Assistant Gamemaker, Aphrodite McKennon
The last event of the 176th Hunger Games is here. The final interviews and the crowning of the victor are in a few short hours. The Gamemakers are in the Game Center, sipping down champagne and stuffing their mouths with food supplied by President Rector. Normally, the Head Gamemaker would supply the food and drinks, but President Rector felt a little more generous than normal. Rumors had it that he had a niece born when the Games began three weeks ago, and he wanted to make a good impression on her. Aphrodite can't say that she believes the rumor, only because it was said that the niece's last name was Shepard. Why wouldn't her name be Rector?
While everyone was partying and having fun that their job was over, Aphrodite only took small sips of her ginger ale (she was never a drinker) and looked to everyone partying their asses off. Unlike all the other Gamemakers, she had to stay behind and plan for the next Hunger Games. In theory, Chal Sherwood, the Head Gamemaker, was supposed to help her. But, in reality, Chal would be out partying or getting drunk while she had to think of everything by herself. Oh well. No time to be bitter about this. It was a party and she needed to act like she was having fun.
A fast paced techno song was playing over the speakers that someone has just installed. The music felt like a jack hammer hitting her temples. She has been attending these post-Hunger Games parties that the Gamemakers have every year, but she wasn't feeling in a party mood this year. She drained the rest of her ginger ale and grabbed a strawberry pastry and nibbled on it. Something was wrong with her head, but she knew it was rude to leave before all the Gamemakers were called to watch the final interviews. Her eyes glanced towards Felix, who had his hands on another Gamemaker's waist. Why had she wasted her time with Felix? All he wanted was to get in her pants, and she didn't even let him that far. Now he is holding the Weather Manager's waist, inching closer to her ass. She rolled her eyes as she popped the rest of the pastry into her mouth.
A door opened and the music got quieter. Thank God. She moved her eyes toward the door, and she saw the sunken face of their president, and he was holding a brand new baby in his arms. The rumor about the Shepard baby was true? For being only three weeks old, the girl had bright pink cheeks, her eyes had a twinkle to them, and she looked like a flawless girl version of President Rector. The pink silk blanket that was wrapped around baby had the name 'Quinn' etched in it. Quinn Shepard. That had a ring to it, better than Quinn Rector. President Rector walked past everyone who said 'hello' to him and he continued to walk towards Aphrodite. The music went from low volume to nothing. He was standing face-to-face with her and his mouth parted.
"Hello, Miss McKennon." He says, holding Quinn a little tighter. "I have looked over all your progress as an Assistant Gamemaker since you were hired a few years ago. Lately, I have noticed that you are the only one contributing to the arena, deaths, and everything else. So, I have decided to fire Chal and I need someone to replace him. Any ideas?"
Her mouth dropped and she took in his words. He fired Chal, so Aphrodite could be Head Gamemaker. The room was silent, and she was sure everyone had their eyes on her. She nodded slowly and President Rector patted her shoulder. "Congratulations, Head Gamemaker. I plan to have you sit next to me during the final interviews." With that, President Rector and his confirmed niece Quinn walked away, leaving Aphrodite in shock. It was all she ever wanted.
Sheila Carwell, District Seven Victor
Only one more Capitol event until Sheila was granted a ride home to her home district. She needed to see the trees and the nature and be far away from this Capitol who destroyed her sanity and her life. She wanted to be away from all the glitz and the dresses and the ignorant Capitolites. She needed to be with Karrie, Jacob, and her parents. She knew the first thing she was going to do when she gets home; go to Rivet's grave and tell him she survived the Hunger Games and she avenged his death. But first, she had to deal with another night of dresses and overdressed Capitol citizens who eat up her every word. Karina placed the final stroke of eyeliner on her eye and marveled at her work. The raccoon look on Sheila really made her look like the animal in question. Karina turned her victor around so she can see what her stylist has done with her. Sheila's mouth dropped open when she saw herself.
She looked better than she did last night for the Recap Night. Her eyes had heavy black eye make-up and her skin looked polished like a doll's. Her hair was in bouncy curls and they fell around her cheekbones. The dress Karina and her sister have made together looked a little too 'District 1-ish' on her, only reaching to her upper thigh. It was pure white like last night's dress with a V-neck and a fitted waist. The bottom on the dress fanned out like a Japanese fan, showing off her legs. The heels she wore were six inches high, and she walked around all day in them to get the feel. The heels matched her dress color. She looked like walking sexy paper, or so Karina said.
"There you go, darling. Dusk will call you on stage in about five minutes." Karina trilled in a high pitched voice. She placed a hand on Sheila's bare shoulder and nodded to her, as if she was giving her permission to go out there and tell Dusk Shine everything. Sheila smiled back before a stage hand took Sheila away from her stylist and led her to the under stage. She placed her on the pedestal that reminded her so much of how the Games began. She was slowly encased by glass, trapping her on the pedestal that will rise to the stage. She made her breathing slow down and her heart rate began to slow as well.
Music began to play and the trademark prancing of Dusk Shine was heard over Sheila's head. She could hear the muffled clapping and the muffled voice of Dusk from under the boards of the stage. She took deep breaths as she heard Dusk call out her name and the pedestal began to slowly rise. An image flashed in her mind. When she reached the top of the tube, she wasn't on stage with the crowed cheering for her. She was in the arena, the mountains high in the sky and the desert like ground staring at her. Suddenly, the desert floor vanishes and she is walking on a shiny stage towards Dusk, not to the Cornucopia. Her heels clicked as she walked her way to the host. She shook Dusk's ice-cold hand and sat in her chair.
The audience calmed down and a lone wolf whistle from the back of the room made Sheila blush under her make-up. Dusk let out a signature laugh and turned to Sheila. "Well, darling. It seems that you have some admirers. When you were chosen for the Games, did you ever expect people to like you this much?"
Sheila took a minute to answer Dusk, taking a long look at the crowd. "Not exactly. Not a lot of people had their eyes on me in Seven, so it is quite a change that everyone is taking a look at me." The audience clapped a bit for the pure white version on Sheila. The white dress that Sheila is wearing is hiding the terrible devil she has become, while she looks like a wonderful angel to the rest of the country.
"I want to hear the victory from your perspective, Sheila." Dusk begins. "We all saw it on the screen, but we want to know how you felt about the final two cannons that were fired by your hand." The crowd leaned in, waiting for her answer. Sheila looked to her heels and tried to conjure up the final day in the arena, where she killed the seemingly tough sibling team that everyone feared. A deep breath escaped her lips and she looked up to the midnight purple colored host.
"I can say that I was definitely scared for my life when I saw Caden and Kleo come after me." She began, trying not to cry when she mentioned the siblings. "When I killed Kleo and I heard her skull crack, I felt like I just destroyed a family in Two. Then, when Caden came after me, I felt like he was going to avenge his sister by taking my life and leaving me like my brother four years ago, dead in the arena. But, the moment my sword hit his heart, I felt like I am just a family destroying person, killing child after child and not being able to apologize for the deaths I caused."
The audience let out a sound of sympathy for her. Dusk put a hand on her shoulder. "Is there anything you wish to say to Panem?"
"I didn't mean to kill anyone." She said. The last two words she said were barely audiable. "I promise." Tears welled in the eyes of her and some of the audience members. They were witnessing how hard this victory is on her. After years of watching Careers take the victory in stride, Sheila's victory was a reality check for most of them. She didn't want this at the cost of twenty seven lives. But, she took it anyway and they were seeing the pain in her eyes.
Overlooking the City Circle, Sheila was sitting in a lone chair overlooking the crowd. She saw what President Rector saw when the Tribute Parade was taking place. She saw every little thing that was going on underneath her. In a few moments, a young child will be handing President Rector her victor's crown and he will put it on top of her head, a physical symbol of her victory. The Capitol citizens have all moved from the stage to the City Circle so they can witness the crowning of the victor. Apparently, this is the go to event to see even if you miss the Games. You must go to the crowning because you might have a chance to be on Capitol TV or something.
Butterflies started to fly in Sheila's stomach as she saw the pure white child walk up to the balcony beside President Rector, holding a circular golden crown. The Capitol changes the design of the crowns from year to year, and this crown was in a circle, primarily gold with small green orbs around the crown. It was meant to show off the district, which green was very stereotypical for District 7. When President Rector grabbed the crown from the pillow, Sheila stood up and looked over the entire city. He gingerly placed it on top of Sheila's head and stood in front of her.
"Congratulations, Miss Carwell." He whispered.
"Thank you, sir." She replied, staring at him.
"I can't wait to see you back here for your Victory Tour." He said before he moved out of the way. Now looking at the city, he grabbed her hand and thrust it in the air. "Ladies and gentleman, your victor Sheila Carwell!" The applause echoed in her ears. Flashes from the cameras blurred together in her vision. Never in a million years she thought she be on this balcony, wearing the victor's crown, and be adored by everyone in the Capitol. This is what the Careers strive for. Now she knew why. She finally felt special in Panem.
A/N: There you have it. Sheila has been crowned and she is the official victor of the 176th Hunger Games. We have about three more chapters before this story must end. I have to say that I adored this SYOT and that is why I have made another one. If you would like to submit a tribute for the Eighth Quarter Quell, read that story then PM me for the form. The list of tributes is on my profile as a reference. Thank you for reading! Read and review please!