Rye Mellark. I finally knew his name. I frowned slightly and let a breath out.
He's dead. He won't bother you anytime soon.
I knew that. The screen flickered and the reshowing began. It started off with the bloodbath. I watched myself throw, block, and break things. It was thoroughly gruesome to watch, but I held my eyes to the screen.
Then there was the scene of me killing Mellie. She clutched a small dagger and scraped my forearm. I stabbed her heart.
I killed many more and then, the finale. I watched myself laugh as Rye screamed in pain. He cried for mercy and I continued to lop off limbs.
Don't lose control. Don't lose control.
"Cato, are you okay?" Caesar asked, and I straightened my suit. I wiped my forehead and grimaced.
Say something about how your time in the arena had it's toll.
"Well Caesar, my time in the arena has taken it's toll on my health."
"Well, I hope you're okay!"
I finally found faces in the crowd. Father was holding Juna's hand and had a worried look on his face. Enobaria and Brutus both had their arms crossed and eyes closed. Hyelle was fanning her face with the program.
Damn that woman.
"I'm fine. I just had to have a moment." I said, and Caesar nodded.
"I understand you are related to some very very special Victors. Enobaria for example! I mean, winning just runs in your blood! Doesn't it?"
Absolutely. You owe it to your mother and mentors.
"Oh absolutely. I owe it to my mother and my mentors." I said. Caesar wiped tears from his eyes.
"We all miss Junallia greatly. She was a most beautiful woman, and a memorable Victor."
Thank you.
"Thank you."
~'~'~'~
I walked along the train cars doing nothing. Right after Caesar's interview, I'd been thrown onto a train with my entire crew and family. It was almost midnight, and I knew I had to go to sleep sometime. I didn't feel tired at all, but I decided to go back to my room.
Rest, Cato. Tomorrow you'll deliver some speeches, and so on.
I pulled the covers of my bed around me and closed my fatigued eyes. Sleep came quickly, then the dreams began.
I couldn't see anything, but there were screams. The screams of the others I had slain. They spoke as well. "You're a murderer!"
I woke up gasping, and drenched in sweat.
It wasn't real. It wasn't real. It wasn't real!
My head was pounding and I felt dizzy. I slowly rose and trudged into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, my sweat drenched face glared at me. I smashed my fist into the glass and it shattered, scraping my body. I did not care.
Drops of blood appeared on the pristine marble.
~'~'~'~
District 12 was monotonous and dull. I looked around from the stage and my eyes flashed to the notecards.
Don't mess up. We'll be back on the train in no time.
I looked around before reading. There was a family of five on the stand where Rye faced me. The Mellie girl had two.
"Thank you. I am honored to be with you today. In the presence of a great district, and in the presence of two families who have given their children up." I could feel their glares. Especially from the little boy on Rye's podium. He had straight blonde hair and blue eyes. Much like me.
"I would like to share this victory with the fallen tributes, and my gratitude to our Capitol. I wish to share with you the sorrows of your losses, for I..." I blinked. The card read, For I was the one that killed them
Change it. Don't say that. Atoning for your crimes makes you a murderer in all of their eyes, not just the families of the lost ones'.
"For I am not your child, and I came out alive, not them. The tributes of this District were noble warriors, and both skilled on their own terms. We are all of us, united." I could not believe the shit Hyelle had written out for me.
"No matter what happens, we are one. Panem is a whole country. No force on Earth could deter that."
What is this shit? What has the crazy lady written for you?!
"Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever. Thank you." I nodded and Hyelle pinched her chin. Her lilac eyebrows clenched and her flower studded eyelashes fluttered. Somebody in the ever so silent crowd began to sob. Three others followed.
"Well, at least you didn't collapse. I'm going to need you to smile a bit, Cato!" Her shrill voice pierced.
"Well, the party is in three hours, so don't be late. I can trust you to be alone, can't I?" She asked, flicking a speck of dust from her dress.
Say yes, then maybe she'll go away.
"Yes, you can trust me."
"Excellent." Hyelle's purple lips parted into a smile and she clicked her three inch nails together. "I will see you in three hours." Her spike studded high heels left dents in the carpet as she walked away.
Let's do something dangerous. Let's go exploring.
Okay. I stood up and looked inside my closet. There was a loose jacket and dark running pants. Perfect.
After changing into them, I snuck out the back door of the Justice Building and walked around.
This isn't dangerous at all! Let's cross the border.
I sighed and ignored my mind's wishes. There would be no border crossing today. Instead, I decided to visit the local bakery. The shop smelled very nice and there was a man at the counter. The sign on the shop read, Closed.
I walked by and the man looked up. He glared and ran out the door, yelling.
"You bastard! You son of a bitch, COWARD!" He screamed, and tried to tackle me. I slipped out of the way and he staggered. "You murdered my brother! You could have given him a quick, clean death, you coward! Peeta! Breyan!" He shouted.
You're the coward? But who's calling for reinforcements?
"I'm the coward? I. Am?! I gave the Capitol what they wanted- I gave them a show! Your brother meant nothing to me and he still means nothing. To. Me." I seethed, looking down on the brown haired man. Two others scrambled out of the store and cautiously stepped over.
"Nickel, don't. Rye wouldn't have wanted you to-" Nickel, or whatever his name was threw his fist at me. I caught the blow in my hand and flexed his arm behind his back. Nickel cried out in pain.
Who does he think he is? You've had years and years of training!
The two brothers tried to come after me but I easily fended their untrained fists. Even so, it was beginning to become difficult, fighting three burly young men. The one they called Peeta seemed to be around fourteen or fifteen. He was slightly shy with his blows. I threw them off and straightened my jacket.
So... were you supposed to learn something?
"I am not the coward. Your brother was nothing to me, and he will remain that way for a very very long time. I won't forget this." I growled and walked away. The three brothers spat curses at me.
I headed back to the Justice building and straight to the room I was staying in.
Control. Control yourself.
I could feel the rage boiling inside me and sat down. A nearby lamp faced my wrath as I shattered it. Why wouldn't the voice in my head leave?
Cato, I'm not leaving until you return to your controlled self. I am you. Don't forget that. Do you understand?
Yes.
There was a knock on the door.
"Cato? Its Hyelle. Willose is here to get you dressed up. We are on a schedule!" She called, and the door opened. Willose and crew stepped in, avoiding the shards or ceramic on the floor.
"All-ight, let's get you looking plesentable." She said and had my prep team make me look presentable. It took all of my effort not to snap their tittering faces off of their shoulders.
Willose had me dressed in a black suit and white shirt. The lapel of the suit was covered in gold glitter and gems. Urania, the makeup artist, had wanted to change the color of my eyes but Willose shook her head.
"No. Not today, dahling."
You look like a clown.
I shrugged and looked at the shoes they offered me.
"Absolutely not." I growled. The boots were thigh high and covered in pink and white feathers. Willose took one look at the shoes and shook her head. The woman could not say her "r" sounds, so it took time to decipher what she was saying.
"I said the link leathel shoes! Not the pink feathel shoes!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up. Geal's green tinted lips made an O and he scurried away to find what Willose was talking about.
Idiots.
"Here we go." Geal came in again and handed a pair of black leather shoes to Willose.
"Finally!" She exclaimed and began jabbering in her Capitol accent. I caught a look inside her mouth and saw two gold fangs where her incisors were supposed to be and a forked tongue. "Do you like?" She raised a white eyebrow. "I got them done aftel Enobalia's success. What a lush it was to get yole teeth shalpened into fangs those days. Of coulse, I was special, and I had mine done snap!" She boasted and I nodded, thinking of Enobaria's teeth.
"Am I ready yet?" I asked and Willose nodded.
"Go have fun, Cato." She smiled.
It sickens me to see their happiness.
I know.
I walked out of my room and to where Hyelle and Brutus were waiting.
"They are going to anounce you and all you have to do is walk down a staircase and say hello to people. Try to eat something and mind your manners. Hm?"
Or I can shove my sword down your throat.
"Don't screw up, kid." Brutus grinned.
"Okay." I nodded and waited for the mayor to anounce my name.
Don't lose control this time.
"And the winner of the 71st Hunger Games, Cato Arckenson!" The mayor anounced and the french doors were opened and I glared at them. Walking down, I was presented with a bouquet of flowers from a little girl.
"Thank you." I nodded and she looked up at me in fear. I shook the Mayor's hand and the music began. I glared most of the people away from me and sipped wine all night.
Eat something. You're going to get hungry down the road.
Fine. I glared myself a path to the buffet and took a few pieces of chicken. They looked and tasted bland, but it gave my mouth something to do besides curl into a snarl.
There weren't many people, but some looked like they were starving and hastily grabbed at foods. My champaigne flute was empty, and I grabbed another one from the table.
"This is stronger." A drunken voice slurred and handed me a silver canteen.
Haymitch Abernethy. Victor or the Second Quarter Quell. Quite famous.
I took the canteen and to a swig of the sharp liquid. It burned my throat and set my stomach on fire, but it felt good. Brutus appeared,
"Teaching the kid how to drink, eh Haymitch? Good luck! He's trained to withstand any substance!" He boasted and walked away.
"You seem lost, kid. Party not to your taste?" He slurred, ripping a hunk out of a roll.
"I don't know. You seem pretty lost. Aren't you going to slap me or something?" I asked, taking another swig. A few eyes stared our way, but we remained undisturbed.
"And why would I do that?" He asked, drinking from another canteen. I shrugged.
"Because I killed your tributes."
"Happens every year... I don't get too attatched anymore. Anyways, if anyone, I think I'm the one who understands you the most here!" He guffawed and clear liquid sloshed from the canteen.
"And why is that?" I asked dryly, ripping food into my mouth.
"Because you and I did what we had to do to survive. Nobody else in this room will ever do that, so they won't understand." His voice was serious and Haymitch Abernethy walked away. "Keep the canteen! Victor to Victor, my gift to you! See you next year!"
He's a wise old drunk. I'll give him that.
I looked down at the canteen. It was made of steel, and had scratches and dents. He probably threw it around a lot.
Hyelle clicked up to me and motioned for me to start walking.
"We will be in District 11 by tomorrow morning!" She smiled and ushered me onto the train.
That night, there were more dreams, but I couldn't scream. I needed to control myself. The Games had taken that control over myself.
Then find it and take it.
District 11 was more dull than 12. Rows upon rows upon rows of long, tan grain billowed around as people used scythes to cut them down. There were fruit trees as well, but too many of them.
What do you expect? This is the farming district, after all.
True, but the number of people in this district was astounding. There was only a small portion of the people in the area in front of the Justice Building. Hyelle glared at me and handed me a new speech.
"It's completely different, and Cato, please please please, I'm begging you. Stand up straight, and give some form of emotion."
Fine crazy lady.
Brutus frowned at me and nodded.
"Just do what she says."
"Alright." I said and she straightened the sleeves on my jacket.
"Presenting, Cato Arckenson, Victor of the 71st Hunger Games!" The mayor said, and I stepped out. The amount of people glaring at me was enough to send a regular person crying.
But you're not a regular person. Stand tall and hold your ground. Smile.
I stepped forward and addressed the crowd with a smirk.
"Thank you. I am honored to be here with all of you. I did not know either of your tributes, but I understand that members of my alliance killed them. To the families of the fallen, thank you for your children. Without whom, this victory would not have been possible."
Now this is a big improvement from what you had to read.
"District 2 thanks District 11 for the fruits, vegetables, and grains that help feed the ones we train to win the Games."
Now we're just rubbing it in their faces.
The man on the platform for the little girl growled and launched himself at me only to be tackled by Peacekeepers.
"She was thirteen you bastard! Thirteen!" He screamed as the Peacekeepers dragged him back up the steps to the elected stand. I looked at the notecards.
What a coincedence. They're addressed now.
"I did not know either of these tributes, but Borick was strong and Filla was a weak little girl." I glared at the man. His wife continued to sob and wrapped her arms around the young man next to her. "Both will be in the Hunger Games Archives. We must be thankful to the Capitol for the generosity they have given us. Panem is one country and will remain one country. Thank you." I smirked and Hyelle sighed in relief, a large smile on her white lips.
We left after dinner at the Mayor's House.
"On to District 10!" Hyelle exclaimed, and clapped her hands together.