I'm A Hunger Games Victor—Not Your Avox

by Maleficent-darkgoodwitch2416

Cinderella has a twin sister named Ariana Tremaine. Ariana grows up first as Jenna Mason, loses memory, then as Nightlock and Rue's older sister, volunteering and winning the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games along with Peeta Mellark, Katniss Everdeen, and Thresh—joins the rebellion and eventually loses her entire family. Will Ella ever get close to her twin or will Ariana keep Ella out?

25. Nursing

Then when I finally opened my eyes again, Ella and Seeder were treating my back. Chaff, Casca, and Thresh were probably at Chaff's house getting drunk—who was I kidding? Thresh and Chaff definitely were getting drunk—I wasn't sure about Casca. I'd never seen him drink but that meant nothing. Surely, he did drink sometimes, especially after what he'd just seen.

Ella murmured, "This is worse than anything Stepmother's done to me."

I sat up, winced, and Seeder asked, "What are you saying, Ella?"

"Stepmother used to hit me and lash me, too," Ella admitted.

This time, Seeder snarled. I glared and asked, "When?"

I signaled one of my servants to write down Ella's answers. "From when I was seven until I was fifteen," she answered.

Seeder took Ella into another room and counted the scars on her back.

They returned and Seeder reported, "Three sixty-nine hundred scars."

I nodded and I asked, "Besides the three hundred sixty-nine scars, how often did she hit you?"

"Another two thousand five hundred eighty times," Ella admitted.

My eyes widened, stunned—Stepmother would get two thousand nine hundred forty-nine lashes in a public whipping?

Ella looked at me and Seeder and asked, "Why are you two so upset about how Stepmother's been treating me?"

"Ella—it's child abuse!" Seeder exclaimed.

"Since children work in the fields during harvest, child abuse is a very serious crime here, punishable by public whipping, but the number of lashes is determined by the number of scars and other injuries suffered," I explained. "So, Stepmother is up to two thousand nine hundred forty-nine lashes."

Ella nodded silently and Seeder added, "Most times it's detected after one or two times, but to make a point, every cut, scrape, bruise, and scar are added together and that's the number of lashes for the guilty party, usually revealed when the abused child attempts to run away from them."

Ella nodded and asked, "What happens to the child?"

"They end up in the community home—orphans, abused children, and troubled teens all live there," I answered, "so it is a bit of a mess, but since you've got me you can stay with me."

Ella nodded, agreeably. Casca called, "Can I come in now?"

Seeder nodded and called, "Yes, Casca."

He flew into the room and knelt down beside me. "Oh god, Farmer Girl, I thought I was going to lose you," he rubbed my arm gently.

I nodded and whispered, "Stay with me tonight?"

He nodded and carefully kissed me. Ella looked at me and I whispered, "There's someone for you—you'll find each other."