Cassius never asks me what brought this one, and he never questions why I've finally given into the pain of the games that everyone else felt so long ago. He just lets me cry until I finally find there are no tears left to fall.
"I've got a surprise for you." He tells me after I stop, causing me to look up at him.
"Oh?" I ask, leaning against the marble counter, wiping my cheeks with my palm.
Cassius has a smile on his face and takes a step back, turning around and walking back to the door. When he returns he's holding a brown bag in his arms and places it on the counter.
He reaches in and pulls out some kind of meat I don't recognize as well as some spices, a few of which I can identify.
"And what do you plan to do with this?" I ask Cassius, looking over the various foods on the counter.
"Cook it." He says matter-of-factly. I scoff.
"You can cook?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. He rolls his eyes.
"You doubt me?" He asks confidently and I nod slightly.
"Ouch." He says, feigning pain as he looks at the meat, trying to figure out some way to cook it.
"I'll leave you to it then." I say, remembering the envelope Gale gave me to read before tomorrow morning.
I walk over to the table I left the envelope on, thankful that Cassius is far too involved with his task to notice the envelope. I take it and bring it into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.
I sit on the edge of the bed and hold the brown envelope in my hands before I tear open the top and withdraw a long sheet of paper covered in writing.
Anastasia Briggs
It reads in large letters at the top.
You have been selected for an official presidential outing of Her Honour President Arevalo of Panem. Due to recent events, the Presidential security team has deemed it necessary that Her Honour be under constant guard to ensure the safety of Panem's government.
On the Eighteenth of August of this year, Her Honour will travel via hovercraft to the Twelfth District of Panem located on the central North-Eastern region of Panem. Her Honour will take part in the funeral service of fallen tribute of the Ninety Fourth Hunger Games, Willow Mellark, and speak with Victor, Rye Mellark.
After said funeral, Her Honour will spend a brief amount of time (approx. two hours) visiting locals from the Twelfth District including the friends and family of the deceased tribute, Willow Mellark.
At six of the eventing (1800), Her Honour will board the presidential hovercraft for a return flight to the Capitol. Said flight will last approximately six (6) hours and must depart on time. Failure to do so may result in criminal repercussions.
Due to the importance of Her Honour's security and well-being, no member of the security team is to disclose their role in the excursion. All employees of the security team are to tell those who question their absence on the eighteenth of August that they have been offered a position on a tour of the Presidential Mansion for the day.
Signed,
Gale Hawthorne
Senior Staff and Advisor to Presidential Security of Panem
I look up from the letter and ponder for a moment. I'll actually be going back home to twelve tomorrow. I'll actually be able to see Rye, my mother, and my father, let alone everyone else like Cliff and Amethyst.
Just as I begin putting away the letter I hear Cassius open the door. I immediately his the letter and envelope behind my back and straighten up, trying to hide any evidence he may be able to see. By the look on his face, I have no doubt Cassius saw me. He furrows his eyebrows and asks;
"What do you have there?" He asks, stepping into the room. I thick quickly.
"Oh, I was walking around with Apollonia today, and some guys from the president's mansion gave us these. Turns out they're doing tours of the mansion and invited some people from the public." I tell him, quickly flashing the envelope, making sure he wouldn't be able to read any printing.
"Huh. Cool. Well food is ready." He tells me with a smile and guides me out of the room. Before I leave I take a quick look over my shoulder at the brown envelope laying on the bed.
"That was disgusting." I tell Cassius, jabbing the blackened meat on my plate with a fork, hardly making a dent in the rock hard 'food'.
Cassius mocks offence and gasps.
"After all the hard work I put into that." He says, feigning offence.
"You tried." I say, putting the plate of the glass table in front of us. "Probably better than I could do." I add, laying down on the couch, my head ending up in his lap.
"I'd like to see that." He says with a laugh.
We sit in silence for a few minutes. Cassius begins playing with my hair as the silence of the room is interrupted only by my humming.
"What song is that?" He asks me. I shrug slightly.
"No idea. My mom used to sing it to me when I was little, I don't know why I remember it now." I lie. I do know why I remember it. Because I'll be seeing her face to face tomorrow.
Cassius smiles and the silence begins again. I try and let my mind go blank, but then an image of Cliff pops into my head. I can't help but think about how I've hurt him.
I volunteered when we agreed we'd go as long as we could and then marry after we were both out of eligibility for the games. When I met Cassius in the arena I began a romance with him, while being engaged to Cliff. And then I died. I had a chance to go home and I chose to let Rye go home instead of me. I close him over Cliff.
As if Cassius can read my mind and just wants to make me suffer more, he speaks.
"You know the first time I knew I loved you?" He asks me, and I shake my head.
The hand that plays with my hair stops and he raises his eyes, staring at some invisible spot on the wall.
"When we were in the arena when it started getting cold. You gave Athena and Daria your jacket. You put people trying to ultimately kill you before yourself. And then When I told you, you just kept saying how they needed it more, and that you were used to it." He pauses and looks back down at me.
"I can't imagine anyone else I'd rather be with." He says. I immediately freeze and feel tears beginning to well up around my eyes. I sit up and stand from the couch. I hear Cassius calling me, but I grab my shoes and open the front door to the apartment, running out. I feel the tears streaming over my eyes, running down my cheeks. My vision is so blurred I nearly trip multiple times. I eventually reach the elevators and press the call button. Just as the doors open I hear Cassius calling my name from down the hall, his footsteps loud as he runs.
"Willow!" He calls again as I step into the elevator, pressing the close button. The doors close slowly, just barely closing Cassius out. I hear him banging on the metal doors as the lift begins to move downward. I lean back against the far wall and let the tears continue to fall as the elevator moves down to the lobby floor.
"Rough night huh?" A woman asks near me. Only when she speaks to I notice her. I straighten up and wipe my face with the back of my hand as I turn to face the woman. She's probably in her thirties, however it's hard to tell with everyone in the Capitol having undergone surgery of some sort.
"I was going to go get a drink, but I think you look like you need one." She says. I shake my head.
"I don't drink." I say quietly. Looking down at the ground, having to concentrate nearly all my effort on not crying.
"You sure look like you need one right about now." She says cocking her head to look at me.
"No thanks." I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
"How about a coffee then?" She offers.
"I don't have any money." I tell her, trying to avoid further conversation.
"Listen sweetheart, I want to give you a hand here. I've been in bad relationships too, guys have hurt me too. Let me help you out." She says.
I look up quickly.
"He didn't hurt me." I say, quick to defend Cassius.
The woman pauses for a moment before she speaks.
"No physically. But he did something. Let me help you out." She says.
I don't reply, which allows her to add on.
"There's a coffee shop just two or three blocks down. Let's talk there. Deal?" She offers
I take a moment before nodding my head. The woman smiles and once the doors open I follow her out into the street.