Poisoned Flower (The Hunger Games)

Seven: The Chosen

These days Diantha spent most of her time glued to the television. At any mention of this year's Games she would be there watching and hanging off every word. It was like an addiction, but she felt the overwhelming need to know everything about it. She had to know if there was a way she could help.

Diantha had changed a lot over the weeks since the Quarter Quell was announced. The days immediately following it, she had completely shut down. She had refused to eat and would barely move. It was only after she saw the concern behind Eden's eyes and her encouragement that she didn't want anyone to see her like that, did she finally start to return to her usual self. Eden still gave her worried glances every now and again when she thought she wasn't looking. She also offered the younger girl support when they were out of sight of the cameras. Countless nights went by where Eden had held Diantha as she cried. She tried to explain why she was so affected but wasn't sure how to put it into words. It was shock which had mostly passed. Still, even now there were dark circles underneath her eyes from the lack of sleep. She tried. God, she had tried. However, every time she put her head to the pillow her mind was filled with questions and concerns she just couldn't get rid of. Paranoia also consumed her. There had been no repercussions of her actions. Something would happen to her, that she was certain of. It was just the case of when.

A few people had visited her since she had returned. It had mostly been government officials whom she had briefed on what she had been told by the Mayors of the Districts she had visited. Mahli also paid her a visit with a message from her father. Apparently, he initially wasn't too impressed by her actions inside District 12. Although he had changed his mind when he realised how good of a thing it was. It showed that, despite her status, she would stand up for normal citizens. It also made her more trustworthy in the eyes of Katniss and Peeta which would also work in his favour. However, Mahli warned, something like that wouldn't be tolerated if it ever happened again. People also stopped by to clean the glass from when she smashed the television screen and, a few hours later, replaced it with a brand new one. Her father wanted her to have a television so she could keep up to date of the upcoming events; what she had failed to prevent.

After that no-one else had stepped foot into her apartment except for Eden. It also meant that she was given no new information. She had hoped that she would have been given inside knowledge, but no. She was being treated like a normal citizen on that front. Diantha knew that she was purposely being kept in the dark. It was her own personal hell.

The television screen showed highlights from previous games. It was the day of the Reaping and Diantha suspected that there would be a tense atmosphere throughout Panem, more so than usual. The people in the Districts were probably relieved that themselves or their family wouldn't be picked this year, but conflicted because those who had already dealt with the trauma of the Games would have to do it all over again. Here in the Capital they would all be excited for how entertaining it would all be but upset as those they had grown to love would be chosen again. All of the scenes on the screen were of important moments in the Victors respective Games. Diantha watched carefully taking in as much information as she could. She watched the way they fought and how they acted around those they called their allies. Although, she knew that doing this was pointless. Most of them wouldn't be Reaped and if they were, they would be completely different from their time in the arena.

The programme suddenly ended, and the screen changed to an image of the symbol of the Capital and the anthem was played. The Reaping was about to begin. Diantha adjusted her sitting position to get more comfortable. She crossed her legs and rested her elbows on her knees. She placed her head in her hands. She hadn't this awake and focused in a while. Her eyes stayed glued to the screen as the announcer explained how this year's Reaping would work. She, along with everyone else in Panem, already knew this information but that still felt the need to. Diantha hadn't been able to get them out of her head.