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Athena sat in the dreary loft of the Justice building, waiting for someone to escort her home. She thought about Clementine, and what her life could've been like if she wasn't reaped. If the girl was still alive, she would be 19, probably starting a new job in her district, and leading a simple, happy life.
Clementine was the sweetest girl Athena had ever met, they became fast friends during their training. The District 11 girl had found a talent with the blowguns, similar to the district 12 mentor Haymitch's ally in his games, Maysilee Donner, who had died a brutal death at the hands of Capitol Mutts.
Before her games, Athena had never really had any true friends, simply because she had a quiet, mysterious personality, something the children of District 8 obviously didn't like. When she talked to Clementine, she felt something in her heart, something that told her she had to make sure the young girl survived. So when Clementine was killed, all in front of Athena's eyes, her heart froze up, never to love anyone again. Because when she did with the very few people, they were killed: Her parents, Clementine, and even partly with her District 7 ally (Acacia) who died too early in the course of the Games by falling into a pit of poisonous vipers.
If things were different, she could've become true friends with Caspian. If things were different, her heart might've just been normal. If things were different, she wouldn't attack innocent people who had been through the same things as her. If things were different...
The next thing she knew, Haymitch burst through the loft hatch and came to sit down against the wall next to her.
"How're you coping?" He asked with genuine care in his voice.
"Haha I'm just fine, it's not like I just assaulted one of the capitol's newest victors or anything." Athena replied.
For once, she felt only a slither of regret for her actions; probably because Katniss, Peeta's district partner, had also been through a lot of the same events Athena had. It wasn't their fault they were reaped, more so Primrose, Katniss' younger sister, who Athena respected her volunteering for.
"Well I hope you finally do find some peace in your life Athena, I'm here to take you home." Haymitch awkwardly spoke after a moment of silence.
"Ok." The broken victor answered.
The walk back to the village was quiet, with Athena focused only on getting home. She knew what was going to go down tomorrow, and was worried about the civilians' lives, but then she also respected them and Paylor's courage for fighting back after 74 years.
When she got to the derelict gate of her house, she glanced at Haymitch, who she knew had lost everything after his games, simply for outsmarting the Gamemakers with the final kill of the year, and walked in.
Athena entered her living room, which was more like the death room, seeing as every photo in there was one of a dead love. Seeing these photos yet again after another victory tour, made her break down and crumple onto her sofa. She was broken inside. She had no one, no family, no friends, only the ghosts of her past.
