Chapter Text
Chapter 24
Basically he made me rewatch painful moments from the arena for an hour or so, such as the reaping, meeting Phae and the tragic death of Kraken moments after, etc.
Afterwards there was kind of an awkward silence between me and Caesar Flickerman until he wrapped up the interview and I was released back to the train.
When I returned to the train, Myrrh and Cressida were watching the show from inside Myrrh’s cart, to the right of the main cart. They heard me enter and started congratulating me and told me I did a lovely job, Myrrh especially emphasizing how well I kept my composure.
“Now, to waste absolutely no time, we will start your victory tour immediately.” Cressida started. “As previously stated, we will be heading to district 11 first, and end in 12. I’ll tell the conductor that we are ready for departure!” She exclaimed as she bounded away. ‘Just a few more weeks Thistle. Then you’ll be home.’
•Timeskip: 2 weeks ahead•
Finally, we finished our last stop, District 1. I had been on camera nonstop for 2 weeks, on the train, on stage giving handwritten speeches at the District Halls, everywhere. I’m surprised they didn’t have a camera in my room, watching me sleep.
The tours had been mostly awkward and insensitive I felt above all things, because I killed some of the districts children. But now it was over, and I got to ride the train back to home, or so I thought.
The train made a stop at a station and peacekeepers ushered us out. “What’s going on?” I asked Myrrh.
“Don’t worry, they do this every year. They’re transferring us to an aircraft to get the train some maintenance and a break, but I think they just want us back faster. They fly me back to 11 afterwards. I hope you know that now that they have a district 12 victor, they’re going to pull you every year to be a mentor instead of me.”
“Right. I know. But it’s worth getting out of there, even if it’ll be hard.” I replied.
Myrrh sighed slightly. “When I first won, and became a mentor, I had a pretty bad drinking addiction because I couldn’t tolerate living past the arena without it. I regret saying this, but, I blame myself for being a terrible mentor for the first few batches of tributes I mentored, and it’s probably why none of them lived.”
Taken aback, my eyes widened with alarm. “Okay then, that is some heavy stuff. I’m not the drinking type though, when my grandma was still alive she gave me some stuff, I was like 12 and I puked all of it up within the first few minutes. Let me tell you, my dad was so mad. My mom had died at that point. She died in the hunger games a few months after I was born.”
Myrrh nodded in understanding. We reached the aircraft and as soon as we took a seat, it flew into the air. In a matter of minutes we had left the capitol and after an hour arrived in District 12, my home.
After saying goodbye to Myrrh, I shuffled out of the aircraft and it flew away, gone from sight in seconds. I had gotten out in a small parking lot right behind the Town Hall. I walked infront of it to find a banner that read in big and tall letters, “WELCOME BACK THISTLE!”
There were balloons everywhere and even though it was certainly crusty, at least for the Capitol’s expectations, I felt important.
As soon as I was into view the crowd gathered there erupted in cheer. I ran down the old worn steps of the Town Hall’s stage and found my family, my dad and brother in the front. I gave them both a huge hug and started crying.
“I never thought I would see you two again!” I exclaimed, muffled by the tears and the hug.
“I’m so happy you’re back Thistle!” My father squealed as high as his deep voice would allow.
“Me too!” Said my brother from beside him.
I broke the hug and shouted, “Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back!” The crowd of all the district 12 people I knew and loved started cheering once more.
“Hi, Thistle.” A familiar voice rang from behind me. It was Ivy Blackthorn. “I’m really happy you’re back! It’s about time a girl from 12 won.”
“I know, right? I’m sorry if you don’t like hugs but I’m filled with all this happy energy right now I can’t resist!” I squealed as I ran in for a huge bare hug.
“Ack!” She exclaimed. “That was lovely.” She said in a way where I was pretty sure it was sarcasm but wasn’t 100% sure.
As a calmer resolution to the 48th hunger games, I got a house in victors village, where my family moved in with me. I became stronger friends with Ivy, and got large amounts of money in which I had no place to spend it.
And for the autumn, winter, and spring, things seemed calm. I could never truly shake the arena, I correctly assumed it would be staying with me for a while in some shape or form. But the piece was shattered once more when the 49th hunger games rolled up in the summer.
The End.
CHAPTER 1 OF ‘The Tale of the 49th Hunger Games’ COMING SOON!