In the 74th Hunger Games, when the District 11 tribute Rue was killed, Katniss Everdeen decorated her body with flowers. We do the same for Primrose, dressing her wounds as best we can to hide them. In the arena, the only flowers we can find are Evening Primroses. We lay her down in a bed of them, placing some in her tiny hands.
Gale takes off his mockingjay pin; two birds, one protecting the other, and places it in the middle of the bouquet in her hands. He isn’t hiding his tears, but he keeps his jaw clenched as he moves away from her.
Then, without speaking, we do the District 12 salute to her. But I don’t want to say goodbye to Prim. I want her to sit up and walk with us. I don’t want her to be dead.
“We have to go love,” Harry whispers to me. I didn’t notice the others start to leave. I am lost in my own world. A world where Prim is alive. I stare at her and she opens her eyes, and smiles. I try to bite my lip but it hurts too much where the gap left by Sparkle is. I look at Harry, and his ruffled brow and worried eyes scan my face.
“We can’t just leave her here.”
“I know, but she’s gone.”
Harry starts to walk towards the others, and I start to follow. I don’t though. I stop and look up into the sky. I am suddenly overcome with rage.
“Is this it then? Is this it?! You sick rich bastards! She was a little girl! YOU KILLED HER! You all have her blood on her hands! You have her blood, you have Sparkle’s blood and her sanity, you have ALL OF OUR BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS. YOU HAVE OUR INNOCENCE! YOU’RE ALL SICK! YOU ALL DISGUST ME!”
I can’t stop the screams from escaping my mouth, even though I try. Harry and the others come back and watch me. I am not going to stop. I want them to feel it too. I want the bastards back at home to feel the REAL pain of the games. The guilt. The torture of killing another. I will not hold back.
“HOW DARE YOU ALL? WE ARE NOT BENEATH YOU! WE ARE PEOPLE, WE HAVE LIVES AND WE FALL IN LOVE AND SOMETIMES WE HURT EACH OTHER BUT WE DON’T DESERVE THIS! WE DON’T DESERVE TO DIE AND STARVE SO THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO WATCH! WE AREN’T GAME PIECES, WE’RE HUMAN BEINGS! WE MEAN SOMETHING!”
I fall to my knees, unable to bear my own weight anymore. Harry rushes to my side and presses his forehead against mine.
“Harry I’m sorry…” I whisper. I don’t know why I’m apologizing. Possibly trying to look somewhat sane. To keep myself in balance maybe, I’m not sure.
“Don’t be. You said what we’re all thinking.”
“I just want to go home.”
“I know. That’s where I’m going to take you.”
“Do you promise?”
“I promise you.”
“Okay.”
We stand up and join the others, and start walking. No one says anything, but I already know where we’re going.
We’re going to be free.
(A/N: I've decided to post these updates a little early as a sneak peek. The 7th will bring the last 5 chapters, and the end of Tribute.)
