'District 4, Aphrodite Clearwater also known as the 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓'
When Aphrodite realizes she will be reaped for The Hunger Games, she and her Mother devise a plan-𝑻𝒐 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒑𝒖�...
Aphrodite felt the days tick by as the tour pressed on, each stop blurring into the next like the repetitive flashes of lights from the Capitol cameras. The speeches had become a monotonous cycle—each one scripted, filled with the same hollow praises for the Capitol that she had long ago stopped believing. With every district she visited, the facade felt more like a prison.
------
The memories of District 9 were the most haunting. She stood tall on the stage, her heart pounding as she read the lines handed to her, words dripping with insincerity. "I'm thankful for the Capitol for giving me that strength," she said, forcing a smile. But as she looked up at the families standing next to Sam's photo, her heart clenched painfully. The portrait was adorned with flowers, and it was hard to ignore the heavy air of grief surrounding them.
When her eyes met his parents, she felt a rush of guilt surging through her. The sorrow etched on their faces hit her like a tidal wave. But it was the sight of Sam's little brother, no older than Otto, that shattered her composure. He stood with wide eyes, a mixture of confusion and sadness reflected back at her.
"I'm so sorry," she heard herself say, the words spilling out, unfiltered. "I should have saved him." The weight of the apology hung heavily in the air, filled with the unspoken truth of her failure. She nodded in their direction, the acknowledgement a small gesture of the remorse that consumed her. The silence that followed felt deafening, suffocating her with its intensity. Unable to bear it any longer, she turned away, her heart aching as she walked through the Justice Building doors.
Aphrodite encased her hand in Finnick's once again, seeking comfort in his presence. Their hands fit together as they stepped down from the stage, the warm grip grounding her. It was a routine that had become second nature, yet each time felt different.
-----
District 9 stopped replaying in her mind, the sharp edges of her memories from District 2 cutting through the haze of the tour. The stage had been set, the lights blinding, but the anger within her overshadowed everything. She could see Venus and Ridge's photos side by side, their smiles mocking her. The air had been thick with tension, the eyes of the audience boring into her, judging her every word.
As she approached Finnick after delivering her speech, a swell of rage filled her. He reached out, but she stepped closer instead, her chest tightening with the emotions swirling inside her. It was as if the anger poured out of her, hot and unyielding.
Finnick broke the silence that loomed over them by wrapping her in a hug, strong and protective. "I'm sorry, Aph," he murmured, his voice low and filled with an understanding that she desperately needed. At that moment, the anger began to melt away, replaced by a feeling of safety she hadn't realized she was craving.
As they began to walk back to the train, he kept his arm around her waist, holding her close. She could feel the heat radiating from him, a warmth that offered solace amid the turmoil within. They walked in silence, the rhythm of their steps echoing the unspoken bond they shared, one forged through mutual pain and understanding.
But as they approached the train, the familiar apprehension settled back into her gut. She had spoken like the Capitol, it felt like a betrayal of sorts. The Capitol had set her up to play a role she didn't want—one of a victor who was meant to bring comfort but was instead delivering a message of compliance.
Later, as they settled into the train car, the weight of her thoughts pressed down on her. Finnick caught her gaze, his expression concerned. "You okay?" he asked softly, his voice a balm to her frayed nerves.
"Yeah," she replied, but even to her ears, the lie felt thin. She turned away, trying to focus on the scenery whizzing by outside the window, the vibrant colours of the Capitol contrasting sharply with the stark reality of the districts they were leaving behind.
Yet, as the train continued its journey, her mind drifted back to Sam and his family. Their faces haunted her, a reminder of the lives she was meant to protect but had ultimately failed. Every word she had spoken during the speeches felt like a hollow echo in her mind, the applause of the Capitol a stark contrast to the grief she had witnessed.
That night after her District 2 speech, she lay in her bunk, sleep eluded her. Her thoughts spiralled, replaying the faces of those she had met, the pain of their loss intertwining with her own guilt. The train rattled softly, a lullaby that should have soothed her, but instead, it only deepened her restlessness.
The images of the children, the families, and the expectations of the Capitol converged, and she felt trapped, like a pawn in a game she couldn't win.
Aphrodite eventually drifted off, but sleep was riddled with nightmares that twisted her reality into something dark and suffocating. She found herself back in the arena, the screams of the tributes echoing around her, their faces twisted in agony. She ran, but no matter how fast she moved, the shadows always closed in, relentless and consuming.
When she awoke, gasping for breath, it took her a moment to realize she was not in the arena. The comforting weight of Finnick's arms surrounded her, his hands gently running through her hair. "Hey, it's okay," he whispered, his voice low and soothing. "You're safe."
His presence calmed her racing heart, grounding her in a reality that was far removed from the nightmares. She leaned into him, letting the comfort wash over her as she fought to pull herself back together. Slowly, she let the warmth of his embrace seep into her, easing the lingering fear that had plagued her.
"Just breathe," he said, as she nestled against him, his arms still wrapped around her. With each inhale, she focused on the safety of the moment, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear.
Eventually, she relaxed again, slipping back into a more peaceful sleep, the nightmares receding into the background. When she awoke the next morning, she felt a sense of calm that hadn't been there before. The tension had lessened, if only slightly, and for now, that was enough.
------
As they continued their tour approaching the Capitol, the routine remained the same, but Aphrodite felt a shift within herself. She spoke the lines she was given, but this time, she felt a flicker of resolve igniting inside her. The speeches were still rehearsed, yet she began to infuse her words with a hint of her true feelings, a quiet rebellion against the emptiness of her role.
In District 9, she had shared her sorrow. In District 2, she confronted her rage. And now, as they approached the Capitol, she found herself ready to face whatever came next.
Together, they walked forward, hand in hand, into the unknown.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
This chapter sucks I apologise. I wanted to skip over her tour but show Sam and Venus's districts. I'm Sorry for any confusion on the timeline, I tried my best.
