Haymitch Abernathy has been selected as a tribute in the biggest hunger games on record. He joins fellow tributes in the arena for a fight to the death. He goes into the games with the attitude of never coming out but a friend has other ideas.
I own...
I was on the train. I was not in the Quell. I had just drifted off to sleep when I heard Maysilee scream. She was normally in my nightmares. I woke up but I heard the sound again. An aftermath of the dream? But then I heard my own voice. Much younger calling out.
"May! May!"
I got up and went into the main compartment. It was on TV. My games. This years tributes, the same as last years, where curled up on the couch watching my long forgotten nightmare.
After the trumpets announced me victor they turned it off and started to chatter excitedly.
"That force field at the bottom of the cliff, it was like the one on the roof of the training centre." The boy said, "The one that throws you back if you try to jump off and commit suicide. Haymitch found a way to turn it into a weapon."
The girl replied with something similar that happened in their games. "It's almost as bad as us and the berries." She finishes, and then stars to laugh.
"Almost, but not quite." I say. Maysilee put her hand on my shoulder and I take a quick swig of wine and leave. She takes my hand.
"Well done." She whispers.
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Years later - I lost track of how many - I am still alive. My two tributes are still alive as well. I have geese now. Maysilee helps me care for them. I was right about the girl who kept on living. Her fire burned down the Capitol. There are no more games and no more dead children. I have been with Maysilee all the time now since the rebellion. I am now an old man lying on my deathbed. When I stand up she takes my by the hand and takes me away from Panem. I become a young boy once more and she sings softly and at last I hear the entire song.
Deep in the meadow, under the Willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
And when you wake, the sun will rise
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
