Ok so I finished a new chapter! I hope you guys all like it! Thanks again to all my reviewers.
Chapter 11: A Phoenix Reborn
` The appearance in district 1 is its own special kind of torture. I killed both tributes from there, Glimmer, and boy who's name I learned was Marvel. Cato has nothing to fear from district 1, they were his allies, and they were careers. That at least they have in common. But when I stand in front of that silent crowd I can feel their eyes cut me like knives.
By the time we reach the capitol I'm exhausted. The drain put on me by the victory tour is as much emotional as it is physical. Still we have to appear to countless crowds, playing up the romance as much as we can. At first the people of the capitol seem a little surprised by us. Despite the recaps from the districts no one really expected to see the warrior from 2 walking hand in hand with the girl on fire. But they quickly get over it, their shock turning to jubilation. They have a new set of star crossed lover to root for.
That night we stay in the training center. The building seems so empty and quiet. The air presses down on me, heavy with the memories of the twenty two other tributes that once stayed here.
I know Cato dislikes the quiet emptiness too. Not that he will admit it. He's too busy playing the part of the bloodthirsty victor. But when they offer him his old room on the district 2 floor he refuses. I wonder if staying down there makes him think of Clove. Instead he takes Peeta's old room. When I find out I'm so angry I actually throw a few things before Haymitch points out that it's not really Peeta's room. Many other tributes have stayed there before. Still to me it feels like he it trespassing on something secret, something sacred. But when the darkness and the nightmares take hold I'm glad he's there. I hate relying on him like this, like a drug to lull me into a state of oblivion. Because he's a murder, and unlike me he did it willingly, and because in the end we are still, and always will be enemies.
On the second evening we have our interviews. Haymitch tries to give me a few pointers but there's really nothing to say. To my surprise he also spends a few hours talking to Cato. I don't know what their plan is, but whatever it is they're not telling me.
At noon I'm handed over to my prep team. My hair is braided like usual but Flavius has twined in golden threads that glint in the light. Shimmery flames are traced across my skin in such a way that they are only visible when I move. Then Cinna enters with a dress bag and my prep team is dismissed. He asks me to close my eyes.
"Are we doing this again?" I ask remembering his similar instructions before my tribute interview. But I close my eyes and allow him to slip the garment over my head. It's cool and slippery like water woven into fabric. I open my eyes and marvel at the girl who stares back at me in the mirror. I am not human. I am a goddess, or an alien. Unlike last time, were my dress was made of flickering jewels, this gown looks to be made of liquid gold. When I move it ripples and sways so I looks like I'm emerging from a golden pool. As I move forward my skin flickers. I am a phoenix, reborn in flames.
"I thought I was supposed to look innocent?" I ask Cinna quietly.
"You were. But Haymitch and I agreed you need more than innocence tonight. You need to be stunning." It's true. I am not innocent, not even sexy. But I am radiant, stunning, beautiful.
But something in the seriousness of his voice catches me off guard. "For tonight? Why tonight?"
Cinna smiles sadly, "I was told not to tell you."
"By who?!"
"Haymitch. He knew you'd ask. But don't worry you'll know soon enough."
I want to protest, to make him tell me, but it's time to go. Instead we make our way to the glass elevator, down to the ground floor, to the waiting area below the stage. Cato is there in a dark suit accented in gold, so we match. Even I can't deny how handsome he looks. But to me it is an ugly kind of handsome. I know the real monster that hides behind the pretty face.
Together we step onto the plate that will lift us up onto the stage. Our hands link us together. We are one victor now.
The glaring lights momentarily blind me. A roar of noise hits my ears. AS my eyes adjust I look out over a crowd of multi-colored capitol people, all cheering and shouting. Caesar Flickerman comes forward and greets us. He hasn't yet changed his hair color so it's still powder blue. Cato and I sit on the love seat prepared on the stage. As we are guided effortlessly through the beginning of the interview I feel the many eyes of the crowd trained unrestrainedly on us. After what seems like hours of pleasantries, How are we fairing? What's it like to be back in the capitol? Caesar asks the question everyone's been dying to know.
"Now Katniss," He leans forward and gives me a meaningful look, "This whole experience must all be very confusing for you. I mean first, in the games, Peeta finally managed to win over your heart. I don't think there was a single one of us who wasn't rooting for the star crossed lovers of district 12" A hush has fallen over the crowd. I try to keep smiling but my heart feels like a heavy stone. "And then only to lose him. But then you were crowned with Cato, and now we can see something more between the two of you." You could drop a pin, the silence from the audience is so intense, "How do you feel about all this Katniss? Has Cato really managed to capture your heart?"
I try to remain calm, but this is the moment of truth. Either I perform well or we all go down. "I don't really know what to say. At first I was heartbroken. I didn't think I could live without Peeta. But Cato was always there for me. He helped me cope with the grief. And after a while I realized that he was really the one I couldn't live without." There's an audible sigh from the crowd.
"And you Cato?"
He puts an arm around me, "It's like Katniss said. In the arena she was my enemy, but even then I think I knew that I could never really kill her. And then after, no one really knows what it's like to return home after the games, especially when you're not really going home. But Katniss was always there, she healed me in every way a person can be healed. I never want to spend another day without her." Cato stands, and then drops to one knee. I freeze. This is impossible. This is not happening. There's an evil glint in his eye, as if he knows how the words he's about to deliver will haunt me forever. "Katniss Everdeen will you marry me."
And just like that I know it's all over. My life, I can see it flash before my eyes, an endless parade of parties and celebrations, all for Cato and I. I will never be free of him, the capitol has made sure of that. I want to run, to scream, but I remember we're on national television and so I say the only acceptable reply. "Yes." A little whisper but it's magnified around the room so everyone can hear. I allow Cato to slip a simple diamond ring onto my finger. I don't even know where he got a ring.
He pulls me up and we intertwine around one another, our lips meeting to applause from the crowd. When we finally break apart we raise our joined hand over our heads, and I know this is how the Capitol will remember us forever; young, beautiful, and full of triumph. But inside I am screaming.