Jaded ||| Johanna Mason

seven

Jade was very delirious. She saw bright lights and heard mumbling voices. Her eyes wanted to open but they were so heavy, she didn't even know where she was.

When her eyes were finally ready to open, Jade was still confused. It took her a moment to adjust and actually register what she was seeing.

She was in a dim room. The lights were low and calming. There were different machines all around Jade but most of them had been powered off.

The sheets of the hospital bed she was laying in rustled as Jade sat up. They were sterile and stuff. Jade's hands immediately went to her face. She felt a bump and knew it was the scar, where Midas had cut her.

Jade's hand trailed down her face until she reached her throat. She pushed the sudden fear down when she remembered the event. Pulling her hand away, Jade was relieved to see no blood. A bandage had been placed on it and it was slightly tender to the touch. But it wasn't fresh like when she had passed out.

It was then that Jade realized a rather important fact; Her arm was fully healed. It didn't hurt at all and the once unnatural angle had been reverted to its normal shape.

Jade pulled back the blankets and swung her feet over the side of the bed, stepping onto the floor.

She was wobbly when she stood but managed to stay up and stretch, trying to regain use of her body. Her muscles were stiff and tight, her bones popping the farther she stretched back. She didn't know how long she had been unconscious.

Jade analyzed the sterile room and saw the door. It didn't have a window on it, just scored windows beside it. Giving the capitol too much credit, Jade gave the handle a tug. As she expected, it didn't open. It shook but was obviously locked.

"Hel—" Jade began to say but had to stop and cough, her throat slightly painful. She hadn't used her voice in a while. —hello. Could I please be let out of this dungeon now?" she finally called.

It took a few minutes but the door opened eventually, a peacekeeper held it open. Jade crossed her arms expectsntly, she was a victor, after all. Her display was less effective since she couldn't see the face of her escort, so Jade sighed and followed his lead, leaving her room.

There was another peacekeeper in the hallway, this one led Jade down the dimly lit corridor, toward an elevator.

The room got periodically brighter as they approached the elevator, until it was easy to see and the peacekeeper pressed a button.

A moment later, the elevator dinged and opened, it was the same one from the tribute centre. Jade figured that was where she must have been.

Both got into the machine and the peacekeeper pressed the button for the second floor. Jade was suddenly nervous for some reason even though she had won the hunger games. That hadn't sunk in yet.

Jade tapped her foot in the elevator as she waited, rubbing her throat absentmindedly. A bead of sweat materialized on her forehead and she took care to wipe it away before she saw her "mentors" again.

Finally, the elevator slowed to a stop and announced they were on the second floor. The doors opened and Jade stepped out.

She saw the exact same apartment, the apartment she had been in before the games. Only now, all of the district two victors who had come to the Capitol were waiting to greet her.