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ACT IV
CHAPTER XLV
the girl on fire and the sweet boy
THANA AND THE other victors from district 9 could breathe again as soon as the party from district 12 had left towards district 8. Thana must say that there were a lot of peacekeepers present, and she felt suffocated by them. Never before has the girl seen so many of those together, it doesn't signal anything good at all. Besides, the given speech about Wirt and Felica sucked, about how brave they were when they didn't even reach 5 minutes into the games when they themselves got over 2 weeks. No, Thana didn't find it sympathetic of them, but they probably weren't allowed to pull the same sort of speech as in district 11. Thana was sure that all was also the reason for them to leave so abruptly after the dinner. Yeah, the girl on fire was as stone cold as a person could be al the while the sweet boy was trying to show feelings for both. Thana couldn't say she is looking forward to the party in the Capitol, but then she hasn't had a choice of her own since she won her games, and she is sure that the arena will torment her again tonight.
"Come, let's go back," Pearl softly lays her hand on Thana's shoulder. When the younger victor looks up, she sees that everybody has already left, and it is only them standing there.
"Thank you, Pearl," Thana smiles at the woman who had become like the grandmother she never had. "I wouldn't know where I'd be without you."
"Right where your heart would take you," Pearl smiles at the young victor, lines of worry contouring her face. "Why don't you sleep at my place for the night?"
"I couldn't intrude on you," Thana says, not wanting Pearl to know the deep darkness seeping in her brain that comes out to play at night-time.
"I wouldn't ask if I wouldn't want you to come," the elderly victor takes Thana's hand, "I insist after all you are doing so much for me, it is the least I can do for you."
"I can never say no to you, Pearl." Thana lets a genuine smile take over her face as they leave the station towards victors' village.
"My darling girl," Pearl side hugs the taller girl, "you always make my life a little brighter."
That night, and all the night towards Thana leaving for the Capitol with Rohan and Latif, the younger victor stays with the older victor. Pearl comforting her after every nightmare, and Thana filling up Pearl's lonely moments in the evening. There is an understanding between both women, the games shaped them and gave them traumas. Even with the games so far apart, 55 years. The Capitol never stopped giving them all the same horrifying traumas that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.
"Take care of yourself in the Capitol," the woman looks directly in Thana's eyes. "Promise me you will stay safe."
"Don't worry Pearl," Thana smiles kindly at the worrisome victor, "I shall do my uttermost best to stay safe and come back. But I must say I shall be staying in my own home again."
"That is okay," Pearl smiles, "you needed it and I know it wouldn't last forever, I wouldn't want that even though I love you greatly, Thana."
"I love you as well," Thana hugs Pearl close to herself, "I shall be back before you know it."
...
The train ride to the Capitol is as boring as always, Thana already wishing to go back home. The stupid show of district 12 failed miserably, and she was sure they all would pay the price for those teenagers. How she feels like Johanna at this moment, and how she wishes to speak to her.
"What are you thinking about," Latif asks as they get into a black SUV.
"About the shit show district 12 is pushing down our throats," Thana complains.
Latif laughs. "You sound like Johanna."
"I know," Thana smiles, "I was thinking about that as well."
"Why don't we think about the outfits our stylists have planned for us?" Latif offers to the girl, but he simply gets a groan thrown into his way.
"I don't want to think about the fact I need to wear heels for a whole evening."
"Sometimes you act like a little child," Rohan grins to the girl.
"So what?" Thana gets up to sit straight, "the Capitol stole my youth, might as well still act 'childish' if I want." Rohan raises his hands in surrender.
And just like Thana said, Arthur pushed her into heels before sending her off to the party. Her arm linked through Latif's while she holds her golden-yellow dress up, so she won't step onto it. Latif snickers besides her at the difficulty of her walking.
"Stop it," Thana slaps her brother lightly on his arm. "Not everybody can turn up in some boring black suit and expect to still be respected. Us ladies always need to suffer for beauty."
"Jealous of my natural beauty, are we?" Latif jokes looking around for the Peter and Olivia from district 10 to talk to instead of being bothered by everybody who wants to talk to his more popular sister.
"You wish I wanted your face," Thana jokes back, "but I see you don't understand my problems and are just as done with these idiots surrounding is. I am going to complain about life to Johanna. See you later and please don't drink too much, stay safe little brother."
"Always am," Latif kisses Thana's cheek, "stay safe yourself, my darling sister."
Latif isn't even gone for a second or Thana is pulled onto the dancefloor to dance with some game maker, Plutarch Heavensbee.
"Wanted to dance with me again, Plutarch?" Thana says, remembering their last meeting.
"Wouldn't want to miss out on the first victor of Seneca's games now that he has unfortunately died." Plutarch smiles sadly, "I am assuming you already heard?"
"Of course," Thana smiles awkwardly, "but I must excuse myself, I promised to talk to somebody else."
"Of course," Heavensbee nods his head slightly, "it was a pleasure as all ways."
As soon as Thana leaves the floor, her eyes scan the people close to the gardens, not it doesn't take long before the sees somebody falling away in the plants.
"Hello Johanna," Thana grins at the girl dressed in the same dark green as the plants in the president's garden. "How are you this fine evening?"
"Trying to get drunk," Johanna scoffs, "I hate my stylist, why is it always dark green or brown? I am a person, not a tree."
"I am sorry," Thana offers the girl a smile, "but at least the colour green really suits you."
"Oh, I am so happy that I am finally talking to a sane person," Johanna hugs Thana quickly, "I was getting so bored over here and so frustrated from all these annoying people."
"Same girl, same," Thana nods in agreement, "these stupid heels are also killing my complete mood."
"I love how our moods match," Johanna laughs, "makes me feel less bad about my negativism."