Summary: Lucetta Wynter, District 4, was one of the few like Finnick to win the games at a young age. And hearing she is to most likely be reaped again is tearing her up inside. She isn't ready to go back, she can't. Not after the few years it's been since that defining moment that decided her fate. But with no other choice she is chosen, along with Finnick and 22 other victors, and is thrown back into the games. What will she think of Katniss and Peeta? Will she blame them for being brought back to the games? Or will she stay as an ally and help them bring down the dome forever?
A/N: Please review and let me know what you think, this idea has been floating around in my head since I saw Mockingjay XOXO (Side note as of 10/4/21: I am currently going through and updating chapters that could use a re-read and fix anything that looks off.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Hunger Games, if I did, it would probably suck because I don't have the patience to write 3 books XD
What people don't understand, is that once you enter the games, it changes you forever. Your a completely different person when you come out.. If, you come out. Some people say they feel the same, but is it really true? Is it possible to leave the same way as you were when you entered? The answer is no. It's just not possible, because the moment the game is over, no, the moment the game starts, your identity is completely changed, stripped down until it is unrecognizable. Your no longer an innocent civilian that was forced to fight for their lives, your a killer. Who, out of 23 others, took the lives of at least half of those people in the same situation as you. And when you return home, all you can think about is how your alive today because you took the life of another. That home will never feel safe again because of all the haunting voices you hear when you sleep and in your dreams. And when it all becomes too much, when you've hit the peak of insanity and feel like you can't go on anymore, is the moment when you start to live with it all and learn how to deal with it. Everyday then becomes a routine: Wake up, eat, go out and work, eat some more, sleep, repeat. All the while the voices criticize you every moment of the day.
That's how life is for sixteen year old Luce Wynter, citizen of District 4, victor of the 73rd Annual Hunger Games. She was put alongside Finnick Odair, another victor from District 4, as one of the youngest to win the games. But no one ever talked about her, just the handsome Finnick Odair that made all the girls swoon except one, Annie Cresta, Finnick's girlfriend. Annie was also a victor of the games, but Luce didn't know what age she was when she won. Even though they were good friends she honestly never cared enough to find out or remember. All Luce cared about was taking the days one step at a time, to keep herself calm and in control. After a year of trying therapy and going about the days at her own pace, it started to get easier for her.
"Luce, Lucy.. Earth to Lucetta!" Luce blinked and jumped at the hand that waved in front of her. Looking up she met the eyes of Finnick. Oh, was it not mentioned that she lived with him? Yes and no. Luce was given her own house in the Victor's Village, but she spent most of her time at Finnick's so they just declared that she lived there. The reason she stays with the District hottie, their words not hers, was because he helped her the most when she returned from the games. He understood what it was like fighting to the death at such a young age, and supported her as she never spoke a word again once she stepped off the train bringing her back to her District. Some thought the Capitol had ripped her tongue out and made her an Avox, when she had really just locked herself so far in her own mind that she stopped talking. But the main reason she stayed with Finnick was because he had taken care of her since she was practically a baby. When she was born, her parent's were happy at first, but then after realizing that they brought another child into the world who would possibly be a future killer, they gave her up. They placed her in a home until the Odair's heard what happened and immediately took her into their home. Even though they aren't related by blood, Luce still likes to think of Finnick as her real family.
She remembers the day he was sent into the games, she was only six at the time. Standing with who she considered family, she watched as the fourteen year old stood up on the stage with the female tribute, ready to be sent out and possibly killed. She remembers watching at home as they showed him on their screen, catching other tributes in a net he was given from a sponsor and stabbing them all to death, resulting in his victory. But that's when he started to change. After he came back, Luce could see the terrors that his eyes held at times. Then there were days he spent at the Capitol, rumors spread that they turned him into a prostitute and had him sleep with women. When he finally returned home again, he became a cocky boy who believed he could do anything. Those were the days he and Luce grew apart. He went on spending his time mentoring other tributes entering the games and traveling with them. It wasn't until Luce's year, when no one volunteered, so they chose names and she was picked that they became closer than ever and he did everything he could to help her get through it all.
"Daydreaming again are we?" Finnick asked drawing her out of her thoughts once more as he sat down across from her eating a piece of fruit. Luce only shrugged as she shrunk down a bit in her chair and stared at her hands. She looked up when she heard him laugh and furrowed her brows in confusion, as in a way of asking him what was so funny. He only shook his head thought and finished the last few bites of food before answering her.
"I'm laughing at you because whenever you look down at your hands, you make a face. It makes you look like your thinking about what novel your going to write." He chuckled again bringing Luce to give a small smile back. She honestly didn't know where she'd be if it weren't for him and all he had done and continues to do for her.
Finnick stretched as he stood, "Well, it's just about time that they start announcing the next Hunger Games, care to join me?" She remembered him mentioning earlier in the day that he was going to be with Annie and Mags when they announced the beginning of the 75th Hunger Games. But Luce planned on going to her abandoned house and looking for some things she hadn't brought with her when moving in with Finnick. So she shook her head and motioned down the way towards said house and he nodded heading for the door. "Well you know where I'll be if you need me." And with that he was gone and across the path at Annie's."
Luce grabbed her shoulder bag and left the house as well. She walked down the path, seagulls flying above her head as he made her way towards a smaller sized house near the back of the village. Walking in she was met with silence, like always when she entered the lifeless house. There were barely any furniture or decorations making the place look as empty as it felt. Putting her bag down near the door she turned on the projection screen and let the blank image cover the wall as she made her way upstairs to grab some clothes and whatever else she had left behind.
She was halfway through folding up a shirt when she heard the familiar anthem that symbolized an announcement from the Capitol was going to be made. Taking a deep breath she put the shirt down and left the room, taking her time coming down the stairs before sitting in the only chair in the room that sat in front of the screen showing no other than President Snow. Everyone cheered in the stadium with him as he approached the microphone holding a small envelope.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the 75th year, of the Hunger Games." He waited for the huge crowd of cheering and shouting to die down before speaking again. "And it was written in the charter of the games, that every 25 years, there would be a Quarter Quell. To keep fresh, for each new generation, the memory of those that died, in the uprising against the Capitol. Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by games of a special significance. And now, on this, the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate the third Quarter Quell-" More applause and cheering from the crowd down below.
"As a reminder, that even the strongest, cannot overcome the power of the Capitol. On this, the third Quarter Quell games, the male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors, in each district."
Luce felt her heart stop. The rest of his speech and all the cheering was drowned out as she stumbled to her feet. Here she was expecting them to send in more children like she had heard happened in the last Quarter Quell, but no, this time all the victors were to prepare to be reaped again. Her eyes widened when she realized that Finnick would have to go back seeing as he was the only male victor still alive. Without thinking Luce ran out of the house as fast as she could and towards Annie's. She was halfway when she saw Finnick come out the door, look around until he spotted her, and run to her closing the remaining distance between them. She couldn't help but let out a sob as she buried her face into his chest. Finnick held her tightly to him and did his best to stop the shaking that ran through her body.
"Shh, shh Luce it's going to be ok. It will all be ok, I promise. We'll get through this together, just like we do with everything else." His words fell on deaf ears as Luce replayed Snow's word's over and over in her head. 'The male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors, in each district. The male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors, in each district.' Luce felt warm hands cup her cheeks and lift her head till she was looking into the eyes that the hands belonged to.
"Look at me Lucetta, it's going to be ok. We'll figure it out, alright?" He reassured her again knowing this time she had heard him. Wiping away the tears from her face, he placed a gentle kiss to her forehead and guided her inside Annie's house where said person and Mags were waiting, looks of sympathy for everyone. When they were inside everyone came into a giant group hug. Finnick and Annie trying to give comforting words to all. But Luce's mind was still in another place, still hanging onto those words that fell from the President's lips. They were going to be reaped again. They were going to send her back. Back to the games.