The Tribute and the Victor

Chapter 36

I said my final goodbyes to Pheonix and my prep team the next morning as they had to stay behind at the capitol. My stylist was to also stay at the capitol while he designed my dresses for the victory tour. They were all in tears (once again) as they gave both me and Caleb hugs before we boarded the train. It felt so strange to be leaving for home. I never really expected to come back if i was being totally honest. The train ride home was quiet since there was no Pheonix. This gave us the chance to bond. We shared stories about what had happened when we were in the games and told each other how we were feeling at the time. He explained to me how hard it was to try to persuade the capitol people to sponsor me, and I told him about what the capitol hadn't filmed while I was in the arena. I finally felt free again, but I knew that i would never really be free from the capitol or president snow again. However, I tried to push this to the back of my mind so I could concentrate on what I would do when I finally came back to my parents and Cinder and Ash. When we arrived back in district 7 we saw it was crowded with people. They were all cheering as they saw the train pull into the station. We were escorted in through the back of the justice building and dressed appropriately before going to be

greeted by the people of District 7. The crowd roared as we stepped up onto the platform and looked out over my district. Children were waving, adults were cheering, some were crying with joy, others were shouting my name. I scanned the audience for my friends and family but they weren't there. Caleb noticed me looking round for them and pointed out to the front of the audience in a separate area from the crowd. And there they were, my mother, my father, Cinder and ash. All stood there waving. Joy spread across their faces.

So there I was, Darcy Quinn, soon to be Darcy Fray. Stood in front of the justice building. No longer a tribute, but a victor...