Most of today is spent chatting amongst ourselves and watching television. I've learned a lot from today, particularly that Dale isn't as horrible as a human being as I thought. Really, I only hated him because he killed me, but after talking to him I realized he and I are incredibly similar in our motivations. he wanted to win the money for his younger brothers.
I've spent much of the day catching up with Kai, who has now claimed the new name Jasper. He was killed early on, so he watched most of the games live from here, unaware of plans that were being formed within the arena.
"I didn't think you and Cassius would leave Athena and Daria behind, I figured you'd end up coming back." He says. I find myself toying with a pencil, manipulating it aimlessly between my fingers as we talk.
"It was a tough decision, but we knew we'd have to eventually." I reply, my voice lacking almost all emotion.
"Did you know Daria well?" I ask him, afraid to meet his new brown eyes. He wears glasses now, however I don't know if they're prescription or not.
"Yeah, we worked together on a trawler ship." he says. I look up at him curiously.
"Trawler?" I ask, unfamiliar with the term.
"Boats that drag nets to catch fish, there aren't a lot of them, most of the fishing is done with small boats, but there are still a few." He explains.
My attention is suddenly averted to the television when I hear Ryes name.
"Today we'll be re showing the Victor ceremony of the victor of the Ninety-Fourth Hunger Games, Rye Mellark!" One of the hosts, Deion announces. I sit up straighter and notice most people in the room have ceased their conversations and are watching me. I ignore them as my heart rate picks up as I await seeing my brother.
"As you all know, the end of the games was quite tragic, with Ryes beloved sister being one of his two remaining opponents. After she was mortally wounded by Dale of district Eleven Rye proceeded to kill Dale, leaving him alone with his dying sister." Deion explains as the camera cinematically circles the stands of Capitolites awaiting the crowning ceremony.
"Rye was obviously quite affected by his sisters role in the games, as it was revealed during her final moments that she'd spent her time in the games trying to protect him from a distance. We also saw the tearful goodbyes to her fiance from home, Cliff Narin." The camera begins to focus on President Arevalo as she takes her place at the podium. I take slight notice of the silent tears that wet my cheeks as she begins to introduce my brother.
"After overcoming the many difficult trials that were contained within the arena, our sole Victor is to be honoured and crowned victorious today, before all of Panem. He represents the ideal of Panem and demonstrates the ideals of our youth, strength, valor, and perseverance in the face of adversity." She pauses to allow a round of applause as I watch Rye walk out onto the stage, and is left standing before a throne-like chair made of what appears to be gold. I watch as the cameras zoom in on his face, which looks older than I've ever seen. His eyes are red and swollen, even despite the massive amounts of makeup that have been applied to mask his faults. I notice my chain with Cliffs ring around his neck and I find some comfort in this.
The president withdraws a wooden box and holds it for the cameras to see.
"This Victors crown has been awarded to each Victor of the Games since the first annual Hunger Games. Today we award it to Rye Mellark, the third Mellark to win the crown." Again there are applause as the room I sit in is completely silent. I am vaguely aware of Cassius sitting next to me, taking Kai's spot, but my focus is on the video of my brother, who seems to be a lifetime away.
Rye stands and the president approaches him with the crown. Every inch of my being is screaming out at me to look away, but I simply can't. The president shares a few inaudible words with Rye, to which he doesn't reply. I look down at his hands, which I see are clenched tightly in fists, but i notice his knuckles are red and scabed, he's been violent recently.
The president places the crown on his head and the crowd applauds for a long time before the camera cuts back to Deion in the studio.
"We'll be back tonight to cover the funerals of District's Four, Five, and Six. These include Daria and Kai, both of whom were in the group of so called Careers during their time in the games. We'll also bid farewell to the young Shawna and Albert of five as well as Ashina and Darrow of Six. We hope to see you tonight." The screen cuts over to advertisements and someone turns it off.
The room remains silent as I continue to stare at the blank screen that had just showed me my brother.
Eventually the others fade back into conversation while Cassius continues to sit with me in silence on the couch.
"He looked horrible." I say in a near whisper.
"He's probably beating himself up over this. He does think you're dead after all." Cassius says. I shoot him a glare to show him that his words don't help.
"Sorry." He says instinctively and we resume our silence.
After what I predict was five minutes, theres a ding at the elevator. I turn my head and see Dew walk out with a file folder open in her hands. The room goes silent when we all realize what this means. We're about to get our job assignments. Dew looks up from her papers and waves one in the air.
"I've got your jobs." She announces with a smile. This is the happiest I think I've ever seen her. She brings down the paper and clears her throat.
"Cassius, or Cal Yule now, you'll be a Peacekeeper." I look over to Cassius and I see him smiling, obviously happy with his placement.
"Athena, or Lea Elder, you're an apprentice stylist for District Nine." Athena gasps and smiles brightly, I look up at her as she can hardly stand still. Dew laughs and continues reading off her list.
"Gourd, your new family will be up shortly to take you as well as Aymeline. Kai, you're now Jasper Lascius and you'll be training as a chef in one of the restaurants in the square, you'll be shown which later." Kai is smiling as well. So far all the placements really fit the individual, I find myself anxiously wringing my hands in anticipation of my job.
"Ashina, you're Isadora Wellwood and a shopkeeper, again I'll show you later. Leo, you'll be a shopkeeper as well and called Case Sutherland. Dale, you're Lennox Dunnet and you'll be working as a game maker." Dew closes her folder and addresses us again.
"You'll all be leaving for your apartments and homes tonight. I'll show you all your new places of work. Some of you will have an official from your job meet you tomorrow, especially the peacekeepers. Some of the peacekeepers could be deployed as soon as the day after tomorrow. If you have any belongings pack them now, we leave in an hour." Dew says. A feeling of confusion surges through me. I didnt get a job. I try and catch Dews eye, but she quickly closes her folder and makes her way over to Apollonia first. She talks to her briefly and I see a look of panic cross Apollonia's face. Dew then makes her way over to me and I feel my heart pick up. She looks at Cassius and he takes the hint. He gives me a look of support and stands, going over to talk with Athena.
"Come with me." Dew says. I quickly stand and take a look over my shoulder at Cassius and Athena. I see both of them look at me with faces that tell me they're just as confused as I am. I take notice of Apollonia who is also following Dew.
"Do you know what this is about?" She asks me. I shake my head.
"No idea." I tell her.
Dew turns into a room and closes the door behind us, leaving us to talk freely.
"What's this about?" Apollonia asks as soon as Dew turns to face us.
"Everything is alright." Dew assures us, rubbing her forehead. She looks at both of us in turn, a serious expression on her face.
"You two have been assigned a very important task." She tells us.
"You both have been assigned as Presidential Peacekeepers, part of President Arevalo's personal security team."
"Why?" I ask her, confused at the whole situation.
"Because you're both smart, and you both are capable of this." Dew tells me.
"You're going to have to gain her trust, do whatever it takes to get her to respect you. It's crucial you get close to her and that she trusts you."
"Why do we need to get close to her? You don't want us to assassinate her or something, right?" Apollonia asks. Dew shakes her head.
"No, nothing like that. Well, actually kind of. We need you to get close to her so you can convince her the districts are at the risk of rebelling. We need you to convince her to end the games, eradicate the district system and untie Panem as one again. We need to stop this before it turns into an anarchy."
"You want us to change Panem." I confirm. Dew looks me in the eyes.
"I want you to bring it back to it's former glory."