Not for the faint of Heart

I watched the intense scene unfold.

Peeta's heels were snapped at by horrifying teeth as Katniss returned to assist him. Cato ascended the Cornucopia and Katniss followed by Peeta began the climb.

I watched my Mutt Were-Tributes slip and crash from the Cornucopia. I watched realization engulf Katniss's eyes as she looked into Glimmer's eyes within the Were-Tribute. She shot it as it fell.

I was sickened, thinking of how the eyes were scooped out of the Tributes bodies and placed in the Mutts. My heart began to pound faster and faster.

My breaths grew hard and labored, and I was panting as bad as the Mutts. I heard howls and on the screens I could see Katniss holding an arrow, while Cato held Peeta hostage. My vision blurred, my heart beating out of control. I saw the shot and Cato fell into the Mutt pack.

Then, I felt my heart stop, and my world went black.

…

My vision blurred, I blinked and everything came into focus. Plutarch was standing over me. I heard an EKG...but it was mine. I was in the Med Bay.

" Good Morning! Rise in shine!" Plutarch patted me on the head, which vibrated with a rocking pain.

" What happened?" My voice was raspy and scratched at my raw throat.

" You had a heart attack. The Doc patched you up, lucky we had some extra Pandoramine, eh?"

I groaned, and the past nights events flooded into my mind. " Cato, is he dead yet?"

" Of course not, we waited for you all night. We drew the Cannon in here. I will call Levi in the Calamity Room if you want to off the Career now."

I nodded and Plutarch gave Levi a call. I watched the nearby TV, Where There was a final swipe and it was over for Cato. I tapped the Cannon with a frail hand.

BOOM!

The Career was dead.

Then I waited for the call. Katniss and Peeta walked down and waited, and I grimaced at the thought of their deception. Then the call came. It was the President.

" End it!" The line cut off.

I made a call to Claudius and told him to make the announcement. Tears welled in my eyes.

Then, there it was, Peeta and Katniss were holding the poison berries to their lips.

I saw my Bell, my poor Bell.

My emotional wall broke, and all the emotions I had been holding back flooded through the very essence of my being.

I tore the IV from my heart. The Doctor screamed but I plowed past him. Then I was running down the long Corridors. The berries were lifting slowly higher and higher. I knew the President would be pissed, probably killed me. I laughed and jumped into the Main Room.

" STOP!!!"

Everyone turned in alarm. I forced the microphone to the announcer's lips.

" I now present the winners of the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen!"

I fell backwards and my head flooded with joy. For the first time since my daughter's death, I was truly happy.