Lystra's POV

I lay on my bed in my old room, feeling thoroughly empty and tired and sad. The cameras had never left me – me staring stone-faced into them, me turning away, me crying. They seemed oddly eager to capture every moment of it. When one asked me the reason for my sorrow, I answered him as,

"The President is dead." I wasn't sorrowed by this at all – perhaps happy is a better word, so I left it at that. "I made many friends. They were all killed. Rayne, Lillibet, Tanner, and Mazie all sacrificed themselves for me. And now, here I am, healthy and alive as they wished, and as empty as a balloon tied to the ground."

Then I turned, clicking my heels and walking away. Behind me, I thought I heard the reporter's exited chatting. Hmph.

I didn't have anywhere to burn Nich's final letter, so I ate it. I knew I'd remember every single word. Forever.

The doctors fixed me up. I allowed them to use the pain medication that put me to sleep for two days. When I woke, patched up and perfect again, it was only from the nightmares of Tanner's and the other's deaths, and into the nightmare of facing them.

Then, afterwards, more interviews.

It had taken a long while, but I managed to escape to this room, where I lay. The next day would be my after-the-Games interview with Viola. There I would express my need to attend the other's funerals. The next day I would head out for them, and then, finally, home.

Home.

The very thought of it made me long for it, and want to cry at the same time. Thinking of home made me think of my ghostly district in the arena. It made me wonder whether I would find home the same way.

But I tried not to think of that.

Emerald and Vincent knocked on the door, calling to me, but I had locked it, and they didn't dare come in. Kayton didn't try. Kayton knew all of the secrets now. Kayton understood me now, and she left me alone.

I knew that the next day I would not be able to hide, locked and safe, in my room. I knew that I was not alone now, though it may seem that I was. I knew the room was bugged. I sighed, looking around the room suspiciously, trying to find the hidden cameras. Of course, I had no luck.

I walked over to the desk, taking out a pencil and paper. I sat down, trying to force myself into my drawing trance, to get away from this world. But I couldn't. The reality was just too sharp; too painful. I lay on the bed for a while, but I found the plush of the bed to be fake; as if it wasn't real. How could it be real in a world where people died?

I lay on the floor instead. Though the carpet was soft, I found it more appropriate. I shed some more tears, but the ball in my throat did not vanish. I lay on the carpet. Everything seemed to have a dull and somewhat forward approach in my life now. I thought out things slowly, in a sluggish manner, step by step.

I was blind in a world of darkness. The sun was dead and gone. My Tanner no longer lit up the world. The once flower-filled hills are mud and dirt. The bright colors are gone, replaced by the ugly black that is reality.

I thought, Love is a veil of happiness that hides the cruel reality outside. Oh, how I miss you, Tanner! My very soul seemed to call out to him, and I got up, crying once more. Losing myself in the sadness, I walked over to the desk, and began to draw.

The picture was my best. By far.

It was of Tanner.

He was standing in a field of bright colored flowers on a high hill, in the world of romance. Light seemed to radiate from his form, lighting up the world. He was completely healthy, apart from the sword sticking out from his stomach. His eyes seemed to look at you, staring at you, his hands spread apart.

His eyes told me a message that I couldn't have known but deep down inside.

Lystra it said I love you. I am so proud of you, and am happy with the time we had together. It was tragically short, but I am satisfied in it. I miss you so much now, but we will be together soon, on this hill. I'm waiting. In 50 years, we can be together again in life. I love you, Lystra. I don't regret what I did. I'm waiting. I love you.

I began to cry again.

Tears stained the picture, but the marks didn't smear. When I looked out the window, I saw that it was dark. I stood up, holding the picture close, and exited the room.

No one else was in the District 11 hallway. Kayton, Emerald, and Vincent were probably asleep by now. Still, I closed the door carefully. Halfway down the hall, I stopped, letting my fingers graze the door of Tanner's room. I opened the door.

It was untouched – just as Tanner had had it. There was even clothes thrown on the floor of the closet. I stared at the room a moment – it was almost as if Tanner was still alive, using it. But he wasn't . I closed the door firmly, turning away. Tanner was dead. Staring at a room wasn't going to change it.

I headed up to the rooftops.

I began to feel purpose : a powerful emotion that can help anyone up. Which I needed right now. Thank you, Nich! I thought Wherever you may be now; for giving me purpose in life once more!

First plan of action : Find the bottle that would wake up Rayne. I could save Rayne. I couldn't save Tanner, Nich, Totsie, Lillibet, Echo, or any of the others. But I could save Rayne and myself. That was all that mattered now.

The letter had said that if I was truly a fellow tribute, I would know where it was. And I did. There was only one likely place.

In the little clearing where Nich had started her alliance. I stood where Nich had, in the center, for a moment, memories washing over me. Then I took a deep breath and looked around, forcing myself into the present.

Somehow, I instinctively knew where it was hidden. The concoction could have been anywhere, but my eyes immediately fell on the perfect, damp dirt under the tomato vines.

Slowly, I walked over. My mind clouded slightly, and I imagined that I was walking through the ghosts of all the tributes, memories of them stored in place. It made me feel as though I was walking through jelly. Good bye, my friends, my fellow tributes. I shall miss you. When I reached the tomato vines, I reached my hand out slowly, still in jelly.

My hands dug in the soil only a moment until I felt the vial. Slowly, I brought it out.

And the world was back in its full motion.

I stared at the vial. It would bring Rayne back from what would else have been death. I wouldn't be alone anymore. There would be someone other than Kayton who understood me completely. Everything would be right – or, at least . . . as right as it could be when . . .

I shuddered and hugged the vial close. I glanced about me – I knew the roof was bugged. I knew that the Capitol was watching me right now. I knew that they wanted to know what was in the vial. I knew that Viola would ask me about it tomorrow during my interview. What would I tell her?

I brought the vial to my eye level, studying it. I didn't know what I'd say to Viola. I'd figure something out. That didn't matter right now.

I studied the bottle. It was small, about the size of my middle finger. Easy enough to hide. The liquid swirling and bubbling inside was a deep, royal purple. I stared at it. It seemed to hold the spirit of Rayne. I gulped, scared at the thought of holding someone's spirit with me. I stuffed it safely into my pock, standing from my crouch. I headed back to my room, cupping my hand around my pocket protectively.

I opened my door quietly, laying down, and taking the vial out of my pocket. I pulled the covers over my head and studied the bottle again. It was warm in my hands, whether because its substance or its presence in my pocket, I don't know. It also seemed to give off a light purple glow.

I'm here, Rayne I thought We're in this together. Don't worry. I'll be with you soon. Then I fell asleep, into the world of dreams that might take me away from this living nightmare, and into a peaceful, happy dream.