A/N: Slight trigger warning for disturbing content.

Monika Mendoza, age 35
District 2 Mentor and Victor of the 27th Hunger Games

One month before the Reapings of the 44th Games

The train ride back to District 2 is always a relatively short one due to my home District's close proximity to the Capitol. Despite the commute taking only a few hours, I'm bothered by Capitolites of various kinds. I'm sorry for your loss, Monika. Why would Sayori do this, Monika? What will happen to your club now, Monika? Some of them back off when it's clear that I'm a little distracted and don't really want to talk. The one I'm currently engaged with, however, doesn't seem to get the hint.

"How will Sayori's death impact the coming Hunger Games?" they ask, fiddling with their multicolored boa. "I understand that she was quite popular among the Victors. Will they be well enough to mentor?"

"I suppose that depends on the individual Victor," I murmur, willing the train to hurry up so I can get back home. I have business in District 2.

One month before the start of each Hunger Games, every District's Victors must somehow notify the Gamemakers who will mentor. District 2 has already decided that I will mentor along with Archer Smith, Victor of the 32nd Games and a good friend of mine. I don't have a problem with mentoring this year, but I still need to talk to Archie.

"Did you see the official Mentor Roster?" the Capitolite I'm talking to continues. "Are the Victors even allowed to make changes to the Mentor Roster after it has been released? It happened this year, because of Sayori, but other than this year I honestly don't recall any time it's happened…"

"Are you interested in sponsoring the District 2 tributes this year?" I ask. If I can't get this person off my back, I could at least start doing my job as Mentor.

"I was looking more at District 4, to give them a little boost after what happened," the Capitolite says. "What a tragedy."

"I see," I say, enervated. "Obviously you can allocate your sponsor funds however you like, but may I interest you in District 2 as well? We do often produce contenders. Maybe, in the Games, you can send a morale boost to Two as well as Four."

The person I'm talking to doesn't pick up on my listlessness. Man, this really isn't working. Normally I can charm sponsors without a problem, but now honestly does not feel like the time to charm sponsors. I feel so out of it.

Which is why I need to talk to Archer.

The Capitolite with the rainbow boa keeps me occupied all the way to District 2. Once the train pulls into the station, I waste no time in disembarking even though I'm pretty sure I haven't convinced the Capitolite to sponsor my District. Thankfully Archie and I both live within walking distance to the train station, and I hurry over to my fellow Mentor's house in the Victor's Village. I ring the doorbell, slightly out of breath. Archer Smith answers the door, smiling, but his face quickly falls.

"Monika?" Archer murmurs. "You look like a mess. And I mean that in the most serious way possible, considering what happened. Do you need anything? Come in, come in."

"I only need a few minutes," I say, staying at my fellow Victor's doorstep. "It's about Sayori."

"What can I do for you?" Archer asks softly, concern etched on his face.

"I'm still going to mentor alongside you," I say, avoiding Archer's gaze, "but I may need you to do a bit of double duty. I know that Sayori's death was officially ruled as a suicide, but I don't believe that in the slightest. Once we're in the Capitol I'm going to do a bit of investigation."

"Dude, you're going to get in so much trouble," Archer murmurs, stone-faced.

"How much trouble can there be?" I say, my voice strained. "I've already survived the Hunger Games and now the death of one of my best friends. Really though, please don't worry about me. You can't talk me out of this. If people get suspicious, just tell them you're not involved, which is the truth anyways."

"I can't just stand by and let you do this alone," Archer says.

"Please Archer," I say, sighing, "do me this one favor and let me take on this burden by myself. Focus on Jason and Sequoia, and do everything you can to get one of them out of the Games alive. I'm counting on you."

"I'm not so sure about this, but since you're so insistent, alright," Archer murmurs. "Take care, okay? I'd hate to see you get hurt."

"I'll be careful, I promise," I say. "See you later, Archer."

"See you soon, Monika."

I leave Archer's house behind and walk to my own house in the Victor's Village. My phone buzzes. Shit, that wasn't my first notification. My fellow Literature Club members must be worried about me.

Monika are you alright? Yuri filled me in. I'm on my way back to District 4.

That's the first text, which is from P.C. I answer it, telling him that I've made it back to District 2. I text the rest of the Literature Club - Yuri and Natsuki - and tell them the same thing. I almost text Sayori as well when I remember that she's dead. I wipe away a tear.

I deal with the rest of my notifications as I make my way back to my empty house. I step in and close the door behind me. That's when I receive a text from an unknown number. It's an image file.

happy thoughts
happy thoughts
happy thoughts

The text is handwritten next to a crude stick figure drawing of Sayori Mizushima with a rope tied around her neck.

I shove my phone back into my pocket and collapse onto the ground, a pounding in my head as the hole in the wall gets bigger.

A/N: What did you think of Monika? Please let me know what you think of this chapter! Next up will be the District 1 Reaping, which will introduce our first tributes, Morgan Chatelaine and Glitz Mayfair.

Thanks for reading, and may the odds be ever in your favor!