Shine
Chapter 32
Epilogue
Kayne Lytch –13- -D10V- POV
The hovercraft flight back to the Capitol was uneventful. I got the usual promo pictures, shook the President's hand. It's all a bit of blur. But the President always asks every Victor if there's anything special they want. So I told him.
Now, I'm here. In the prison where they're holding Alix. I see a door open in the empty visitation area, and Alix walks through the door, with a guard behind him. He sits down and the guard walks to the side of the room.
"Are the handcuffs really necessary?" I ask.
"They're for your safety, Sir," the guard says, pronouncing the Sir like it has a bad taste.
"Fine," I say, then. "Alix! It's so good to see you! I can't believe this!"
"Neither can I, little bro," he says, his tired blue eyes sparkling at me. "You know, I watched you. You were pretty cool out there with that bow."
"Really?" I ask. He nods and smiles. "Will, I guess that's because of Katelynn then."
"Who?" Alix asks.
"Oh, one of the Capitol trainers, that's all. She trained me how to use a bow," I smile at the thought of her. "Nice woman, that Katelynn." Alix gives me a knowing smile.
"I see," he says. "And what's this I hear about a Kylie chick?"
We talk for the entire duration of the half-hour visit. This is the deal. One half-hour visit every year as long as I come to teach Tributes. A half-hour phone call every day. When the guard tells me two minutes, remain, I start to wrap up the conversation.
"Look, I'm going to be on the train for the next couple of days, so I might not get to talk to you. But as soon as I get home-"
"I know, Kayne. Thanks, little bro," he says. "Looking forward to talking to you."
"You too," I say. "Oh, right. There's this one thing I need advice about…"
I leave the prison and spend the next few hours shopping for a special item in the Capitol, as per Alix's advice. Of course, a Peacekeeper has to escort me everywhere. He has no sense of humor and is no help picking out my gift. Boo. But finally, I find what I'm looking for. Just in time too, as my escort rushes me to the train station and dumps me on the Peacekeepers there.
Ella Colt –15- -D5R- POV
"Stop, I'm not supposed to be laughing now," I say with tears in my eyes.
"Would he really want us to be grieving or laughing?" Luka asks.
"Just, just stop. That's not appropriate," I say.
"But you're not thinking about him anymore, are you?" Luka asks.
"No, I guess not. You're a good boyfriend, Luka," I say.
Ding-dong! The doorbell rings. I look at Luka.
"It's your house," he says.
"Fine," I say. "Coming!" I shout, rising from the couch and heading towards the door. Despite his words, Luka follows me off the couch. I open the door to see – Kayne Lytch standing outside, holding a brown satchel.
"May I come in?" Kayne asks.
"Of course," I say. He walks into the house.
"Um… are you Ella?" He asks.
"Yes," I say.
"Where are your parents?" Kayne asks.
"Working," I say.
"Oh, okay. Wait, who is this?" Kayne asks, pointing at Luka. I put my arm around him.
"This is Luka," I kiss him on the cheek. "My new boyfriend. He's been helping me with – will you know."
"Oh. Wait a second," Kayne says, remembering something. "I think that I have some killing to do then. A promise I made, you know." He says it so that it's clear he's joking, and we all burst into laughter. Maybe not appropriate, but the other option is to cry. That will come later, in private. "Seriously, though, man," Kayne says once we've recovered, "dating your best friend's sister is a big no-no. Especially since he's dead."
"It's not like that," Luka says. "I never made a move. Emery ran his big mouth on TV and Ella told me she had feelings for me. I was never going to do anything. I'm not that sort of person."
"Ah," Kayne says. "Will, I guess you too probably know why I'm here."
"I hope so," I say. "Fork it over." Kayne pulls out a large amount of cash and hands it to me.
"More if you ever need it," he says.
"Thanks," I say. "Honestly, though. You were a good friend and ally to Emery. You were a better friend than I was a sister."
"Thanks," Kayne says, "but I'm sure that's not true."
"I'm dating his best friend three days after he died," I say.
"He loved you though," Kayne says.
"Emery never said a bad word about anyone. He does – did love me because he's a good person. Me? Eh, I work on it. Now if you'll be leaving..."
"Of course," Kayne says. "Pleasure to meet you, Ella, Luka."
"I hope so," I say, showing Kayne to the door. "Safe travels, Mr. Lytch."
"Have a good life, Miss Colt," Kayne says before I close the door on him.
Mia Newport –17- -D5R- POV
"Is Mia home?"
"Yes, she is. She's in her room. She hasn't come out of there since he died. We moved the TV in there so she could say she watched it."
"I see. I don't need to talk to her -"
"Come in!" I shout. "Just you, Kayne. Not you, dad."
"Okay then," but whispered, as if I can't hear them. The door to my room gently opens.
"Mia?" Kayne asks.
"Yup," I say. I'm lying back on my bed, on top of the sheets and comforter. My face probably has wet streaks from crying, my hair is probably a rat's nest, I'm wearing a t-shirt and pajama shorts and I don't really care.
"How'd you know it was me?" Kayne asks.
"Who else would it be?" I reply. "Besides, I've heard your voice on TV for the past week."
"Oh," he says.
"Stop standing in the doorway and come in," I say. "I don't bite. Not yet, at least. I'm sorry. I'm not like this. Just…"
"I get it," Kayne says. "Hey, you're nicer than his sister. I actually see why Emery loves you."
"Oh," I laugh. "You met Ella, huh? She's spoiled, that's for sure. Not the nicest girl in the world. He loved her nonetheless. That's what was great about Emery, he loved everyone, no matter what. You could kill him and he wouldn't hold it against you." I feel myself starting to cry again.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mia," Kayne says. "Maybe I shouldn't have come-"
"No, no," I say, waving my hand and grabbing a tissue. "Stay, you're alright." I blow my nose.
"I… I don't know what to say," Kayne says.
"You don't need to say anything," I say. "You being here is nice enough. Thank you for that, Kayne."
"No problem," he says. "You know, I offered your parents money. They turned it down."
"Of course," I say with a rye smile. "We don't need it anyway. Save it for someone else. Or worst case, your girlfriend. I'm sure she's much happier than I am right now."
"If I had picked up a different weapon, she might be you right now," Kayne says.
"Fair point," I say. "But don't worry about it. You won, he didn't. I don't blame you. I blame the Capitol and I don't mind saying it out loud. It's not your fault, Kayne. Thanks for coming to see me, though."
"No problem," he says. "I hope I could help, somehow."
"You did," I say.
"I'm glad, then," he says. "I'll leave you to your, uh – I'll leave."
I smile. "Thanks. Goodbye, Kayne."
"Goodbye, Mia." Then Kayne is gone, and I hope that I'll never have to see him again. After all, if I do, it probably means that my life has taken a turn for the worst.
Martha Stensland –45- -D7R- POV
I open the door of my house to find exactly who I expect.
"Please, Kayne, come in," I say. By the time he's left, I have more money than I've ever seen before in my life and have given the boy directions to where Vallory's friends most likely were. I feel sort of bad, taking the boy's money, but I can tell that it's the only thing that gives him solace, knowing he can help us in this small way.
Kayne Lytch –13- -D10V- POV
I step off of the train at the train station in Ten, right into Kylie's arms. She hugs me tightly.
"I love you, Kayne," she says.
"I love you too, Kylie," I say. She releases me from the hug and kisses me. I kiss her back.
Then she says, "What took you so long?"
"Will," I say, "I had to give a speech in Districts One through Nine. In District Five, I had to talk to Emery's family, Mia, and Serena's family. Emery's sister took my money, but Mia and Serena's families didn't. They said they had enough already and it would be better spent on someone else. Val's family took it, and I gave Meena's family enough money to be safe and adopt that Whisper kid and raise her full time, as well as pay for speech therapy. She should be doing much better by next year."
"So you're telling me you couldn't come home to your girlfriend because you were too busy being an outstanding guy?" Kylie says.
"I guess," I say.
"That just makes me want to kiss you more," she says, kissing me again.
I'm forced to pull away from her. "Kylie, as much as I would love to do this all day, I have a speech to make and two more Districts to visit. And I have to make a couple stops in Eleven."
"Yeah, I know," Kylie says, her face falling slightly.
"But," I say, "you get to come with me to Eleven and Twelve!"
"Really?" She asks.
"Yeah," I say.
"Cool," she says.
After my speech back home and a quick check-in with Jose, I arrive in District Eleven. I step off the train with Kylie right behind me. An angry-looking, slender, girl with wavy light brown, disheveled hair and brown eyes greets me with a slap in the face. The Peacekeepers move to grab her, but I hold up a hand and they stop.
"Hello, Noami," I say.
"How'd you know?" Noami asks.
"Not many other people looking exactly like you would have a good reason or a want to slap me," I say. She still looks angry, but she also looks sad. Suddenly, she starts to cry.
"I'm sorry," she says. "You didn't deserve that."
"I sort of did," I say. "And you had every right to. If you wanted to do it again, I wouldn't stop you." The Peacekeepers look like they're about to throw a fit, so I say, "but let's not do that, for these guys, okay?"
"I didn't come here wanting to hit you," she says, wiping away her tears. "Or to cry. I just… seeing you with her… it made me so angry. But… it's not your fault. It's Tontu's fault. It's his fault for being such a good person. He did the right thing, sacrificing himself. But I wish he had done the wrong thing. I wish he had done the selfish thing, for me. I wish he had stabbed you and that Val girl and come back to me. I mean, I don't want you dead, I have nothing against you. You know what I mean. I wish he had come back to me."
"I know," I say. "Look, I sort of suck at this, but I don't think Tontu does. So," I reach into my traveling sack and hand her a wrapped box. In it is his notebook, letters, and some money. "Take this, go home, you don't have to watch the speech," I swear a Peacekeeper is going to have a heart attack now, "and open it. Not before you get home, but when you get home. Okay?"
"Okay," she says. "Thank you, Kayne."
"No problem, Noami," I say. She hugs me and then she leaves.
Later that day, I stand on the step of the Heinburg's front porch. I knock on the door, no doorbells here. Mrs. Heinburg opens the door.
"Ah, hello, Kayne," she says. "You can keep your money. I don't deserve it. I wasn't a good mother to Tontu ever since his father died, and we both know that. Use it for you or for that Vallory girl or that Emery boy, or better yet, that girl he liked. I can live on what I have. I'm sure," she says, cutting me off. "Thank you, though. You're a good person." And then she closes the door in my face. Okay then.
A couple of days later, after the Victory tour, back in District 11…
I wake up next to Kylie in my new house. How is Kylie, who has a family and parents, here with me? Nobody said she had good parents. She told her parents she was moving in with me and they basically said, "Good for you honey. Don't die and don't expect anything else from us." In fairness, they do have a few other kids. Yesterday was hectic, adjusting to my new life. I made sure Jose and his new roommate got along, secretly talked to someone from the state about getting him adopted when I turn eighteen, hid my gift for Kylie, and helped her move her stuff in. Never before did I realize how many outfits she has. I mean, I knew how many outfits she had, but I didn't know how many outfits she had, in terms of how much closet space they take up. I have a whole new wardrobe, courtesy of the Capitol. All the clothes are much nicer than anything I've ever worn, apart from the suits and clothes I wore in the Capitol. I ordered, using some of the fancy Capitol tech, which I'm still getting used to (that's a whole separate story), some new clothes for Kylie too. Or rather, I gave the – what is called again? A tablet, that's right. I gave Kylie the tablet and told her to go crazy. Luckily, even the money she spent is a tiny fraction of what I now have. I guess it pays to be Victor. I'm sort of enjoying being rich, although I could honestly enjoy myself no matter how much money I had right now since I'm alive and with Kylie. I slip on the silk shirt that lays on my nightstand. It falls gently over my silk pants and I execrate myself from Kylie.
After a home-cooked breakfast (courtesy of yours truly), Kylie hops in the shower, so I decide that now is as good of a time as any. I'm nervous and my heart is beating out of my chest as I grab my gift from it's hiding place. Kylie comes out of the bathroom in clothes that look exactly like what she was wearing before, a loose button-up pajama top and pants. The red color compliments her hair, which is still wet, and her eyes sparkle at me. Just do it, Kayne, I think. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and kneel on the ground in front of Kylie, opening the box of the ring.
"Kylie Catherine Mino, will you marry me? I mean, when we're older, I mean, I doubt the state will give me permission, so I'll probably have to be eighteen, and you'll be nineteen, but, uh, you know, will you?" Wow, Kayne. Great job. The most romantic proposal in history. Not.
Kylie smiles at me, her eyes sparkling with that signature shine. "Yes!" She says. "Of course, so much, yes!" She takes the ring, the finest produced in the Capitol, with a diamond that's not too big or too small, and slides it on her ring finger. I put the box to the side and stand up. Kylie pulls me closer to her and kisses me deeply.
To be continued...
The story continues in: Paradise: The 72nd Hunger Games. Please, check it out!
Ignore the following! Only kept here for semantics! Author's Note: No fallen lists this time. No dead Tribute notes. This is the end. Quite simply. Writing those two words has a profound effect on me. It's the end. Of the story. And, unfortunately, it will be the end for quite a while. I had a plan to retell the Rebellion over several Games. You can see where I started to drop the threads in here, mostly with Rhylee and District Eight. I was planning to do SYOTs for the 72nd, 73rd, and 75th Games. I won't tell what I was planning to do for the 74th, but it would have been (I think) mostly a satisfactory way of telling my story with canon. I had this really cool Quarter Quell idea, which I also won't tell you about. After the 75th Games, there probably would have been a separate story outlining the Rebellion. Anyway, that was the plan, for a while. Unfortunately, recent changes in circumstances have necessitated that I channel my writing talents into something more useful (and paying). I would like to finish the plotline that I had started. I would like to say that after I make the money I need, I'll come back here and finish that up. Unfortunately, I doubt that will be an easy proposition, and after I do make that money, I will (hopefully) be going to college, so I don't know how much time I'll have to write. I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for helping me through this though. All of your reviews and submissions have kept me going, and writing this and Heat has helped me through some other tough times. We are currently 114,663 words, plus the 3,004 words in this chapter so far. I wanted to point that out because you guys have given me the inspiration to think that I can be a published author. Heat has 87,203 words. I've written this in around three months. Before I looked at those numbers, I thought I could never write a book. Now I realize that I have. So thank you, all of you loyal readers for keeping me going. Special thanks to Hawkmaid and AspiringSteampunk0909, my RL friends. Also thanks to Andii99, IIJamesII, Nautics, RedRoses1000, Annabeth Pie, and Professor R.J. Lupin1. Your submissions and reviews really helped me keep going through both stories. I do hope to one day come back and finish all of this off, but I don't know when that will be, or if this site will still be around. I hope that it will be sooner rather than later and that this site will indeed still be around, but we'll see.
Until next time. – Julian A.K.A. JStar14H
