To my faithful reviewer who asked for the epilogue: Thank you for sticking with my story. Here's the epilogue. I hope everybody likes it and even if you don't you should still review and tell me what you thought of my story. Kthanxbye!
I still find it hard to believe I made it out of the arena. A day or two is spent perfecting me for my public appearance. As for now, I'm waiting offset while Charlie Lancaster greets the audience. A man with a headset ushers me onto the stage, a soft bluish green dress swishes around my knees as I walk towards the center. There's a throne-like chair for me to sit in, and when I skim my interviewer's thoughts I realize that this is where I will have to watch a recap of the games. I don't want to sit and watch them all die again. I want to run out of this room. I want to be empty, devoid of emotion. I don't want to feel this crushing hurt, this aching loneliness.
"You're not alone, You're never alone. I will always be here." Says Jared. Oh good, he's back. But what a fine time for him to show up. Where have you been? I ask mentally. I don't want to say it out loud because Charlie is talking to me and I want to at least look like I'm paying attention. I nod politely and smile. I can tell by his thoughts that this was a passable reaction.
The lights dim and the pre-game events start playing on the screen. Oh God. Oh God. I think. My heart twists painfully inside my chest. There's Jared, holding my hand and waving at the crowd. Alive, as in, without an arrow through his stomach. They proceed to the actual games, the bloodbath at the Cornucopia and me and Jared hiking through the mountains.
I can't hold it in any longer. I start to cry, hard. I wish Jared was here to hug me and hold me. I'm such a baby.
"It's okay, Megan. We'll be together again someday. I'll be able to touch you and hold your hand." He tries to reassure me. 'Where are you?' I think desperately.
"Somewhere else. Somewhere safe. You'll be able to come here someday too. There are some other tributes here. Justice and Bella. You would have liked them. You would have been friends with them if things hadn't gone the way they did." That makes me feel a little better. I suffer through the rest of the showing. The worst part is seeing Jared die again. I almost bolt out the door right then but Jared's voice helps me stay put. He says he's somewhere beautiful. I believe him.
The games last 3 hours. I'm frozen in that stupid ornate chair for 3 hours. When it's over, the president comes and places a crown on my head. I'm not impressed. I'm disgusted. Jewels and riches for a murderer. The Capitol is evil. Pure evil.
As if this has not been enough, I'm not allowed to sit in my grand home in Victor's Village and try to forget everything that happened in the arena. I will be going on a Victor's Tour, to look into the faces of the families whose children I have killed. And after that it will still not be over. I am going to be a mentor. I have to mentor the tributes from my district until there are two victors to replace me.
I board the train that will take me home. I am the richest in my District, the strongest of the strong and I am a prisoner like everyone else. I am locked up in myself with Jared's voice in my head. When I get home, people I love, people that love me envelop me in their arms. Hugs, laughter, joy, that I am home. But I do not see it. I do not feel it. I do not hear it. I hear Jared, I see Jared, I feel Jared. He is with me. He is helping me. We will do everything we can to bring a tribute home. To give them a chance of what I am unable to grasp. I can't feel the joy of winning, but that doesn't mean someone else can't. I am commanded by the devil himself to mentor tributes each year, and I will do a god damned good job of it. This, I swear.
So? What did you guys think? I'm contemplating writing a sequel. Let me know if I should.