By the time Cassius comes to join me by the window the screens have changed back to their prior broadcasts, which in this case is a recap of Athena and Cassius' funerals.
My heart is beating loudly in my chest when Cassius joins my side.
"What happened?" He asks me. I look up at him, wondering how he knew about the message on the screens from his distance. I quickly realize he was simply referring to the commotion outside and recompose myself.
"Oh. Must have been some rioters or something. Peacekeepers took them away." I tell him, focusing on the people below. Many of them are making their way out of the square, likely wanting to avoid any more possible violence. I don't notice my shaking until Cassius grabs my hand.
"You okay?" He asks me. "You're trembling."
I shake my head quickly and look up at him.
"Fine." I say a little too quickly, causing him to give me a look that tells me he has doubts.
"I should be asking you if you're okay." I reply.
"Did you watch your funeral?" I ask him. He turns and leans his back on the glass of the window and crosses his arms.
"I thought about it. Some of the others did, but I couldn't. I didn't want to see a bunch of people pretending to be sad about my 'death'. But I really didn't want to see my sister standing alone." His voice is terribly sad when he mentions his sister but he quickly continues.
"Enough of this sad stuff. We'll have time for that later." He raises a hand to my face and brushes away a strand of hair that has fallen over my cheek.
"See you in the morning." He says before giving me a quick kiss. I try and smile, but my mind refuses to relay the message to my muscles. Cassius frowns slightly and I make my way to the door. Before I leave he says one last thing.
"You know, I think I've always had a thing for blondes." I look back at him and he shoots me a wink.
"So do a lot of guys, get in line." I reply flirtatiously, surprised I could do that and yet not be able to smile.
I slip out of his room and make my way back to my own room. The halls are lit by a dim line of lights on the ceiling, just bright enough to illuminate the floors. The words on the screen occupy my thoughts as I walk alone.
Free the Mellarks. The people of the district were chanting that at my reaping, and Dew told me how the public knew my parents were being manipulated by the government, but I always thought that expression was only used for Rye and I referring to our freedom from the games. I find it troubling that it seems to have gone much further than this.
When I reach my room I find my hands shaking heavily. So much so that it takes me longer than it should to successfully open my door. I turn on the lights with a switch and find the medical machines have been removed from my bedside. I walk over to the bed and find a pair of black pyjama pants and a white shirt, similar to those Cassius was wearing. I strip and re-dress, enjoying the feeling of fresh clothes. I'd been wearing the same clothes my entire time in the arena, and I presume the same clothes since I was brought here until I woke up early today.
I'm reminded of how long a day it's been when a long yawn exits my lungs. I gladly pull the sheets of the bed back and lay down only to remember I left the lights on. I groan and get up, crossing the cold tile floor with bare feet. When I reach the switch I feel something odd beneath one of my feet and look down to see a folded piece of paper on the ground. I bend over and pick up the paper and unfold it, revealing a paragraph of writing.
Willow,
You're the only friend I've got. I'm so sorry. I don't blame you if you hate me, but this is so hard for me. Not that it isn't hard for you too, but this is all so new. Please forgive me.
-Athena
I resold the paper in two and ponder Athena's note. I don't hate her, but her comments bothered me. I sigh and decide to let it be and flick off the light switch. I carefully make my way back to the bed and place the note on the table beside my bed. I pull up the covers and roll over, enjoying the comfort of a real bed for the first time in what feels like an eternity.
I fall asleep with thoughts of Rye and the words 'Free the Mellarks' occupying my thoughts.
The next morning I'm awoken by the smells of cooking that drift into my room. I rub my eyes with a relaxed fist and open them to find the room is almost completely bright. I see from a clock on the wall that it's nearly eleven, a remarkable time for me to sleep until, saying how I'm usually an early riser.
I swing my feet over the edge of the bed and run a hand through my hair, surprised once again to feel the new strands inserted of the ones I've known for eighteen years. I notice a small bag by the door and cross the room to retrieve it.
Inside the white bag I find an olive green
t-shirt and a pair of black pants. I quickly change into the clothes, once again pleased to smell detergent and feel the softness of new clothes. There's no mirror in the room, so I do my best to detangle my hair with my fingers before I exit my room.
As I get closer to the main area of the floor we occupy I hear voices grow louder, however they all seem cheerful.
"And then she said; Where did the bag of apples go?" I recognize this voice as that belonging to the newly named Apollonia, or Cora, from Eleven.
"And then the guy said; With the dog!" A round of laughter erupts from the room after I hear Dale make another comment. I feel my heart rate pick up when I hear his voice. I can't help but feel some disdain for the boy, saying how he did kill me and all.
I turn the corner and see nearly everyone sitting around a table, with some standing in the kitchen area huddled around a stove. Apollonia takes notice of me when I enter the room and waves me over.
"Anastasia, come over. Dale and I were just telling how eight bags of apples went missing last year, and it turned out a dog was behind it all." Apollonia calls, gesturing to an empty seat between her and Dale. I hesitantly make my way over and attempt to flash her a smile.
"So what's it like in Twelve?" A boy from across the table asks me. I shrug as I sit next to Apollonia.
"It's nothing special really." I begin. I can see based in others looks they are legitimately interested so I do my best to describe my district.
"There are a lot of woods around, but they're supposed to be restricted. My mother would take me out sometimes. But really there are the mines. I've only been down once or twice but they're what you'd expect; dark and dirty." I pause, trying to think of other details to add.
"The people are mostly nice, there's a lot of poverty so people like to share what they have."
"Is it true Twelve has the highest tesserae reared in Panem?" The redheaded girl named Isadora asks.
"Probably, there are a lot of big families so most kids take it." I explain.
"Did you?" Shea asks. The girl sitting next to him elbows him in the ribs.
"Her parents are both Victors, of course not you idiot." She tells him in a loud whisper.
"I did." I reply. This causes everyone around the table to look at me. This makes me feel quite awkward, but I continue.
"I felt bad having enough food when everyone else was starving. I took tesserae and would give the supplies to kids so they could make it a little easier."
Everyone remains silent and watches me for a moment. Suddenly a plate of food is placed on the table in front of me. I look up and see Cassius standing behind me with a grin on his face.
"Thanks." I say, and gratefully look down at the plate. I recognize the toast and egg on the plate but am confused at the sight of a pair of brown strips on the plate.
"Never seen bacon before?" Dale asks me. I look up quickly and see he no longer looks like the person who killed me, but an attractive looking guy I'd expect to wear a suit everyday.
"Try it." Apollonia encourages me. I hesitantly pick up one of the strips and bite off a piece. I instantly spit it out when the saltiness overwhelms my taste buds. A laughter fills the room and I feel myself turn beet red.
"I'll take it then." I hear Troy says when a hand reaches over and snatches both strips of bacon from my plate. I pick up a piece of toast and look up at my mentor as he chews the meat.
"Your job postings will be posted by Dew today. We tried to give you something you'd like, but our options are limited. I've got to head back to Twelve today so you'll be with Dew from now on. I'll try to keep in touch as best as I can, but you'll all have to try and integrate yourselves on your own, it'll be hard but worth it." Troy takes another large bite of his stolen bacon.
"You'll each get a thousand in currency to get you started in the Capitol, then you'll be on your own for finances. Gourd and Aymeline I've talked to you before, your foster homes will be coming soon. As you the rest of you, we've got four apartments and a job for each of you lines up." I immediately realize there will be two of us to an apartment and I can't help but wonder who I'll live with.
Troy take a look over his shoulder at a clock on the wall.
"Shit, I have to go, but good luck all of you. Stay out of trouble." He says as he grabs his leather briefcase and swings the strap over his shoulder. I watch him walk over to the elevators and wait for one to arrive.
I owe him my life. We all do.