THE SIREN'S SONG 𓇼 F. ODAIR

63 | THE REUNION

"Stressful life experiences can affect your health, and it can be helpful for us to understand this," the medical examiner said. "The next few questions are non-mandatory, but–"

"Pass."

The woman nodded, looking at her clipboard to write something down. Carolina watched carefully as she did so, hoping that whatever she was writing would get her out of the hospital wing.

It had been over a month since Carolina had been trapped in her dull, white room. She was mostly visited by medics during that time, and she never saw the same one for more than a couple of days. Carolina figured they were only taking that precaution because they thought she might flirt her way into stealing someone else's keycard again.

They were probably right.

Haymitch also kept her company during the month, and Carolina found him more delightful than Katniss's visits. He wasn't as fun as he was at the bar in the Capitol, but then again, neither was Carolina.

When she saw the older man for the first time, Carolina thought back to Reef's rules after the Quell's announcement. At first, she had raged at Reef for the order of her sobriety, but after seeing Haymitch, she finally understood.

The man looked like he was dying. His skin had taken on a yellow hue, and the bags beneath his eyes were deep and purple. Just looking at his weakened frame made Carolina realize just how lucky she was to go into withdrawal when she was in District 4, surrounded by people who understood what she was going through. It was far better than giving up alcohol in the arena or District 13.

District 13. I am in District 13.

"Do you find it hard to stop thinking about a very difficult event that has happened to you?" the medic asked.

"Yes."

"How do you manage it?"

"I talk to myself," Carolina said quietly. "I remind myself that I'm safe now. What happened won't happen again."

"Good. That's good." The woman wrote something down again. "When something happens that reminds you of the event, does that trigger a very large response in you?"

"Sometimes," Carolina replied, "but not for a while."

"When was the last time you had that type of response?"

"Two weeks ago," Carolina said, "when I found out that Cash was gone."

"And have you seen her since?" the woman asked. "Or anyone you know that is dead?"

"Is Haymitch dead?" Carolina asked. At the medic's head shake, she continued with a sigh. "Then no."

Carolina tried to lean forward to see what the woman was writing, but the medic covered her papers well. When the woman finally looked up, Carolina scooted back into her bed.

"I have one last question," she said. "Do you feel that the memories of your past still get in the way of your day-to-day life?"

"Yes," Carolina answered honestly. "They always will, I think, but I've found ways to cope. I don't need to be locked up in here anymore."

"Do you know where 'here' is?" the woman asked curiously.

"District 13. At least that's what Haymitch said," Carolina said flatly. "But if you want me to believe that, then show me. Let me out of here, and prove to me that this is District 13. Locking me up and telling me what's real and what's not is the exact same thing the Capitol did to me."

The medical examiner placed her clipboard in her lap and met eyes with Carolina.

"I believe that that is our time today."