In her favor

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇

"CONGRATULATIONS MS. BARNETTE." Snow's voice bellowed as he crowned the young girl.

"Thank you." Saleah said with a straight face.

"I'm sure your district is very proud of you. You fought well."

Saleah nodded, "I know."

-

It was the next day, and Saleah had still not seen her family.

As soon as she was taken out of the arena, Orna and Eddy had been there. They embraced her as she stood there blankly, trying to comprehend the last few hours of her life.

Apparently, the games had lasted ten days. Saleah had been inside that arena for over a week. It had felt longer.

They gave her one night to rest, and then she had to attend an interview with Caesar.

"Hello my dear! It's nice to see you again!" Laycey greeted Saleah with a kiss on the cheek.

Saleah gave her a small smile, but that was it.

Laycey frowned, "That's it? That's all you've got for me? You've just won The Hunger Games dear! More enthusiasm!" Laycey clicked her tongue and shook her head as she started on Saleah's makeup.

Saleah's makeup was different this time. Laycey had decorated the inner and outer corners of her eyes with diamonds. She'd also given Saleah some blue eyeshadow and a white winged butterfly eyeliner look.

"Everyone loved the butterfly theme during your first interview..People are calling you the Capitol's butterfly now! It was perfect that they had butterflies in the games, was it not?"

Saleah hummed.

Laycey then let Saleah's hair down. The night before they had styled it into braids with curls. Laycey called the style, "goddess braids."

When her hair and makeup was all done, Laycey pulled out her dress.

Once again, it was butterfly themed.

The dress was blue and resembled the wings of a butterfly, it was definitely beautiful.

Saleah slipped into the dress and then she was ushered backstage.

Orna was there, waiting for her. She embraced the girl, before turning her around.

Orna clasped her necklace around Saleah's neck. Saleah had forgotten all about the piece of jewelry that her mentor had given her. She'd given it back when she returned from the arena.

"Why are you giving it back?" Saleah asked.

"Keep it. It's for you now." Orna said.

Saleah nodded and gave the older woman a hug.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Butterfly of the Capitol, Saleah Barnette!" Caesar's voice boomed.

Saleah let go of Orna and made her way onto the stage.

"Saleah! It's so nice to see you!"

Saleah forced a smile, "You too Caesar!"

Caesar grinned, "Sit sit!" Saleah sat.

"I'm very happy to say that you were my favorite tribute this year." Caesar chuckled.

"Thank you! I'm honoured."

Caesar nodded and smiled, "Now, Saleah...Tell me how it felt when that final cannon went off. Were you relieved? Sad? Happy?" He motioned to the screen behind them, showing Saleah's final moments in the arena.

"Definitely relieved.." Saleah fidgeted nervously.

"As were we all! I bet your happy to be back! What's the first thing you'll do when you get back to Eleven?"

"I'd like to see my family, of course."

Caesar hummed, "Yes! You're family! I bet they're just eager to see you! Now, let's talk about the beginning of the games dear!"

-

Saleah collapsed onto the plush bed. Her interview with Caesar seemed to last forever. He'd asked tons of questions.

The worst part was when they'd roll the clips of the games. Saleah was forced to watch deaths again and again on the screen, forced to relive the traumatic events that had occurred in that arena.

Now she was on the train, going back home.

She couldn't wait to see her family, but at the same time she was afraid.

She'd killed people in that arena, taken lives of other tributes. How would her family look at her? She'd become a monster.

Would her siblings avoid her? Would her father disown her? She could imagine the look on her aunt's face, a look of disgust.

"Saleah?' Orna cracked open the door.

Saleah sat up, " Yeah?' 

Orna fully opened the door and came to sit on the bed. "How are you holding up?"

Saleah laughed, a bitter one. "Truthfully? I feel like shit. My family probably hates me. God, I hate myself right now." She sighed as she ran her palms down her face.

Orna frowned and took her hand, "They don't hate you Saleah. You did what you had to do, they'll understand that. And if they don't, you'll always have me.' 

"Thanks." Saleah let a sad smile rest on her lips.

Orna nodded, "Have you slept at all since the games?'

Saleah shook her head, " A little. I've tried, but every time I do, I wake up in a panic."

"Nightmares?" Orna asked gently.

Saleah nodded. "Does it ever go away?"

Orna smiled sadly, "No...but it gets easier overtime, I promise."

"What if it doesn't?"

"It will Saleah. It will."

-