Dahlia and Alaric finish up their final secret training session before the games start the next day. Alaric has given her all the advice he has in his arsenal. He just hopes it's enough to help her through. He doesn't know if he'd be able to survive losing Dahlia. The pair sit on the windowsill looking out over the bright lights of the Capitol. It's a pretty sight, but it's not home for either of them.
"I'm scared, Alaric." Dahlia admits timidly as she hugs her knees to her chest. It's the first time Alaric has seen her for what she truly is, a kid. Dahlia is normally self-assured, confident and strong. Now, she quivers with fear and uncertainty shines in her eyes. A vulnerable girl thrown into an adult's game. "I don't want to die."
Alaric sighs as he stares out the window. "I won't make promises I can't keep. But I know that you can win this. You're the strongest tribute I've ever had. And you've got the support of a nation behind you."
"I don't want to let you down." She sniffles, feeling pathetic for breaking down mere hours before the games start.
Alaric's eyes soften as small tears begin to slip down her cheeks. "Come here." He says softly, opening his arms as Dahlia settles into his embrace. "No matter what happens in that arena, I am proud of you. You have reminded me that I need to keep fighting till the very end." He places his chin on the top of Dahlia's head as he tries to soothe the girl. "I planned for this year to be my end. One last game. One last set of tributes. Then I'd end all the heartbreak, all the pain. Reunite with my family... My daughter."
Dahlia shoots into an upright position. "You were going to...?" She couldn't even bring herself to say the words, but Alaric nodded to confirm her thoughts. She swallows thickly, her throat feeling enclosed and dehydrated. "I didn't know you had a daughter."
Tears flow freely from Alaric's eyes as he remembers his sweet girl. "She would've been a few years older than you if Snow hadn't murdered her along with the rest of my family." Dahlia begins to worry about what might happen to her family if she's not careful. She'd hate for anyone to be punished for something she might have done wrong. "I wanted so desperately to be reunited with her. But she knew it wasn't my time..." He gently cups Dahlia's face with shaky hands. "So she sent you, to remind me that there are some things worth staying alive for." His thumb rubs away the tears on her cheek. "You have saved me more than I could ever save you, Dahlia."
"Nonsense." Dahlia argues back. "You've taught me so much, even though you didn't want to go through this again. I'm stronger now because you've shown me how. I'll try my best not to leave you after everything you've done." She wraps her arms around Alaric's shoulder, hugging him tightly like she'll never let go.
"You need a token." Alaric whispers into her ear before pulling back. "I had something made for you." He fishes around in his pocket until he finally grasps the small object and places it into her hand. It's a dahlia pin, no larger than a coin. Small and discreet but full of meaning.
"It's not black." Dahlia points out with furrowed eyebrows. She thought her signature colour was supposed to be black?
"No, it's not." Alaric responds with a small hint of a smirk. "It's blue... For your ally."
•——————•°•✿•°•——————•
"Now, the gamemakers will try and lure you in at the very beginning for an exciting start." Alaric explains as he and Dahlia stand side by side in the elevator. "They place tons of gear in the mouth of the Cornucopia. Swords, axes, spears. You name it, it's there. That's where the Careers will take charge and show their dominance. Try and avoid the bloodbath if you can. Grab whatever's closest to you, find Cove and get the hell out of there."
"We can't take on the Careers if we don't have any weapons." Dahlia explains, looking to her mentor for his next advice.
"You and Cove plan on hunting down the Careers?" Alaric asks, shocked at the daring nature of their plan. Not many tributes will actively seek out the Careers. Most will spend their entire time hiding from them.
"It's either hunt or be hunted." Dahlia states darkly. "We'd rather target them than become targets ourselves. If we play it smart, we can pick them off one by one." Alaric stares at the girl he's come to love as his own over the last few days, wondering how anyone could doubt her ability to win. Dahlia notices the man's stare. "What?"
He pulls her into a fatherly embrace, kissing the top of her hair. "You're gonna be just fine in there. I know it." Dahlia doesn't want to let go but they are forced to separate all too soon. The elevator doors slide open to reveal the hovercraft waiting ahead of them. They step out, armed guards on either side ensuring she doesn't try to run. "I'm afraid this is where I must leave you."
Dahlia panics at that, hurriedly exclaiming, "No." Tears spring to her eyes and threaten to spill but Alaric shushes her gently.
"You are my Victor." He murmurs to her as he grabs her arms. "You can do this. I'll see you on the other side." He grasps one of Dahlia's hands in his own, raising it up between them and squeezing three times. Dahlia inhales deeply to calm herself before squeezing back. Then she's on her own.
The hovercraft is metallic and cold as Dahlia sits down calmly. She doesn't look around at any of the other tributes, too focused on keeping herself composed. No one speaks, the tension is so thick you could slice it with a sword. Dahlia barely flinches as the tracker is injected into her arm, lost in her own thoughts. She doesn't even glance up from the floor until the lights go dim and the hovercraft takes flight. Her stomach sinks in realisation. No more training. No more smiling and waving. No more preparation. Her life could end today.
The journey goes by far too quickly and soon Dahlia finds herself in a dull changing room. Juno is there waiting. "Oh, my little flower petal." She coos, rushing forward to give the girl a hug. Dahlia uncomfortably pats the woman's back before Juno lets her go. "Now, the outfit." Dahlia was already dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt and full-length cargo pants with hiking boots laced up on her feet. Her hair had been tied back in a simple low ponytail to keep it out of her face. Juno passes over a fleece sweater and a thin jacket. "The jacket is waterproof and the sweater is thermal. You've got lots of layers, so my guess is you'll be in an environment where the weather or temperature will change. The boots have thick soles but are flexible. So, probably a rocky terrain. Possibly large cliffs or mountains."
"Thank you, Juno." Dahlia mutters, forcing a small smile onto her face. Juno returns it, although her eyes begin to water.
"I didn't know it would be this hard letting a tribute go." She mumbles sadly, smoothing her hands down Dahlia's arms.
"Thirty seconds." An automated voice announces, making Dahlia's heart begin to race. Juno hurriedly pins the blue token to the inside of Dahlia's jacket before zipping it up.
"You're my first ever tribute, Dahlia." Juno reminds the girl. "I hope you're my first Victor as well."
Dahlia nods with uncertainty. "I'll try."
"Twenty seconds." The female voice declares once more. Dahlia's whole body trembles as she makes her way to the tube in the corner of the room. Her legs shake so badly she fears they may collapse. But Juno holds her shoulders securely, guiding the girl all the way. She steps inside on wobbly feet before turning back to face Juno.
"Thank you for everything." Dahlia whispers faintly to the woman who had helped to create a character that would survive the games.
Juno's smile is more genuine than anything Dahlia has seen in the Capitol. "This isn't a goodbye. It's a 'see you later'."
"Ten seconds."
Dahlia forces a weak smile onto her face in return. "See you later." The glass tube seals shut with a slow hiss, sealing Dahlia's fate with it.
Don't panic. Stay calm. Become the Black Dahlia. She chants to herself like a mantra, shutting her eyes as she slows her breathing.
Then the platform begins to rise.