"why do my achievements define me? why does life feel so damn confining? when success is respected, there's no room for mediocrity."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Valentina
I DIVE INTO THE WATER and all I can see is darkness when I swim, but it stops when I open my eyes underwater and I am face to face with district 7. I am on stage, presenting a speech for my victors tour and want nothing more than for Alexander to be with me. He always did the talking for me, that was his thing.
I felt shameful looking at Kaya's parents and older brothers, how was I to explain that I was thankful to Panem when I had let their daughter die because we had run in different directions during a mutt attack?
And Jamie, my friend, my little brother by everything but blood. The screen reflects his face and wide doe eyes, staring back at me. I feel my breath halt and spit clogs my throat, making me cough and double over. The crowd of those in district 7 understand but are not sympathetic, and how could they ever be sympathetic when they watched me fall for the boy who murdered their young tribute?
Jamie's parents had no other children, and it was apparent they couldn't stand to look at me with their blurred, teary eyes. It perfectly mirrored the way Alexander's parents look at me, making me wonder if it's me, if I'm the problem.
I didn't have anything to say to the families, what could I have said? They had enough money, they desired nothing I could offer, even so, what could I offer?
The feeling of hands around my throat awakes me from my daydream, and instead of on my victory tour, I'm reminded of my fate when Gloss is under the water in front of me, choking me.
I struggle to inhale, especially underwater, and begin to splutter. The only advantage I have was being from district four, so I swim around until he's facing the rocks, hands still on my neck. I wrap my hands around his neck in retaliation as the breath leaves my lungs, and instead of trying to choke him, I pull his neck towards me before bashing it onto the rocks.
It's enough to stun Gloss and I'm able to wriggle out of his grip. Being the stronger swimmer, I kick him with my legs to boost my momentum and I swim towards the cornucopia, bobbing my head to the side to regain my breath as I was already feeling weakened.
My head is turning left, right and all around in search of a girl from District 12 when I crouch down by the back of the cornucopia and retrieve a club axe. It had a black resin handle and the hard metal was sharpened to form two holes in the middle, and one curved blade with a pole down the middle. It wasn't ideal, but I hadn't found any throwing knives.
Staying crouched to avoid contact with other tributes, I make my way to the side of the cornucopia. I finally stand up and gain balance to look around the floor and scavenge for a throwing weapon when a knife comes dangerously close to my face. Upon this, I raise my weapon and ready myself for an attack, but I stop when I'm face-to-face with Enobaria, and she too stops and we both look at one another wide-eyed.
