Quick author's note to say that I read and take into account each review y'all post. While I may not add everything that is suggested, I really appreciate the feedback and geek out over your perspectives and speculations too. :)
Chapter 26: Magdalene
A slim figure in a gleaming rhinestone suit stands ready. A teenager, but the spray-on tan and voluminous wig ages him by a least a decade. Microphone in hand, his megawatt smile puts the camera flashes to shame.
"Good morning Panem! I'm your host Caesar Flickerman, and welcome to The Appetizer! The show that gives you the hottest news to whet your appetite for the highest rated show across the nation - The Hunger Games! I am here live at the Pre-Cornucopia Kickoff Party where things are already in full swing. Joined with me right now is a very special guest. The mastermind behind the madness: Rabirius Sorpresa!"
A young man in a jet black suit, hair, and makeup greets the enthusiastic host. They give each other a kiss on each cheek.
R: "Congratulations on winning The Next Big Thing Caesar! My boyfriend and I were rooting for you the entire time!"
C: "Awwww! Thank you darling! But we're here to talk about you, not my amazing self!"
*laughter from crowd*
C: "Just to refresh our lovely viewers' memories, Rabirius won the stupendous chance to co-design this year's Arena with the Gamemakers! Talk about an opportunity. What was that experience like?"
R: "Getting this opportunity straight out of The University of Panem is a dream come true. Head Gamemaker Truffare is a brilliant mind but so very humble. He took my designs seriously the entire way through. I'm just so, so thankful President Ladro created this opportunity for the best designer to showcase their talents to the nation."
C: "President Ladro is certainly doing an amazing job! So, the Arena is titled 'Of Sight and Sound' with this year's color being jet black. Any hints on what to expect?"
R: "Nope. My hands are tied and my lips are sealed. Just know, you've never seen or heard anything like this before."
*ooohs and aaahs from crowd*
C: "Naughty boy you. Well, I'll let you get to the festivities. The Games should begin any moment now! Before you go, any bets on who will win?"
R: "Well, I can't sponsor since I helped design the Arena and with no more Showcase, it's anyone's game. But the outpouring of support for District Four after Westley Seabrooks' untimely death has been so inspiring. Aqua or Rodrigo are strong contenders."
C: "Really? I thought you were going to mention one of the cannon fodder."
R: "I don't even remember half their names."
*laughter from everyone*
The two men kiss cheeks goodbye. Rabirius skips to a group of squealing friends. Hadrian, his latest and longest boyfriend, envelopes the shorter man and plants a single, tender kiss on the lips. Audible 'awws' can be heard from the crowd.
"I want love like that," Hilaria swoons.
"You could have it if you didn't trade out men every few months," Rabirius teases his best friend. Hilaria sends a playful jab at his ribs and starts squealing again, making the others join in.
Hilaria leaps into his arms. "Ahhhh! My BFF is famous! Oh. My. Snow. You're gonna need a manager, a stylist, a glam squad, a chef, a chauffeur, a PR person. Ooooh, can I be your PR girl? I love talking!"
"Clearly," they all say in unison.
Hadrian drapes an arm around the young architect's shoulder. "This is amazing. We're at the hottest party in the city right now. Essence Bernardshaw, Nicolina Zorata, Viridi & Ismene Vox Segreto. The freaking Davidfields. And there's gonna be a party for each day in the Arena? Babe, we've made it."
Adonis, Hadrian's younger brother, is busy typing away on his communication device. He's only looked up since arriving at the party to take selfies. "Holy shit. My photo of Nerva Corce bench pressing me got 489 likes on Journey in eight minutes! That's the most I've ever received!"
Always the one-upper, Ludovica chimes in. "Well, my photo with Brilliance Fortier kissing my 491 likes. But that's, like, my usual."
As his friends argue about who's more popular, Rabirius drinks in the moment, and a tall glass of champagne. At the young age of twenty-two, he got to co-design a Hunger Games Arena. His classmates, building retirement homes and powder rooms, were seething with envy. People would kill for such a lifetime opportunity. For a boy from a no-name family in South Capitol, right by Tartarus, no one could imagine this happening to him in their wildest dreams.
Like most Capitolites, Rabirius was devastated when the Snows perished in the terrible explosion. With the competition to co-design the Arena being one of the many projects of the "Capitol Strong" campaign, Rabirius and many others are slowly appreciating President Ladro's rule. 'She's really looking out for us', he recalls his father, who was secretly never the biggest Snow fan, saying to his friends. Politics is confusing and boring to most young Capitolites, but winning the design competition and The Next Big Thing made Rabirius pay attention to the new leader a lot more. And, so far, she seems really cool.
A jab at the ribs snaps him back to reality. "President Ladro is coming our way! Oh my Snow, oh my Snow!" Hilaria whispers and shrieks in one breath.
The regal woman is in a simple pantsuit, with modest makeup and hair pulled into a tight bun, her signature look. She stands out in the cacophony of colors and patterns, yet she does so with a quiet air of grace and power. With two armed Peacekeepers by her side, President Ladro nods at the starstruck friends. She looks at Rabirius and, with a small smile, extends her hand for a greeting. Rabirius shakes the woman's hand, cursing at his sweaty palms. Paparazzi flood the scene. When President Ladro speaks, it's all Rabirius can hear.
"The amount of detail you put into this year's Arena is spellbinding. It is an honor to see such raw talent be put to good use," she says to him. Her voice is calm, inviting. "You will go far Rabirius."
The young man stutters over his words. "T-thank you Madame President. It's an honor to be here."
"Can I take a photo with you?" Adonis blurts out. He jerks the phone in front of President Ladro's face. One of the Peacekeepers shoves him back.
"Watch your distance."
Rabirius hurries an apology. "I'm so sorry Madame President. He's young and doesn't know better."
President Ladro gives a good-natured laugh. "No harm done. I'm just grateful I'm popular with young Capitolites. How does the youth say it? I'm totally "fash"."
They chuckle at her attempting slang. The tall woman wraps an arm around the five young adults. "I'm not one for social media, but how about that photo? Tenere, Romano. Do you mind?"
She hands the communication device to the two muscles. They snap a few photos. The paparazzi snaps many.
Music blares over the speakers. "The Games are starting now. Happy Hunger Games everyone. I will be in contact with you Rabirius." President Ladro gives a wave and glides back into the crowd. Once she leaves, the group of friends look at each other and burst into screams.
"That was so amazing!"
"Like, did that really just happen?"
"BRB. Waiting for my soul to return to my body."
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"
A woman with a headset and clipboard rushes toward the group. "Rabirius, you're needed on stage. Follow me."
The woman doesn't wait for his response. Grabbing his hand, Rabirius is dragged away from his friends. Hadrian mouths 'good luck' before he disappears into the audience. One moment, he is saying 'excuse me' every few seconds and the next he's on the stage platform. President Ladro is already there, with Flickerman beckoning the young architect to the microphone. He inches towards the glimmering man. He's never experienced stage fright. Until now.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and esteemed guests of Panem," Flickerman's voice booms through the microphone. "This is the moment you've all been waiting for: The 26th Annual Hunger Games is about to begin!"
The audience roars in anticipation.
"Let's hear from our very own Rabirius Sorpresa. Any words?"
The microphone is thrusted in front of him. The young adult gives a quick glance around. He spots President Ladro giving a small nod of encouragement.
He speaks into the microphone. His voice is meek, much lighter than Flickerman's. "Happy Hunger Games everyone. May the odds be ever in your favor."
Everyone leaves the stage. Rabirius joins his friends. The lights dim. Off to the side, 24 portraits hang lit on the wall. A few Tributes look angry or menacing. The One boy smiles. Most look terrified.
'This is the moment I've been waiting for,' Rabirius thinks. An entire year of hard work, scrapped blueprints, long conversations, keeping things top secret from everyone and now, showtime. He suddenly gets nervous. What if his design fails? What if it turns out to be a really stupid Arena?
An arm wraps around his waist. Hadrian gives him a quick peck on the cheek and whispers in his ear, 'Everything will be okay'.
The Tributes rise up into the Arena. The audience gasps. Their uniforms, a simple jumpsuit and boots, glow like fireflies in the dark. But it is not nighttime dark. The surroundings are pitch black. There is no way to tell if they are in a room, or on a cliff. The only thing the audience and the Tributes can see are the other Tributes and the shining Cornucopia. Excited murmurs flow from the crowd.
"What in Panem do you have planned, you sneaky imp?" asks Hilaria.
"Wait and see."
The countdown strikes zero and the games begin. When the Tributes step off their plates, the entire area is illuminated in a sea of light. Wondrous shouts come from the crowd. The Tributes are in a large room, with high ceilings and metal floors and walls. Several doors are placed throughout the room. To where they lead has yet to be discovered.
"It's actually one of the abandoned warehouses just outside the city. Three stories of terror," Rabirius, beaming with pride, loudly answers his friends' unspoken question to the background music of screams. "You could probably hear the commotion on the outskirts of Tartarus."
With the chaotic mix of complete darkness and flashing lights plus weapons scattered around the Cornucopia, this year's opening is a true bloodbath. By the end of it, fourteen dead children lie scattered throughout the room. The room is pitch black again. The Two girl is among the fallen, a knife lodged in her chest. The audience sighs at the loss. Worse yet, they are not even sure who did it with all that occured in the short time span.
"Oh for fuck's sake!" a disgruntled Crys is heard from afar. Rabirius sucks his teeth in frustration. Careers dying so early on is not good for ratings.
The remaining Career Pack discovers their dead ally after the carnage is over. Taking her sword out of one of the outliers, Aqua, this year's leader, calls over the others. District Four are solemn. District One are visibly shocked then seem relieved. After a slew of curse words, the Two boy collects himself, stomping towards what he thinks is one of the doorways. Each of his steps light up the floor beneath him.
"Let's catch the asshole who did this," Caligula says to the group. He ends up walking straight into a wall.
The four other Careers stay put. "Not so fast," Aqua tells him. "Let's take inventory of our supplies, then try to figure this place out."
He doesn't protest. They take stock of their supplies. When the hovercraft comes to retrieve the bodies, waves of light flow from the loud sound of the machine. Rodrigo is the first to notice.
"It's not only movement that causes light. Sound too. Look." He points to a little boy being lifted into the hovercraft. The surroundings are so bright you can see the metal bolts in the wall.
After the hovercraft leaves and it goes dark again, Aqua tests out his theory. One clap, around her is lit for a brief second. A soft cough, the same. Pyrite, the One boy who smiled in his headshot, bangs his sword against the Cornucopia. The large metal structure rings, lighting a large portion of the room. Ooohs and aaahs from the audience.
"Experimental technology straight from Three," Rabirius shouts to the crowd. "Head Gamemaker Truffare said The Capitol used it during The Dark Days but it wasn't too successful. President Ladro let us use it for the Games."
"That is so cool!" Pyrite and Adonis say at the same time.
"That is so stupid," grumbles Caligula. "All that hype over a glow-in-the-dark Arena. Big deal."
The audience chuckles, quickly glancing at Rabirius to see his reaction. He and the other Careers' narrow their eyes. It is never wise to disrespect the Gamemakers' work.
Aqua quickly interjects. "I think it's really innovative. Thank you Gamemakers, and Rabirius." She smiles into the ceiling. A silver parachute immediately lands at her feet. A fresh bowl of ceviche for one. She gives a small nod of approval while the others look on in envy. Though he would love to rent Rodrigo for a night, Rabirius decides so far Aqua is his favorite.
After taking inventory of their supplies, a generous amount to help balance the tricky Arena, they discuss their game plan. Aqua leads the discussion.
"There are ten of us left: five Careers, five outliers. We don't have night vision goggles, but with an Arena like this, the outliers won't venture too far. Since sound and movement creates light, they should be quick finds."
Pyrite smiles. "Easy pickings."
"And a short Games," adds Rodrigo.
"Let's hope so," Aqua agrees. "We will stick together to sniff out the outliers. This Arena is too...unique to separate."
Her voice grows stern. She looks each of her temporary allies in the eyes, focusing on Caligula the most. "And absolutely no breaking the Alliance until it's time. Do you understand?"
Not keen on being bossed around but knowing it's their best option, District One and Rodrigo nod in silence. Caligula mumbles and grumbles, letting out a surly 'okay, okay, yeah' once he sees Aqua's glare.
Aqua slides her sword into its sheath. "Alright. Let's move out. The sooner we end this, the sooner one of us will be crowned Victor."
After the initial start, the first day is rather slow. With the bloodbath killing so many Tributes, few are left to hunt for. Three are clustered together on the bottom floor. It's a makeshift alliance of rather unremarkable Tributes who couldn't bring themselves to kill one another.
The girl from Three is on the second floor. During her interview, she talked extensively about her knowledge on electronics and technology in general. It was apparently interesting enough for the audience to dub her this year's underdog and even gain a sponsor.
And finally, the Nine girl is on the top floor. She is the only Tribute with no light around her beyond her uniform. Mistress Payne, the new announcer for The Hunger Games, makes a brief comment about it before the camera pans back to the more interesting Careers.
The five teens deduce that they are in a warehouse. The size of it, and what lurks in the dark, is what surprises them. The building is massive, at least 100,000 square feet. They don't know the full scale of course, but they realize it must be very large.
No more deaths occur. The Careers regroup by the Cornucopia and rest.
Second day of the Games and the festivities continue. Rabirius is recording Adonis losing an arm wrestling match to Nerva Corce when an excited shout erupts from the audience and the screen. Rabirius rushes toward the watching spot to see what the fuss is about. The Careers have found the outlier alliance. Second day in and they are already in horrible shape. Two of them have not stopped shouting since the Careers came upon them. Light radiates throughout the room from the noise. The other, the youngest of the trio, sits in an opposite corner in a fetal position, whispering and crying to herself. She stares into the distance as if the Careers are not there. There are no weapons to be found. Even if there were, it would be near impossible for the three to survive.
"Finally some action," Hilaria speaks in between handfuls of popcorn. "Your little blackout party was getting a bit stale."
Rabirius sticks his tongue out toward her and goes back to the show. Aqua and Rodrigo are quick with their kills. The screaming pair are put out of their misery with a single slash.
Caligula, who enthusiastically called dibs on the small girl in the corner, toys with her. She puts up no fight, only yelping and whimpering with each new source of pain. The cameras make a point to zoom in on what is clearly a dissection. Rabirius checks the audience to see their reaction. There is usually at least one Tribute, almost always a Career, who likes to put on a show for the cameras. It makes for good ratings, especially during slower Games, and this one is no exception. There are gasps, shouts, laughs, profanity.
The audience is loving it.
Hadrian speaks to Rabirius. He looks disgusted but does not take his eyes off the screen for a second. "It's like watching a trainwreck: You wanna look away but you just can't."
Rabirius nods in agreement, just as captivated. The rest of the Careers, stoic during most of it, visibly grow tired of the show after several minutes. Aqua clears her throat. When that does nothing, Aqua bangs her sword on the wall three times. The Two boy looks up and turns towards them. The front of him is covered in blood. Rodrigo's eyes go wide. The rest are unfazed.
"Do you mind?" grunts Caligula.
"Enough of this," Aqua tells him. "Kill the girl so we can find the last two."
Sucking his teeth, the boy deals a death blow and the cannon fires. There is a clear distance between Caligula and the rest when he rejoins the group.
Third day of the Games and they find the Three girl.
It had been an interesting day before the fight. Earlier, The Careers had stumbled upon a trap. Rabirius saw it coming. How badly he wanted to blurt out 'Don't!', but he did not want to ruin the spirit of the Games. The Careers would not have heard him anyway.
Rodrigo was the victim. The group's search method is simple: tap their weapons on each of the many warehouse doors they find. If nothing growls or blows up, rotate who opens it and see what is inside. They had searched through many dark, empty rooms. Most contained nothing, a few useless items here and there.
Their guard had been down by the time they reached the trapped room. It was like the others, a large, windowless door with a small handle. Rodrigo was next to open a door. Pulling on the handle, he took one step into the room while making a joke about District One Victors when the floor gave out below him. The nondescript floor revealed a bottomless pit. Strong gusts of wind came flowing from under.
By sheer luck, Rodrigo turned his body in time and latched onto the bottom of the main hallway's floor. His body hit the metal wall hard, yelping upon impact, but it was better than falling to his death. Aqua immediately bent down and pulled her district partner's free arm towards her. The others were shocked by the surprise, but made no motion to help. Aqua put all her energy into pulling him up, but the boy was much heavier than she could manage.
"Oh my Snow, Oh my Snow. Please don't let me die! Please don't let me die!" Rodrigo tried to keep it together, but he was failing, and slipping, fast.
"Help us dammit!' Aqua spat at her allies. With a sigh, District One bent down to help. Caligula leaned against the wall and took a slow sip of water. They were eventually able to pull the boy up. Once on solid land, Rodrigo quickly pulled himself together, clearly embarrassed that he had to be saved by his allies.
"Welcome back," Caligula greeted him.
"Fuck off Two." Rodrigo took the lead, limping forward from the pain of the wall impact. He was injured but not enough to need medical attention. "Are we going to sit around and chat or get this over with?"
Now, conversation is quiet. The Careers are even more focused now. With losing the Two girl, almost losing Rodrigo, Caligula being Caligula, and only two outliers left, the alliance is a bit on edge. Third day in and the end is already coming. They could feel it.
They make their way up to the second floor keeping the same routine. Hours pass with no incident. They are near the end of the hallway when a sudden burst of light and sound snatches their attention. Their heads turn toward the very end of the hallway. No one moves.
"What was that?" questions Caligula. "Sounds like something fell."
Pyrite chuckles. "Scared, Two?" There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice as well.
They stare at the area where the activity came from for several minutes. Nothing happens.
"Should we go over there?" the One girl, who has been quiet for most of the Arena, speaks.
"It could be a trap," Aqua remarks.
"It could be a Tribute," Caligula rebuttals.
Shrugging his shoulders, Pyrite walks towards the area. "Only one way to find out."
What the Careers do not know but the audience knows is that both Aqua and Caligula are right. The girl from District Three has spent her entire time in the Arena busy at work. The room she stumbled across first day of the Games was a trap; lasers were placed by the door to trigger with movement. But the lasers malfunctioned, shooting off when she touched the door instead of walking in. Putting bravery over logic, she stepped inside the room once the lasers turned off and started to inspect them. She must have recognized them from Three as she has not stopped fiddling with the devices since.
Brilliance is in the crowd, yelling at someone through his communi device. "Do all that you can to warn him dammit!"
The group is inches away from the door. Behind it, sobbing can be heard. A silver parachute lands in front of Pyrite. Everyone crowds around to see what he got. A small box with a slip of paper. 'Don't' is written in rapid, messy handwriting.
"That's a clear sign to leave," Aqua is already walking the opposite way. She motions for the others to follow. "Let's go."
Pyrite, never the fan of Burgundy, rolls his eyes and tosses the box aside. "Burgundy doesn't know what he's talking about. It's just a crying Tribute. You can hear them. Come on. Let's check it out."
He does not notice the others have taken a good few steps away from him. Before Aqua can disagree, Pyrite swings open the door. The Three girl is in the corner. Tears flow down her cheeks, but she seems harmless.
"See," Pyrite shouts to his allies, who are far away now. "It's just the Three girl."
Hilaria covers her eyes. Ludovica covers her mouth. Hadrian covers his ears. Rabirius bites on his fingernails and ruins his manicure. Adonis has his camera recording.
Pyrite takes one step in. The Three girl screams as the lasers rip straight through his body. The cannon booms. The Careers are struck still in shock. They do not move until the lasers turn off. No one wanting to move towards the room, Aqua yells at the girl still screaming in the room.
"Either come out and make this quick or we go in and give the audience a real show."
After a moment, the crying and screaming subsides. Slowly, the Three girl steps out of the room. Looking her over to check for weapons, Aqua seizes the girl and throws her to Caligula.
"Do your worst."
"With pleasure."
Her death is shorter than the other girl's, but it gets the point across. The four clear out to let the hovercraft take what is left of the girl's body.
Fourth day and bets are running high. Most have their money on Caligula, the current favorite, then Aqua. Rodrigo's odds fell after his tumble. The One girl, who has not said or done much after the bloodbath, only has sponsors because she is pretty. There is no one rooting or even talking about the Nine girl. It is unheard of for District Nine to last this long in the Games, but in the eyes of Capitolites, an outlier's miracle do not win over a Career's destiny.
As the remaining Careers search for the Nine girl, there is a clear split between the four. The only ones with district partners left, Rodrigo gravitates towards Aqua. Caligula, envious that his died so early in the Games, starts to chat up the One girl. He has not spoken once to the blonde until now. But it is not out of comfort. It is out of strategy.
The two grow close, chatting and joking from time to time. Her to relieve stress. Him to get what he wants. On the fifth day, he even saves her from a pit of derma diggers, this year's mutts. A few burrow in her arms and bursts, leaving horrible, gaping wounds in her skin. With a suspicious look from Four, Caligula tends to the girl's injuries with a gentleness that belies the dried blood he is covered in.
"Maybe he just needs comfort," Rodrigo tells Aqua as they rest for the day.
Aqua snorts. "Caligula is more beast than boy. He is trying to win her over so when this ends it can be two against two, not two against one against one. Just wait."
By the sixth day, everyone is getting antsy. They have yet to find the Nine girl. The camera shows her still sitting in the exact spot she was in at the start of the Games.
"Sleeping your way through the Games is one way to go about it," quips Mistress Payne. It makes the audience chuckle, but the frustration stays.
There is newfound interest in the Nine girl. #districtnineinterview, #districtnineopeningceremony, #districtnine, and #epiphany are the trending topics on Journey. All the fuss does not raise any sponsors, but does make for unusual conversation on- and offline.
Hilaria worries aloud. "What if she wins? I'd wage war on District Nine if she lives over my Caligula."
Rabirius and company frown in disgust. "You'd choose him over the other three? He's a monster," Hadrian tells her.
Hilaria huffs. "Well he's my monster. Deal with it."
The Careers are antsy as well. Days roaming in the dark with no natural light is taking a noticeable toll on them. Not being able to find a Tribute who should have died in the bloodbath makes things worse. Conversation is terse. Even Aqua is short-tempered. She argues with Caligula over who should get the last beef jerky. Rodrigo and the One girl have to break up the dispute.
Reaching the third floor and the limits of their patience, they split up. They search for what seems like forever, but to no avail.
When they regroup, Caligula speaks. One hand is on his hip. The other is on his sword. He is close to Aqua. "Where is that little bitch?!"
Aqua takes a quick sip of water. The One girl has moved closer to Rodrigo as well. "How the hell should I know," answers Aqua, taking her attention off him to put the water bottle in her bag. "We will fi-"
She sees the glint of metal a second too late. Instead of slashing her chest, Aqua deflects Caligula's blade with her own sword. It rips through her arm. Aqua muffles her scream. Rodrigo and the One girl are already deep in battle. The action revs up the crowd. Four names are shouted through the chaos of cheers and battle cries. Everyone is excited.
Except Rabirius.
He hits speed dial on Head Gamemaker Truffare's number. The all-business man told him they would only speak if Truffare called first or if it was an absolute emergency. This is clearly the latter.
The call goes through the fourth time. "What the hell do you want?!" yells Truffare.
Rabirius rushes through his words. "We can't let the Nine girl the traps in her room. Derma diggers or poison gas would do."
A cannon booms.
"Last time I checked, I'm the Head Gamemaker, not you. Good day Rabirius."
Dial tone. Rabirius looks up any info he can find about the girl. Lackluster Opening Ceremony, zero sponsors.
A second cannon booms.
In her interview, the soft-spoken sixteen-year-old spouted the same religious drivel like every Nine Tribute. Nothing interesting is said, until the end.
She chose her words carefully then. "Every morning, I meditate. My family and I have been doing so since I can remember. Most in Nine do, but my parents have a special technique. We take...supplements to reach a deeper state of relaxation. It's a life-changing experience."
That is all there is to her.
A scream from the audience jerks Rabirius's attention back to the screen. Caligula goes down, clutching his neck as blood runs out a deep gash. Cannon blasts. His friends comfort an enraged Hilaria.
Aqua leans against the wall, gasping for air. The arm Caligula cut dangles to her side. With each second, blood gushes from a deep cut in her thigh and cheek. Parachutes rain down around her in a desperate attempt at rescue. Aqua grabs one mid-air, opens it, sways from side to side, then drops to the floor.
A few yards away, a glowing figure appears, coughing and gagging. Magdalene stumbles out from her hiding place. Poison gas trails behind her. She is thin, groggy, and terrified. But she is alive.
A cannon blasts.
Aqua is not.
The live band stops playing. Adonis drops his phone in shock. Everyone and everything falls silent.
Hadrian rubs Rabirius's arm. "It's okay. It's going to be okay," he whispers. Rabirius shrugs him off, at a loss for words.
A stunned Mistress Payne speaks. "Congratulations Magdalene Shepherd of District Nine. You are...the Victor of the Twenty-Six Annual Hunger Games."
Magdalene sinks to the floor and weeps. "Thank you God, thank you God," she says between gulps. "For your everlasting love and mercy. I could not have won this war without you by my side."
No one cheers. Then, the booing begins. Mortified, Rabirius dashes toward the exit. The disgust is so loud, he does not hear his friends calling after him.
He runs into President Ladro on his way out.
"Rabirius," she smiles with the same tenderness as before. "Unforeseen circumstances have come up. I will need to reconsider our future conversation until further notice. I'm sure you understand."
The young man stifles a sob and rushes out the door. He brushes past the elevator operator and jams the 'down' button several times.
All he can think is he wants Magdalene to feel the same humiliation he is feeling now. He will make sure of it.
