To be a Victor? (Hunger Games)

Chapter 3

My leg is bouncing so fast and my mind has a million thoughts flying through it. Why would I do that? I know my emotions get the best of me sometimes, but what I've just done is borderline insane. I can't believe this, what will my mothe- just as I'm thinking of her, Sylvia bursts through the door to the room I'm waiting in, and we hear a peacekeeper say "Three minutes to say goodbye."

My mother has tears in her eyes, but I refuse to show any emotion on my face.

"Oh Mae... I love you so much"

"I love you too mom, but it will be okay. You can pick up an extra shift at the hospital and maybe you can learn to hunt like me-" but before I can finish she cuts me off with: "No, Maeve, I don't want you to think like that, you can win this you know. You can hunt, you're strong and fast. You can do it."

Tears start to flood my eyes, "Mom I don't want you to have to mourn me."

"So don't let me. Oh here, it's your birthday present" She hands me a beautiful golden bracelet with gold studded crystals bordering the clasps.

"Oh, mom it's beautiful, thank you." She nods in response, and then a peacekeeper opens the door to usher her out." 

She turns quickly to shout "I love you Maeve!"

And just like that the one person I've known and loved since day one is gone. The door to the room opens again and a small, blond girl walks in.

"Hi" she says shyly.

"Hello" I say to the girl I volunteered for.

"I- I want to say thank you for saving me."

"Don't thank me. I'm sorry about your mother" I say as I notice her eyes are still wet from crying.

She nods and runs up to give me a hug. I crouch down a little and accept her warm embrace, and now I don't regret what I have done, because innocent children, this innocent, beautiful child, who can only give kindness, shouldn't have to be forced to kill other kids.

Once again a peacekeeper enters the room, but this time he takes me by the arm and as he's pulling me forcefully out of the room I wave good bye to Maxina.

A couple hours later and I'm sitting in a train car that's racing towards my death. Despite the fact I'm supposed to die in a couple weeks, I've been given a lot of nice luxuries since I volunteered. This car has plush, blue sofas littered across the large room. There are beautifully potent flowers in vases on every single grand oak wood table. On one large mahogany table littered with velvet placemats there are crystal plates and silverware accompanied with puff pastries, donuts, cakes, macrons, eclairs, and a whole bunch of treats I don't even have the vocabulary to name.

I'm sitting in one of the soft chairs looking out the world flying by when a group of people enter the room. First I see Juniper staring at me followed by the escort who had worn a neon pink bodysuit with yellow truffles in her hair, but now she's changed into a bright blue pantsuit with what I think is a toy train circling her waist. Then there are a couple of others but I have no clue who they even are.

Juniper comes to sit across from me smiling and flashing his brown eyes at me. The escort walks over to us and says "Well congratulations you two!" She claps her hands together and continues "I am Beatriz, you're escort for your time in the capital and this is" she points to the couple standing behind her "Octavio and Flora, they are a part of your styling team but I had them brought from the capital to help me pick my outfits for the ceremony."

Juniper says warmly "Hi, I'm Juniper, and this Maeve" he gestures to me.

"Well hello there" Octavio says in a bright capital accent.

Beatriz clears her throat to get the attention back to her and says "Now here is-" But she is cut off before she can finish.

"-Someone who needs no introduction" and the legendary Johanna Mason steps out from behind Beatriz to throw a snarky smile at Juniper and I.

"Oh wow! You're Johanna Mason!" Juniper excitedly says.

Johanna nods and shakes an excited Juniper's hand and suddenly looks at me quizzically "Why are you so quiet?"

I give a simple reply "I've never been one to have much to say."

She nods and says motions between Juniper and I "Well, first lesson: eat up and sleep well, because as soon as we get to the capital we have plenty to do."