Chapter 17-
I stood up with all the strength I could muster and ran towards Scott as fast as my legs could carry. I threw my right arm around his waist and hugged him, my left arm hung limply at my side. “Please don’t! You can’t! I won’t let you!” I yelled at him. I glanced up at him from under my lashes as tears filled my eyes again. Scott looked at me sadly. I could see his jaw was locked tightly and tears were filling his eyes as well. “One of us won’t make it any farther, Sky” he said moving hair from my face and smiling.
“I volunteered from the beginning just to get you this far, just to make sure you survived because I could never watch you suffer and die. Just looking at you now, with your arm broken, your wound bleeding and all the cuts that cover your body I-I cant stand to see you so beat up and hurt. If I could I’d suffer for you so that you didn’t have to. Sky, you mean everything to me and I cant let you die here. You mean the world to me. I could never live without you. That’s why I’m happily willing to die for you” he smiled down at me.
He placed his hand on my cheek and ran his thumb over it slowly and smiling lovingly down at me. “You cant leave me! You have to go home because I wont be able to go on without you in my life. Don’t you get it?! I wouldn’t even be alive now if it weren’t for you, Scott” I said the tears slipping out. He kissed my forehead and said “I’ve already made up my mind. We don’t have much time. You’re going to die of blood loss before we’re through” Scott said wiping my tears carefully.
“It would be better if you didn’t remember me. I want you to forget completely but I know that you’ll never agree to that so I want you to have this” he said pulling his necklace off. I glanced at the necklace briefly. It was a small bird Scott had carved out of wood. He had told me it was a mockingjay because that was his most favorite bird. He had put a small loop screw in the top and had run a thin brown leather necklace cord through it. He slipped the necklace over my head and smiled at me.
I shook my head. “Elroy will take good care of you and I know you can take care of yourself without me. You’re not the same kid I saved 4 years ago. You’re so much smarter and stronger now. So much more beautiful and loving” he chuckled a little. “You made me fall in love with you. I don’t know how but you did it” he whispered shaking his head. “I’ve found myself wanting to be closer to you, wanting to reach out to you, to protect you, take care of you, to hold you and kiss you and just look at you and know that you’re by far the greatest thing that has ever happened to me” he whispered grinning but I saw his lip trembling. The tears fell from his eyes. He couldn’t hold them anymore and seeing him cry only made me cry harder.
“I finally understood your story. The little boy represents people, all human life. The hut reprents knowledge and the voices were life itself. The story told of the hardships of life and the journey and knowledge received through it. The story was not only about life but also the games. Even though you suffer in the end you learn more than you ever expected to. You come out of it stronger and more understanding. Life and the games both push you to your limit, testing to see just how far you can go. There’s always something weighing you down trying to make you forget that there is also something pushing you forward. And in the end no matter how hard life gets you have to find something to keep going for. You have to find something to keep living for. The boy understood that in the end” he smiled. I looked at him surprised. “That story of yours kept me up thinking about its meaning every single night” Scott smiled.
Why did this have to happen to us? Why? Why was life so cruel and unfair? I don’t want to lose Scott. He leaned over and kissed my tears away, still smiling. “You’re my everything, Sky. That’s why you have to move forward just like the story” he whispered pressing his forehead against mine. He looked me in the eye and I cried harder. A lump formed in my throat and I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do anything but cry and wish we were anywhere else in the world but here.
“My life and my heart have always been yours. That’s why only you have the right to take both” he whispered. He placed the knife into my right hand and forced my fingers to curl around it. He grabbed my hand in his tightly so that I couldn’t let go of the knife. I shook my head and cried harder trying to pull my hand away. Kill me instead. I wanted to say it but I couldn’t. My voice was gone. He smiled and said “I’m still physically stronger than you, Sky” he said chuckling a little. I just watched in horror and fear.
“But you’ve always been able to endure anything and keep moving forward. Never forget that you’re stronger than anybody, than everybody. You have to keep living, for me” he whispered, his forehead still pressed to mine. “I don’t want to without you!” I yelled finding my voice. He kissed my forehead lightly, then my temple. He moved his lips to my cheek and down to my jaw, placing kisses along the way, making me shiver slightly.
“Never forget that I’ll always be with you and that I love you, Sky” he whispered sadly looking me in the eye, a single tear falling from his. One final smile formed on his face and he gently presses his lips to mine. Heat emitted from him and engulfing me, his hand fell from my shoulder to my waist, pulling me closer. His lips were soft against mine and somewhat shy and careful as he kissed me. Everything about the kiss felt amazingly perfect and right. I never wanted him to let me go, to never leave me.
Suddenly I started getting dizzy and tired from the wound. I wanted to knock him out and kill myself instead but with the condition I was it that was impossible. He could easily over power me. Scott pulled away from me and grinned pulling my hand that held the knife towards him. “No!” I yelled trying to pull it back. He just smiled at me. I could see the sadness and love in his eyes.
Then the knife plunged into his stomach. My eyes widened as Scott’s body fell limp but the smile never left his face. “Scott!” I yelled falling to my knees, catching him and holding him to me. “No! No!” I yelled crying hysterically. The cannon went off. “Skylar Cohen, Congratulations. You are the victor of the 72nd Annual Hunger Games!” Seneca Crane’s voice boomed around me. I ignored him and the sound of the hover craft. I shook Scott and buried my face in his neck. “Scott” I whispered shaking him, my tears spilling on his skin. Peacekeepers approached me to get me away from Scott. “Come on. You have to go” one said putting his hand on my shoulder.
My body trembled and ached in pain. I paused momentarily when I could have sworn I heard a faint heartbeat. I glanced at Scott and wiped my tears on my right forearm. My eyes widened and I pressed my ear to his chest. Before I could get a chance to confirm my suspicion that his heart was still beating the Peacekeepers pulled me off of Scott. “NO!” I yelled! “NO! Scott!” I screamed as loud as I could, trying to pull away from the Peacekeepers. Scott’s body seemed smaller and smaller as they dragged me away towards the hover craft. “No!” I yelled again crying. “Please! Scott!” I screamed, my vision blurring, my left arm throbbing, my shoulder bleeding and my heart aching.
“He’s still alive!” I yelled as they dragged me into the hover craft. My vision darkened and the last thing I saw was Scott’s still body lying on the dirt ground of the arena.
~
When I opened my eyes again I found myself lying in bed and for a brief moment I found myself believing everything was just a dream. I glanced at my arm to see that it was completely healed, the wound on my shoulder was also gone completely and my body felt renewed. I sat up and glanced at my arms, turning them over to see that all the cuts and bruises were gone. I twisted and flexed my left arm, turning it over in disbelief. It was completely healed. I got off the bed when Fir walked in.
I stood there frozen and he smiled at me. “Congratulations” he whispered smiling at me. I nodded my head. My tears had dried. I didn’t have the ability to cry anymore only feel empty and lost. “We should get going. You have an interview with Caesar and then the crowning” he said being careful not to mention Scott or the games. I nodded my head and followed behind him.
He led me into the prepping area where his little sidekicks get me ready. Then they led me off into a separate room. I sat and waited for Fir. He finally came in after a couple of minutes carrying a gold and brown dress. The top was strapless and heart shaped with sequins all over it. It had a metallic brown sash around the waist and led off into short brown fabric in the front with a long tail in the back (http://data.whicdn.com/images/29123257/elegant_20brown_20wedding_20dress-f43284_large.jpg). It was gorgeous but I didn’t feel very happy or enthusiastic about it. “Come on” he said calmly. I nodded and stood as Fir helped me get the dress on. When he finished zipping it he let me sit back down and started doing my hair.
Silence filled the empty space between us as he finished my hair and started on my makeup. He settled for the same earthy tones, browns and greens with some silver. He knelt before me and placed a pair of simple black flats on the ground. “I assume you don’t want heels” he smiled a little as he helped me put them on. He stood up and he smiled at me. Then he gestured towards the mirror. I stood up and went over to it. I looked at it a little surprised.
I looked different somehow. All I saw in the mirror was a coward in a dress, a peasant trying to pass for a princess. I turned away angry. “You look beautiful” Fir told me placing his hand on my shoulder. “I look like an idiot” I whispered. “No, Skylar. You look beautiful. You really do” he said pulling me to the mirror again. “Do you know what I see in that mirror?” he asked standing beside me and looking in the mirror. I shrugged and looked at myself blankly. “I see a beautiful, smart, strong and amazing girl who’s just facing a rough time and is dealing with some obstacles. But this girl will someday do something amazing” he whispered smiling at me.
I took a careful look at the waves of hair cascading down my back and over my shoulders, the green and brown eye shadow and the dark green and silver eyeliner. I noticed the shining gloss on my lips and the way the dress hugged my figure and for a moment I imagined Scott grinning at me. Tears welled up again and Fir whispered “You’re beautiful inside and out” as he placed my golden headband on me once again. I smiled a little, my lip trembling slightly. “I also took care of this for you” he said slipping Scott’s necklace over my head. I glanced down at it.
“Thank you” I whispered hugging him. “It’s time” he said leading me out. As we stepped through the door I saw Elroy waiting for me. “Skylar!” he yelled and ran at me. He threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly around the waist, even lifting me off the ground. I hugged him back and hid my face in his neck.
“God I missed you” he whispered tightening his grip on me. I hugged his neck tighter too. Elroy was all I had left now and I wanted to cry again thinking of Scott. Elroy set me down and grinned. “You look great” he said. I smiled slightly. “Thank you” I said. He offered me his hand, which I took, and led me to the back room until I was called for my interview. “Think you can fake a smile and lie for just a bit longer?” Elroy asked. I sighed and nodded my head. “You showed too much unity with Drex, Kurt and Troy. You’re going to have to lie your way around that if you want to get through this ok. Aside from that you’ll be fine just think before you speak and show some of your mourning over Scott but also fake a smile” he advised me. I nodded and took a deep breath. “He was still alive when the cannon went off. I heard a heartbeat” I told Elroy. Elroy looked at me sadly. “No, Sky. He was dead. The faint heartbeat was yours. When they got you in the hover craft your heart had nearly stopped bleeding” he whispered sadly knowing he had crushed any remaining hope I had left.
Elroy smiled down at me suddenly and took my face in his hands. He smiled and kissed my head lightly before giving me a little push forward. I stepped out onto the stage when I heard my name. I gave everyone a small smile and Caesar stood up. He took my hand and helped me sit. “Skylar, Congratulations on your victory” he said. I nodded still smiling a little “Thank you” I said. “Let’s watch the games once more and we’ll discuss them afterwards” he said and gestured towards a screen. I sat and watched silently, hiding the horror I felt watching each and every death. When the end came and I had to watch Scott die for a second time the tears welled up again. They had edited out the scene where the Peacekeepers dragged me away.
“Those were quite some games” Caesar said pulling me back. I nodded slowly. “So tell me what went through your head when you tried to help that boy Kurt?” he asked. I could tell it was a test. Why would I help a kid from another district? I shrugged and lied. “I wanted to spite Elra since Kurt seemed to be a target of hers” I said casually. “Makes sense, get your enemy angry and confused then strike. Well thought out” he said nodded. I smiled a little but honestly wanted to hit him. “What about Drex?” he asked. “Pity” I answered coldly before he could go into detail. “And Troy?” he asked raising an eyebrow. “Simply to put on a good show. Who doesn’t love a bit of drama?” I asked.
“Very smart and very good entertainment” he said. I wanted to punch him and yell that this wasn’t entertaining. Watching people die isn’t entertaining! “I can honestly say you have done very well in the games. You have earned yourself many fans and admirers. I don’t think anybody will forget you for a long time” he said with a grin. I gave him the best smile I could manage and I was sure it was very believable. “I know this is going to be a touchy subject but how are you doing about Scott?” he asked carefully. “Well. I miss him a lot and I want more than anything to be with him back home but life takes unexpected turns and people do stupid things like volunteer just to die in the end. Scott was my best friend and I love him. I’ll never forget him or any of the memories we shared” I said and I heard my voice cracking and my lip was trembling. My vision blurred and all I saw was Scott’s grinning face before he died in my head. One single tear found its way out and down my face. I wiped at it quickly. I hate them. I hate the Capitol. I hate the games and I hate life itself.
Caesar patted my back lightly as his way of comforting me. “Things will get better. You’ll find someone else” he said kindly. I nodded but I didn’t want anyone else. I never wanted anybody but Scott. I loved him. I glanced up and took a deep breath. I saw Elroy sitting in the audience. He gave me a sad smile and I turned back to Caesar.
“Well you’ve gotten prizes, wealth and fame not only for you but your entire district. I’m sure they’ll be so proud and happy when you go back home” he took my hand and kissed it then helped me up. “Skylar Cohen! Our Mother Nature and victor of the 72nd Annual Hunger Games!” he yelled to the crowd. Everybody cheered and clapped. I was led to another area soon enough, one that stood over the entire Capitol, a balcony of some sort. Cameras were on me as President Snow walked up to me and placed a crown on my head. “Congratulations” he smiled. I nodded and thanked him. He glanced down at Scott’s necklace that I wore proudly around my neck and presented me to all of Panem.
Next thing I knew only a few hours later I was lying on the couch in the train on the way back to District 7 but I didn’t want to go. I had no home anymore. There was nothing to go back to, nobody to go home to. I wanted to stay beside Scott but that was impossible because he was gone now. I’d lost my home, my family and my love. What did I have left? Money? That was useless in every way to me. I sighed and closed my eyes. Scott’s face flashing through my head made tears fall down my face.
“Skylar?” Elroy’s voice asked softly from the door. I heard his footsteps approach me. “Sky” he whispered and for just a moment it sounded like Scott, making me cry harder but my crying remained silent. Elroy must have noticed my shoulders and entire body shaking and trembling because he tucked his hand under my neck and knees, lifting me up. My crying became apparent then as I opened my eyes a little to see Elroy looking down at me with a heartbroken expression on his face. He pulled me into him. I grabbed a fist full of his shirt and cried into his chest. He hugged me close and whispered, “It’s ok, Skylar. It’s ok. I promised him I’d take care of you and be there for you no matter what. I’ll always be here for you until you no longer need me.”
I cried harder. Elroy sat down with me in his lap. He hugged me to him and started humming a soft song. He whispered the words to me softly in tune;
It’s dark and the moonlight’s fading.
Children crying and fire raging.
I wonder when we will find peace. When will the darkness turn to day?
When will our fears go away?
Is there no one to save us? No hand to lead us?
No safety and no home, nobody to bleed for us?
I dream of the day when I can walk up to you and say,
The night has ended. The sun is shining. Life is bright and hope is renewed.
Death no longer strikes and our fears have been shed. Hope settles in and I swear to never forget you
In a world where dreams come true
Close your eyes and make a wish
Wipe your tears and dry your eyes
I’ll lay my life on the line to stop your cries
Instead smile and keep faith in me
Someday I’ll make you free.
I dream of the day when I can walk up to you and say,
The night has ended. The sun is shining. Life is bright and hope is renewed.
Death no longer strikes and our fears have been shed. Hope settles in and I swear to never forget
you
In a world where someday, someway I’ll make your dreams come true.
This I promise you
My tears stopped when Elroy finished his song. His heart beat and the melody were soothing. His voice was so soft, beautiful and alluring. I glanced up at him and he looked down at me with a smile and a soft loving look in his eyes. “Like the song?” he asked. I nodded slowly and rested my head against his chest, still sitting in his lap. “Can you sing it again?” I whispered embarrassed. He smiled and started singing it again. I closed my eyes and listened carefully to his soft voice. His breathing and heartbeat were just as calming as the song. I found myself wrapping my arms around Elroy’s waist as he wrapped his arms around my back. “Skylar” he whispered. I pulled away from him and gave him a questioning look? “Yes?” I asked.
“We’re home” he whispered. I hadn’t even noticed that the train stopped. I nodded and stood up. Elroy stood beside me and offered me his hand. I took it and we walked out of the train to meet a crowd. Everyone cheered and grinned at me but some gave me sad and pitiful looks.
I thought that it was over but I had no idea that it was just the beginning.
