Don't let anyone, ever, make you feel like you deserve less than what you want. District Two Career Tribute and Victor of the 24th Annual Hunger Games.
“She obviously needs more rest Margo, let’s leave her be.”
“Brutus just wait one more minute... Wednesd--”
“Fuck!”
As if I were still in the Arena, my eyes shred open to defend myself from the other last man standing. I fight through the immediate pain and whatever dignity I had left as I try to gain more focus. Instead of finding Naxos’ bloody body wielding a knight stick, I discover not only is he gone, but I’m lying in a hospital bed. I flick my eyes to floor level and spot my mother and father hovering over me with that familiar dumb look on their face.
What the hell just happened... The last thing I can remember involved me shoving a sword into my abdomen and into Naxos’ chest... Before everything went black I remember hearing my name called... So... Did I? I’m alive... yes alive... I won. I feel like letting out a big goof ass smile with the realization, but I’m a Victor now, I can’t. I need to be calm and act like a dick.
“Oh holy shit,” I gasp running my fingers through my heavily bandaged stomach.
As if they were going in for a kill, both of my parents immediately thrust their arms to hug me. I wasn’t fully sure if it was the drugs or instinct, but as they approach I found my hand reaching up blocking them in defensive manner. I’m both offended and curious as to why they demanded my affection so fast..
“I appreciate the kind gesture and I love you guys, but right I just want to be alone.”
They smile weakly so I assume they understand. I go for a handshake, but they ignore it and leave my room per request. It just seems really awkward even for them now... I think this is the beginning of a massive amount of alone time. I just can’t see anyone contemplating what I went through to get here; minus the other Victors of course.
I’m proud of myself obviously I just... I thought there would be more... ok? Is that wrong to say? I use to be good at reading people, but I’m now coming to a catharsis; it was them who read me. I’m just a blood thirsty Career who went mad in the arena. I gave the people what they wanted out of me, is that bad thing? Am I nothing more than a stereotype of the angry black woman? I mustn’t fall into that trap of reality television or caricatures of black people. I am more than that exploitation. I deserved this win despite what others might say.
Despite the hypocrisy I’m spewing, I’ll slowly evolve these feelings in a more constructive manner I hope. Game Making perhaps? Unlike the rest of Panem, I choose not to forget what I’ve done. I’m sure right after my Victory Tour there will be something bigger and better thats in store for the Games, leaving me out in the cold celebrity shadow. I must do something to remain relevant, I refuse to let my work go to waste.
“I’m too high for this shit...” I say as I push the call button down for more morphling.
On the bright side, the doctor says I’ll be up and running in a couple of days so that’s good news. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see my minions back at home.
Injuries: Lacerations to right shoulder, left outside forearm, middle of the back & lower thigh (cleaned and healing), cracked ribs, missing tooth & 3rd degree burns on back.
Weapons: Sword, hunters knife, vial of poison, set of brass knuckles, Shuriken (6), Bow & 10 Arrows.
Location: ?
Injuries: Lacerations to right shoulder, left outside forearm, middle of the back & lower thigh (cleaned and healing), cracked ribs, missing tooth & 3rd degree burns on back.
Finally calm, I cautiously exit the tube and enter the accommodations with Cypress’s left arm still in my grasp. It’s a surreal feeling really, getting this far in the Games. I mean I never doubted my potential, but I did question if was going to die. Yes even I, self proclaimed ‘queen of the banter’ had uncertainty about death.
Dropping my weapons to the ground I roll onto the bed, still in pain from my open wounds. The burns were the most severe of course; so severe that all of my nerve endings in my back are pretty much destroyed. The pain was dull, but mostly I just feel solid blackness. My guess is third degree judging by the looks and symptoms. What a fuck fest. thank you Cypress
The Fallen begins to play while I start tending to myself, cleaning up the bits of excess blood. Only a cloth and water this time around, no first aid kid. Not much, but it’ll have to do I guess. I at least have some water and something to eat so theres that as well.
On closer inspection, I start to laugh tasting the soup, noticing its technically all broth,“Chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side!” Bitches making me remember these dumb childhood songs and shit, I doubt anyone has a clue what I’m talking about.
I’m almost as mad as the girl who believes in wonderland...
One by one tributes begin to fall, a record day it seems like. With my kill being the gruesome end I realize only three of us remain... Holy shit, just three.
The duo from Three are the only ones standing in my way of becoming a Victor. I can take them, I can do this, I have too.
I’m at loss for words… That is until I see a haunted house off to my side. My birthday is on Halloween and I kill for a living, this is my territory. I take a second to finish off my cloud of sugar shit and I toss the remains away as I step inside the house, looking around.
A bow and arrow lies in front of my great big wonderful eyes. Can you fucking believe it? I thought I was improvising pretty good with my sword but this bow just took me over the top. Can you say finale?
I strap myself up, throwing the arrow sling over my shoulder. I pick up the bow and return the sword into my pack. I’ve got my own arsenal now, holla at a bitch.
Seeing nothing else of my fancy but the nasty overtly fake decor, I decide to leave the house with my head held high.