I'll Be Beside You (Sequel to I'll Be Watching You)

The Victory Tour

We made it to District 11 in good time. Effie was very clear about sticking to her schedule and no one was gonna mess it up. She was very surprised at the lack of people at the station and everyone knew it.

"Where is everyone? This doesn't look very festive!"

We walked through the barren District 11 towards the Justice Building to meet the Mayor. The Mayor was a former victor, so he understood what I was going through. He showed me inside the building before heading out the large doors to the large microphone stand.

"Attention, citizens of District 11. The Victory Tour is due to start now, so please be prompt as you make your way here to the square. Anyone in noncompliance will be punished swiftly. That is all."

My mouth dropped open as he read out that statement. The people began to stream into the square, some were running. I could see Peacekeepers grabbing hold of what I thought to be the families of Thresh and Rue. They were lead to pedestals to the sides of the square and the pictures of their fallen children lit up the screens behind them. I could see in their faces that they were still in mourning and seeing me and Cato up on stage hurt them even more, especially since we were the ones that killed Thresh. The crowd finally went silent and the Mayor gestured for me and Cato to step up to the microphone, the speech cards in my shaking hands.

"Good morning, citizens of 11. Cato and I are so pleased to have you all here to aid in our celebrations. It was a great honor to represent our Districts in the Hunger Games and I'm sure it was the same for Thresh and Rue."

I scowled down at the cards and I looked back at the crowd, before handing the cards to Cato. His face registered shock at what I was doing but it didn't matter.

"I didn't really know Rue but I knew that she was a very strong competitor. She helped out when I was trying to save my friend from my own allies. She was very smart and it seemed like she flew from tree to tree. I was genuinely sorry when she died at the hands of my ally Marvel but my district partner took care of her when I couldn't. I see hints of Rue in my sister Pepper and my friend Prim, I'd protect them with my life. Thresh was also a strong competitor. He made it to the top 3 and kept on fighting. At the time, I let my anger get the best of me and I wanted revenge when he killed my district partner. But I showed mercy and ended his suffering because I didn't want him to leave this world suffering. Sometimes I think about when Thresh died and it still haunts me to this day. On both my and Cato's behalf, we are both very sorry for your losses."

I don't know where all that came from, I guess I just pressed it down into my subconscious. Everything I said was true. I tried to stop Marvel when he ran to kill Rue, I did feel mercy for Thresh, I have nightmares about Thresh every night. I didn't know that I was crying until Cato reached over and wiped my cheeks with his hands. I had nothing more to say so I went back inside the Justice Building and just let it all out. I could see that Effie was about to reprimand me for straying from the cards but one look from Cato and she shut right up.

****

The rest of the Victory Tour became a blur, I couldn't talk anymore so Cato spoke on my behalf. He didn't want to risk a talking to from Effie, so he stuck to the cards and tried to make his words believable. The public didn't believe it though. The crowds of District 5 screamed at him to tell the truth and say what he really felt. But he kept on reading, a fake smile plastered on his face. As soon as the doors shut on the train, the tears spilled down his cheeks and he muttered words of regret. It was the same in Districts 1, 2 and 3. I could tell that Cato saw his mother and younger brother in the crowd of District 2 but he wasn't able to see them. He had to act like they were strangers, like they meant nothing to him. But I could tell that it was tearing him up inside. His mother raised him and his brother meant the world to him. It sorta reminded me of Gale in a way. The way Gale treated his family, they might as well be his kids. It broke my heart to see the man I loved more than anything in this world be ripped apart at the thought of not seeing his family again. Eventually, the train slowed and the Capitol station welcomed us. First order of business, a party at Snow's mansion.

____

I didn't know half of these people. They freaked me out in every way possible; their attitudes, their clothing, their hair. Even the way they dined confused me.

"I'm too full to eat any more."

"Here, drink this"

"What is it?"

"It makes you throw up, so you can keep on eating."

This random Capitol citizen made me want to punch her lights out. How can these Capitol people waste all this food while all the Districts are starving to death and would give up everything to get a single morsel of bread? It was inhumane to say the least. Then the dancing began. At first, I sat alone watching Cato dance with Effie, but then Plutarch Heavensbee came over and offered to dance with me. I decided that it would give me an advantage if I was seen dancing with the Head Gamemaker. We had a small conversation before Cato and I left the dance floor and headed back to the train.