Be Still

Disclaimer: I still do not own the Hunger Games. Chapter one of my next story will be up this weekend.

Epilogue:

Jonas Tanner - District 7 Victor

Night before the victory Tour for the 18th Annual Hunger Games.

Jonas awoke with a start, though he couldn't say why. It wasn't a nightmare that had awoken him, he never would have acknowledged it if it were. He got nightmares, sure, but they always ended with him sitting in the victor's throne, exactly where he had always known he would be. He attributed it to his strong visualization skills, that he couldn't imagine anything else.

He tried to dismiss it as anticipation for the upcoming tour. He rolled over to see if the day had dawned yet only to see that it was still dark outside. What time was it, he wondered. Glancing at his glow in the dark clock he saw the hour was just after two. Why had he woken up?

He was just about ready to close his eyes again when something caught the corner of his eye, something that resembled a large flame. It wasn't coming from inside the house, but rather from outside the window. He rose from the bed, skeptical, yet alarmed enough to make a move. As he approached the window he could see more clearly the house across the way in the victor's village was being engulfed in flames: Aeden's house.

Without a second thought Jonas sprinted out of the house, his shoes already on. He sprinted across the courtyard, surefooted despite the layer of light snow that already blanketed it. Perhaps Aeden had already escaped, he hoped, scanning the vicinity for any signs of the older victor, but found none.

Jonas took a moment to evaluate the damage. No one was in the area. Had Aeden carelessly left some flame unattended that had started the fire? No, the damage was originating from the furthest corner from Aeden's room, from an area of the house he never used. In the past six months he had familiarized himself with Aeden's movements, mostly because they lived so closely together. Aeden was still as reclusive as ever, maybe even moreso, but he knew this wasn't through negligence. By now he alwo knew with utter certainty that Aeden was still inside, most likely still asleep. Taking a deep breath of clean air Jonas did the only sensible thing he could, he grabbed the door, which, thankfully wasn't yet warm with the heat of the fire and burst into the house. It was only after he did this that Jonas realized the door had been open. He would worry about that later, now he needed to save Aeden.

Making his way through the house, Jonas quickly found Aeden's room. The door remained wide open, just as was Aeden's custom. Sure enough, he remained asleep , despite the increasing heat and smoke from the flames. The far wall of Aeden's room had erupted into flames. Jonas's time was limited.

"Aeden!" he screamed over the blaze as he approached the bed, shaking the other man awake. The fumes must have been getting to him, for Aeden seemed incredibly groggy, difficult to awaken.

"We have to go," Jonas demanded, making a conscious effort to keep his language simple. It was imperative that they escape with great speed, but Aeden was blinking, taking his time to come to. It was clear by the look on his face that he was finding it difficult to comprehend what was going on. The flames were nearly to them, so Jonas wrapped Aeden's arm around his shoulder, forcing him to his feet and then sped with all his strength towards the door, half dragging, half carrying Aeden. It was only as the ceiling of the room collapsed behind them that Aeden seemed to come to, picking up his feet. Together they dashed out the door just as everything seemed to come crashing down behind them. A group of peacekeepers came on the scene in a futile effort to extinguish the fire.

"Thank you," Aeden managed after he had caught his breath enough to speak. As he and Aeden collapsed, both gasping for air, Jonas saw another person lingering just beyond the destruction. He stood, verifying that it wasn't another peacekeeper, but it was clear, even from this distance that it wasn't. She was shorter, a child of about twelve years, but she was staring from across the way with such ferocity, such hatred that Jonas felt entirely confident in his suspicions. She had no reason to have been there, none at all unless the fire had been her doing.

No sooner had he noticed this than a peacekeeper went over to her.

"You. What are you doing here? Who are you?" he demanded. Jonas stepped over, eager to hear the exchange.

"My name is Annette," the girl said darkly, but refused to say anything further. The Peacekeeper looked down at her, then over his shoulder at Jonas. The girl's gaze held tight at him and Jonas knew, despite the darkness, that he recognized her as Bailey's friend, the one they had interviewed in addition to her Aunt Abby for the final 8.

"What were you doing here?" Jonas asked, kneeling down to her level, but keeping his distance. Just as he suspected, the girl chose to talk to him.

"She should have come home," she said. "It's his fault she didn't."

"If your quarrel is with anyone, it is with me. Bailey died at my hand," Jonas clarified.

"That may be, but he's still to blame. He befriended her and then picked you. He has to pay for that."

"No," Jonas said, simply. Jonas felt longed to continue to correct her, to clarify that the outcome of the games had not been Aeden's doing, but his own, to explain to her what Steric had made obvious to him, that Aeden had paid for each and every death, including Bailey's, and it amounted to a heavy weight indeed, but it obviously would do no good. The girl was crying now, shaking with emotion. Jonas felt something inside of him twist, knowing she'd just incriminated herself, but there was nothing to be done about that now. All he could do was minimize the collateral damage.

"We're keeping you in custody," the Peacekeeper said, putting his hand on her shoulder firmly.

"No!" she screamed, but his grip was too firm. Jonas glanced over his shoulder. Aeden was still sitting in the same spot, seemingly oblivious to what was going on. He adjusted himself to a position where he would certainly be blocking the commotion if the other victor were to glance over.

"What will happen to her?" he asked, stalling the Peacekeeper before he dragged the girl off.

"That is for the two of you to decide. We suspected there would be fowl play for some time and now we have confirmation of our fears. It's no wonder Aeden attempted suicide with all of this discontent in the district. She will either be executed today or reaped for the next games, whichever he would prefer" the Peacekeeper stated definitively. "The two of you will vote and if you're unable to reach a consensus we'll consult the president. Either way, we'll announce this later today."

"There is a third alternative," Jonas pressed urgently. Aeden couldn't know about this; it would destroy him. He glanced down at the girl, her eyes wide at having heard her two options, both of which led to certain death. Almost every trace of the fearless would have been murderer were wiped away, leaving only a terrified girl, a terrified little girl who very much reminded him of another, one who had stood on a stage with him only six months ago, one whose memory might claim one last life. "She continues on with her life, monitored so she causes no more problems. If her death is necessary, it happens quietly, peacefully, with the appearance of a natural, albeit untimely peaceful death in her sleep."

The Peacekeeper scoffed and Jonas could almost hear President Emmanuel's voice as the simple man spoke.

"Why would we do that? She made an attempt on both of your lives! She must pay the price."

"She already has," Jonas muttered, unable to resist. It was clear the Peacekeeper hadn't heard him, so more loudly he said "The President would agree to that because I know the truth of a different attempt on a victor's life. I know the difference between suicide, attempted suicide and murder. You can tell the president that I understand the Games are the price we must pay, but there is only so much we can endure. As victors, by the Capitol's own acknowledgment, we have earned some right to peace. Anything further that happens in regards to this manner would destroy that peace, so to balance my own piece, I would be forced to reveal, shall we say, unpeaceful truths." Jonas finished, locking eyes with the man, who nodded slowly. It was evident in his eyes, in the way he glanced down at the image of the presidential seal buttoned to his uniform, that he understood the implications of Jonas's words. Slowly his hand released the girl's shoulder.

"You remember this," he told Annette gruffly as he released her, shoving her to the ground. She nodded, her eyes still wide.

It was over, Jonas knew, as he watched her flee the scene. He returned to Aeden's side. That morning they began the victory tour, through the districts, to the Capitol and then back to district seven, all without incident. It was all spectacularly glorious, Jonas thrived on every moment of it, the speeches to the crowds, meeting the rest of the victors and Capitol well-to-does, and all of the other festivities. And then, at last, they found themselves back in District seven. Aeden moved into one of the vacant houses in the victor's village and they continued their now "ordinary" lives. Jonas could only hope that his actions that night had indeed helped both of them on a path to more permanent peace.

"Caesar, now be still.

I killed not thee with half so good a will."