Disclaimer: It’s getting a little bit heated up, huh? With the story I mean. Percy dying. Totally original, not Rick Riordan style. What do you think? :P And whatever you say or do can’t change the fact that Percy Jackson, tribute from District 12 is dead. :)
Katniss’ POV (don’t question why I put it. I just do)
The anthem booms in my ears and I hear Caesar Flickerman greeting the audience. Does he know how crucial it is to get every word right from now on? He must. He would like to help me. The crowd breaks in applause as the prep team is presented. I imagine Flavius, Venia and Octavia bouncing around and taking ridiculous , bobbing bows. It’s a safe bet that they’re clueless. Then Effie’s introduced. How she must enjoy it. She’s been waiting for this moment for who knows how long. I hope she’s able to enjoy it because as misguided as Effie can be, she has a very keen instinct about certain things and must at least suspect that I’m in trouble. Cinna receives huge cheers, of course, had a dazzling debut. I now understand Cinna’s choice of dress for me for tonight. I’ll need to look as girlish and innocent as possible. Haymitch’s appearance brings a round of applause that went for a few minutes. This is his first time bringing home a live tribute.
What if he hadn’t warned me in time? Would I have acted differently? Admit that I didn’t want to be crowned as victor when they let Percy die? No, I don’t think so. But I could easily have been a lot less convincing than I need to be now. Right now. At this instance. Because I can feel the plate lifting me up to the stage.
Blinding lights. The deafening roar rattles the metal under my feet. The audience are on their feet, giving me standing ovation for, no doubt, the most exciting Games ever in history. I stood rooted to the spot, unable to walk towards Caesar Flickerman, even though he is laughing and smiling and gesturing at me to take the seat next to him. I can’t move.
Because Percy is supposed to be standing there, right there, opposite of me, smiling warmly at me. Probably thin but healthier than before. Clean, dressed in fresh clothes. Happy to be alive, as well as happy to have me alive.
But no. The Capitol just had to take him away from me. I hate them. I’m going to make sure they are going to pay for his death. For Rue’s death. For every single tribute’s death.
“ It looks like our Miss Everdeen here is in shock over her victory in the Games!” Caesar says, laughing good-naturedly. “ Don’t worry, Miss Everdeen. We are going to replay your road to victory in the Games tonight. Shall we watch it now?”
I look at him, my mouth hanging slightly open. Unable to process how he can still be so calm and relaxed when I had just lost someone I love. But I can’t openly show how angry I am right now. No, I have to play the Games like how Haymitch had told me to.
“ Yes, Caesar. Let’s,” I say, putting on my sweetest smile I can muster. He laughs again some more and then the show begins.
The light dims and the seal appears on the screen, and suddenly, I realize that I will have to re-watch the deaths of my fellow tributes. I’m not prepared to. I don’t think I can! I thought to myself, feeling panic rise inside of me. I saw enough of them die the first time. My heart pounds and I have a strong impulse to run. How have the other tributes faced this alone before this? During the highlights, they periodically show the winner’s reaction up on a box in the corner of the screen. I think back to the earlier years….some are triumphant, pumping their fists in the air, beating their chests. Most just seem stunned. And me? The only thing that is keeping me on this armchair is horror. Yes, horror as I watch the opening, dreading having to watch again the others’ death.
