𝕯𝖊𝖋𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖉 𝕰𝖑𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 // 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗢𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗿

Prologue

"So, Iris," Caesar Flickerman smiles at me, "how does it feel to have won the sixty-eighth Hunger Games?"

"It's a relief that it's over," I reply simply. I've been trying to convince myself that it's a relief ever since I woke up in the Training Center, I don't think it's working.

"I bet it is." Caesar laughs, patting me on the shoulder. "I must say you look absolutely stunning tonight."

"Thank you, my stylist is quite talented." My shimmering forest green dress is beautiful to most, but not to me. Beauty will never have the same meaning to me again.

"Now that you've won, is there anything you're looking forward to?"

"Just seeing my grandma again, she's all the family I have left." I smile sweetly, disguising the hatred I harbor for these people. Why should I have to sit here, after being forced to kill innocent children, and tell them about my life? The life they stole from me? Because we're all just pawns to them, not human beings with emotions.

"Well, I'm sure she'll be happy to see you, too," Caesar says.

"I'm sure she will."

"But no friends, or lovers back home?" Caesar asks incredulously. "You can't expect me to believe that, not when you're such a beautiful young lady."

"I've always preferred spending my time alone in the trees with one of the few books we owned. I guess I just never really went looking for people." While this is true, it's not the whole story. He doesn't need to know everything, though.

"Waiting for the right person?"

"I suppose," I answer, giving a small shrug. "If someone doesn't put in the effort, are they really worth the time?" Unfortunately, no one has ever put in the effort when it comes to me, not that I blame them.

"That's the attitude of a victor right there!" Caesar offers a hand to help me to my feet. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you Panem's newest victor, Iris Gilardi!"