After Mockingjay

Chapter 18 (end)

Peeta and I enter the already full room, and feel our way through the darkness.

I spotted a few empty chairs, where Peeta and I sat down.

Cameras were set up all around Amanda Ritter, and she leaned back in her chair. There was a small flashlight hanging on a camera stand.

It was about to start.

Everyone stopped talking all at once when the cameraman yelled that it was time to start.

It was dead silent for a minute, and then a bigger, much more brighter light came on, flushing out Amanda's pale face.

"Hello," Amanda sits at a metal desk, with only one light shining in the entire room. Behind her is a projector screen.

She stares directly at the camera that was placed in front of her.

"My name is Amanda Ritter," she continued. "In this file I will tell you only what you need to know."

She explained how she was the leader of our organization, and how important it has been for the past few years.

When she stops, she presses play on a remote, and the projector screen lights up behind her.

Across the screen flashes old pictures of peacekeepers pointing guns at peoples heads.

It shows the end of the war. Empty faces, soulless eyes.

I had to look away. It was too much.

I found myself already starting to cry.

Peeta grabbed my hand.

"You don't remember any of that..." She explained, As the images fade to black.

She continues talking about the battle, how we are fighting against human nature.

"...you are the cure. We have formed your society in a particular way in hope that you will rediscover the moral sence most of us have lost..."

Eventually I stopped listening. I've heard it all before, I had to attend the rehearsals.

"... I will take on a new identity, with false memories and a false history. But so that you know the information I have provided you with is accurate, I will tell you the name I am about to take as my own."

She clears her throat, and her smile fades.

"My name will be Edith Prior, and there is much I am happy to forget."

A few seconds later, the lights come on, and everyone stands.

We walk up to Amanda, or Edith, and congratulated her.

"You did amazing." I smiled.

"Thank you, Katniss," she exclaimed, and pulled me in for a hug.

Claudia walked over to us and whispered something into Edith's ear.

She nodded, and walked after Claudia.

Claudia held the briefcase in which the tape was placed for future generations.

They carried it away past two heavy sliding doors and vanished down the hallway.

Peeta placed a hand on my shoulder, his eyes glued on the two men trying to push the jammed doors closed.

"So..." He said, "I guess this is it."

I smiled, thinking about how great life will be without the games. How great it will be with the factions.

"Yeah. I guess so."

-

Thank you to everyone who has read my story, I never would have thought that 14,000 people would read it.

Thank you guys so much for voting.

I will really miss writing this story and all the perks that go along with it.

-Morgan