time I see you." She said. I got up form my bed and ran into her arms.
"Thank you so much for everything." I said.
"Thank you." She said letting me go and exiting my room. I walked back to my bed and just sat there thinking. There wasn't much to think about except the games. Hundreds of thoughts ran through my head. Marcus is dead, Celeste is dead, I won the Hunger Games, my true love is dead dead dead. I lie down in my bed still fully dressed in my outfit. I closed my eyes and dreamt of home. Of being in my house with my brother. But when I turned around, Ruven was replaced by Marcus. I bolted up in bed and looked around rubbing my eyes. The sun was up and I could hear the sound of capitol people running around bellow me. Today I would be going on my tour, starting at one and ending in twelve. I got up and changed into the cloths waiting for me. Just a simple skirt and blouse, when I walked outside, Aspen was waiting against the wall with my shoes.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Ready." I said walking down the hall and to the trains waiting for us. And soon we were off, beginning the tour.
We paraded form district to district smiling and waving at the strangest of people. I smiled at everyone, even the one who glared at me with disrespecting eyes, and I knew they wish that their own children had won. When we reached district five, I found Celeste's family instantly. There were dozens of children surrounding her coffin. Probably her younger siblings or cousins. I gave them my best and said I was sorry for their lost.
"Celeste was very close to me, and if it wasn't me who won, I would have wanted her to." I said. One of the younger girls, with the same hair and eyes as Celeste came up and hugged me.
"Thank you miss." She said when she released me. A woman around the age of fifty came up through the crowd of children holding something under and handkerchief.
"We saw how kind you were to our Celeste, and she would have wanted you to have this." She said reveling the sun necklace that Celeste had worn. I picked it up and held it in my hands.
"Thank you." I said hugging the women. I knew that she was Celeste's mother and as I looked behind her I saw an older boy looking into the coffin. I walked through the children and towards the coffin. Inside, I saw Celeste wearing a beautiful white dress, and her spine looked as if there were no injury.
"You must be Elliot" I said looking up at the boy. He was taller than me, and much stronger. His brown hair was covering his blue eyes, which I could see were watering.
"She wanted to tell you she loved you, but you probably already knew that form watching." I said.
"I saw everything, I wished, and still do, that I could rewind time and volunteer, to be with her one final time." he said brushing her hair away from her face. The gesture reminded me of Marcus and I smiled.
"She would have wanted to here." I said. He looked up at me and smiled.
"Thank you." He said. I turned around and walked off back to the train. Seeing the other districts wasn't as painful. I didn't know many people. When we arrived at seven, I went to the girl's coffin. She was the girl I killed out of mercy when I was a career. I learned her name was Thaliana, and that she too was going to be married soon. I cried for her and gave her family and boyfriend my best. District twelve was the most awkward one of all. Lei's family would glare and smirk at me. Now I knew where Lei got the natural angry look, must have run in the family. But they were all as beautiful as her. She had three older sisters. All of them looked just like her. But I wouldn't dare go over to her coffin, so I just gestured in their direction. Soon I was back on the train to district eleven. Where I would be free of the cameras and be able to go back to my life. But I knew nothing would ever be the same as before. I wouldn't be able to live without Marcus. When we finally arrived, I ran off the train and into the arms of my brother. He almost squeezed the life out of me. But I squeezed just as hard back.
"I knew you would come back. How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'll live." I said wiping a tear from my eyes before anyone could see. He took me by my hand and walked me over to the coffin. Inside I saw the glowing face of my once husband. I touched his hair and his face. Then gave him a final kiss before turning around and walking home. No turning around. No turning back. I had finally said goodbye and let go. I was free.