58I turn the water temperature gage up to it's maximum and sigh at the lukewarm feeling. As I try to scrub the stickiness off my skin, I notice that not only has the wound on my hip healed completely, but the scars that I had collected over the years have also faded away.
I spent days slipping in and out of consciousness. The serums that I was injected with made my body feel so heavy that I could barely stay awake long enough to eat. This morning I finally woke up detached from all machines and drips, feeling better than I have in a very long time. The door to my recovery cell wouldn't budge so I gave up and decided to shower off the clamminess.
When I step out of the bathroom I find an outfit folded on my bed. It's a new set of the clothes we all wore in the arena. A painful reminder of last weeks events. As I get dressed, it dawns on me. I'm going home. I've been so used to being the Capitol's prisoner, not being allowed to stray from the deadly path they laid out for me. But soon I will be given a freedom that I will never take for granted again. It feels incredibly strange. I can't tell whether or not i'm excited or anxious. But I know that everything will be okay as soon as I get home.
I sit on the end of the bed, waiting for someone to let me out of this box. The silence kills me. The arena was filled with chirping birds and gushing water. Here, the only sounds are those I make as I tap my shoes on the bed frame. It reminds me of how unnatural this place is, with its concreted floor and metal walls. I consider banging on the door and screaming until someone lets me out. But I'm broken out of that thought by the clip clop echo of a lady's shoes.
I leap off of the bed and race towards the door. It opens to reveal a very purple Effie Trinket. I surprise myself when I go straight for a hug. Maybe it's just her familiar face.
"I told everyone that you were a pearl," she says while stroking my hair. "Come come now my dear. The whole of Panem has been dying to see you."
I forgot about the painful post-games presentations ahead of me. There is at least a few days of events that I must attend before I'm allowed to go home. The thought makes me uneasy and I hold onto Effie's arm like a child to their mother.
Effie leads me out the door and down a hallway where Haymitch and Cinna are waiting. My feet take off without hesitation. Maybe a victor should show more restraint, but I make a beeline straight for Haymitch and slap him as hard as I can.
"Thanks sweetheart," he says rubbing his cheek.
"Katniss, may I remind you that this is all on camera!" Effie lectures.
I turn to Cinna and he just hugs me tight without a word. I say my goodbyes to the others and Cinna escorts me outside where a black car takes us back to the training centre. The whole journey is silent until we ride the elevator up to the twelfth floor, where my prep team scream joyously and fuss over me. Cinna's silence is unusual and it heightens my sense of danger. Something is wrong.
I'm allowed one small plate of food before I'm given a makeover for tonights interview. I turn off my hearing the moment Octavia starts talking about where she was and what she was doing at each moment of the games.
Finally, Cinna and I are alone. I try and discern what's going on. I know we are being watched, so I can't ask outright. "Were these games as exciting as previous years?" I ask innocently.
"The Capitol citizens really enjoyed it," he answers.
"Did they like me?"
"You were the public favourite very early on," he says, pulling a candlelight gown off the clothing rack.
He speaks stiffly and chooses his words carefully. He's trying to tell me. The citizens enjoyed it. I was the public favourite. But not Snow. I'm in trouble. And I think I know why.
When I look in the mirror I can see Cinna's angle. I look like a child, much younger than myself. My dress still flickers like the girl on fire, but it's a softer glow. I'm made to look innocent. Which is something I suspect I'll have to try to prove to President Snow.
I'm taken backstage where I wait for the interview to begin. I can hear the rumbling of the crowd and the anxiety builds. Haymitch approaches me apprehensively, "You're not going to hit me again are you?" he says.
"I might," I say bluntly.
"I'm sorry Katniss, but you're alive and to me that says I did my job properly," he says solemnly.
"But Peet—"
"Peeta was doing okay on his own. It was you who needed my assistance with your seeking danger and losing clothes all the time," he reasons. "Besides, you were the one bringing in the sponsors. Nice job with the venom and fire by the way," he steps closer and pats my shoulder. "As for Rue, it was inevitable. If I had used your money to save her, you two may have been the final tributes. It would have torn you apart if you had to fight her."
I understand his actions now. But I won't go as far as to say I forgive him. He then embraces me. It's awkward and I stiffen in the one-sided hug.
He whispers in my ear, "Listen up. You're in trouble. The one thing the Capitol can't stand is being laughed at. And right now they're the joke of Panem. That fire was supposed to kill you. I don't know what happened out there but they're making it out that the fire was an illusion, like your dresses. They said it was meant to scare you, not harm you. It has caused a lot of controversy over the past weeks. The Capitol citizens are outraged over the fake elements of the games. Turns out the idiots actually believed the games were reality. The dumbasses are beginning to see the games for the television construction that it is, and they're not happy," His face stiffens. "As for the people in the districts, some of them aren't convinced. They're questioning the strength of the Capitol. They think that if they can't kill a sixteen year old girl, they may not be as strong as everyone had once thought," he says sternly.
This is all too much to take in. How is this my fault? Haymitch grips my arms tight, "When the Capitol loses its hold on the districts, they like to make examples out of people to remind everyone that they are in control. And you'll be it sweetheart. Your only defence is to talk up the Capitol. Don't make them out to be fools."
We are interrupted by Effie who demands we get into our positions. My entire body is shaking. I'm more scared now than I ever was during the games. So the fire didn't kill me. And that makes the Capitol look weak? And the Capitolites are upset over it being fake? I don't think this is the worst of my problems. The Gamemakers know that the fire was real. Which means so does Snow. He knows about my power. Which means my life is very much at risk.
I need to show them that I'm not a threat. And that I'm willing to play along with their tirades, so long as they leave me and my family alone.
The platform beneath my feet raises me to the top of the stage where my prep team, Cinna, Effie and Haymitch are already seated. The bright lights and thundering noise disorients me. Caesar takes my arm as escorts me to an ornate chair where I am invited, yet forced, to watch a three hour recap of the games.
It begins with footage from the reapings. Each is covered in order and I bite my lip to stop it from trembling as I see the faces of 23 dead tributes. I watch both Gale and I standing terrified on the stage. And then Peeta timidly volunteering. My expression doesn't hide the pain that I feel seeing this. The chariot rides, interviews and training scores are covered.
When it finally gets to the games, there is a sweeping shot of the arena. It looks a lot larger than it felt when we were in there. The cameras zoom in on the boy from District 8 who nervously steps off his platform too early and is blown sky high. When the countdown runs out, the clearing turns into a sea of red. The cameras pay close attention to me and my actions. After all, I'm the star of the show.
All the deaths that have remained a mystery to me are now displayed at various angles across the screen. I wish that I didn't have to face this reality. Ignorance was bliss.
The second morning begins with my escape from the fire. And that's all it shows. I'm followed by the cameras running away from the fire and it not getting anywhere near me. It quickly moves on to other tributes in the area. When I'm seen next, i'm forming an alliance with Rue. The crowd boos. I assume it's because the fire incident was skipped. Caesar calms the crowd down and the scenes move on.
I watch myself writhe unconsciously after the tracker jacker stings. Rue watches over me and treats my wounds. The crowd awes and I tear up. My first kill is glorified on screen. Followed by the second one. I save Rue only for her to die shortly after. Sad music plays and slow motion scenes of us appearing to have fun in black and white are added for effect.
The entire construction is completely different from the savage rawness of the games. It's like a big feature film for the Capitol. It's not their children out there dying.
A montage of a love triangle between Clove, Glimmer and Cato is featured, with scenes of Clove jealously killing Glimmer and crying out for Cato in her last moments.
The narrative of the alliance between Peeta and I is one of friendship. I am the harsh cold and stern one, looking out for myself after the loss of my dear friend. Peeta is the kind caring and loving one who just wants to protect me. Our bantering is framed as endearing. Peeta's story of the day I saved him and the reason he volunteered is used as a voice over to a reenactment. I'm shown warming up to him just before he is killed by the beast attack. The glowing light from his hands and the healing is omitted. I wonder if it was ever shown to the public.
The recap comes to an end with the final battle between Cato and I. He is portrayed as the shining brave hero who died a noble death. I am almost sick at the thought. He was nothing but a coward. The final scene is of me falling to a heap on the ground, bluttering and looking close to death. But the crowd adores it. They chant my name as Caesar makes me stand up for a bow.
I am seated back down and asked to comment on specific events of the games. I try my best to tell the Capitol what they want to hear. The moment comes when Caesar asks the hard question.
"Now, there has been quite the volume of controversy over the fire incident. Do you care to comment?"
I have to think on my feet. I can't antagonise the Capitol. They can't be made out to be fools. How do I cool things down? Caesar gives me an encouraging smile.
"I thought the fire was rather clever," I say as confidently as I can manage. "I had been named The Girl on Fire, but in that moment, I literally was on fire." I finish with a giggle. I kick myself at how fake and stupid it sounds.
"So you're saying the fire was indeed real?" Caesar presses. I can't come up with an excuse as to why I wasn't burnt. The fire was fake, as everyone has been saying.
"No," I reply quickly.
"No?"
I get flushed. For someone who isn't affected by heat, I feel like my blood is boiling. "No… I wasn't on fire. It wasn't real fire." The crowd starts yelling and booing. "It was a great illusion though. Much like the flames on my costumes. The game makers clearly are quite witty. After the whole situation, I even laughed to myself at the idea of the girl on fire. I was so relieved to find out that it was fake." I don't know if I can stress it enough.
"Yes, it was rather humorous." Caesar grins. "I've heard some rumours that the games are all fabricated. A few speculate that everything is constructed for entertainment benefit. As someone who has experienced the games first hand, do you care to offer your opinion on the matter?" He stares at me fiercely, as though what I say next means life or death.
"I think they orchestrated the fire for the irony of it all. A little comic relief," I smile sweetly. "Everything else in the arena was real though. Terrifyingly real."
The crowd seems to take it. There are no more boo's or shouts. Many even applaud. Caesar wraps up the interview shortly after that. Then we all stand as President Snow makes his royal appearance. My heart hits the ground and I think I stop breathing.
He doesn't take his dead eyes off me for the formalities preceding my crowning. When the moment finally comes for him to place the golden crown on my head, he gives me an all knowing and deadly look. Like he knows what I am and what I'm capable of. I've never felt more vulnerable in my life.
One more chapter to go! I managed to complete and republish chapter 8 thanks to everyones help :D