Of Victors and Tributes

Chapter 34: District 4

District Four is warm, cradled by the ocean. We have but a hint of the shore back home, but I'm much closer to it now that I've moved to the Victors' Village. I never learned how to swim, not in deep water, so when I see small rafts and little heads bobbing in the water, I'm shocked. This is where Pearl grew up, how she became so deadly and well-trained. I can imagine her out in the sea, trident in hand, slowly wading through the water and keeping an eye out for any movement beneath the waves. I wonder if she was as deadly a fisher as she was when hunting people. I suppose her skills must have transferred over from somewhere.

"The ocean is so beautiful," Koi comments as we near the train station. When I look at him, he's wearing a silk blue outfit that is unbuttoned tastefully to show his tattoos. I wonder if the first time he saw koi fish was here, though as far as I know koi fish aren't prone to living in saltwater. No, he must have seen them before in the Capitol, or why would his parents have named him after the fish? Did they even name him Koi, or did he change it himself? I've got no clue.

Farah dresses me in a short-sleeve blue shirt that ruffles like the waves of the ocean, tan pants that emulate the sand on the beaches. Though I've been wearing cool colors all week to go along with the generally cold weather, I actually feel warm in this outfit. Or that's the anxiety coursing through my veins that's warming my body.

We drive past sturdy houses, shacks filled with fishing poles and netting and hooks and whatever else they might need. The people are tan from the sun, stopping for a moment to watch the car drive past them. Surely they all know my name. Some of them might even feel like they know me personally, considering what I did to their last chance at bringing glory to the district for the year. I can already imagine the hatred, the anger in their eyes when I go up onto the stage and apologize for what I've done. I know I'll never be forgiven, but this is a painful reminder, though I suppose I am the a painful reminder to them of what could have been had Pearl's back not been facing the fire.

The worst part about being here though is that I'll be forced to face my brother's killer. Yes, I'm going to meet Finnick Odair, and there is no way that he hasn't taken Pearl's death personally. It would be easier if Finnick wasn't the same age as me, because then I could just pretend I'm being scolded by an adult. But no, I'm going to talk to a boy my age, who killed my brother three years ago and won the crown himself.

At least we can call it even, I think while shivering.

Once again in the Justice Building, the mayor gives me a quick welcome before I go out onto the stage. I'm presented with the usual plaque, then pushed in front of the microphone. I stare out into the people of District Four. Most of them blank faced, they stare back. Some angrily eye me like I killed their own family. Only a few don't seem to care at all. Finally, I bring my eyes up to face Pearl's family. An older girl, who doesn't look quite old enough to be her mother, a woman who does look like her mother, and a boy around eight-years-old face me. The boy has a furious look on the face, as does the mother. The sister just looks tired.

I look away from them, to Pearl's district partner. I barely know anything about the boy except for that Pearl killed him out of mercy. It also seems that his entire family is made out of men. I take a deep breath and start reading from the cards that Koi gave me.

"Um," I stutter when I'm finished with what Koi wrote. Everyone focuses on me again, waiting for me to say more. "Like I said before, both of your tributes were very strong. Especially Pearl. She was the toughest opponent I have ever faced. She- she made her district proud, I'm sure. Thank you."

That's all I can get out without feeling like someone is squeezing my heart into mush inside my chest.

With that, I hurry back inside the Justice Building. Woof is sound asleep on a chair, seemingly having missed the entire thing. Cecelia gives me a hug.