Strong (Johanna Mason Fanfic)

Snow

After a wonderful evening with Ramsey, it is time for us to leave for the Capitol where I will have to make my presence with Blight. I step out of my room and walk downstairs for breakfast. I take out a piece of bread and spread fresh-made jam on it, nibbling at it lazily while looking through the window. The Victor's Village is empty, Blight and Griffin are the only ones who inhabit it besides myself. 

"Jo, hurry up! We have to get on the train in an hour." I hear Ramsey say as he walks through the door and into the kitchen.

"I wish I could miss the train and not leave. I like it here with you, the two of us in our little heaven of a forest." I say.

"The moment you come back, we are moving in." he says as he smiles.

"That will be great." I sigh as I sip my morning tea.

"No seriously, get pretty, it isn't such a long ride to the Capitol." he says as he walks back out.

I walk into my room and pick out a plain outfit, my trusty checkered shirt and green pants, and I tie my hair into a ponytail. I grab some items I would need, such as my locket, and I make my way downstairs where Blight is already inside, sitting at the coffee table with Ramsey. They seem to be talking about something important so I leave them alone and finish my now cold tea. I grab a cookie from the dish on the counter and I nibble on the sweet thing as I walk back into the living room.

"Hey Jo." I hear Blight say.

"Hey Blight." I answer as I walk in and sit next to Ramsey, opposite to Blight. "You ready for our wonderful performance?" I ask.

"Yeah. They voted on it and they want us to play." he answers.

"Great. I won't have to look far." I answer as I grab my violin from its stand and I turn it on.

"Yeah, you picked up on music. I think that's lovely." says Ramsey.

"She's great at it." Blight adds in.

I play one or two notes, making sure it is strung like it should be. A deep sound escapes the instrument as I drag the bow across it. Blight walks out as if on cue and I am left alone with Ramsey. He puts his gentle arm around me and pulls me in. I hug him tightly and stay in his arms.

"I really don't want to go." I say.

"I know you don't. It's just two days, love." he smiles as he breaks the embrace.

"Yeah, but I've missed you so much. These two weeks were shit." I reply.

"I promise you that when you get back, we'll escape into the forest and stay there as long as we like. Nothing can break us." he says as he plants a kiss on my forehead. I smile lightly at his touch.

"Nothing." I reply as I kiss him after.

"Go, you don't want to be late." he says and he smiles warmly.

I walk out and look for Blight. I carry my violin its case as I walk over to his house. I knock three times and I open the door.

"Ready?" he asks.

"Yeah. Let's go." I reply.

We get to the station and soon enough we are speeding away on the train. I think about how I am abandoning my family; I haven't seen Rhyden in the last days, she must be at someone's house, and mom has been around, cherishing my presence. The only person missing is my deceased older brother and my father. The latter left and has never been seen since. 

The time flies by and I am being dressed in a lavish gown again. This time, it is a beautiful gold one with a delicate design. It is unlike the extreme gowns I wore before, open everywhere, and tacky in some sense. This one is just pure elegance and I don't care what they think. I have my hair styled nicely in a half-updo and my lips painted red, my blueish green eyes lined in black. I look at myself and smile in the mirror. I have grown to be a beautiful woman even though I had to face death itself to gain this.