Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-four

Vada's POV

    Isn't she just precious? Such a quiet child. She doesn't cry much. Aren't, or should I say I say weren't, Katniss and Peeta so lucky to have such a calm child. I was expecting her to cry more than she has or for her to wake up in the middle of the night. She's a content child for one of almost a year old. Willow . . . of course they would name their child after some kind of fucking plant. Seems to be a very District Twelve thing to do, to name your child after plants of food. Katniss. Peeta. Primrose. Yes, a very District Twelve thing to do.

    "Mommy! Daddy!" Willow says again as she twirls in circles around the room. What is the purpose of that? Such an airhead child, it seems. But, there she goes again, calling out for the parents she won't see again.

    Hmmm, if I'm going to be raising the child as my own I better get her out of that nasty habit of calling out for her biological parents. It really won't do since she'll never see them again . . . at least not in person. Perhaps she'll see them on TV or something or in textbooks during her lessons. Aw, yes the lessons I'm coming up for her to do. Of course, she'll have the best compared to any of the others in Panem.

    But, first things first, she'll have to stop with the "mommy" and "daddy". It simply won't do. She'll have to be much more sophisticated. Since, I'll be raising her, I'll have her call me 'Mother' and nothing else. Except perhaps 'Madam' or 'Ms'. Yes, that will do. She will have to learn better than those District Twelve ways.

    Another matter of pressing business -- her name. Willow. Such a distasteful name. A plant name at that. No that will not do either. She needs a more regal name, a sophisticated name. But what to call her. Certainly not a plant or food name. I've got it -- Amara. Amara Snow. Obviously, we can't and won't keep calling her by the last name those two vile people gave her. Now to test it out.

    "Amara," I call out to the still twirling child. God, isn't she dizzy yet. So much energy. Another thing to add to the list of things to break her of. She'll need concentration. She's just wasting energy now. I'll have to teach her to conserve it so she'll have more power to fight her enemies.

    "Mommy! Daddy!" she says again, completely ignoring me.

    What did those two imbeciles teach the child? To ignore people when they're talking to you? To completely disregard authority? I have so much to teach the child. I'll have to completely start over.

    "No, small child," I say leaning down and stopping the child's eternal spinning. "You will not call me 'mommy' or 'daddy'. I am Mother. You will call me so. Your name is Amara, Amara Snow."

    "Daddy! Mommy!" she says again and makes something like a choking laugh.

    Are all child this stupid? Are they even sentient? Do they even have a brain? It sure doesn't seem like it, as ditzy and stupid as they are.

    "Cynthia," I call.

    "Yes, Vada," she comes in right away. Of course, she does. She knows I don't tolerate people who don't listen to me which is why I'm having such issues with Amara.

    "Are all children stupid?" I ask in irritation. Really, what is wrong with this child? At least it's stopped it's insufferable spinning, but now it's doing something equally as stupid: walking around the room. Why won't she just sit still?

    "I . . . I'm not quite . . . sure what you mean, Vada," she says.

    I turn to her. "Don't you see it," I say gesturing to Amara. "Amara, just won't stop with the twirling, spinning, whatever it was and now this. Why doesn't she just sit still?"

    "Amara?" she questions.

    "Yes, of course, Amara. The child," I say.

    "I thought her name was Willow," Cynthia says timidly.

    How does she not realize that name will not do. It's such a ghastly name. Plants are no thing to name your child after. "I changed it. She needed a better name. Her name is Amara Snow now."

    "Um . . . I . . . I don't think . . . you can just change someone's name," Cynthia challenges me.

    "And why can't I? I am the President of this country, correct?" She nods her head. "So I can do whatever I please, can't I?" Another nod. "Now explain why can't I just change the child's name."

    "I'm sorry, Vada. You are right, you can change the child's name if you wish. Just maybe . . . you should inform Panem of the change. You know . . . because they all know her as Willow Mellark . . . and not Amara Snow."

    "Ah, yes. A wonderful idea. I'll have to do it later. I had another idea in mind first. I want to get another message out there to Katniss and Peeta about their precious little child."

    "Vada," Jago bursts through the door.

    "Yes," I say impatiently. Why is he here? I didn't summon for him?

    "The Mellarks just left Panem. Our radars show that they left on an English aircraft," he says breathlessly.

    What did he run all the way here? Even if he did, and he should have with news like this, he shouldn't be out of breath. The Snow Regime must be in better shape. Perhaps, I'll have to put them through training similar to what I plan for Amara.

    "Thank you for that interesting tidbit of information. Return to your post," I say dismissing them. "Hmm, a video to the Mellarks is definitely in store now. I suppose if they are on an English aircraft they are headed for England. I'll just send my little video over that way. Cynthia, prepare the room for the video," I order.

    She instantly sets about her work readying the room and in no time the room is ready. I sit down at my desk as Cynthia readies the camera in front of me.

    "Wait, give me the child. I want her in this video," I say. Cynthia does as I tell her and sits Amara on my lap.

    "Mommy! Daddy!" she says again for infinite time today.

    "Yes, Amara. We're going to make a little video for your precious mommy and daddy. I'm sure they're going to love it. Cynthia, start the camera."

    Cynthia hits the final few buttons on the camera. She nods to let me know it's recording.

    "Hello, Katniss and Peeta. Willow, or should I say Amara as the name you gave her is insufferable, and I have just received news that you both have left Panem on a British aircraft. I suppose now you will learn all the secrets of Panem's history with the rest of the world, the world you are just now discovering exists. But that's not why I'm making this little video for you. You see as I've spent time with our little Amara here I've realized she's quite a dim witted child, not very smart, which will simply not do. Not only that, she wastes her energy when she should be conserving it for when she will really need it. She doesn't listen. But I'm going to fix that. It's not going to be easy, that's for sure. I'm thinking maybe a little persuasion is needed inside her brain . . ." I stop, Amara twirling my hair. "Don't tangle my hair up, Amara. See, what I mean, very stupid child. I'll fix it, no worries. As I was saying, I'm thinking some persuasion is in order. She remembers you both very well, constantly calling out for you. I'll break her of that little habit. I'm thinking maybe some form a brainwashing will fix it. You know, I can think of one sure fire way to brainwash some and distort their memories -- tracker jacker venom. You know, the effects of that very well, Peeta. Nevertheless, I won't kill her with it. I'll just give her enough to distort her memories of you. Then, once you're both completely distorted in her tiny brain, I'll train her. I'll train her to be in the Games, after all she was born in District Twelve. As she gets old enough I'll send her back there to live and have trained to volunteer for the Games. It will all be very exciting I'm sure. I do hope you tune in for those Games in particular. Say goodbye, Amara, to your biological parents."

Hope you don't hate me for this chapter. But if you do ... oh well. 🙃
Oh, and thank you to FireflyForeverlark for the banner at the top. I can't remember if I used this or not already so I just put it anyways. -- Alexis