Conquered (previously known as Veni Vidi Vici)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

    Terrence walked slowly up the stage. Aspyn was in position and pretty much ready to go with the hippogriff. The building that they were in was a huge stone amphitheater. It was beautiful surrounded by twelve pillars, one for each district. It’s a shame we have to destroy it. Terrence thought, this must have been here forever. It was all part of the plan though. The Victor’s Ceremony was one of the most loved parts of the Hunger Games, one of the only parts no one really hated. Getting rid of the closing ceremony might make the audience of the Hunger Games diminish. The audience was the only thing the games were really for.

    “Terrence Everdeen. I declare you the winner of the twenty-fifth annual Hunger Games.” said President Hale’s booming voice.

    “Thank you.” Terrence whispered.

Madysin Harris was doing the commentary for the television viewers. Her voice got louder as the fireworks went off. Terrence rushed safely off stage and Aspyn flew in to the air unnoticed. Just as she dropped a boulder, something went wrong. The hippogriff was falling.

    “Aspyn!”

The hippogriff dropped, along with Aspyn, and the boulder crushed President Hale. Terrence ran to Aspyn’s side.

    “We’re still behind you. We won’t let anything…”

He was interrupted by the peacekeepers.

    “Well, let’s see who this really is.” one of them said.

A gasp went through the crowd as Aspyn’s makeup was wiped away and her real hair tumbled down her back as the wig came off.

    “Well, if it isn’t Aspyn Catalpa. I thought you died. Who helped you?”

    “No one.”

    “You must have gotten this stuff somewhere. Who did your hair and makeup?”

    “I did.” Aspyn lied, she didn’t want to get anyone in trouble, “I stole it. I’m good at remembering things so I watched the stylists work and copied it.”

    “Huh. Lock her up. We’ll deal with her after we get a new president.”

Terrence was panicking on the inside so he wouldn’t give anything away. What would they do to her? How long would she be locked up?

    After a week of convincing, Terrence’s family and some other members of the Mockingjays came to see Aspyn.

    “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.” said Leif, crying.

    “No Leif. It was the fireworks. They spooked my hippogriff.”

    “I’m going to get you out of there.” said Terrence, “Rebecky and I are already looking for a way.”

    “I can’t ask you to do that Terrence. Don’t put yourself in anymore danger, please.” said Aspyn.

    “I’m not asking for permission.” Terrence argued.

    “Anyway, you’re lucky young lady. They only locked you up. They didn’t hurt you or anything. That’s very unusual for a ‘crime’ as big as the one you committed.” said Rebecky, trying to look on the bright side.

    “Not yet. They’re waiting for a new president to give me my sentence.”

    “I hear that the new president is going to be President Hale’s younger cousin.” said Mr. Everdeen.

    “Snow?” asked Aspyn, “Really? I thought they’d get someone, well, not him.”

    “Time’s up!” a voice said.

    “We’d better go.” said Leif.

    “Okay. Thank you all for stopping by.”

As they left, Terrence got an idea.

    “Rebecky, how did you help us in the games? You know, when you talked to us.”

    “I went up to the game maker, gave him a good push, and took control. Why?”

    “That’s it! All they need is a good push. Something to persuade them that Aspyn is not a treat.”

    “That’s not what I meant by push…”

    “I know. What if we follow through with the plan? Let’s give them demands saying that if they let Aspyn go and follow the demands, we won’t be in the way.”

    “That might work,” said Leif, “but there are so many things that could go wrong.”

    “It’s worth a shot.” said Terrence, “Let’s give it a try.”