Greater Games [A 72nd Hunger Games Fanfic]

Chapter 15

Fluorescent lights. Dim voices. I wake up to find an unusual . . . lightness. My body doesn't ache like it did in the arena.

My eyes open. I'm alone in a room and instead of wearing my arena clothes, I'm dressed in a hospital gown. All the cuts, scars, bruises from the Games are gone. My hair is soft and smooth and smells like shampoo, not dirty and tangled. My nails have been filed down but are clear, not painted. My skin is soft and warm.

I wonder what time it is. Even though I've been under drugs for probably several hours, it's like the stress and exhaustion from the Games are finally taking their toll on me now. I try to climb off the glass table that I lie on, but my legs tremble and give away. I fall on my butt.

I don't know what sets me off. Maybe just remembering all the horrible things from the arena, but I burst into tears.

I hope this room doesn't have a camera. I cover my face and try to stay silent, but it's nearly impossible.

I hear the doors open. Footsteps approach me. I see Acacius kneel before me. "The Hunger Games are over now," he says. "It's all over. You can leave it behind you now; forget it ever happened."

I look up at him.

He doesn't know.

Eventually, he leaves. I'm glad.

I'm not going to leave the Games behind.

And I'm not ever going to forget.