The Price of Champions and Crowns (Hunger Games)

25

I hear waves crashing against the shore.

I'm obviously in the arena. 

It's either the start of a nightmare or a beautiful dream. The nightmare where he dies. Or the dream where we kill and kiss all day.

I feel soft lips on my forehead and bury my head into what feels like a pillow.

A beautiful dream then. 

I slowly blink away sleep and see Liam shirtless, staring down at me while softly tracing patterns on my shoulders with his fingers. "How are you feeling?".

He says it like it's the most serious question. Like there's a real possibility of me saying anything but amazing. "The arena shouldn't have beds".

Instant frown from Liam. He shakes his head softly at me. "We're not in any area I promise. You're safe".

He then rests the back of his hand on my forehead. "Fever broken this morning?". He answers his own question with a proud little nod.

I stare at up him trying to make sense of this. "You feel real".

To test my theory I run my hand from his cheek down his torso. His eyes don't leave mine the entire time. Until I get dangerously low and he grabs my hand. "That's because I am real".

He kisses my hand and then drops it. "Can we try going down the stairs for breakfast?".

He hands me a bucket. One I imagine is used for sand castles. 

I then take in this room. It's extravagant but not Capitol luxury. It's beautiful. I'm on a huge white bed that's as soft as a cloud, in fact I'd say we were in my house if not for the sound of crashing waves coming from the balcony.

Victors Village 

All the houses are made the same. I swallow. I can deal with that. I'm safe if we're in victors village. I get out of bed and ignore the bucket. Liam takes my hand and slowly guides me down the stairs to the large dinning and kitchen area of the first floor. 

Despite the house being the same as all other houses in victors village I know it's not his.

It smells of new paint like mine. But it's not the house that smelt of sandlewood with framed pictures of him. No evidence this is Annie and Finnick's house.

But we're definitely in District Four.

I gulp. "Whose house is this?".

His back is to me in the kitchen. "Mine".

His. 

I try to remember to breathe. "Why am I at your house?".

He turns from the fridge and gives me a small encouraging smile. As if to say 'you know this, you can do it' kind of smile. "Because you live here now too".

I frown. "Since when?".

He sighs. "Since Friday".

I scoff. "What day is it today then?".

"Wednesday".

I nod. "And Johanna and Blight?".

He shakes his head like we've had this conversation many times. "Safe in Seven".

I blink. "Johanna left me?".

He instantly shook his head. Like he knows my reactions from this conversation by heart. "No, Snow's orders. Finnick and Johanna knew this would happen, so did the Mellark's . Snow Wants us to marry eventually but it's illegal since we're citizens of different districts. So you're now..." he cringed. "A citizen of District Four".

Marry

Citizen of District Four

I blink. "Ah huh".

She totally left me...

 I try to think of something rational to say. But I can't, I just stare at him. My Liam, gorgeous and ever patient. Stands on the other side of the bench. Waiting for me, I'm sure he'll stand there all day too until I'm ready to function.

I shake my head. "So District Four...forever".

Liam slowly nods. 

I can tell he knows what I'm thinking. Probably because when I've been high we've gone through this, I doubt my reactions were pleasant. "But Johanna...".

I guess that's a new take on things because Liam rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably. "You'll see her every year during the games. We're mentors now".

How bloody comforting.

Suddenly I feel a wave of panic hit me. In District Four surrounded by the ocean. "I don't like the sea".

Liam nods. "I'll continue to teach you how to swim once you're feeling better".

I nod. I can handle that, I know the beaches here are private. I shiver. "And you're parents?".

He sarcastically indicates to the left. "Our lovely neighbours who insist on a weekly dinner apart from that, I stay clear of Mum and Dad".

I swallow. "And we're getting married?".

He pauses. "Apparently. They haven't told me much. Just that Snows insisting we do, but he had to make you a citizen of Four first".

I nod. "You didn't want to live in Seven?".

He shrugged. "I didn't get a say. But no. Say we had kids...down the line. I'd want them to grow up here in a career district. A district where there's plenty of food and medicine. We don't have to think about that stuff in Four".

I snorted. "Because little tanned children who have been trained in an academy to kill other children sounds so idealistic".

He instantly frowned. "You know what I mean".

I did. But I'm annoyed that I'm not in Seven. I don't know why but I always believe we'd live in Seven. Naive, as everyone knows Four is the better district. It's not poor. And deep down I know he's right. Any children here have a better quality of life then those in Seven where the sun literally doesn't shine.

I turn away from him and bite my lip in trepidation. "I'm going to make a call".

I don't wait for his response. I walk calmly at first and then I break decorum and run down the hallway to what I know will be a study. A study that like mine as I enter has probably never been used. I instantly latch the door locked and sink against it. Like I did when I was a child I feel the urge to scream and hit my head against it. And then I remember the reason why that in itself is my coping method.

My eyes dart to the regal golden phone on the desk. Then they narrow and I'm up. Marching towards it with a new sense of betrayal. I pick it up and my fingers shake as I press the button for inter-district-line. Used only by victors and government officials. And then I request to be put through to Johanna Mason.