75th Hunger Games ONE SHOTS

Living Death - Caius - Part 1

Living Death

Caius

So it was going to be another crap-tastic Hunger Games. I can just tell.

We don’t have many victors here in 7 so odds are I’m going back into that arena.

I was heading down to the village after being out in the forests all day. I’ll miss these big trees and the smell of the forests.

“Caius!” Maya, my sister, called out to me from the centre of town.

She came rushing over and threw her arms around me. “I don’t want you to go.” She murmured.

“I know, but at least you’re safe for another year.” I squeezed her tightly and gave a small sigh of relief for that.

She was seventeen years old this year and would be safe for now. There’s only one more reaping that she could possibly be called up for. She was safe for now though.

“I could take care of myself, you did it, and we all know that I’m the strong one in the family.” She giggled and I scoffed.

I grabbed her and picked her up over my shoulders with ease. She kept laughing and I smiled, I loved the sound of her laugh.

I carried her through town and most of the people send a friendly smile my way. They all know me, of course. The games gives you this kind of infamy that never seems to go away. Maybe that’s because the Capitol keeps dredging it all up when you become a mentor.

I was glad to give Thaddeus a break from mentoring. When I became the victor he was able to step away from the games and just live in the village with his daughter and her children. I don’t know how he does it.

He is sixty-eight years old and he won the games over fifty years ago. Now he has children and their kids will be eligible for the games soon. I couldn’t do it. I’ll never have children. I couldn’t do it to a kid or his mother. The Capitol has a habit of pulling the children of victors out of the reaping bowl. It’s a lovely little coincidence when that happens.

“Okay. I’m putting you down now, you’re getting heavy.” I dropped her on her feet and she gave me a playful smack.

“I am not!” He smile was so sweet, so innocent.

I wonder if I ever looked like her. I know I haven’t really changed in the five years since I became a victor but the moment they called my name at the reaping I felt different. I was only fifteen and I can remember that day better than any other. The games are a blur to me, but that moment is clear as anything.

They called my name, mine. Celina, the minder for District 7, ushered me up on stage and fawned over me like I was a piece of meat. I prayed that maybe someone would volunteer, but I’m not at idiot. This is District 7, almost no one volunteers.

“You go on up to the house, tell mum I’ll be there soon.”

“Where are you going?” She asked curiously.

“I need to talk to a few people.” She gave me a small smile and raced up to the house.

I went straight to the first house in the village, Thaddeus’ house. He opened the door before I had the chance to knock.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come home, come in.” He said.

He’s reasonably agile for an old man, but probably not fit for the games.

“I just wanted to see how you were after the announcement.” I said.

He sighed. “I had expected something like this one day. It really puts the Districts in their place. There can't be too many more than fifty victors left.”