Flickering Flames of Love

The smile that was across my face vanished.

I was on my couch, watching the scores being displayed. Suddenly, an alarm shrieked. I stumbled to my feet and ran to the black device screaming. " Answer phone!"

Expecting President Snow, I was surprised as the high pitched squawk of Plutarch Heavensby filled the room.

"SENECA!"

" Yeah, I'm here Plutarch, what is the matter!"

" It's Caesar! He won't come out of his trailer to do the Interviews. We only have tomorrow, the day after is the interviews. Meet me at the stage, Dawn tomorrow!"

" Of course, good night Plutarch..."

I didn't sleep a wink. The second the rosy trails of sun touched the Capitol, I was in my car. My driver was sick, so I jumped behind the wheel. I was trained in flying. In fact, part of my job involved air travel...

Once I reached the stage, I slammed on the breaks. The car skidded to a halt outside of a robin blue trailer the size of a house.

Plutarch was on me the second I left the call.

" He's called the President," Plutarch squeaked. " He says he'll only speak to you!"

I thought I knew what this was about, I hoped it wouldn't come up, but I was just going to have to deal with it.

Storming past Plutarch, I kicked open the door to the trailer and yelled " FLICKERMAN."

Appearing out of a long corridor in silk pink pajamas and blue make up, Caesar Flickerman smiled.

" Ahhh...if it isn't my old friend, Seneca..."

I grimaced. " What do you want!"

" You know exactly what I want SENECA CRANE!"

" Yeah, well you can't have her, you know as well as I Elenor died last year!" Tears were streaming down my cheeks now, they burned... " along with...Bell."

" Your marriage was a Sham! She loved me. As for your daughter, I know the pain from that fire must've hurt you. But you should have never had Elenor, she wasn't yours!"

"YES SHE WAS! My daughter and wife died in a fire, and your here to make me resign my job because you think I stole her from you in high school. Well, Caesar, here's news for you, you have know idea the pain I feel!"

" YES I DO! I may not have lost a daughter, but I did lose the only person I've ever loved, even if she chose you!" Now he began to cry, the sharp, silent sobs rattling his body.

Then I walked over and hugged him. We cried together over what's happened. I stay with him all day, we talk and bond like I never thought we would. He agrees to come back and do the Interviews again. I smile, a genuine smile, pat him on the back and leave.

The moon is full the next night, high above, cascading beautiful silver streams of light onto the stage. I sat high up, all the other Gamemakers around me. Caesar jumps onto the stage and looks up, catching me eye, he smiles at our new friendship, and the night begins.

The interviews roll by. Cato scares me a little with his brute personality, and the others are just boring. " Don't count me out just yet," I here the small girl from 11 say and smiled at her courage.

Then Katniss comes out. A beauty in a shimmering dress. Something about her shakes me, a connection just out of my reach. I am lost in her word, and laugh when she brings up the Scores, Plutarch bouncing up to silence her. He's scarlet in the cheeks but laughing. Then Katniss twirls, and I'm lost in her transformation from girl to flame.

Peeta is even more profound. His words are like a work of art. The crowd is insane when he announces his undying love for Katniss. The camera's shift to Katniss, blushing. Suddenly, I'm not in this world anymore...

The chandalier smashes into thousands of crystals. I'm stuck, and the world is burning. Coughing, I push through the darkening smoke. Then I find her, my daughter, caught unconscious in the burning rug. Scrambling forward, I reach out, wrapping her in my arms. Crying, I run out to get help. Then I'm in a hospital. I see a Doctor walking forward...His head is shaking....NOOOOOOOOOOO!

A silent click echoes in my head as I make the connection.

Katniss reminds me of the daughter I lost.