Storm: A Hunger Games Story {Book One of the Storm Trilogy}

Thirteen

THREE MONTHS LATER:

As I locked the door to Trina's shop, I looked up at the sky. There was no sun today. My district was just as gloomy as usual.

I step into the street and begin my walk to Victor's Village. I wrap my coat around my cold body. Fog graced the air, along with frigid wind. I picked up my pace as I walked through my town.

I finally reached Victor's Village. Before going into my own house, I stop by Wes' house. I need to see him before I go crazy.

"Wes? Are you home?" I ask, hearing the echo of my own voice. The houses in Victor's Village are spacious enough to hold 20 people comfortably.

"Yes, I'm in the kitchen!" he calls. I take my coat off and hang it on one of the hooks in his entryway. I walk through the house I have grown familiar with in these past months. When I reach the kitchen, I see Wes slicing bread.

"Hi, Ophelia." he says, putting the knife down and embracing me. I hug him back, missing his arms around me.

"Hi, Wes." I look up at him and meet his beautiful, blue eyes.

"I'm making dinner for my father and I. Would you like to stay?"

"I would love to, but I promised my mother I would help with dinner tonight. I'm sorry." I pouted, and he chuckled.

"Don't be sorry. I love you Ophelia." Sometimes, even though it's been a few months, it still surprises me to hear him say it.

"I love you, Wes." He kisses me gently, and goes back to cutting bread. All of a sudden, the television turns on for a mandatory viewing. We make our way to the living room and stand near the device. Caesar Flickerman stands before us in a purple, velvet suit with pink hair and eyebrows.

"Good evening Panem. In a week, the Victory Tour for the 68th Hunger Games begins! We will check in with our star from District Eight, Ophelia Wyatt, tomorrow evening!"

The last time I was on camera was a month ago, checking in on how life is in Victor's Village. Tomorrow, Wes and I will tell all of Panem that we are together. Cecelia thinks it will keep the two of us away from prostitution, which is something she was surprised hasn't taken a hold of Wes yet.

He takes my hand as Caesar goes on with the news.

"Everything will be okay. I'm going to be with you." I nod.

"I know. I'm going to go home and help my mother. I love you so much." I kiss him, and he kisses back. I hug the man I fell in love with as we say our goodbyes. He walks with me to the door and watches as I walk two houses down to my humble abode.

I hang up my coat as I did at Wes' house, and slip off my boots.

"Mom, I'm home!" I call into the house that doesn't feel at all like home. My mother comes into the entryway from the kitchen and hugs me. She knows how nervous I am about the tour, and seeing Caesar talk about it made it seem more imminent than it did before.

"Hi, my love. How was your day?"

"It was alright. There wasn't much going on at the shop today. I just stopped by to see Wes. "

"You're going to be fine tomorrow. Everything will be okay." My mother tries to reassure me every day that things will be fine. I just can't help but think about the negative. If something happens to my family because of something I do, I'll be devastated.

"I know, I'm just nervous. I don't want to put you and Dad and Mason in harm's way."

My mother sighed before placing her hands on my face.