Crystal Vine, District 1
Crystal sits on her bed with her knees pulled up to her chest. She looks out the window as the train speeds throughout Panem. It's only a short ride from the Capitol to her district, only a few hours, but it's too long. It keeps her trapped in her thoughts for too long.
Once she was lifted from the arena, she shut down. The doctors fixed her injuries along with Alexandrine's. She relished in the medicine they would give her to calm her as they worked. She'd wake up screaming and be immediately calmed. Nightmares have plagued her every night. She can't escape it.
She's hoping some form of normalcy will help her escape this vicious cycle, but deep inside she knows it won't. Sure, she'll get to see her family again, and her friends. But she'll be living in a new house. A Capitol built house, that will serve as a constant reminder. In six months, she'll have to visit eleven districts and stare into the eyes of the family's who's sons and daughters didn't return. She'll have to face the family's of those she murdered. Then, every year, she'll have to mentor kids from her own District, prepare them for the games, and know that many of them will die. Year after year, until she dies herself.
The only reason she hasn't considered throwing herself out of the train is because of Alexandrine. Before they volunteered, she'd only spoken to her once or twice. Before the Games, they allied out of convenience. But during the Games, she couldn't imagine being with anyone else.
Someone knocks on her door. "Come in." She manages to straighten out her stiff legs as the door open and Alexandrine walks in.
"Hey." She says. Crystal notices her holding her amputated hand with her healthy hand. The Capitol doctors gave her a replacement hand and Crystal thinks she's still adjusting to it.
"Hey." Crystal invites Alexandrine further into the room, which Alexandrine accepts.
"It's so stuffy in here." Alexandrine takes a seat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her arm.
"We'll be home soon." Crystal says, unsure if its excitement or exhaustion coming through. She looks over at her friend. "How are you hanging in?" She asks. Alexandrine shakes her head.
"My brain won't stop. I keep…I keep seeing it. The arena, the deaths. Over and over again. I can't escape it." Alexandrine looks down as she tells Crystal. Crystal doesn't ask Alexandrine for details. She doesn't need them. The memories that plague her will plague Crystal, forever.
Crystal scoots forward until she can wrap her arms around her friend. Alexandrine, who once withdrew from moments like this, accepted it. She allowed herself to feel safe, connected. They stayed like this for the rest of the train ride to the district.
As the train prepares for the girls to disembark, they remain together, giving each other the much needed support. They don't know what they're going to face over the upcoming months, or what they'll have to overcome over the next few years but one thing is for certain - they'll do it together.
And with that, this SYOT is finally complete! It has definitely been the most ambitious and challenging SYOTs I've ever written but I'm so happy it's complete. A huge thank you to everyone who stuck with it over the years and a huge congrats to Crystal and Alexandrine for winning!
I'm starting a collab SYOT with Nautics! The tribute form and link to the story is on my profile, the story is posted on his account so make sure to check him out and give the story a follow and submit a tribute! I'm so excited to be starting a new SYOT with an amazing author!