Heat Chapter 29

Epilogue.

Athena Fallow –17- -D11V- POV

The after-Games was intense. I was flown back to the Capitol. Isabella was there, and congratulated me on winning, and teased me about taking her job from her too early. When we got back to the Capitol, I had to convince them to make two very special exceptions for me.

District Eleven City Center, One day after the end of the Games

"You know," I say to Alix, "I thought it would be a little smaller."

"Well," he says, with that sparkle in his eyes that I missed for even the time we were separated, "they do tend to go all out for Hunger Games victors, you know."

"Yes, but they pulled all this together in a day?" I ask.

He smiles. "We had a lot of help."

"Eh-hem," Alix's father says. "Not to interrupt, but could we get on with this? If that's alright, Miss Fallow?"

"Of course," I say. "Minister, you may proceed."

"Thank you," he says. I look over the assembled crowd. The whole District must have turned out for our wedding, which I didn't except. I always thought that we would get married in the Justice Building by a clerk. But, here we are, in the City Center, with a real Minister, the only one in the District. I tune back in just in time to hear him say, "Do you, Athena Caitlin Fallow, take this man, Alix Julian Feere, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

"I do," I say, smiling.

"And do you, Alix Julian Feere, take this woman, Athena Caitlin Fallow, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

"I do," Alix says, also with a smile on his face.

"Then, by the power vested in me by the President of Panem, I declare you Husband and Wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Alix always sweeps me off my feet when we kiss, and this time was no exception. I hear the clapping of the audience. Normally, they wouldn't let me get married at seventeen, and normally, I wouldn't be able to go home before my victory tour. Those are the two exceptions I asked for.

One day later…

I wake up next to Alix. I smile. It's good to be home. To have a home again, finally. Now, though, it's my home. I get up, get dressed, and eat, before waking Alix up.

"I have to go, honey. I'm sorry, but you know this was an exception."

"I know," he says. "Goodbye kiss?" He leans up out of the bed. I kiss him softly.

"Of course. Now go back to sleep."

"I can do that," he says and tucks himself under the covers. I grab a notebook off my nightstand, tucking it into an inside pocket of my shirt. I leave the house when it's still dark out to board the train to District One.

Pearl Hazard –40- -D1R- POV

I open the door when someone knocks on it. It's a girl with tan skin, whose copper hair is in a braid down her back.

"Hello, Ms. Hazard," the girl says. "I'm sorry to bother you at this time, I know this must be hard for you. But, would you mind if I asked you a few questions about Topaz?" Now I recognize her. It's the girl who won the Hunger Games, that Athena person. I go to close the door, but she says something that stops me. "I'm sorry, I know what I did. But… I'm making good on a promise to a friend."

"Okay," I say. "Come in, please."

My husband, Oynx, walks by. "Honey, who's at the door?" He asks. Then, he stops when he recognizes Athena. "What is she doing here?" He asks, angrily. "She killed our son!"

"Honey," I say, putting my arm out in front of him, and using my voice to calm him. "Miss Fallow is just here to ask us some questions about Topaz."

"Why?" He asks.

"I just want to make sure he's remembered," Athena says. "The right way. And, it's Missus Feere now, but, please, Athena."

"Why?" He asks again.

"You remember the girl who was my partner? Sofie?" Athena asks.

"Yes," Oynx says. "Sort of."

"Right. Well, she wanted me to finish the story. The story of us, and the Hunger Games. That's why I'm doing this. I want to have Topaz's story, too," Athena says.

Oynx calms down. "Okay," he says. "Please, have a seat, Ms. Feere."

"Thank you," she says. "And, Athena, please." She pulls out a notebook from the front pocket of her shirt and pulls out the small pencil in the side. "I just have a few questions…"

Garret Nash –40- -D4R- POV

I open the door to my house.

"Hello?" I ask the young women standing on the doorstep.

"Hello, Mr. Nash," she says. "Athena Feere. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you some questions about Brooke."

"Of course," I say. "Come on in."

Willa Guinness –42- -D5R- POV

I open the door to my house after I hear three short knocks.

"Hello?" I ask before I open the door.

"Ms. Guinness?" The girl holds out her hand, and I recognize her instantly. "I'm Athena Feere. I knew your daughter, Sofie."

"I know who you are," I say. "Please, come right on in." She does. "Please, sit," I motion to the kitchen table, where two of my kids are playing with something messy. I don't even know what this particular toy is. "Children, we have a guest."

"Oh!" Athena says. "Please, don't make a fuss. I won't be here long. I'm just here to give you something. But, you might want your husband to come out soon."

"He's just getting ready for work," I say. "Honey! Come out here for a minute." He does. "We have a visitor. This is -"

"Athena," he says. "The girl who took care of Sofie." He walks over to her and extends his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Athena."

"Pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Guinness," Athena says. "I'm surprised you aren't," she pauses, "angrier."

"Why would I be?" He asks. "I doubted that she would ever come back. You gave her a longer life and a better death then she would have had without you. Also, you promised to finish her stories, and I know how important those were to her."

"Thank you," Athena says. "And I guess that you can imagine why I'm here then."

"Yes," he says.

"Well then," Athena says, with a smile. "I guess that there's no point in building dramatic suspense anymore." She pulls a wad of cash from her bag and thumps it on the table. Then a few more. "This to start, and more anytime you want or need it. You'll get this every month, and if you ever need more just write. Okay?"

"Of… of course," I say, shocked. "But… we… we wouldn't want to-"

"Oh, don't worry about me," she says. "I'm giving pensions to some of the other families who deserve it since I've been visiting them to finish Sofie's story. Not as much, obviously, but I'll be fine. The cost of living in District Eleven isn't very high," she smiles. "I should be going though. I have another family to talk to here, to finish her story."

"Of course," I and my husband say simultaneously.

"Thank you, Mr., Ms. Guinness," she says. "It's been a pleasure."

"Thank you," I say, and shake her hand. My husband does the same.

Joe Dayton –39- -D7R- POV

I open my door to a young woman standing outside of it. I know who it is.

"Athena. Come in please."

Cassidy Hendrix –34- -D12R- POV

I open the door to Athena Feere. I'm surprised, to say the least. Victors don't normally stay in town after their victory tour.

"Ms. Hendrix. Athena Feere. Can I ask some questions about Abi?"

"Of course."

Three months later…

Athena Feere –18- -D11V- POV

It took me a few months to get the book ready. First was the two-week-long victory tour, where I talked to all of the Tribute's families. Then was the writing what they said. Then was the editing, oh the editing. But now, it's finally done. Sofie's family got an early release copy, signed by me, with their monthly payment.

"Heat, The 70th Hunger Games

By Sofie Guinness

Minor additions by Athena Feere

Author's note: These are the events of the 70th Hunger Games, complied as best as I could. Sofie's account is hers, and mostly matches my recollection of events. My account is my own, however, there may be slight mis-remembrances, as it was only complied after the fact. The accounts of the other Tributes are complied from official Capitol footage of the Games and Reaping Days, as well as interviews with the families of the Tributes about the Reaping Day, their goodbyes to their Tribute, and their Tribute's character. Select friends have also been interviewed. Interviews are direct transcripts, and training is transcribed footage, and what mentors remember. I received those accounts via letter. This book is made to fulfill a promise to a friend, and to provide an accurate account of the 70th Hunger Games, which shows the Tributes as the people they were. I hope that you enjoy, and perhaps learn something from, this book.

Wishing you the best, Athena Feere.

Chapter 1.

District Five Reapings…"

The Capitol

"That girl's book came out today."

"Which one?"

"That Athena one, the one who talked to all the families."

"Oh! What did they tell her again?"

"That we were dead."

"And did she believe them?"

"It says she did. Why wouldn't she?"
"I don't know. I just get paranoid, I guess."

"It's fine, honey. We should get going though. The head Gamemaker wants to meet with us."

"Of course, fellow Gamemaker." The man smiles at his wife. "Let's go."

"Welcome, Mr., Ms. Presley," Peter Mallard says. "I'm sorry about your son."

"You can stop saying that now, Sir. It's been months. We never were that fond of Kai anyway."

Nine months later… The day before Reaping day…

District 1

Diamond Knowles sends her sword swinging through a bag, then drops it and beats another one to within an inch of its life. Her friend from the Academy, Charlotte, walks into the room and almost gets hit in the face with a punching bag.

"Whoa!" Charlotte says. "Diamond!"

"I'm training!" She says and punches the bag again. Charlotte catches the bag.

"Diamond! Why are you training so hard?" Charlotte asks.

"You. Know. Why." Diamond says. "He. Was." Now she punctuates every word with an attack on the bag. "Supposed. To. Come. Back. To. Me. And." She stops punching the bag, and relaxes, going around the bag to talk to her friend. "I may not be able to kill that coward Athena, but I can kill everyone else. And I can win. For him."

"Right..." Charlotte says.

District 7

Juniper Aysitera punches the bag, again and again. Over and over. Her fists start to hurt, but she's used to it by now. Her little sister, Willow, now fourteen, walks into the room.

"Juniper, why are you still training?" She asks.

"Because I'm going to volunteer tomorrow," Juniper says.

"But you know I don't want you too. Marlo doesn't want you to. Cyder wouldn't have wanted you to," Willow says.

"Look, Willow. I probably won't. But, if somebody gets Reaped, somebody who can't survive, like that girl from nine last year, I'll volunteer. And I'll survive," Juniper says.

"Okay. Promise me that unless it's a twelve-year-old, you won't volunteer," Willow says.

"Sure," Juniper says. "I love you." She hugs her sister and then holds her at arm's length. "Promise me that you'll ask out Cedar tomorrow."

"No," Willow says, matter-of-factly.

"Oh, come on! Why not? You've been there for him since Cyder died, comforting him," Juniper says. "You know he feels the same way about you. You're just too chicken to ask him."

"No, I'm not!" Willow protests.

"You're a big chicken! Chicken, chicken, chicken..."

The Capitol

Peter Mallard –36- -Capitol Resident- -Head Gamemaker- POV

"Sir?" I ask the President.

"I'm thinking, Mr. Mallard. Give me a second," I stand, respectfully, with my hands behind my back as he thinks. "Here's what I'm going to do. We'll do a forest, just like this says. But, I want to do a version of what we did last year."

"The year the Games only lasted three days?" I ask, surprised.

"Unless I've forgotten a whole year, then yes, Mallard. Except that I want us to let them die of dehydration or starvation, or wandering into the den of a wolf. I don't want you to put flowers for them to sniff and die though. And put the Arena back to its normal size. I want a nice long Games, but I still want people to fight. All of the fights last year were quality entertainment."

"Yes, Sir. Of course, Sir."

Reaping Day

District Eleven

Athena Feere –18- -D11V- POV

I walk onto the stage. I remember when I was here, only a year ago. It feels like such a long time ago, now. But here I am again. And even though I'm safe, a year early, I still feel scared. Scared for whoever will get picked. Who I'll have to train. But, I'll do my best to bring them home. I stand politely by as Maris pulls the slip of paper out of the bowl.

"The Female Tribute from District Eleven is…"

The End,

of

Heat, the Story of the 70th Hunger Games

The story continues in: Shine, the 71st Hunger Games.

A/N: We're here, kids. This is the last stop. It's been a wild ride, but you can get off now. Or, you know, you can read my next story, featuring those people that logically are still around from this one. People who have submitted Tributes here are allowed, and encouraged, to submit to Shine. We're done, so I only have one question: Was I a good author?

Note about Shine: With Shine, I'll be going for a bit of a longer Games, because there will be survival stories, and I'll much less generous with the equipment. I did feel that the Games for Heat were a bit short, but it's just how the story worked out. Nobody will get an unexciting death, but if your Tribute can't find water… well, then they're dead from dehydration. Still, nobody will just die without a fight, whether it's versus another Tribute, maybe a pack of animals, or the forces of nature. I hope you all read and submit Tributes! See you all later!

Every Hunger Games, one can survive. Only one. This year, they will all have to shine like Suns or burn out like failed stars.

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor – Astra