Alyssa of Nine (Reimagining the Hunger Games)

Chapter Twenty-Three: Going Home

Ending Songs:

Even though our Love is Doomed by Garbage
True Colors By Zedd and Kesha
Who am I Living For? by Katy Perry

The day after the Crowning Ceremony I am escorted to the Capitol train station to board my train home amid a thick crowd gathered around the train station as well as at least a dozen reporters working for the Capitol tabloids. They are either busy taking photos of me or doing the routine question asking. "Miss Whitestone refuses to comment at the moment." Athena says to them as we finally get through the crowds and step on board the train.

"Honestly, the paparazzi can be absolutely relentless!" Henrietta complained. "No comments from any of us! We need to get our victors on the train back to District Nine, where Alyssa Whitestone must address her adoring public. Now let us through or I shall issue an official complaint to the Capitol Press Offices!"

I don't bother to tell Henrietta that this will do no good, that the workers of the press still have their jobs to do. I know what she's trying to do for me at such a difficult time, and I am really grateful for it. Even though any true sense of peace may now be forever unattainable for me. Unless of course I were to suddenly end up dead in which case everything would be over.

But something tells me that I have to continue surviving. Not just because it's what Noah expects me to do, or because despite any terrible loss, life still goes on, but because I long to see the day when the districts will finally rise and win that inevitable war against the Capitol, which I just know is coming.

I have not yet given up the hope that we might suceed where so many others, including my parents, have failed. As soon as we step on the train, Noah goes to his room, and I go to mine. And I just lay down on the bed and give into sleep.

***

Unfortunately, the nightmares return, and I wake suddenly with a shrill scream, after basically reliving the most horrific events of my time in the arena in dream form. The sliding door to my room suddenly opens, and Noah is there. "Alyssa, I just heard you scream, was it another nightmare?"

"Yes, but I'll be okay." I begin to say, but Noah only says sternly, "I think I'd better be the judge of that. I see that Noah had brought with him another small bottle of sleep serum. "I expect you to take this, because I know you still need it. Alyssa, I don't think I've ever seen or known anyone like you, I understand what you must have been going through, watching so many kids die.

It was Hell for me. Worse, not being certain if you would really make it no matter how much I had hoped. I guess all I'm trying to say is, you've got more difficult times ahead. So do I. But if we stick it out, I think we can make it through this." He whispers as he holds me in his arms, and suddenly, I feel like I need to do something more, and I look at Noah, and I can see that same need in his eyes. And I close that space and so does he. That was my first kiss. And after that glorious, honey-warm moment, we both slept side by side through the rest of the night.

***

Once we step off the train at the train station in District Nine, we are greeted by crowds upon crowds of the people, and among them somewhere I spot Cassandra waving at me. She is standing beside Nathan and Mace has his arms wrapped around her. I knew somehow it was bound to happen eventually.

As soon as two grim-looking Peacekeepers walked up to me and said, "Miss Whitestone, we have orders to escort you and Mr. Linwood to the Victor's Village. There you will be presented with your own Victor's Mansion. Follow us." And I was reminded of another tough reality about being a victor. I would have this beautiful house and all this wealth, but none of my friends would be allowed to set foot in the Victor's Village since that is one of the many prejudiced by-laws of District Nine, meant to keep the victors and the poor as separate as possible so there's not much chance of us inciting a rebellion in secret. I couldn't even offer to give them any of my winnings, even though they are among the majority of impoverished working-class citizens here who could really use it. But as soon as I see the look on Noah's face telling me to go with him and follow the Peacekeepers, I go.

To be concluded...