Whiteness is what greets her when she wakes. The ceiling, the walls, the door. White. Looking down she sees her arm has multiple tubes sticking out of it. Her hands, waist, and legs are strapped down to the bed. Obviously, she can't be trusted without restraints. Taiya began to panic and viciously tugged against her restraints.
"Don't fight against it," Moxie spoke quietly from a seat beside Taiya's head.
"Get them off me! I want them off," Taiya pleaded as she tugged them again.
"I'll let them know you're awake, the doctors have been waiting to assess you. Maybe they'll let one arm free so you can eat," she said as she stood up and left the room.
Taiya began kicking wildly, allowing some tears to fall as she fought against the restraints. The door flung open and Finnick ran into the room, heading right to her bedside as he took ahold of her hand. "Of course you wake up the moment I leave the room," he breathed in relief.
"Get these off of me," Taiya cried as she tried to pull out of his grasp.
"Yeah, yeah of course," he nodded as he undid the Velcro on her wrists. As soon as she was free she immediately jerked her hand away from him and rubbed her wrists.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Just a day. They're worried about you. The doctors aren't quite sure how to treat you properly. They're worried about their safety," he said quietly.
"Why? Because I killed one of them?" Taiya asked.
"Yeah," he nodded. "It's ok though, no one blames you, Tyler and I have been telling them it was an accident. You were just confused."
"No, I wasn't. I knew what I was doing," Taiya confirmed.
"What?" he asked shocked.
"I told them to get away, but they didn't," she huffed as she ran a hair through her clean, soft hair. Running her hand over where Cotton had smashed her head she winced.
"Your head was hurt really bad, the medicine they gave you hasn't had time to work properly yet," Finnick told her, gently pulling her hand away. As he held her hand again she finally looked over at him and her chin began to wobble as her emotions bubbled to the surface. "Hey, you're ok," he reassured, coming closer and leaning down near her face. "It's over, you're free."
"You know better than anyone that I'm not," she whispered. His eyes fell, but he didn't reply. "I just want to go home," she sobbed.
"There are a few things to do before we can go home, but we'll be back soon."
"Mr. Odair!" a doctor yelled as they entered the room. "She doesn't have a release order, who authorized you to remove the restraints?"
"She didn't want them on. She should be comfortable," Finnick defended, standing up quickly, but keeping his hold on her hand.
"She's a danger."
"You'll be fine. Just do your evaluation," he snapped.
"Miss Ambersnow," the doctor smiled hesitantly. "You attacked a doctor and a Peacekeeper on the hovercraft, we're just wondering if there's a reason why."
Taiya squeezed Finnick's hand as she tried to keep her rage tempered. "I asked them to get away and they didn't."
"You didn't think you were still in the arena?" the doctor asked.
"No. I knew where I was," she hissed as she pulled her hand back, her mood flipping like a switch.
"Well, obviously we can't sign your official release until we're certain you're not a danger to those around you."
"I killed 7 people. Of course, I'm a danger," Taiya spat. "Just get out of here! Get out of my room!" she screamed as she began thrashing against her waist and leg restraints. "Everyone get out! Just leave me alone!"
"Taiya!" Finnick yelled out, trying to calm her down as he grabbed her arm. She went to attack him only stopping when her eyes met his. Before she could say anything further, the doctor ran across to the bed and pressed a button, sending a stream of sedative into her arm and putting her back to sleep.
Whenever Taiya woke up after that, the room was completely empty, but a bowl of food sat in front of her. They'd released one hand from its restraint so she could eat, and once she'd done so, they'd sedate her again.
This went on and on until one time she woke up and there was no food, but Tyler was sat beside her bed. Looking down at her restrained arms her eyes widened at the glow her skin held. It was almost artificial.
"Are you going to freak out if I take those off you?" Tyler asked and she shook her head. Tyler nodded and stood up, freeing her arms. Her hands immediately went to her face and all she could feel was smoothness, there was no sign that only a few days ago her face had been covered in bruises and lacerations.
"How long's it been?"
"4 days since you got back. They were planning on sedating you over and over until they could work out a fix but I convinced them to let me talk to you."
"A fix?" she asked.
"You keep killed a doctor Taiya, attacked a Peacekeeper. Not to mention your freakout when you saw another doctor after that," he smiled soothingly. "Want to tell me why? They're not going to let you out until you can control it."
Taiya shrugged. "I just don't like them."
"You don't like the head fisherman in Four, but you've never attacked him."
"Yeah, well I didn't know how much damage I could inflict on someone until now," she sassed.
"Taiya this is serious," he scolded. "You've ruffled a lot of feathers. Everyone in the Capitol was dying to watch you step off that hovercraft and they couldn't film anything because you were attacking a Peacekeeper. They're dying to see their Victor and they can't keep delaying it, they're too excited. They'll send you on stage drugged up to your eyeballs if you can't pull it together." At this Taiya burst into tears. "Oh crap, I'm sorry."
"I can control it," she sobbed. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I'll do what I'm told I swear."
"Oh god," he rubbed his head. "Alright sweetheart, I empathize. I really do. But you need to stop crying," Tyler said and she immediately stopped, wiping the tears off her cheeks. "You know how this works better than most new victors do. You're still in the Games, you need to keep acting as long as you're on camera. I promise, as soon as we get out of the Capitol, we'll all help you, me, Finnick, Buck, Mags, hell I'll even make Todd get involved. We can help you, we just need to get through the next couple of days first." Taiya took a deep breath and inhaled, putting her mask back up. "Very good," he nodded. "Can you keep that up?" he asked and she nodded. "Your uniform is at the end of the bed. You need to get dressed in that. We'll all be waiting for you at the end of the hall and if you can get through that without trying to throttle anyone they'll let us continue preparing for the interview and Victory Banquet."
"I've got this," Taiya nodded and he undid her last restraints before leaving the room.
Taiya stood up and walked over to the end of the bed to see her uniform from the arena. She got dressed into it quickly before she left the room. Looking to the end of the hall she saw a chamber where Tyler, Finnick, Moxie, and Tigris sat there waiting for her. Flipping her hair, she made her way over to them, passing a station of Capitol doctors on the way. All the doctors looked at her nervously and she sent them a wink that relaxed them slightly.
As she entered the chamber she came to stand in front of Tyler. "Happy?"
Tyler nodded. "You need to go with Tigris, she'll get you ready for your interview with Caesar. Finnick, Moxie, and I need to finish preparations for the Victory Banquet."
Finnick reached his arm out to touch her arm but she angled herself away from his touch. "Great, let's do it," she nodded to Tigris.
Tigris gently held out her arm, ushering her out of the chamber and she left without saying goodbye to anyone. Tigris's eyes kept flickering over to the young girl as they walked in silence. When they entered the fourth floor of the Tribute Centre, Taiya sighed as she noticed her prep team was missing. She knew they'd been kept away because she couldn't be trusted not to attack them.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Taiya huffed.
"I wouldn't blame you if you did," Tigris answered in a semi-normal voice. "It's not common knowledge in the Capitol, you attacking people after you got out. The doctors know not to say anything. Everyone's just been told that your head injury was worse than anticipated, that's why your arrival wasn't filmed."
Taiya looked at Tigris, she could trust her. "I know what happens to victors here," Taiya said quietly and Tigris's eyes widened. "Am I in danger?"
Tigris led Taiya over to the couch and sat her down before taking her hands. "President Snow knows your potential, that's why you weren't punished. You have a certain amount of goodwill with him because of your popularity, but if you act out any more you lose your value. That's when the real danger starts," she answered honestly. "I'm sorry. You'll be allowed to go home to recover. He'll probably bring it up on your victory tour. I'll be there for you though, you're not alone."
Taiya nodded before she reached forward and pulled the cat-like woman in for a hug. She was the first person apart from Finnick she'd allowed to touch her without her lashing out. It felt good to be held by someone she knew wanted nothing from her.
Taiya stood underneath the stage area, nervously waiting for her time to grace Caesar's stage. Tigris had allowed her prep team in to help get her ready after she was certain Taiya wouldn't attack them. She was wearing a light blue ball gown adorned with flowers, her hair was curled and pinned back with floral pins and her makeup was blue eyeshadow with dots over her face to appease the Capitol's sense of style.
She was in her own world, trying to control her emotions when a hand was placed on her shoulder. She immediately reacted violently and flung her fist back, only for it to be caught by Finnick who was smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that," he apologized. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," she dismissed, turning away from him. "Shouldn't you be in the mentor's area?"
"Well, yeah," he agreed, walking around so he was in front of her. "I just wanted to make sure you're going to be ok."
"I said I'm fine."
"But you lied."
"What's it to you?" she snapped.
"I care, that's all," he defended.
"Well if you care then leave me alone. Because it's taking everything in me to not have a meltdown right now and I don't need you distracting me tonight," she said as she stepped around him to stand on her plate. After a moment she sighed and went to apologize, but when she turned around he was already gone.
The anthem then boomed and the crowd cheered as Taiya's prep team, Moxie, Tigris, and Finnick and Tyler were introduced. Then Taiya's plate begins rising up and her eyes went wide. The last time she rose like this she ended up in the arena. As Taiya rises onto the stage, the crowd goes wild and she looks around frantically until she meets Finnick's eyes. He nods at her reassuringly and she smiles widely for the crowd. Skipping forward she took Caesar's outstretched hands and kissed his cheek. He grabs her hand and raises it in the air as the crowd cheers madly for her. She hears wolf whistles echo throughout the crowd and she smirks and winks for them. The cheers go on for 10 minutes until Caesar leads her over to the ornate chair for her to sit in.
"What a darling! What an entrance! What a Game this year was!" Caesar smiled at her and she giggles and blushes for him. "Now, my dear," he said taking her hand. "We were so looking forward to seeing your homecoming, but it wasn't to be, why is that?"
"Caesar, as I'm sure you're aware I took quite a knock to the head," she joked. "I wasn't feeling very well so my lovely doctors decided it was best to head straight to the hospital," she lied.
"Well, I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say there is absolutely nothing wrong with your head now," he smiled. "Isn't she beautiful folks! Taiya, I'm not sure if you're aware but you happened to set a Hunger Games record in your Games, did you know that?"
"What record?" Taiya asked confused.
"You have set the record for the highest value of sponsor donations," he cheered and her breath stuttered as she smiled. She may have had some sponsors of her own, but others didn't come without a price.
"Yes, the lovely people of the Capitol have been most generous. It was very much appreciated. The gifts of hot chocolate were what got me through," she joked.
"I'm afraid we have to talk about this," he said squeezing her hand, "Theo." As soon as he said his name her eyes filled with tears and she quickly looked over at Tyler and Finnick who's eyes widened, they hadn't had an opportunity to coach her on anything, let alone what to say when Theo came up. "You and Theo, your bond touched all our hearts," he touched his spare hand to his heart. "But what got us really talking was that kiss. Care to share your thoughts?"
"I um… Theo is my oldest friend," she confessed. "I was shocked when he told me how he felt. I think I knew it in my heart, but hearing it is so different. Being in the Games is a very different environment to here, you never know if you'll live to see the next morning. I didn't want either of us to die wondering."
"You didn't return his feelings?" Caesar asked.
Taiya shook her head. "I loved him more than anything, but I wasn't in love with him, he knew that."
"And the pain of his loss?"
"Will be with me forever. It'll haunt me. But he went in there with the intention of helping me win, I don't want to waste his sacrifice. I intend to live the best life I can," she said with as much sincerity as she could muster, making the crowd swoon.
"Well, I can tell you it was heart-wrenching to watch. But let's relive it shall we folks!" he announced and they began replaying her Games. The first part of the film focuses on the pre-Games events, the reaping, Chariot ride, scores, and interviews. Then it switches to the Games, the part Taiya didn't know if she'd be able to watch. It covers everything, the bloodbath where Theo was frantically trying to find her while she wrested a tribute. Her attacking another tribute before he could hurt Theo. Seeing Theo on screen is hard, but when it gets to him desperately screaming at her to stay alive after their trip down the river is when she struggles to keep it together. The men in the audience cheer as Theo pulls off her frozen and wet clothes so she'd have a chance of survival. Every part of her wants to scream. She has to watch Cooper get attacked by the wolves without crying. She has to re-watch Theo's confession. The ruthlessness on her face as she killed the girl from District 3 is evident and shocking. Then she had to watch him die all over again, hear her agonized scream again, see his eyes lose life again. This is when she lets the tears fall and the audience coos. After this she watches her own eyes lose some of their sanity, she obliterates the sick tribute before stalking off to the Cornucopia like a madwoman. The only time she looks at all together is when she's talking to Hero, then the video ends with her killing Cotton and being lifted by the hovercraft. They obviously didn't include any film from her hovercraft trip.
At the conclusion of the film, the anthem plays again and President Snow comes onto the stage. He places the crown on her head and smiles at her. She manages to hold herself together, but she can feel Finnick and Tyler's eyes watching her intently.
"Enjoy your party tonight," he smiles at her.
"Thank you, President Snow, I intend to," she bowed her head
"I'm sure we'll speak again soon Miss. Ambersnow," he smiled before nodding and walking off the stage.
Caesar has her waving to the crowd for another 5 minutes as they shower her in adoration. It's after those 5 minutes when Finnick notices her resolve start to crumble. He nudges Tyler, who hurries forward and wraps his arm around Caesar.
"Best get her off to her party now Caesar," Tyler smiles.
"Of course, of course, ladies and gentlemen, Taiya Ambersnow!" he concludes and Tyler rushes to usher her off stage. As soon as they get into a spare room backstage Taiya throws herself into Finnick's arms and he holds her while she hyperventilates, desperately trying to stem the anger bubbling below the surface.
Nearly finished the first part of this story! Please don't forget to leave a review with your thoughts! I love reading them.
I do have a question though. I have two options, I can continue onwards with this story chronologically until the end of Mockingjay in this book, meaning it will be quite large. Or would you rather Catching Fire - Mockingjay be its own separate story and have Love at Sea cover just 65-74th Hunger Games? Not sure which will be easiest to read/follow. Let me know what you think would be best.
Sparky She-Demon: Thank you thank you thank you!