I'm standing behind the stage. And I'm nervous. Haymitch...what have you done to me, making me all nervous and scared. I'm only a 12 year old girl.
The prep team goes on stage, and everyone claps for them. Effie follows, then Cinna and Portia. Do they know how much stress I am in right now?
Then comes Haymitch, the cause of my stress. I'm probably real pale right now. I feel my plate rise from under my feet, and I am elevated onto the stage. The lights are blinding, the roars deafening.
Then I see them. Katniss, and Peeta. My first instinct tells me to run to them and fling my arms around them. But I'ms so scared that I can feel the blood draining from my face and my body shaking lightly. I can only watch Katniss run to Peeta and give him a tight hug. Peeta sees me standing alone and gives me a smile.
I walk over to the two of them, a bit afraid I would bother them but Peeta breaks apart and comes to me, lifts me up and cuddles me. He's like a big teddy bear. Katniss gives me a hug too.
The three of us then go to a couch, which is suppose to be a chair. But there are three victors this year, and so they had to get us a couch. I notice that all three of us are wearing similar outfits. Katniss' almost identical to mine, Peeta's just a bit modified to be for a guy.
I take in a deep breath as Caesar starts the show.
I am so nervous because of Haymitch. I think I am shaking, and I'm also cold. I think my face is pale. Peeta senses that I am nervous, and he starts rubbing circles in my back. It helps me to calm down.
I know what will happen next, because every year they do the same thing. They are going to play a three hour long video, with all the highlights from the games. I feel awful. It's awful to just think about the few week experience, but to watch it? No way.
I want to close my eyes but there are cameras, and Haymitch wants me to behave. The video starts with the pre-arena events. Interviews, the tribute parade, training...It makes me feel horrible, because the majority of these people are dead now.
But it only gets worse. Next comes the bloodbath, where around half the tributes died. Both Peeta and I ran away, so the cameras just showed all the blood and fighting. The killing was mostly done by the careers I noticed.
I watched the screen as Peeta talked with the careers, and how it was not just for betrayal and that he was half forced into it. Because they wanted to find Rue and I.
I watch Rue and I run away from the wall of fire, Rue and I climbing the tree to get away from the careers, then cutting the branch and killing off Glimmer and Marina. I feel awful. They were just innocent girls just like me.
The next few parts show Peeta and Cato fighting, and I don't watch. I just close my eyes and curl in next to Peeta. The Peeta who is now fighting in the screen.
Then I have to watch because it's Noah. He's dead. I watch him on screen as Marvel kills him. I feel so bad, I could have protected him. But nope, I was oblivious and watched him die in my own hands. What I bad person I am.
I don't watch as the screen-me chases after Marvel, seeking revenge.
I don't want to watch, and for quite a long time, I stay curled up next to Peeta.
I open my eyes when Peeta shakes me slightly. I look up at him, then at the screen. It's Rue.
What I see on the screen is so scary and shocking, because it is a film adaptation of my dream.
Cato charges through the plain, Rue picks up her little brother, she runs. Thresh does too, his grandma on his back. Cato and Thresh argue, then Cato charges as Thresh. Rue screams and tries to help but ends up getting cut in her head. Cato's knife slashes Thresh's chest, Roy runs, Rue stops breathing.
I try hard not to pant, because what I've seen on the screen was just too scary. This time it's Katniss who rubs circles in my back to calm me down.
The next few scenes are quick. The mutts, Cato's death, the berries. Then it's done. It's finally over.
Snow comes up, and then a girl. The girl has brown hair and is about my height. She's carrying a red velvet cushion, and it holds two tiaras and a crown.
"Thank you Celestia," Snow tells her, barely audible.
He takes the tiaras and places them on Katniss' and my head. The crown sits on Peeta's.
I am relieved when Caesar finishes the show up, but there is still the victor's banquet to attend.
As I sit during the dinner, my nerves are like crazy. Snow's snake green eyes intimidate me so much. I try not to stutter when I talk, and also try to give the answers Haymitch would want me to give. People take a few pictures, and I try to appear as normal as possible.
At night, I can't sleep. I decide to go to the roof and chill out a bit. I breath in the fresh air, and the roof reminds me of coming up here before the games. I feel so different now, and it's only been a few weeks.
I go back to my bed and just lie down. The interviews are tomorrow.
I guess I fall asleep because the next thing I know, Effie is screaming at me to wake up and throwing my covers off. I shiver from the sudden temperature drop but comply. I have breakfast with Peeta and Haymitch, get into my clothes, and get my makeup and hair done. I head down for an interview with Caesar. It almost seems normal now, the key word being almost.
But then there's the question that had to be asked, the one that would come out sooner or later. The one I never want to answer.
"So, Prim. What made you pull out those berries?"
The audience is silent.
"I...I couldn't kill my sister, nor Peeta. I...I've known them since I was young, and I wasn't going to kill them just for...this," I mumble and I stutter and I know that I did it wrong. Stupid me. Haymitch is going to kill me.
"Prim, she's an innocent little girl. She's pure, and she will believe people, trust people, and love people. When I tried to teach her how to hunt, she would only tell me of how she could cure the animals that I had shot. She can't stand to watch another creature hurt, and if it was going to be her sister or someone close, it would take a lot more than...the Hunger Games," Katniss answers. I thank her in my mind for such a great answer.
Caesar smiles and adds a few more comments.
"Prim, you are still so young. You are a young, innocent, and pure child. I think we might have all forgot," Caesar says. I give a weak smile.
Caesar wraps up the interviews and I am so relieved.
As soon as they release us, I give Katniss a tight hug and thank her, over and over, for the marvellous answer. But I know that these Games are not 100% over.
The Victory Tour will just remind everyone again, and the Games will continue, year after year. It's been 74 years, why hasn't anyone revolted?
After a few hours, I am boarding onto the train that will take me back home. But I know that life can not be the same again. I think about Lady and Buttercup, who would be delighted to see me. And Mother. Mother! Like Caesar said, I am still a child. I need a parent, a guardian who can keep me safe and protected.
The train keeps moving and we get closer to home every second.
Peeta and Katniss are talking to each other, and I am so glad that they have found each other. They are one true pairing.
I stare outside the window and watch the scenery.
"It's finally done," I whisper to myself.
But I still wonder, if these games are really over.
END OF BOOK ONE
~A/N~ Guys...It's all done! Thank you so much for going on this whole journey with Prim and I, and all the other characters. Thank you guys for all the support and I really do love yall!
Yes, Celestia is Snow's Granddaughter, thumbs up to those who noticed.
I am very very sorry if this chapter was a bit boring, but there is always some sort of falling action in a story.
I may or may not host a one shot contest, so if you want one, show your enthusiasm below~!! I would be really happy to see you guys write, and it's okay if you are not the best writer!
This chapter is not dedicated to anyone in specific but to all of you guys for the support and love.
Thank you so much.
-Monica