Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, sadly. I am not the genius that came up with this inspiring idea.
A/N: Please forgive me, guys. I'm really sorry. I haven't updated for a month. I just have been so busy with science coursework and then surprise mock exams this Thursday that I am revising for. I was planning on updating sooner but my chapter got deleted and I have had to rewrite it. I know these are not reasons to not be writing but please forgive me. I also want to apologise for not thanking my reviewers in my previous chapter. I realised this and I felt extremely bad for not giving any credit to you guys. So I want to give you guys huge thanks to all my reviewers. I wouldn't be able to write without you. So without further ado, I give you chapter 38. Read, enjoy and Review!
Marcus
"You have agreed to marry my son before the next Games."
"What!" I say.
How could he do this to me? I can't. I can't do this. I can't marry someone I don't love. And more importantly, I can't marry Aquilo's son. He is probably just as cruel and heartless as his father. And how could a heartless person be in love? Not possible. And I can never learn to love anyone else because my heart belongs to Keeth. My head begins to spin and I try my best to control myself and my tears. I know I can't refuse but what else can I do. I don't want to be trapped for the rest of my life. But I also don't want my brother, Rye, to go through the same pain and misery I went through in the Games. I guess I have to try and convince Aquilo not to. Or agree to this sacrifice.
"What's the problem Miss Mellark?" Aquilo asks. "Is it Mr Ambertson?" I look away at the mention of Keeth.
"No-no. I, um, don't even like him." I lie.
"Don't lie to me, Miss Mellark." Aquilo hisses. "I warned you to stay away from him." I don't reply. "Well, now you have no choice but to stay away from him." Now that I'm going to marry his son, Keeth will have to go away from me.
"I'm only sixteen, President Aquilo." I convince. "I'm too young."
"Young love." Aquilo says. "Isn't that what it is?" I nod, sheepishly. "Besides, your mother was going to get married to your father at the same age." Thanks a lot Mum and Dad, I think to myself. "But it's up to you, Miss Mellark. If you agree, it will be beneficial for everyone. However, if you disagree it is absolutely fine. I will just have to get my son something else he wants. Like entertainment. Maybe the participation of Rye Mellark in the next Games. I'm sure that will please him." The mention of Rye makes my heart pick up the pace. He's threatening me. Rye's life is at stake again. "You can go now, Miss Mellark."
"No," I say, almost too quickly, as though Aquilo will just vanish and this is the end. "I will marry your son."
"Splendid," Aquilo says. "The engagement will be on the day after tomorrow. Invitations will be sent tomorrow." That's why our stay in the Capitol was prolonged. I just need to delay this wedding as much as possible or date it on a day where I won't need to stay with his son for long. When could that be? When could that be? The Games.
"I have a condition," I say. "Two actually." My hands shiver as I try and show some authority in front of Aquilo. Surprisingly, he takes it better than I thought.
"Please, Miss Mellark. Go ahead." Aquilo tells me.
"The wedding should be held one day before the Games," I say. That way as soon as the wedding is over I can board a train back to District 12 as I will be the mentor and I will need to be present during the reaping. Then I can just make excuses about mentoring overnight to get away from his son. It will only last till the end of the Games but any time is worth it. Aquilo seems to be pondering deeply over my condition.
"Hm. Well, I don't see any problem with that." Aquilo says and I sigh in relief. "And your other condition?"
"That I don't come to the Capitol between the engagement and wedding," I say. Aquilo doesn't take long to agree to this.
"I have accepted both your conditions and now I want you to make sure you do not create any problems," Aquilo says. "You may go now." At his command, I get up from my seat and head for the door. Just as my hand touches the doorknob, Aquilo says something else.
"One wrong move, Miss Mellark, and your family suffers." Aquilo threatens. I look back timidly give a curt nod and slip out of the room.
Surprisingly, the Peacekeeper that escorted me to this room to meet Aquilo is till outside, ready to take my backstage for the interview. My mind is currently far from the interview. All I can think of is my fate. Being married to Aquilo's son, a person whom I don't even know the name of. He's probably just the same as his father and great grandfather. Just as cruel and heartless. How could he possibly love me? He probably doesn't even know the meaning of love. But I will be married to this guy. Spending the rest of my life with him as there's no chance of escaping this. I'm trapped. I'm really trapped. And what do I tell Keeth? That I love him but I'm going to marry another guy. I know he will know why I will be marrying him but will he understand why I am just giving up on us? Why is there always something tearing us apart? Why is there never happiness between us?
I hold my tears back as we head backstage, not wanting others to know that I'm crying. My mind only dwells on my dark future, living in the Capitol, that I don't realise that Caesar has announced our names. Someone needs to literally push me on stage. I can imagine how I look: distanced, confused and almost robotic. I keep my eyes down as I walk to our seats, not wanting to look Keeth in the eye. If I do, I know I will break down. I know that the grief of knowing that I can never be with him will take over. Caesar seems to be bickering but it's like I can't even hear him. I thought that even though we don't have the freedom of speech here, we have the freedom to choose who we love and who we decide to marry, if anyone. But that's also been snatched away from me. I feel a hand shaking my left shoulder which also shakes me out of my thoughts.
"Huh?" I say, confused of what's going on. The crowd bursts into a fit of laughter and cheering along with Caesar. I manage to plaster a small smile, still unknown about what's going on.
"Just like her mother was." Caesar says, remembering Mum's first interview. But this is different. "But didn't we all think she was more like Peeta when it came to interviews?" He asks and the crowds chants yes. "I asked how was life after your victory?"
"Oh, um, sorry. I guess all the travelling to districts has made me a bit worn out." I say, coming up with an excuse for my weird behaviour.
"Understandable. Plus, we're in for a treat with our Victors staying in the Capitol for two more days." Caesar says excitable. A treat for you, I think to myself. Because I'll be getting engaged a guy I don't know. The interview goes on with my responses being one worded or half-hearted. Between every question I picture the wedding or the engagement in the near future. Standing next to a man whom I don't even know, smiling half-heartedly and just staring at Keeth wishing that the man I am standing next to were Keeth.
Soon comes the moment when Keeth plays a piece of music on a piano they wheeled onto the stage. After this I will sing. But I can't. I don't have the courage or energy within me. As Keeth begin playing, I am mesmerised and under the control of the beautiful music, which just makes me love Keeth even more. But I need to stay away from him. Because I will hurt him. If I lead Keeth on to thinking that we have a future together it will just hurt him even more and break his heart when he sees me tie the knot with someone else.
The music only fills my mind with moments I have had with Keeth and fills my eyes with tears. Soon his piece is over and it is my turn to sing. Caesar hands me a mic and I take it subconsciously and stand on the middle of the stage absolutely clueless. I stare into the spotlights as tears flow down my cheek. I've lost everything. I've lost my happiness. I've lost my freedom. I've lost my love. And the rest of my life will be filled with sadness and hopelessness. I will be breathing but I won't be able to live without my family and Keeth. I will be living in the Capitol, away from my parents, Rye and my friends. And then there's Keeth. My life will be empty without him. I won't survive without him.
Murmurs begin in the crowd as I stand motionless. I just can't find my voice. I just can't get anything out of me. That is until I hear it. Until I hear the music. Keeth's music. I turn, shocked to see Keeth at the piano looking at me and nodding. This is the song he wrote and gave the lyrics to. He's saving me. I look back to the crowds and recollect the mesmerising lyrics written on the piece of paper.
I see everything that you are,
And I just don't know where to start
No, I can't promise you. Go.
You filled my heart and the void.
We're like strangers to what we feel
Until me and you make it real
Colours you send to my soul
Leave me no choice.
Here, I go
What can I say
It's what sends me every day
Into such a lovely place
Your presence is why, no I cannot deny.
For there must be light,
Come out, it will guide me
Protect from the dark
Yeah
For this is just right
See now it's our love
Sing out, it's just me to you
Lead me out with your voice.
Any moment that we spend apart
Is like making me reach for a star
I am defenceless for you
Dancing with joy.
Here, I go
What can I say
It's what sends me every day
Into such a lovely place
Your presence is why, no I cannot deny.
For there must be light,
Come out, it will guide me
Protect from the dark
Yeah
For this is just right
See now it's our love
Sing out, it's just me to you
So follow me home,
If you're searching for someone like me.
Your smile is magic
And it's filling me with energy
For there must be light,
Come out, it will guide me
Protect from the dark
Y-yeah yeah yeah yeah.
For this is just right
See now it's our love
Sing out, it's just me to you.
For there must be light,
Come out, it will guide me
Protect from the dark
Yeah
For this is just right
See now it's our love
Sing out, it's just me to you
Lead me out with your voice.
The crowd is silent for some time until they burst into a fit of cheers. I turn around and smile sadly at Keeth while wiping away the tears that are still flowing down my cheek and Keeth gives me a nod and smile before he gets up and makes his way to me. All through the song I resisted the urge to just turn around and sing to Keeth. I resisted the urge to walk to Keeth and sing with him, making the moment even more special. However, my thoughts were definitely filled with Keeth. This song has just made it harder for me to go away from Keeth because this song just reminds me of him. But more than that it reminds me about our situation. In the song the word 'light' is hope of us escaping the clutches of the 'dark' or the Capitol. 'Lead me out with your voice' shows us how love can get us out of this. Maybe love can get me out of this. Maybe my love for Keeth can lead me out. But how?
"That was an absolutely beautiful love song. It must have been for someone." Caesar asks.
"No. Not at all." I say.
"You sang with so much love. So much passion. There must be someone." Caesar pries.
"There may be." I say, not giving out details. The song I sang has just given me the confidence to speak and try and pay attention.
"Does he have a name?" Caesar asks, clearly not giving up.
"I guess you'll just have to find out." I say.
"I guess we will have to find out who this mystery guy is." Caesar says. They'll find out tomorrow, anyway. Although it won't be the person I'm talking about. "Anyway, I present to you the victors of the 77th Hunger Games, Keeth Ambertson and Ashlyn Mellark!"
As soon as we're out of sight and I run towards the elevator but Justice stops me, telling me that we need to go to the President's mansion for a party. Justice leads me to another room immediately and sits me down on the chair. He takes out a couple of tissues and instead of handing them to me, he tabs the areas around my eyes and my cheeks so that I don't ruin the make-up doing it myself.
"You know you can tell me if there's something bothering you." Justice says as he retouches my make-up.
"There's nothing bothering me." I lie, holding back my tears again.
"It's alright if you don't want to. But it will make you feel better." Justice says. "And I promise I won't tell anyone." That's when I lose it. I jump off my seat and hug Justice, which catches him off guard. Soon he wraps his arms around me and rubs my back soothingly. Tears spill out of my eyes causing his clothes to dampen but that does not faze him.
"E-everything has gone wrong." I say. "I've lost. Aquilo's managed to break me."
"What happened, Ashlyn? Tell me."
"Aquilo's making me marry his son before the next Games." I say.
"What?" Justice says shocked as he pulls apart from our embrace and holds me at arm length. "Why?"
That is a question I know the answer to. Aquilo has many reasons to continue with this wedding. One being that his son will be happy and in control. Two, Aquilo can keep his eyes on me now that I will be staying in the Capitol. Three, Aquilo can control the Districts as they would think that I am now a part of the Capitol rather than the districts and would have no hope. Four, Aquilo would have a reason to send Rye into the Games if I decide to disagree, which I won't, however. Five, Aquilo can break me forever. Six, he can break Keeth too. Seven, the Mockingjay will be helpless now that her daughter is closer to Aquilo than herself. However, one disadvantage is that Aquilo is just giving me easy access to his mansion and the rooms in it. But Aquilo's smarter than that. He would probably lock every door in the mansion and deploy double the Peacekeepers to guard every door I don't have authorised access to. I know Aquilo's intentions very well but I don't mention it to Justice.
"I don't know." I say. "But I'm trapped." I cannot endanger Justice with this information about Aquilo. I mean he can probably assume Aquilo's intentions but telling him would mean anything that happens in the future would be because of me. "Invitations are being sent out tomorrow for an engagement party on the day after tomorrow and I don't know what to do. Especially about Keeth."
"You need to tell him before he finds out by the invites." Justice advises. He's right.
"I know." I say. But how? I just don't have the courage to tell him.
The silence that falls between us is an indication to Justice to carry on with his work as he continues to apply make-up. Once I am presentable again we are taken to the venue of the party: the banquet hall. The ceiling has been transformed into a beautiful night sky. One that looks the same as the one in District 12. The same one I saw with Keeth in the woods. But for some reason, the beauty of the sky is not visible in the Capitol. It is more enchanting at home, in peace. When I say that the banquet hall is extravagant it is an understatement. Numerous plush sofas and chairs are scattered across the hall with fireplaces nearby. There are a few miniature flower gardens and ponds around the room. However, the most attractive and eye-catching part of the party are the tables and tables of food. Anything a person in the District could dream of is here but for the Capitol it is something they see every day. The amount of food around me makes me feel extremely confused on what to start with.
"Don't know where to start?" Keeth asks as he places his hands on my shoulders behind me and whispers in my ear. At his touch I turn around quickly, trying to avoid any closeness between us. I shake my head. "Soups?" He asks and I nod as we walk up to the table and examine the countless varieties. That's the state of every table we visit. Confusion. I stuff myself to the limit until I cannot eat more. Every time I'm not eating or chewing, someone walks up to me, compliments my look, kisses my cheek, praises the Games and then ends on one final note: "can't wait to find out about your mystery guy." I, inwardly, groan at that but then realise they will be told who it is tomorrow. I hear Keeth chuckle behind me.
"So, Miss Mellark, please tell us who this mystery guy is." Keeth says in a Capitol accent. "Is it someone from District 12 or a guy from the Capitol?" He asks and my eyes widen at his mention of Capitol guy.
As Keeth and I stop eating, we gain many side glances from the Capitol people who clearly think it is absurd to not be eating when you can just vomit and eat again. Or course, that is something I do not want to do. In order to get rid of these looks, Keeth decides to do something.
"Let's dance." Keeth says, offering his hand to me. I hesitate.
"I'm not sure." I say, avoiding a moment of intimacy with Keeth.
"Don't worry. I'm here to support you." He says as though he weren't just talking about this dance but something much larger. He takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor. No one really seems to notice us as they're too busy dancing or bickering, thankfully. Keeth wraps his arm around me and pulls me into him as we move around in circles.
"I just can't wait to go back home." Keeth says. "All this extravagance and selfishness is really too much for me."
"They're just sick." I tell him. "They cannot see the pain we're going through back home."
"I just wish we didn't have to stay here for another two days," Keeth says. "What's that even about?" This is my chance; I think to myself. My chance to tell him. But is this the right place? Before I can decide what to do, I hear a voice behind Keeth as he places his arm on his shoulder. His face is hidden behind Keeth. Keeth looks back over his shoulder, revealing a golden strand of hair. Keeth nods, having no other choice but to do so. He looks back at me pitifully, squeezes my hand and hesitatingly let's go of me. Instantly, another pair of hands is placed in mine. He pulls me, almost aggressively, towards him and snakes his arms around my waist. I comply a few seconds later and wrap my arms around his neck, seeming it would be rude and insulting for the person to reject their offer. I look up at the face of the person. His hair is an astonishing golden blond, that is gelled back as a quiff. I look into his deep blue eyes, that tell me who it is. Marcus. When he came to District 12 a few weeks ago, his hair was wavy and messy however now it is tamed, giving him a sophisticated look. There is a huge contract with how he looked before and now. It is astounding how a change in hairstyle can change the appearance of someone. He stares at me for quite a while until his eyes scan me from head to do.
"You look beautiful." He says to me, caressing my cheek. It takes every ounce of tolerance in me to resist running away at his touch. It gave me a sickening feeling.
"Thanks." I say, simply, looking away from Marcus. He sways me gently as he continues to talk.
"I can't wait till the engagement." He says and the shock causes me to stop moving. Have the Capitol been informed about the engagement already? Or maybe only important Capitol officials have been told this? Maybe Marcus is one of them? However, curiosity gets the better of me.
"How do you know?" I ask and in response I receive a chuckle from Marcus. I furrow my brow in confusion.
"You're so funny." He says as he continues to chuckle. After a while he stops and we begin to move in time with the music. "I can't wait till you're mine." He says and I stop moving again. What does he mean by that? And how will I be – that's when the realisation hits me.
He is Aquilo's son, Marcus Snow. My fiancé…
* Song from the show Violetta. I do not own this song.
A/N: I feel relieved posting this chapter and revealing the secret. I hope you guys liked it. I hope you liked the song too. I think it really reflects Ashlyn and Keeth's love in the cruel Capitol world.
In penance for not updating for long I am offering something:
You can ask any question to me through your reviews and I will answer it. If you are a guest it will be answered in the A/N in the next chapter. You can ask me anything you want unless of course it involves me revealing something absolutely major. But I will see. Please take advantage of this and ask away!
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