"Guinevere, the phantom, won her games at the age of 12, the only to have ever done it"
Guinevere St James was a child, a child that was turned into a weapon far too early.
"the odds have never been in our favour, its time we all realised that."
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a sailors dress
that was what Atala had made for her.
children of the Capitol wore them often, as a fashion choice, but Evie was from district 4, so it was more than that.
but Atala was hoping the dress would remind the Capitol of their children wearing them. remind them of Evie's innocence.
there was only a few interviews before her own, and each were more impressive then she'd expected.
even district 3 held themselves well in front of the camera.
Evie had supposed everybody was very well trained for this part.
"okay! now from district 4, welcome out Finley Adams!"
the boy walked out with his head held high and a massive grin on his face, he was wearing a navy blue suit with a sailor collar, much matching her own.
"oh, don't you look fantastic!" Caesar states to her district partner as Johanna comes and stands next to Evie, instantly distracting her.
her eyes went wide and she wouldn't lift her eyes off the floor.
a slight smile flickered on Johanna's lips as she observed the child. "you know, i'd have hoped Finnick would've helped you with this fear of me by now. after all, he's very certain we're friends."
"you're not friends?" she asked meekly, that made it all worse.
"he's.. annoyingly persistent. but not all bad. i trust him, if that's what you're worried about."
"you scare me." she stated, her eyes not lifting from the floor.
"i can see that. when you win, come see me, i'll make sure you're safe in the Capitol."
"when i win? what makes you so certain. what about your own tributes."
"let's just say, i've seen what you're capable of. and I have an inkling of faith in you."
"why should i trust you?"
"because Finnick does. and you trust him. you're just a kid-"
"Please welcome, Guinevere St James!" Caesar yelled out, interrupting their conversation as Evie instantly ignored Johanna plastering an innocent smile on her face as she practically skipped out as Finnick walks up to Johanna.
"you think she can win it?"
"i think she will win it." Johanna responded. "and i'm scared for her afterwards."
"if she wins.." he started, not wanting to get his hopes up that he won't lose the child. "then we'll protect her. why do you think i've pushed this innocent child front so much?"
"Guinevere, don't you look magnificent!" Caesar spoke with a massive grin.
"thank you, Caesar! you look amazing yourself." she spoke innocently, like a child giving you a compliment.
"give us a spin!" he basically commanded as she stood up and gave a slow spin, showing off her stylists skills.
"your stylist did a good job." the camera pans to Atala in the audience who waves proudly.
"i'm proud to come from district 4, Atala just wanted to showcase that."
"so.. we've heard you're pretty skilled with a knife, is that what you'll be focusing on during the games?"
"oh, Caesar, i wish i could tell you.. but truthfully, i'm just going to try to survive for as long as possible." she smiled softly.
"you don't think you could win it?"
"honestly Caesar? nobody my age ever has, i'd love to be the first, but, i'd need the Capitol's help for that."
"well, everybody is just obsessed with you! you're like the daughter everybody wishes they had!" he speaks confidently. "i'm sure they'll be backing you every step of the way."
"thank you." she smiled politely. "i love the people of the Capitol, they've been nothing but supportive of me so far. i'm glad that i mean so much to them, especially that they see me as their daughter, see i don't have parents of my own.. only my older brother."
"your older brother looks after you?"
"my parents died on a boat accident a couple years ago. so knowing that the people of the Capitol love me like they did, it makes me feel like they're back with me." she played it for the cameras, allowing slight tears to grow in her eyes, but never to fall, only glisten.
Caesar and the crowd all awed for her. "well, i'm sure everybody is behind you even more now, did your brother come see you before you made your way to the Capitol."
she smiled at the thought of her brother. "of course he did."
"of course he did." he repeated. "and what did he say?"
"he told me to win. he told me to come home to him. i just hope i can."
"well, thank you for that, we all hope you can find your way home to him too. Guinevere St James everybody!"
she stood up with a soft smile and waved to everybody. "thank you for your support everybody, if i could hug each and every one of you, i would!" she said finally before leaning over and kissing Caesar's cheek before heading inside.
instantly, she was scooped up into a hug by Finnick. "you did fantastic." he exclaimed, holding her face. "you did fantastic." he said calmer.
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"tomorrow. the games begin. there will be a bunch of stuff, right in the middle of the cornucopia. knives, swords, bows. don't go for it." he warns them.
"why not?" Finley asks.
"that's the bloodbath. people kill instantly. more people die in the bloodbath, than anything else. don't step off your pedestal earlier than said, you'll die. you wait for the countdown, and then you turn and you run. do you understand me?"
they nod to him, showing they understand.
"then you find fresh water, that's your best friend. you can survive without food. you can't survive without water. especially if it's humid." they nod to him. "if you can't find water, i will get you some with a sponsor. but that's not certain. find water. find shelter. eventually it'll be safe to go to the middle. but first. run."
"we get it." Finley spoke, his voice almost annoyed.
"you guys have got this, okay?"
"yeah.." Evie spoke, her voice uncertain as Finnick pulls them both into a hug.
"goodbye, guys. i won't see you in the morning. Atala will come to you, Evie, Finley, Flavius will come see you off. you've got this. i'll be watching."
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authors note shorter ones, but the games begin next chapter, and that should be a fresh chapter, so-
thought i'd showcase a little more Johanna, i love her, Evie is just a little terrified of her.
not because of the games, but she's heard how she's just as much of a threat two years later.
