Estrella Vasquez POV

What was that? Priscilla had it in the bag. What was that nonsense about not wanting to kill? Priscilla loved having fun. Killing is fun. I don't get it. Rapture, too. That pair was too serious. Winning the Games is the biggest adventure in the world. Why did they make it a chore?


Kiko Piscot POV

Mom and Dad's plan was for me to volunteer and finally, gloriously bring redemption to Miall and the family. Only one element was lacking: me.

"No way, nu-uh, not happening. What, you think I'm going to do the same exact thing that killed two of my siblings? I don't think so! Did you ever notice I don't even like training? I was never going to volunteer. I just wish I'd managed to convince Priscilla. Oh, I'm dead to you? Well so is Priscilla! Screw that! I'm out!"


District One POV

You win some, you lose some. Life goes on. They fought well and next year it's ours for sure. Funny thing about Kiko, though. Not everyone can get themselves emancipated at sixteen and nab an internship at One's most elite jewelry boutique by her next birthday. That's when we realized those to-die-for pieces Kiko always wore were originals. How did we never notice this talent? That girl was going places.


Sky Levings POV

When I woke up, I was ready to eat a horse. I about jumped out of bed and crumpled to the floor like a sack of potatoes. An alarm went off and a nurse scurried into the room.

"Goodness, what do you think you're doing? You're lucky you didn't tear out your IV," she said as she picked me up like a kitten and deposited me back in bed.

"Can I please have some food?" I pleaded pathetically. Wait, IV? I hadn't even noticed I was hooked up to more tubes and meters than I knew what to do with. I squirmed weakly and tried in vain to get out of bed.

"That's all the food you get for now," the nurse said as she pointed to the IV. "You'd only throw it right back up anyway." She handed me a mirror.

"Feast your eyes instead. Don't you look great?" I took the mirror automatically and looked into it. I don't know if I'd say great. Maybe different.

Obviously, they'd been going for a trickster look. My eyes were a shade lighter and they looked like they could shoot lasers. They actually gave my ears the slightest point and my wavy hair was ironed straight and slicked back. I dropped the mirror when I noticed my hand. It was skeletal. Was I that thin?

I should have been thinking about important things, like how I was alive. It seemed like I'd accepted that back when Priscilla died... when I killed her. Maybe they dangerous trickster look was appropriate.

You did what you had to, I tried to tell myself. No. Cut the crap. You volunteered. You are the farthest thing from "doing what you had to" as possible. I was a murderer. I wasn't going to fully understand that for a long time. I knew I felt dirty, like I was still back in the Arena. I felt like I didn't deserve to be with other people. They were better than I was.

But most of all, I felt hungry.


I still wasn't filled out when Coronation Day came. My dress, a black and silver avante-garde piece that made me look and feel like a cyborg, was padded around the chest and waist. I had yet to get used to my new body. I looked so sharp, like I cut through the world and anyone in my way.

I knew Seutonius wasn't going to be there, but it was still jarring to see Polyphemus where he should have been. He'd told me Seutonius had retired. I missed him already.

"Presenting Sky High Levings!" Polyphemus announced me as I sat down. Real creative. It had been two days since I was allowed out of my room, and I'd signed perhaps two hundred autographs as "Sky High". I was never going to hear the end of that one.

"We all knew you were a ripsnorter when you volunteered without a shred of fear," Polyphemus said. "What made you decide to do that?"

"Stupidity and recklessness. Don't make the same mistake I did," I said as I turned to face the crowd.

"But it worked out so well for you," Polyphemus pointed out.

"Yeah..." I started. I didn't really have an answer for that.

"Straight from the horse's mouth, what's the most exciting moment of the Games?" Polyphemus asked. I thought for a minute.

"None of us expected mutts at the Bloodbath," I said.

"Ah, yes," Polyphemus agreed. "We were talking about that for days in the Capitol. Oh, but I've kept you long enough. Let's get to the fun part." A huge screen rolled down and the highlight reel started playing. It focused largely on my alliance, of course. I don't know how they expected me to enjoy seeing ghosts of allies past and every bloody death I'd witnessed and been a part of. The worst was when they showed my attack on the Careers. Over and over, in slow motion and in every angle, I saw my three victims fly through the air and die at various speeds. Margo seemed impressed. Rapture looked cheated, and Alex looked deathly afraid. I'd felt all of those in my life. They forced me to see the humanity of my victims and I brushed my hair aside my face to hide my tears. Polyphemus stared in confusion. I wished he'd go away.

The Anthem played while I was still collecting myself. I rose as President Galba glided to me in a sumptuous purple toga. As always, she carried a crown on a satin pillow. For me, it was a simple king's crown design. It was gunmetal gray, with a band as black as powder. I looked at its robotic functionality and wondered what it would be if I'd stayed home where I belonged. A laughing pink and orange tiara for joyful Priscilla? A child's crystal swirls for Yasmine? A sturdy wood circlet for Allen? I ruined all those possibilities. I wanted to duck when she placed the crown on my head.

"I am pleased to crown another worthy Victor. May your game bring solidarity and oneness to Panem," she said. I didn't even smile, but she seemed used to it.

Just like that, I was Victor, winner, queen of the world. I didn't deserve it and I didn't even want it. But that was the way it was.


There's still one more chapter for final wrap-up and some updates on how Sky adjusted to life as a Victor.