First Person Point of View: Becca Blue:
*
Haymitch and I are quickly ushered to an area under ground, where Katniss and Peeta are. I guess that's where the tributes are taken care of after the games. I guess that's where I was. Haymitch says it's underneath the training center.
We waited outside in a big lobby. Two and a half days we waited there, and this is the one time Haymitch didn't tell me to leave. We both wanted to be there when they came out. At night, we just lean on the wall and sleep. Well, Haymitch does, I lean on his shoulder.
On the second day, Katniss rushes down the hallway, and just like me when I won, launches herself into Haymitch's arms, then Cinnas, then mine.
"Good job, Katniss." I whisper in her ear as she hugs me. She squeezes me a little tighter, "we're all so so proud of you." I assure, and she just sighs.
"Where's Peeta?" She asked worriedly, "he's okay, right?" She asked, all panicked, Haymitch took her by the arm.
"He's fine, they want you two to reunite on TV." He says, and Katniss chuckles. Cinna then leads her away with Effie, and then it's just me and Haymitch. Haymitch lets out a long breath, that shakes a bit, and he pulls out a flask. I avert my eyes, I feel bad, staring at him.
I expected this victory to feel a bit better, I mean, the first year I mentor, my tributes win! But, it's different, there's a certain heaviness. Not of grief, well, maybe grief, but also something else. It was like a lingering feeling of dread.
After a few minutes, when the camera men leave, Haymitch pulls out a pen and clicks it. The head of the pen shines a bright red, then dims. It's one of Beetee's de-bugging things. I look up, and he's already looking at me.
"They're in big trouble." Haymitch says, "and you need to listen." He says graveley, and I nod, now finally feeling the dread. "This–their whole berry stunt–caused trouble. The Capitol sees it as an act of defiance."
"The people love them, though?" I question, and Haymitch scoffs.
"It doesn't matter if the people love them, Becca." He says, "Sure, It helps them win, but the people are mindless birds, practically pecking for scraps." He explains, a dangerous look in his eyes, "the higher ups, the president, they matter. And they view it as defiance."
Of course they see it as defiance! Not only did the rules get changed for them, but they outsmarted not just the tributes, but also the gamemakers themselves! As it dawned on me, the pen beeped, signaling that the bugs could hear us again.
"Peeta's funny, so love-stricken," Haymitch says, "reminds me of myself when I was a kid. "Katniss...she's harder to crack. But she loves him." He says, and I know he's typing to tell me something through disguised words. Considering I'm not very smart and I haven't been to school in ages, I can't really pick up what he's trying to say.
"I think they are planning a surprise for Peeta and Katniss, how about you go tell Peeta, and I'll tell Katniss?" He says, dumbing it down for me. "New victors aren't big on surprises," he says, then pats me on the head. "Down the hall and to the right." I look at him and squint my eyes, trying to read him, if I can read him at all. Turns out, I can't.
With that, I walk down the hall and to the right until I get to the familiar sliding doors. They sense my movement and slide open with another familiar hiss. I step inside to find an unconscious Peeta, lying in the bed, being pumped with fluids. Poking out of the sheets is something shiny, metal. I walk closer to inspect.
"Holy–" I breathe, looking at the metal leg that class Peeta's, well, leg. Where his leg was is now a stump of skin, connected to metal. On a small table next to his bed there is a book titled PROSTHETIC CARE. Prosthetic. That's a new word I've never heard before.
Throughout my whole entire life, I haven't gone to school much. Sure, I went, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On the other days I had to work with Mamaw to make sure we had enough to eat that night. As I got older, a lot of kids dropped out of school. Once kids turn 13, most of them start to work in town, and Seam kids start working near the mines. Not in the mines, but near them. Loading coal, street sweeping, evaluating and sorting coal. The whole nine yards.
Sure, I learned how to read and write, and basic math, anything else? I'm not good. Sure, I'm a quick thinker, but I've seen some of the stuff Beetee works on, and there's literal letters in the math! Good thing he's never asked me to help him because even when I write my name, it takes me a hot second to think and then when I write it it looks like a 3 year old did it.
"Peeta," I say softly, walking next to him and looking upon his pale face. He definitely looked healthier, less...starved. "Peeta." I call again, knowing he should probably wake up at this point. I know Haymitch must be off drinking or finding Katniss.
Just as I am about to call for him again, his eyes flutter open. I guess he's used to seeing Katniss hovering above him instead of a little redhead because he jumps a bit. "Hi."
"Where's Katniss? Is she okay?" He immediately asks, and I hold his hand, comforting him. Or at least trying too.
"She's just fine," I smile, "you're gonna see 'er real soon. Your stylists are coming soon, they're gonna get you all done up for the post-game interviews." I smile, and he pushes himself up. He studies me closely.
"My leg hurts." He acknowledges, reaching down to feel it. Before I can swat it away, his hands land on the smooth metal of the prosthetic. Immediately he panics. "What? The hell? Becca! Becca! What'd they do?!" He asks, freaking out and gripping my hand so tight my knuckles popped. "Becca!"
"Peeta, Peeta, deep breath," I say, "breathe, ready? In...." 1, 2, 3, "out..." 1, 2, 3. Thankfully, he follows my lead and we take a few deep breaths together, all while his blue eyes pierce my soul with sorrow. "You lost your leg, it was really infected and too much damage was done to it for them to save it." I say, kind of making things up because I didn't really know what had happened.
"Will I be able to walk?" He asks, voice shaking.
"Yes," I smile, "the leg, it's just like your regular leg. You'll be just fine." I smile, "you'll just need enough practice." I say, wiping his hair off of his sweaty forehead. Oh right! I need to tell him about the imminent danger he's in! Just the thing he needs! "Peeta, now I've gotta tell you something. You have got to listen."
"What?" He asks, "Katniss is fine, right?"
I lean down, giving him a hug and nesting my head on his shoulder. Making sure my mouth is close to his ear. He hesitantly returns the hug, his arms limp around my back. Man, he really is down bad for Katniss. The hug was just so it didn't look like I was warning him, and it looked like I was comforting him to the cameras undoubtedly hiding in the room. "Yes, but, well, okay, so you two. Y'all really, really gotta play up the romance, okay? Y'all are in trouble." I whisper, leaning my head down, "also just go with the hug. Cameras everywhere." I say, and he relaxes, tightening his strong grip around me.
"Snow saw the berry stunt as an act of defiance. So you guys really gotta amp up the love fest. Make the world believe it was a real, true act of love."
"It was."
"Exactly." I say, "I know it, you know it, now make the world know it." I say, and just as I pull away, the door opens with Peeta's stylists.
"Becca!" Portia smiles, I whip around, "Ophelia's been looking for you! She must dress you for the interview tonight!" She beams, and I nod. I squeeze Peeta's hand and give him a sly wink before walking out.
I walk out and find Haymitch nowhere, so I take the elevator back up. I ride all the way up to the 12th floor where I find Ophelia waiting to swallow me into a big hug. "Awh, baby, congratulations. This is a huge deal." She coos, peppering kisses along the crown of my head. "Congrats, little bird, so proud." She compliments, and I tear up when she says she's proud. Not a lot of people tell me that to me.
"Thanks, 'Phelia," I mumble into her chest as she squeezes me tighter.
"Now, little bird, let's get you ready for tonight." She says, "now, you remember yours last year, hm? First, the prep teams, then the stylists, then the mentors–you—" she smiled, nudging my shoulder, "and then, of course Katniss and Peeta." I hummed in response and followed her into the big bathroom.
She sat me down and potted some foam curlers in my already curly hair, just to fluffen it up, she says.
"Ophelia?" I blurt, staring at my freshly red painted lips and my green coated eyes.
"Yeah, baby?"
"With Katniss and Peeta, will people forget about me?" I ask, kind of hoping that she'll say: 'yes, after the wave they've created, no one will even remember the girl who tricked her opponents using fake cannons, or the crazy girl who talks to snakes!'
Unfortunately for me, she just laughs. "Oh, baby! Do you think they forgot about Finnick, or Cashmere or Gloss?" She laughs, "trust me, love, no one will be forgetting Medusa, not for a long time." She smiles, "at least, not with this dress."
She pulls out a beautiful glittering dress out from a gray garment bag. Instead of my normal green, the dress is a stark and shimmery white. It is sleeveless with golden drawings of the planets, sewn on with golden stones. It's another short dress, with small tassels that hang from the hemline, complete with a square neckline.
"It's gorgeous," I breathe, taking the dress in.
"Now, I know you aren't a fan of short dresses, but," she pauses, taking in a breath. She looks as if she's trying to choose her words carefully, "but, I want you to still be the star. You'll have to take some attention away from Peeta and Katniss, hm?" She smiles.
She must know of the trouble they're in. Sure, a hell of a lot of the Capitol folk are hella dense, but not Ophelia. She's as smart as a whip. Same with Cinna.
I nod and chuckle, but we share a look of understanding, and it's then I realize she definitely knows. So, I try to make a list in my head of people that know. Or that probably knows.
Snow
Me
Haymitch
Ophelia
Katniss
Peeta
Effie(?)
I put maybe Effie because even though she's a pretty dense woman, she has an amazing sense of intuition. Plus, she knows how terrible the Capitol can be because of what happens to Haymitch. Even if she doesn't know, she must realize the trouble that we are all in.
I mean, technically, Haymitch is already being punished enough, but me? What could he do to me? Kill off Will? Sell me out? What could they do to Katniss and Peeta? Kill their whole families and burn their homes to the ground?
I guess they have more to lose than I do.
I stare into the mirror as Ophelia fusses over a few loose strings and think about all five of the winners from District 12. Each one of us won by cheating in some way. Lucy Gray with the illegal rat poison, Haymitch...Well, I'm nor sure how he won exactly because they don't show his games much, but I know he won by outsmarting the game makers. Me with the fake cannons and finally Katniss and Peeta with the berry stunt. When you add on the staged revolt Celica planned...Twelve doesn't look too good right now. A district full of liars and cheats.
"Okay," Ohphelia finally says, interrupting my thoughts, "let's get this dress on you." She smiles. We slid the dress on perfectly, and after that we put on golden heels that had golden ties that wrapped around my ankles.
"Oh!" She gasps, "I forgot to tell you, I have a friend, and together we made this!" She beams proudly, pulling out a golden crown of slithering snakes. They stick up like sunrays or spikes, and glint in the light. "Watch..." She alluded, and then she whispered the words 'right now.' Suddenly, the snakes slither, and I jump back.
"Woah," I gasp, "how–"
"It's robotic," Ophelia smiles, "apparently it uses some technology Beetee made that causes it to move. Boring stuff like that, but that boring stuff made this! This gorgeous headpiece, all for you!" She gushes, placing it on my head. "All you have to do is whisper 'right now.' That's the tigger word." I nod and test it out. They slither around on my head for about thirty seconds until they stop.
"Now," she says, placing a comforting hand on my back, "let's get this show on the damn road."
~~~
I stand in a clear glass tube, awaiting for it to bring me up to the stage. I look over to my left to see Peeta in his, along with some sort of crutch to help him stand upright. Then, I look to my left to see both Haymitch and Katniss missing. I turn around, trying to get out, but the glass blocks me.
I start to feel very very claustrophobic, but out of the corner of my eyes, I see the prep team's tubes rising. In a matter of seconds, I hear the applause. Then, Effie is up, and I can imagine her smile. Two years in a row, this is everything she's dreamed of and more. Then up goes Cinna and Portia. Good for them, I think, they've made an amazing debut and kept Peeta and Katniss alive with just outfits.
Finally, I feel my tube start to ascend. My knees buckle and my ankles knock to the side, but all I need to do is take a deep breath and remind myself that this is nothing but a performance. A performance for my life, but still a performance.
For a second, I am swallowed by darkness, but then overflowed with flashing lights. Haymitch and I reach the stage at the exact same time, and we both take a step forward. "Right now." I whisper, and the snakes on my head start to move.
Haymitch steps up and takes a good natured bow, then puts his arm out to present me. The Snake Queen. Medusa.
I smile a red lipped smile and wave to the crowd who cheers and whoops as the snakes move on my head. They stomp their feet and whistle as I take my bow. They continue this cycle for around five whole minutes until Caesar calms them down enough to introduce the victors. Katniss and Peeta.
Their tubes arise on opposite sides of the stage. As soon as Peeta catches Katniss's eye, Katniss surges forward and flings herself into his arms. I smile warmly as they hug each other like they were each other's lifelines. Well, they are, but that doesn't matter. They hug and kiss and practically make out. At one point, Haymitch clasps his hand over my eyes and that earns a roaring laugh from the crowd.
After literally ten freaking minutes of the lovebirds who aren't actually in love but they are so totally in love making out in front of the country–again–Haymitch saunters over and gives them a shove to the victor's chair. I call it the Sorrow Throne. I think it's a pretty clever and self explanatory name. I follow him while commanding the slithering snakes on my head, I give the crowd a curled smirk as I side eye the victors behind me. Just as I begin to mock the lovebirds, Haymicth grips my shoulder and drags me along. I decide to mock him by pretending to fall off the stage, which earns a literal thunderclap from the audience as they all whooped and cheered. Haymitch shoots me a look, and then I shoot him one back. "Damn kid," is what I bet he's saying in his head right now.
He takes me to a white leather couch and we sit down to watch the replay of the games. Katniss buries herself in Peeta and there is a pang of jealousy that sends shockwaves through my body. I just wanna do that with Will. I just want to see him again, drag him out to the lake, and just lose myself in his eyes. I want to spend summers and winters with him and never come back to the Capitol for anything. I want to—
Woah.
Woah, woah, woah, woah, stop, stop, stop, stop. I think to myself as I try to focus on the recaps playing. You can't be thinking about that! No! No! No! He's your friend! He doesn't even...
Well...
The recaps go by in a long, painstaking, brutal way, and throughout the entire thing, I swear I could hear Will talking, or his mandolin playing, or even whistling. At one point I had to smack my own head, and that didn't even work. When someone asked, I said one of the snakes bit me, and they chuckled and made a joke about my own kind turning against me. That one hurt a bit.
After the interviews, we all go down for the Victors Banquet.
Just as the two are about to walk in, I slide in front of them, holding the doors shut with my hands. "Listen, have fun tonight, or at least try too." I smile, "just...keep your eyes open." I say as my final piece of advice, and slither away into the shadows.
Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and I take pictures with nearly everyone there. Most wanted ones of the lovebirds, but some wanted solo shots with Medusa...ugh... and others wanted solos with the Quarter Quell victor. The party was not fun, I just kept getting offers for drinks and cigarettes.
Not to say I haven't had a cigarette before...They're kinda normal in 12. Most of the time they're used for medicine, or to calm your nerves. So many kids in 12 smoke, well, I guess just the ones that can afford to buy a pack from the older kids behind the Hob. If you can't, you buy the singular ones.
I was twelve when Ryder gave me my first one. I was sick with some fever, and Ryder gave me a cig to make me feel better. I remember coughing up a lung, and then being told it was a nasty habit by mom who smoked and still smokes regularly.
I was 13 when I had my second, and that one wasn't as bad. Celica gave it to me right before the Reaping...and then maybe Will and I shared one after a show in late May. But, I got the feeling if I smoked in front of Haymitch, he would kill me, then revive me, then kill me again. Then have a heart attack and die.
So I stayed away from the cigarettes.
The strange thing about this party is that I was mostly left on my own. Haymitch was way too busy supervising the lovebirds and making sure Katniss said all the right things. I think that meant he finally trusted me to be on my own.
Humming to myself, I made my way through the crowd. The band was playing an upbeat song that was fun to dance too. I looked around, the party was all green lights, and when I looked down, my skin was completely green, apart from my lips that looked black. I looked through the crowd when I made eye contact with a camera. I gave them a cruel smirk and looked at them with a siren's eyes. The camera flashes and I'm on my way.
That night was surprisingly tame. I danced with people and let little kids touch my crown of snakes, and watched as their faces lit up in awe as the snakes moved around. Katniss and Haymitch danced, then Peeta and Effie, then Katniss and Peeta. Then in my head, me and Will, but of course, it's only in my head.
It was just after sunrise when we got past, and just after noon when we were all woken up by a never tired Effie Trinket.
Their final interviews went well. Katniss played her cards right, and Peeta played the audience like fools. He reminded me of me, a performer. We both are artists, and we both know how to play the audience like a fiddle, or in Peeta's case, he knows how to paint the audience to his liking.
~~~
I awoke to the slow chugging of the train and warm air despite the blasting air conditioner. I think about what my mama always used to say, "can't beat the summer head down 'n Twelve." God, she was right, I mean, I'm sure the southern districts were way hotter, but Twelve in the summer was its own kind of torture if you ddin't have anywhere to cool down. It was hot, humid and disgustingly buggy.
I pull myself out of the sheets, and find myself slick with sweat. When I open the door, I see the forest that I know all too well.
A/N:
hey y'all (again)!
I wanted to be nice today
happy double update!
love y'all!!
xoxo,
regina.