Chapter 10:
Rosalie Stonehart, District Six, Age 16
Victor of the 85th Hunger Games
From the time of the Reapings, it was clear just how much had changed about the Games in just one year. From the complete overhaul of the escorts to the theatricality of it all – bringing back elements of the Games that Rosalie hasn't seen since the Quell. The Hunger Games have gone back to what they were before the Second Rebellion with the change of President. They have gone back to the entertainment for the Capitol. They have gone back to being games.
And Rosalie is here for it.
It's easier for her to understand what the Capitol wants from the tributes in this style of Games. The want a good show, keep things entertaining. The previous years were just so…boring, especially last year's Games. They were unpredictable with who would be allowed to win. Rebel or loyalist? Former rebel? Who knows what they wanted? Rosalie sure as hell didn't know. But President Basilius has made it clear that he wants entertainment. No more punishment for rebels, no more asking right or wrong. Just kill or be killed while making it a good show. Rosalie can do that.
She could see in the eyes of the other tributes at the start that most of them had no clue what their arena was. All they could see was the dimly lit mansion that just screamed wealth – something Rosalie is quite familiar with and it was a comfort to be in a similar place – and the high fashion clothes they were put in of various colors. But when Rosalie saw her own blue gown with fancy feather jacket next to the scarlet gown or the purple velvet suit, she knew these Games were based on a game her family played all the time. It was obvious that most of the other tributes were too poor to ever play this game or know what it is, but not Rosalie's family. And Rosalie almost always wins this game.
Rosalie hums to herself as she enters another room of the mansion, lightly hitting her wrench against her other palm. She would have preferred one of the different weapons, but at least the wrench is more straightforward than a rope. She just needs to bash someone in the head with this one while the rope could have a lot more room for error.
Rosalie pauses just inside the room, looking around what must be a lounge. A fire is blazing in the giant stone fireplace and looks so inviting, so Rosalie wastes no time in heading to the couch in front of it and laying down dramatically. With the fancy gown on, she could shut her eyes and just picture herself back at the Presidential Mansion for her victory tour party, all the Capitolites fawning over her for making these Games so riveting and exciting. They'll lavish her in gifts, adding to her already existing wealth from both her family and reward for being a victor.
It's going to be so great.
A door creaks open and Rosalie opens her eyes and peers over the top of the couch, searching for who has entered the room. Part of her is a little disappointed when she sees that it's the younger boy from Five, but she soon realizes this is a great opportunity to show the Capitol she is here to win.
"H-hello?" Rosalie stutters out as she slowly sits up more, pretending to search the room and not see the boy as he hides behind a large house plant. "Is someone there?"
The boy stays quiet, clearly going the route of hiding in hope of not being discovered by her. He's so obvious behind the plant with the glow of the fire lighting the room, but he doesn't need to know this yet. Rosalie hesitantly stands up, keeping her wrench hidden behind her so the boy doesn't see it. "I-I don't…" Rosalie does her best fake sob – something she has perfected over the years to convince her parents to get her things she wants. "I do-don't want to hurt anyone… Please don't hurt me."
Rosalie waits a couple minutes in mostly silence, occasionally letting out another sob or whimper and even pretending to wipe at fake tears. She's about ready to give up the act and just attack the boy when there's finally some rustling and the boy comes out from his shitty hiding spot. And she has to fight the grin that wants to form when she sees that he doesn't have any weapons in his hands. "I don't want to get hurt either…" he says and Rosalie whimpers again to play up the act as the boy steps closer to her, squinting in confusion. "Who is it?"
Rosalie tilts her head in confusion before glancing behind her and realizing the blazing fire must be silhouetting her, making it impossible for the boy to know who she is. As she turns back to face him, finding him still slowly inching closer towards her, a smile finally starts to form. She grips the wrench tighter in her hand behind her back, knowing exactly what game this arena is based on and exactly how she can show the Capitol that she is willing to play like they want her to.
"It's Rosalie," she starts slowly, taking a step towards the boy. "In the lounge," she takes another step and the boy takes a hesitant step back from her. She pauses to grin, always loving the satisfaction of correctly guessing who the murderer is, and where and how they did it. She never quite expected to play her favorite board game in real life, but she is finding it's just as fun.
"With the wrench."
With that, Rosalie lunges towards the boy and swings the wrench into his head, knocking him to the ground instantly. He groans in pain as he tries to crawl away from her, so Rosalie keeps bringing down the wrench on his head. She keeps going as blood splatters around him and she hears the crunch of bone as his skull shatters, and only stops when she hears a different sound that's music to her ears.
Boom.
Rosalie steps back, staring down at the bloody corpse and the bloody wrench in her hands, not feeling bothered by her action. If anything, it's the smell of the blood that is getting to her. Watching the Games just doesn't prepare you for what all that blood smells like. Rosalie retches a bit but holds it in, not wanting to let the Capitol see her reacting negatively to killing. Instead, she crouches down and uses the boy's green suit to wipe off her bloody wrench. "Clearly you have never played this game before. You don't win by not wanting to hurt people."
She stands back up and picks up the bottom of her dress as she carefully steps around the boy to avoid the spreading pool of blood. That's going to leave a nasty stain on the carpet. Rosalie rests her wrench on her shoulder as she heads towards the door she came through just a little while ago, knowing they'll need to take care of the body and also just not wanting to stay near the smell of that blood. She resumes her humming and smiles for the Capitol as she heads back out into the rest of the mansion, one thought on her mind.
She's not losing this game. The victor will be Rosalie from Six, using the wrench, and hopefully ending it in the ballroom.
It's time to kick off a new era of Games victors, starting with Rosalie Stonehard, Victor of the 85th Hunger Games! Clearly there was a big shift in the style and mood towards the Games with the change in presidency. And starting off with a more invalid victor too!
Looking forward to starting a new era of Games and I will see you in 2020 with our next victor!