Clove, Cato, and Iri were all sat in one of the rooms in the train. Iri drank some whisky while looking out at the view while Clove and Cato talked. They started laughing though Iri didn't really care.
"So... Iri. How did you win? Truly.. win?" Cato asked.
"How everyone wins, being the last one left." Iri answered.
"No... I mean.. how did you win... without being the last?" Cato asked.
Iri turned almost shocked at what Cato was intelling. Clove looked confused as well.
"There were 24 tributes during the games... and only 22 canons went off in total. Besides you... where was the other one?" Cato kept asking.
"You don't quit, do you?" Iri asked.
Cato smirked and shrugged, he was waiting for her to respond. Clove seemed curious as well even though she didn't care to watch.
"It---it was down to the last three. Trude, me, and a District 11 girl named Reena. I had created an alliance with Trude and Reena but when it came down to the three of us, True seemed to turn on us. Trying to do everything he could to win... so I killed him. He lunged at me but before he could kill me I plunge my dagger into his neck and then one in his heart. A tear fell from his face as he asked me 'why?'. When the canon finally went off, announcing he was dead, I cried. Trude was my friend. But Reena was only a girl... and Trude would've killed her the second he got the chance. Reena was 12. When it was down to us two, I told her to kill me. She wouldn't. So we created a plan for us to somehow both get out alive. I acted like she killed me and was lifted out of the arena. Then after I was lifted out, I could escape hopefully. But before I had killed Trude, he had broken my right leg, my bone was broken and part of it was out of my skin. It was bleeding profusely. I didn't think I would make it out alive, but as long as Reena did it didn't matter to me. When I finally got out, the Capitol took me and kept me there for months. I was asleep, didn't remember anything since the escape. When I woke up, Snow informed me that I had won... when I asked about Reena... he-he told me she won but not before they shot her down in front of her District. They killed her, even though she had won. After I had found out I cried... for days. I looked like shit too, thanks to my crying and wounds from the Games. Snow used me as one of his puppets afterward... called me a force to be reckoned with. Used me for my looks to gain popularity, people were all over me, asking for pictures and everything that came with it. I wouldn't eat... I couldn't be happy, all I could think about was how Reena never got to live the rest of her life safe and sound... I blamed myself... I still do." Iri explained, her eyes filling with tears as she spoke.
Cato and Clove were speechless, Clove became overwhelmed with guilt for using her sister for fame... not knowing what that fame did to her. Cato even felt bad for asking to begin with. They didn't feel for District 11 or for Reena but felt for Iri's pain in experiencing what love would do to you.
"A-and then when the Victory Tour came around, specifically when I reached District 11 and had to face Reena's family, I broke down. I couldn't help but continued to apologize to them, apologize for not being able to bring her home alive. I hated myself for it. I hated that I was the one that lived... and not her." Iri cried.
Cato looked down at Iri's scar on her leg, a tear falling form his face. Clove reached her hand out for Iri to hold. Clove started to cry, feeling horrible for how she treated Iri.
"I'm so sorry, Iri. And I'm here for you... whatever you may need." Clove said.
"Thank you," Iri whispered, her voice cracking as tears continued to fall.
Clove hugged her and Cato hugged them both. The hug turned into a group hug, comforting Iri. But as they hugged, Enobaria, the Victor of the 62nd Hunger Games and their Mentor, walked in, Atala following behind.
"It is truly a hard thing to go through... though Cato and Clove have not had the honor of being in it yet. You have... and I am so sorry... that you have to go through it again. But, if my thoughts are correct, it took more than love for you to win, right?" Enobaria asked.
"Yes." Iri said, wiping away her tears.
Enobaria walked over and wiped her tears away, softly rubbing Iri's cheek.
"We bear the sin so they don't have to." Enobaria answered.
Iri nodded, calming down not too long afterward.
"3 Tributes! District 2 is looking hopeful to have another Victor two years in a row!" Atala said joyfully.
"Not exactly a proud moment, Atala. No offense, but Iri should be able to live her life and try to move on. But Snow wants to give it his best shot and try to kill her again. She barely survived before... I couldn't live with myself if she died." Clove answered.
Iri smiled, moved by her sister defending her.
"Yes.. I am very sorry... but on another note: a District 12 girl by the name of Katniss Everdeen also volunteered. District 12's first volunteer." Atala said.
"Who'd she volunteer for?" Iri asked.
"Her sister... just like you." Enobaria answered.
"The things people do for love, right?" Cato laughed.
"Not funny, Cato." Clove said.
"Right. Sorry." Cato replied.
The TV was on while they spoke and all Iri could hear was Caesar's voice. The chilling sound of his upbeat voice only made Iri realize more that she was back where she was one year ago.
"And this moment here... this moment... is the moment that you never forget. The moment... when a Tribute... becomes a Victor."
YOU ARE READING
The Yellowjacket and The Mockingjay
Aksi"You would've never survived what I had to," "I guess we won't have to find out if that is indeed true." Iri is a Teenager from District 2 who is already a Victor when she volunteers for her sister and becomes a Tribute once more. She has to fight f...
