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"My name is Katniss Everdeen. I won the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games alongside my fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark, and survived the third Quarter Quell to become the face of the rebellion which eventually overtook the Capitol."
There. That's my life summed up in two sentences, plain and simple. I briefly think of all the things which happened in between. The things which lead to others in particular. The ones none of it would have happened without.
I'm sitting across from Juliet, in a room on the twentieth floor of what is now the brand new Training Center. Built just for the one Games which will be taking place two weeks from now.
Anyhow, these are the first words I say to her. I don't tell her about the way her eyes remind me so much of Cinna. Or how I can still see him being dragged away by the Peacekeepers, forehead smeared with blood, eyes wide and lips moving.
Instead, I introduce myself in the simplest way possible. Start with the facts which can be counted on.
"I know," she says quietly. There's a pause, a lull in this increasingly painful conversation. I observe her. She has an excellent poker face. "Is it worth it?" she says suddenly.
I'm taken aback by her question. "Winning," she eludes, somewhat bitterly. Her eyes lock mine in her unwavering gaze. "Is the life they promise you as a victor really worth killing for?" I have no idea how to answer the question. Is it worth it? I think of the nights I'd woken up sweaty and screaming, and the crushing guilt and misery which follows in the aftermath of killing. Then I think of the way Peeta's eyelashes looked golden in the afternoon sunlight. How I felt infinite, in a way, on the day we'd gone to the beach.
I realize the answer. "Yes," I say simply. "And no. It's the people you love which makes it bearable. Happy, even. It's not about the money or fame. You win for the summer nights and the sound the birds make at dawn. It's a desire, an instinct, a will- to live. Nothing more and nothing less." I meet her eyes this time.
When she speaks again, I can tell I've gained her trust somehow. "Help me, then. I-I want to live." Her voice cracks a little at the end, and I feel something twist inside of me. She's just a scared young girl. Not so different from the deer Gale and I used to hunt in the woods. Her expression is startled, one of confusion and sadness, along with a lot of other things mingled in.
"Listen," I say calmly. "I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it'll be easy. It's not. You're going to face twenty-three strangers who'll stand between you and your chance of survival. You might ally with some of them. Get to know them, like them, even. Others you'll never get a chance to talk to. But no matter what, only one of you is going to make it out of the arena alive. Do what it takes. I can help you prepare for your interview, coach you through training, give you some tips on combat technique, but the rest is up to you."
I understand now. Before my first Games, I thought Haymitch was just being sarcastic and drunken when the only advice he gave me was to stay alive. It took me all this time to see what he really meant. The Games are so much more than a battle for survival. It's not just your life which is at stake, but everything you are. That's what Peeta said, anyway. "It costs everything you are."
I glance at the clock on the wall. "It's about time," I tell her. "You don't want to miss training. You can never predict the arena, so remember, any skill could be a life-saving one. I'd recommend the edible plants and knot-tying stations. Steer clear of the popular ones, like knife-throwing or spears." I know this is what Haymitch would say to me if he were here.
She nods, hesitates for a moment, then tentatively steps toward me. I'm surprised when she puts her arms around me in a hug. I hug her back, and it feels right even though I'd normally be uncomfortable having physical contact with someone this way. "Thank you, Katniss," she says softly. "I'm glad my father was your stylist. You looked beautiful in that mockingjay dress, you know."
My throat catches. When we finally let go of each other, she gives me a small smile before walking out.
"Juliet," I whisper. I know she can't hear me, but I say it anyways. "I'm betting on you."
Our plan was to split up so we'd each get to talk to different tributes, and explore the Training Center a bit. Maybe see if we could get any news from Plutarch.
After talking to Juliet, I know for sure that I'm going to get her out of the Games alive. She has a certain quality of goodness in her, that much I can tell. Not unlike Peeta's, either. With my mind set, I start wandering various floors of the building, hoping to make some useful discoveries.
Instead, I bump into Finnick, who's looking lost in thought as he walks towards me. "Hey," I say. I actually have to wave my hands in front of his face several times to get his attention. "Hey," he says at last, smiling sheepishly. "Found anything?" I shake my head. "You?"
He shrugs. "I've been thinking," he starts slowly. I just can't resist the urge to tease him a little. "That's unusual," I interrupt, smirking. He rolls his eyes. "Very funny. What I was going to say is, I've been thinking about what you said this morning. You know, the part about there being a bigger reason behind this year's Games." I wait for him to go on. The joking has gone from his tone, and his eyes look troubled, for once.
"I think you might be right," he says suddenly. "I hadn't really considered it that way before. When Coin brought up the proposal, I thought it was because of your sister. How it would maybe balance things out, even if just a little."
He frowns. "She didn't see the assassination coming, that's for sure. So we have no way of knowing what she intended to do after Snow was killed. Run Panem on her own, probably. But there was absolutely no reason for her to want to hold a final Hunger Games. Think about it, Katniss. By that point, if she'd really wanted to destroy the entire Capitol population, she could have done it. She wouldn't even have needed a reason. The war was more than won by then. A few bombs, and the job would have been done. But she chose the Games instead. Why?"
I'm speechless. Why, indeed? I try to think of the logical explanation, anything, to disrupt the feeling of unease which has started to settle at the back of my mind.
Before either of us can say anything more, though, we're suddenly met by a stormy faced Johanna. Her voice is strange. "I made an interesting discovery. You two should come to the top floor, right now." She turns and walks off without further explanation.
I look at Finnick, who looks just as confused as I feel. We hurry after her in silence.
The top floor is on the thirtieth floor, which we arrive in a few seconds, via a high speed glass elevator. We walk on carpeted halls and pass row after row of closed doors. The corridors are seemingly endless, twisting and turning this way and that. The silence is getting unnerving.
After what seems like an eternity, Johanna stops at one of the doors, one with a doorknob shaped like a lion's head. She shoves it open and we follow.
What's inside takes my breath away. The ceiling must be at least twenty feet high, and made of black marble. In fact, the entire room is made out of black marble, giving it the atmosphere of importance and elegance. There's an enormous crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and a long, rectangular table in the middle of the room, directly under the chandelier. There are two rows of chairs on either side of the table, and one at each end. I can see our reflection from every wall.
Once I get over my astonishment, I see four people seated at the table, two on the left side, one on the right, and one at the head of the table, with his back to me. I realize it's Peeta and Annie on the left, and Plutarch on the right. Johanna stands behind Peeta and Annie, arms crossed.
When she speaks, her voice bounces off every wall, echoing several times.
"So," she says. "Katniss, Finnick, meet the new Head Gamemaker."
The person with his back to us stands up, and turns around slowly.
I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it! I had to end the chapter with a cliffhanger :) What did you guys think of that? Any guesses on who it might be?
Well, wait and find out!
Have a good day,xx