The Capitol Games

Chapter 20: Victor

The next time I open my eyes, I only see white. I know I'm dead, I'm sure of it. Then I hear the voices. Blurry shapes swim in my vision, swirling around.
Then, I'm out cold.
Fluffy sheets and blankets encase me like a cocoon does a butterfly. My head throbs like something awful, and there are some spots in my vision.
Moving into a sitting position, I notice I'm a little sore, and that's when the memories hit me. But, wait. If I'm alive, that means... Oh no. Please no. They're dead. Both of them are dead.
Then come the sobs. Soft at first, then growing louder and more intense. Everyone I cared about. Dead.
No, that isn't true. I still have Halsie. At least I can protect her.
I sigh, then freeze as a knock on my door echoes through the room.
"Yes?" My voice cracks and wavers, sliding so pitiful to my ears. The door opens and a girl about my age steps in, shutting the door behind her.
"Good evening, Miss Morganna. Congratulations. I'm here to see how you're doing and to help you with the nightmares that are sure to come. My name is Rose, and I am happy to help in any way possible." The girl says, coming to stand at the door of my bed. I give a feeble nod in understanding and tense up as she lays a warm hand on my foot, then relax my muscles.
"Tell me if something hurts, okay?"
The days go on like this until I feel no pain when I move. The only signs of what I had been through are pale scars of cuts and bite marks. Then, finally, comes the day where everybody would celebrate the deaths I caused. The ones that plague my dreams every night. Rose is helping me into a poofy emerald gown that helps hide the scars and disguise how thin I've become.
"Who told you to help me with the nightmares?" I blurt, the question on my mind for several days.
"Actually, it was Katniss Everdeen. She said she knows what it's like and wanted me to help you." Rose replies calmly, tying up the green ribbons on the back of my dress.
"Really?" I say uninterested, though on the inside, I'm thanking Katniss. I suppose she's not so bad after all.
Finally, it's time for the interview. I walk out on stage, the whole place silent. My eyes stare straight ahead, not making eye contact with anyone. I sit in the deep red chair and give a smile at everyone, just as I had practiced. The questions came, and I responded with the answers I had memorized by heart.
Now comes the part nothing could have prepared me for: the recaps. Most of it was of the other tributes and didn't affect me much except for some cringing and flinching, but then came the end. I sit there on the chair, forced to relive those terrible, horrible moments. I watch as a bloody demon dog rips out Dart's throat, Flávio doing his best to help. The video cuts to me as my arm is being broken. I look so sad and helpless. By this point, I'm not even trying to hide the tears. They're streaming down my cheeks and falling on my dress. Finally, the video shuts off after Flávio take his last breath. I barely notice, my tears blurring my vision so much I can't see. Someone comforts me, and I wipe my eyes on a tissue they hand me. When I look up, that person is gone. I turn to the crowd and look into a sea of staring eyes, all focused on me.
The rest of the night goes on without a hitch. Finally, I make my exit and go up to my room, where I collapse on the bed and break down. I hear Rose come over and rub circles on my back, telling me that everything will be alright. Maybe it will.
Someday.