The Incoming Storm: The Tale of the 325th Hunger Games

Chapter 40

 Early in the morning, Clio knocks on my door and I get dressed. This is my first time in a long while that my public appearance will not be dictated by Leto and my prep team. I spend a while having a complete fashion crisis, when I finally decide on an outfit very similar to the one I wore at the Reaping. It is a shiny flowing blue skirt with a white shirt with an elegant embroidered pattern.

When I enter the dining car, breakfast is already being served. Clio is in borderline hysterics organizing the schedule for the day. Apparently someone forgot to pack a car with expensive tablecloths and she angrily speaks with someone on the phone requesting them to send a hovercraft with them immediately.

I join Quin and Maizer at the table while Clio paces back and forth fuming about this and that. Apparently without these tablecloths, dinner is ruined. When Clio has finally badgered the person on the other line into submission, she hangs up and joins us. "Well, now that the tablecloths are on their way," she says, laying her napkin on her lap, "Things seem to be in order for today."

My stomach is in knots but obviously not as bad as in the days before the games. What will home be like? How will people react to my victory? What does excite me is the small fleet of hovercraft that will meet us in District 9 for Parcel Day. On this day and then the first of every month to follow large stores of food, drink, and other luxuries will be dispersed to every family of District 9. I force myself to finish my breakfast, as I sip on a glass of juice, Clio checks the time and nearly upturns the table. "We are only a few minutes away!"

My stomach does a somersault and Clio begins rampaging around the room. She escorts all of us to the front of the train to the foyer area of the train. The room's walls and ceilings are mostly windows, which lets us see the view as we pass the concrete wall that surrounds the district.

We pass the rice's water fields and then burst into the golden fields of grain. My heart begins beating faster when the buildings of the main city come into view. The streets have never been so bright and cheerful in my life, crowds from all over the district have gathered in my honor. Confetti and streamers glitter in the air, banners with my face covered buildings, and fireworks even explode in the sky.

We rapidly slow into the train station and Clio prepares us. I can already hear the muffled yelling from the crowd welcoming me home. Celebrations have been going all night and day here, and my arrival is only more cause to celebrate. It's been a long time since there was a reason to celebrate in District 9.

At the front of the crowd are some familiar faces, Farro and Rya as well as Mayor Pana. Rya has become noticeably pregnant since my departure, although I haven't been this close to her in a long while. As the doors open, the sound of the crowd explodes. Clio pushes me out the car and I am swarmed by people. Cameras flash adding to the over stimulation of the moment. I feel Farro's arms around me, and he is telling me good job. Good job? Good job for what? Killing?

I ignore it though, through the blur of the day, I take in as much of the celebration as possible. This is a happy day, today is about me, me coming home, my niece, my district. Tomorrow I will worry about what is to come. Tomorrow I will find a way to live my life in the wake of the absolute devastation of the Hunger Games. Tomorrow I will begin the battle to stop the cruelty of the Capitol. Tomorrow I will face that incoming storm.