May I please introduce you to the winner of the 69th annual Hunger Games, Bree Daves!
The games changed you in ways that you could never understand. Something that Bree learned the hard way. After being forced to participate in the 69th annual Hung...
"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
Friedrich Nietzsche
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Bree hadn't seen when the bombs were dropped. That she was grateful for, she didn't need to witness the senseless loss of life.
The moment Bree knew that Snow had surrendered and had been taken prisoner, her knees closed as she and Finnick sagged into each other. Snow had been defeated. He had been stopped. Maybe now they could finally start to live their own lives—lives that were dictated, controlled, and toyed with by the presented Snow.
It took a moment for them to realize that they were both crying—tears of utter joy. Finally, they could be free together, Free of Snow and his tyranny.
They both started to laugh uncontrollably. Propped up on each other, tears streaming down their faces as they laughed manically. Bree was sure that they must look like they had gone mad. But she didn't care. She didn't need to care about what people thought of her any more.
She could finally be in control of her life. She and Finnick were free and safe.
✯⚔️✯
You will, of course, need to go to the capital," Coin told both Bree and Finnick. "We will need the victors there for Snow's execution."
Bree nodded mechanically at Coin's words. Maybe she wasn't free just yet. But Bree could wait. She had waited this long.
"A transport is scheduled to take you and the other victors to the capital at 1600," Coin told them before turning to talk to one of her officials.
Mechanically, Bree turned to look at Finnick.
"You sure you can go back to the capital?" Finncik asked Bree.
"I don't know." Bree admitted, "but I have to."
"You don't have to do anything," Finnick assured her.
"I do," Bree told him earnestly. I have to do this. "I have to do this for myself."
Finnick nodded in understanding as he took Bree's hand. It looked like the two of them were going to have to prepare to go back to the capital, a place they both hoped they would never have to go back to.
✯⚔️✯
Bree and Finnick stood in a room with all the past tributes turned victories. They were just waiting on Katniss.
"What's this?" Katnis asked as she surveyed the room, the door closing behind her.
"The remaining Victors." Coin told her. "Won't you join us?"
Bree and Finnick pulled their chairs together before they sat down. Their shoulders brushing as they started down Coin.
"I have invited you all here for several reasons, but first, I have an announcement." Coin announced. "I have taken the burden and the honour of declaring myself interim president of Panem."
"Interim?" Hamish snorted. "Exactly how long is that interim?"
"We have no way of knowing for certain." Coin calmly explained. "But it's clear that people are far too emotional right now to make a rational decision. We'll plan an election when the time is right."
Bree ever so gently shrunk into Finnick, worried about Coin.
"But I have called you here for a far more important vote." Coin carried on before anyone else could interrupt her. "A symbolic vote. This afternoon, we will execute snow. Hundreds of his accomplices also await their deaths. Capitol officials, peacekeepers, torturers, and game makers. But the danger is once we begin, the rebels will not stop calling for retribution. Thirst for blood is a difficult urge to satisfy. So, I offer an alternative plan. A majority of five may approve it. No one may abstain. The proposal is this. In lieu of these barbaric executions, we hold a symbolic Hunger Games."
Bree couldn't believe what she was hearing. Turning, Bree and Finnick shared a horrified look. There was no way this was real.
Johana started to laugh. "You wanna have another Hunger Games with the capitol's children?"
"You're joking?" Peeta questioned. Bisbelife coating his words
"Not in the slightest." Coin answered.
Haymitch snorted. "Is this Plutarch's idea?" he questions.
"It was mine." Coin told him. "It balances the need for revenge with the least loss of human life. You may cast your votes."
"No. No, obviously not." Bree spoke up. "If we do this, we are no better than they are. The whole point of this, of us, is that we are better than them. Then Snow"
"I stand with Bree." Finnick immediately spoke up. "We can't start change if we are going to immediately do to them what they did to us."
"Of course you are with her." Johana snorted. "I think it's more than fair. Snow's got a granddaughter. I say yes."
"So do I," Enobria spoke up. "Let them have a taste of it."
"No. No, obviously not." Finnick spoke up. "This is crazy. You guys, this way of thinking is what started these uprisings."
"I vote no," Annie spoke up. "With Bree and Finnick. So would Mags if she were here."
"No," Beetee spoke up. "We need to stop viewing each other as enemies.:
"It's down to katniss, haymitch and Peeta." Coin told them. Looking at the District 12 tributes the three of them seemed locked in a wordless conversation.
"I get to kill snow," Katnis spoke up. Tearing her gaze from Petta.
"I expected no less of you." Coin nodded.
"Then I vote yes," Katniss said. Refusing to look at anyone but Coin. "For prim."
"Haymitch, Peeta?" Coin questioned.
"I'm with the Mockingjay," Haymitch told her.
"So am I." Peeta gritted out as if every word was painful to him.
"That carries the vote." Coin told them as Bree collapsed into Finnick. "Excellent. We'll announce the games tonight after the execution."
Bree couldn't believe it. There was no way they had actually voted to have another Hunger Games.
But as Bree turned to look at the district 12 victories, she wondered if maybe there was something she wasn't aware of. But hope was a dangerous thing.
