I sit on the stage with the host. He's interviewing me, the victor of this year's Hunger Games. "So, Wolfgang Canis, how does it feel to be victor?"
"Surreal," I answer plainly.
"Is that all?" he asks.
I nod. "Pretty much. Yesterday, I was fighting for my life. And now, I don't have to anymore. It may take me a while to get used to it again."
"This has been the shortest Hunger Games that we've had in a while. It only lasted for five days. But my, if it wasn't the most exciting one that we've had in quite a while as well! Let's watch some highlights, shall we?"
The film begins to play. I watch Jenny Gizmo explode again. I watch my knife embed into Octane's thigh. I watch her throw it back. I watch her die because of the infection that the wound caused. I watch Lila get bit by a snake as she pulls a pot from a black backpack. I watch Barley collect the poke berries and poison those other tributes. I watch Barley ironically die from a poisonous fruit himself, two days later. I watch Seamus leave our alliance and unzip the backpack that contains his death. I watch Reggie stab Dream in the temple in the very first action that proved he wasn't a half-wit. I watch Millie get eaten by the Loch Ness Monster. I watch Reggie stab Sapphire in the heart with one of the District One boy's own arrows. I watch D.C. get buried in a shower of rocks. I watch Reggie throw an axe into Neptune's back. I watch Reggie and Loyla's struggle that ends with both of their deaths. And then, I watch Coal fall on his own pick axe and leave me to be the victor of the Seventh Quarter Quell. Finally, I watch myself howl in sorrow.
It disturbs me. These are the clips that they consider highlights? Everyone's death? I frown subconsciously.
"What a glorious moment!" the host says with a smile. "That howl of victory always moves me." He brings his hand and rests it over his heart.
I repress a snort. "Howl of victory? Is that what those fools call it?"
"So, tell me what you were thinking at that exact moment," the host turns to me.
I sit and stare at him. I'd probably get in trouble for saying what I really thought. So, I make something up. "I was just thinking how unworthy I am. I don't deserve to win. So many others had so many better reasons to live. Seamus had a family to support. Barley had a father to save. And Coal had… Coal had something that no wolf-mutt ever takes lightly. He had something that most of us would die for. And die, he did." It turns out that my words are not a lie after all.
The host nods and his pink powder wig wiggles a bit. "Yes, love is a very powerful thing," the host says with some cheap imitation of sadness. Then he grins. "However, you have a good reason to live too. As you might recall, an enemy of yours sent you here. You swore that if you were crowned victor of the Hunger Games, you would return to District Six and seek your revenge on Ereed Tys. Tell me now, how do you plan on doing that? Will you flaunt your newfound wealth in front of him? Will you steal that girl of his and bring about his worst fear? Tell me Wolfgang, what is your plan?"
I shake my head. "I've had enough fighting to last a lifetime," I answer. "I don't need my petty revenge anymore. Besides, the best revenge will be this: I won the Hunger Games, and he is the one who sent me here. He is the reason that I won the Hunger Games. He will forever loath himself for that. I don't have to do a thing."
The host seems unimpressed with my answer. "Well, you'll have a great time celebrating, I'm sure," he interjects.
"Celebrating what?" I ask.
An awkward silence ensues, and the interview is over.
When I return to District Six, my brothers, father and uncle are all very happy to see me. I am greeted with hugs and happy howls. I happily hug them back. I am glad to be back, but I feel so unworthy of it all. What gives me the right to live when so many others have died?
Back at home, I pull out the "Myths, Legends, and Tales" book. They let me keep it. Tomorrow, I move into Victors' Village. Next year, I'll have to train a male tribute from my district. Right now, all I want to do is forget about the Hunger Games. But life in Panem always seems to give us the opposite of what we want. I will be involved with the Games for the rest of my life. It's a horrible irony. It is an annoying contradiction. It is a horrid trap that torments my nature as a wolf-mutt. But what choice do I have? None whatsoever. Twice the Districts have rebelled against the Capitol. Twice the Capitol has reconquered them. Rebellion is futile. I must do what I must.
It has been almost a year since I have won the Hunger Games. I haven't taken a mate, and I don't think that I ever will. I could not risk having to train my children in the Games. Therefore, I will have no children. I will never mate. Life alone is hard for a wolf-mutt; we're meant to be in packs. It will be hard. However, I will face the lesser of two hardships.
The Capitol escort stands on the stage and dips her hand into the girls' reaping ball. I sit on a chair on the stage and wait. When the girl's name is called, she comes forward and stands on the stage. She starts to cry, and I can't blame her.
Chortle dips her hand into the boys' reaping ball next. When she opens the paper, she looks surprised. "Well, this is an odd occurrence. I seem to have drawn the same person two years in a row." She then smiles. "The male tribute for the one-hundred seventy-sixth Hunger Games is… Ereed Tys!"
My head snaps up in surprise. Ereed blanches and freezes in his place. A peacekeeper, his own father, has to carry him up to the stage. Both father and son seem absolutely terrified. I have to train Ereed Tys to fight in the Hunger Games. For me to be able to train him, he has to trust me. I can hear the cannon already.
~ The End ~