𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄; The Hunger Games

Back at last (Tribute Center/Hospital)

        Light from the yellow shimmering sun reflecting onto the riffling ocean water that stands beneath me. My hand receiving a gentle yet strong grip. It's Tate, holding my hand as we stand in on the shore as water splashes against our feet. He's looking at me. He then takes his other hand, holding onto my neck as he pulls me in close. I stare into his glossy brown eyes and soft pink lips. I slowly go in for a kiss as he suddenly pushes me away. I thought he rejected my kiss but then water seems to be pulling me in deeper and deeper as I look up, the salt water begins to irritate my eyes as I continue to sink to the bottom. I see Tate's face slowly fading above the water as he just looks at me struggling to swim, try to scream for help as air bubbles escape my mouth.

      The air bubbles cover my vision as I stop swimming. I seem to be on land now. I look at where I am. Grassy hills, tall mountains, sounds of river water... I'm back in the arena... I stand up, hitting my head on a dense metal as I realize I'm inside the Cornucopia... I see 23 tributes standing in front of me, in front of the Cornucopia... Only every tribute is dead, blown to pieces before the countdown finishes... I then hear hissing, with screams of the tributes. I recognize Nikki's scream...It's the cobras...I then turn around to see 23 cobras charging at me as I curl myself in a ball, bracing myself for their impact.

     I wake up, immediately sitting up from my sleep as I panic...

    It was a nightmare. A nurse holds me down, laying me back down as I breathe heavily. "Everything's alright Mr. Venin, you're no longer in the arena...". I look at her, I've never seen her before, nor have I seen this room before. I have a unpleasant feeling in one of my arms. I look to see my arm bandaged up. I then look down to see my leg also bandaged up. "What happened to my arm?". I question nurse as I touch my bandages, tempted to rip off the wrap to see the wound. "Do not touch it, the doctors removed your tracker". She explains as I stop touching the bandage. I then look at my leg, which has a tingling feeling. "And my leg?". I ask her as I seemed to forgot what happened. "You got injured in a fight back in the arena, but don't worry your body is healthy and healing properly". She says, calming me down.

    I look at my surroundings, to see that I'm hooked up to a ECG monitor with a IV attached to my arm. I look to see that I'm no longer shirtless and no longer in my arena shorts. I've been changed into a hospital gown, I glance around the room for Tate's letter, knowing it was in my shorts which are now gone, I look to a small table next to me where I see his letter as I sigh with relief.

      The nurse leaves as I stare at the ticking clock,   staring into the ibis of this never ending loop, doing anything I can to distract myself from the decrypt thoughts of the arena.

      I hear a knock on the door. "Come in". I say as I clear my throat. I wonder who it is. It's Brutus and Evan. "Welcome back tough stuff". Evan says as he walks in, bringing me a bouquet of flowers, placing them on a desk next to the bed I'm lying in. "Thanks". I say softly, feeling undeserving of the gift.

"Ah, there he is! My victor!". Brutus comes in all excited about my return, which doesn't bring me any comfort whatsoever. He sits right next to me on my bed.

"Everyone in the Capitol loves you...". He says as I look puzzled, this whole time I thought they were disgusted with me for being openly in with Tate...

        "What?". I question him. "They loved your 'tragic' love story, one of the best games they've seen...". Brutus explains as I become uninterested in what the Capitol thinks. "Anyway, you put up quite the show my friend, good job being this years victor!". He congratulates me as I frown. He'd sigh. "I'd do anything to be back in the games". He says with such arrogance. "Do you even care that Nikki is gone?". I bring up so he'd stop treating this as a celebration of life or something.

I know he's a victor himself, but unlike him I actually cared about the people I was in the arena with. Nikki, Nykoya, Gliseen, Stout, and Tate...especially Tate, but now they're gone, and there's nothing I or anyone can do to bring them back. Thou I had no choice but to survive, I cared for them.

       Evan notices me feeling uncomfortable by Brutus's comment. "Okay, Dom let's get you freshened up for the 'victory interviews'". Evan says joyfully, clapping his hands together as I look at him confused. "Victory interviews?". I question him. "Ah yes, you have a interview with Caesar, just him asking you questions about the arena and your experience, and afterwards there's a crowning ceremony where President Snow himself crowns you in front of everyone!". Evan explains with such glee as I roll my eyes.

        Brutus notices me rolling my eyes. "What's the matter?". Brutus realizes I didn't sound too happy about that. "I just want to go home". I say in a frustrated tone. Evan's face fades into a frown. "You should be thankful that you're even alive, I'd do anything to experience this again". Brutus utters as I glare at him. I rip out my IV that was once in my arm as water goes everywhere. "Then I hope you get ever experience of the games again". I say to Brutus as I stand up. "Let's get my ready, I guess". I say as I take Tate's letter, holding it close. I then grab 2 crutches that stood by my bed that the nurse place there since my leg is still injured. I hop as I struggle to walk with the crutches. "Dior is waiting in the other room with your outfit". Evan says as we exit the room.

     That disturbing dream I had was terrifying, showing me that growing up all I ever wanted was love, and I finally got it, or was close to having it until it was all taken away from me. I can't even blame Titan, he was just playing the game, like he said. I blame the people who raised us Careers to be such monsters, giving the other district unfair advantages. I blame the people who took my brother away from me. The Capitol.

     My dad told me once I win, I should be proud, that I should be happy to bring pride to my district but I feel everything but pride. I feel disgusted, I feel numb, and for the first time I feel weak and helpless.