The Search For Home

by Maleficent-darkgoodwitch2416

Two months after leaving Nanthia, Cinderella enters the Hunger Games. She returns to Nanthia five years later, a changed woman—emotionally and psychologically scarred from what she endured—as a tribute and rebel. Will she be able to recover from the traumatic events of the arena and fight her past? Or will Lady Tremaine prevent a full recovery for her former stepdaughter and maid?

5. Return to Tremaine Manor

Memories began assaulting Rella's mind—unfortunately, very few were pleasant. The predominant memory was of her final encounter with her stepmother.

"I don't care what you do or where you go," the older woman intoned. "But you stay away from the palace. Stay away from the Prince. Oh, and clean up that broken glass."

Samar touched his beloved's arm and glanced at her face—sometimes her mind would return to the arena when she was in difficult situations.

Rella gulped and yelled up the stairs—the same thing she had cried when she was declared the Victor of the Seventieth Hunger Games—"YOU'RE WRONG, STEPMOTHER! YOU'RE WRONG! DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU ARE WRONG! I AM GOOD FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN SERVING! I AM GOOD FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN BEING A MAID FOR SOMEONE ELSE! I AM GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN THE HUNGER GAMES—WHICH YOUR DAUGHTERS NEVER COULD DO!"

Then she nodded to her husband—she was ready to leave.

The two returned to the hotel and immediately saw that Johanna Mason was there, looking after the girls.

Rella hugged her fellow Victor and then asked, "Did Girl on Fire send you?"

Johanna paused and Samar clarified, "Mockingjay—did she send you?"

Johanna nodded and said, "Yeah, but just stay out of trouble. Oh, and there's a ball tonight. Apparently, Princess Drizella—what kind of name is that?—and Prince Edward of Naithia are coming to visit and since you two will be at the palace, I told Katniss I'd help and look after Lily and Mary. She meant to give you this as well."

Johanna handed Rella a package and the young mother slowly opened it and pulled out a dress identical to Katniss' interview dress from the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games.

Rella grinned and then began to laugh. Johanna and Samar looked at each other and then at Rella, expectantly. "Remember how my name used to be Cinderella? Well, I used to tend the kitchen fire and the other fires as well as other household chores—"

"Fire Girl," Johanna cried out.

Rella and Samar nodded in agreement. Rella looked at the dress again, silently saying this dress for the ball tonight. Samar nodded in agreement and murmured, "With you in that dress, the whole ball will light up."

All five—Rella, Samar, Johanna, Lily, and Mary—began laughing.