A/N: Well, this is, the official sequel of Beg Me For Mercy! There will be two prologues and this is the first. There are a few things that I would like to change with this SYOT, namely trying to write a little bit more and probably quicker updates. With the cast we have so far, it should be fairly easy to get motivation for this so thank you to everyone who has submitted.
Welcome to wonderland
We've got it all
Potions and pastries that make you grow tall
Forests and cottages, castles and cards that can talk
Kathryn Mallerd
Victor of The 23rd Annual Hunger Games
(District 3, Victor's Village)
...
I don't want to face it again. I don't want to be put back into the position that I've been trying so hard to get myself out of. One of fear and mistrust, and the never ending nightmares, they come to me every night and every night they die all over again. Some nights are worse than others, all in all, every night is miserable. I had asked to take some time off, to focus on myself, but the ruthless Capitol doesn't make exceptions - at least that's what President Beaumont made clear to me.
The four walls that now surround me have been my home for the last year, I only ever leave when I'm obliged to do so and, even then, it isn't for extensive periods of time. Dawson, my older brother, often visits me but he's really the only person I ever see. He dropped in today to let me know that he asked to take Tara's spot as my co-mentor, the only thing that had caused me any relief about mentoring was that I would be replacing Dawson. Now I'll be forced to deal with him for a whole month.
I've been mostly keeping myself busy with my paintings for the past couple of months, gently stroking a canvas with a brush has proven to be a coping mechanism for me in a way that I never would have guessed. I've painted each one for every tribute that was lost during my Games, ever since I left the arena, I've felt as if it was my duty to honour their memories. Currently, the face of Vinicio and Carina seem to be coming to life in the form of my artworks, they lay side by side and are holding hands. Their eyes are closed, I'd like to think I did it to show them sleeping peacefully but that's untrue.
I had gained a lot of my inspiration from watching my Games, my therapist had thought it would give me closure. She had been wrong, all I saw when I had watched it was the horrors that had been experienced by others instead of myself. I had seen the struggles that everyone had gone through while fighting through The Games and I had felt the guilt consume me yet again, I thought only of how they had fought so much harder than me. I shake the thoughts out of my head, I can't let myself go back to that place, not when The Games are so close.
I take a deep breath and step away from the painting of Vinicio and Carina. There are others spread around the room, even one of Silver. Silver had caused me a lot of pain in the arena, he had made me feel worthless but I know that nobody will remember the arrogant boy from District One. He's gone because of me, I may not have killed him but I am the reason he is dead and I wouldn't forgive myself if i didn't allow him to live on in my memory.
I look out the window, staring out at the street of the Victor's Village. The streetlights still shine in the darkness of the night and I can still make out Tara's house that opposes mine. It's identical to mine, identical to every other house in this Village, my parents and Dawson live in the house beside me. My parents have never really made an effort to see me now that The Games are over, I don't blame them, I made it clear that I didn't want anything to do with them after how hard they had pushed me to volunteer. How they had ruined my life.
I jump as I see something black sprint through the shining light of the lamppost closest to my home. My eyes search for him and my heart beats rapidly with fear. I must be seeing things again. I tell myself, although, I don't believe it. I know what I saw. I jump again as the familiar sound of my doorbell sounds throughout the house, it's only ever been used by Dawson. Capitol Officials usually knock. I creep down the stairs holding my breath with every sound I make.
I make it to my redwood door at the front of my house and look through the golden looking glass that goes through it. I see nobody out there, however, that only scares me more. Either I'm driving myself insane or someone is trying to break in, I burst open the door and expect to find a man in poverty who is simply looking for some food. Instead, I'm met with a bag over my head and the sound of shrilling screams. The screams are my own. I tackle the person but they are much stronger than I am and easily overpower me, picking me up in their arms. That's when I hear the familiar voices of Tara and Dawson, shouting my name, the person who had been holding me dropped me suddenly and without warning, slipping the bag off of my head and running into the distance.
When Tara and Dawson finally find me, I am cowering on the floor with tears flowing from my eyes. They think I'm insane. They'll never believe me.
A/N: There are only a few spots left to submit to! Find that information on my profile. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I really had a lot of fun writing it and I hope it sets a tone for the SYOT. I do want to take this author's note to remind everyone that I'm only 15-years-old. I'm far from a perfect writer and I likely won't ever reach that, however, I do want to try my best to make this story enjoyable for everyone and I will do this to the best of my ability. Constructive criticism is always welcomed but criticism for the sake of criticism is just hurtful.
- Neb