There's Nothing More Important than Family, chapter 25

The first thing they do is throw me on a cot. An oxygen mask is forced over my mouth and they inject painkillers into my bloodstream. I feel a little drowsy, but I refuse to lose consciousness. A couple of Capitol surgeons start working on my shoulder hastily. They’ll want to get as much done as possible before we get to the medical lab. They’ll knock me out with some kind of Capitol medication then, so I won’t be able to fight it. A lady with hair as white as her sterile uniform tries to stop the bleeding from my finger. No one’s touching the cut on my face, but it isn’t exactly a priority; it’s not bleeding too badly.

I feel the hovercraft begin to lose altitude. Someone cries, “Prepare for transfer!” and the doctors and surgeons try to prepare me the best they can. They strap me to the gurney and attach the IV bag to a stand on wheels. They surround me, preparing to move me when we land.
Instead of being lowered on the ladder, they use some sort of lift to propel me down to the roof of the hospital. More Capitol officials are waiting for us there. They hurry me into the building, to a room that’s so white it hurts my eyes. I don’t know why they’re hurrying like this; my wounds aren’t even that severe. They hook all the IV’s back up and plug me into a monitor that records my heart rate. They inject me with more medication, and I am put to sleep.

When I wake up, they are still there, working intensely. The painkillers have worn off, so I can feel sharp pains in my arm and leg. My finger and cheek seem to be doing better. I wonder how long I’ve been out, but if I asked one of the doctors, they’d make me black out again. I don’t know why they don’t want me awake; are they afraid of hurting me? That’s ironic, since they’re the reason I was put into the Games in the first place. Stupid Capitol clones. I scowl.
Of course, a nurse notices me expressing my anger, and makes me go back to sleep.

I see faint images of my sister and the rest of my family while I’m out. Nothing real clear, just vague shapes and sounds. When I am finally awake for good, the room is empty. There are no IV’s in my forearm and no pain anywhere in my body. I was sure the stab wound in my shoulder would have left a scar, but the skin is surprisingly smooth and unmarked. Even the prominent scar I’d gotten when David dropped a shovel on my foot is gone. Too bad; I liked it. It gave me some character, or so I thought. Apparently the doctors didn’t think so.

I’m wearing nothing but a white robe. I feel a little uncomfortable, since I’m certain I’m being watched. I hope Morjay comes in soon to get me dressed. I have to be presented as victor soon, I’m sure of it. They’ll make me sit and watch a recap of the Games, and then the next night I’ll be interviewed as a victor. Then President Snow will crown me, and I’ll be sent home in no time. I don’t think I was asleep for long, but since I’m fully recovered, the recap part will probably be tonight. I am sure of that when my prep team walks in to prepare me. I try to ignore them, because it’s so tempting to just reach out and snap their necks. They’re babbling about how wonderful this year’s Games were. I feel sick.
When I’m ‘nice enough’ to see my stylist, they bring Moray in. He doesn’t speak as he dresses me in a dress shirt, a sweater vest and nice pants. It’s not really my style, but I don’t exactly have a choice. Anyway, I like Moray, so I don’t want to hurt his feelings. He informs me that the Capitol people adored my hair during my last interview, so he gels it accordingly; it’s so long now, it’s hanging in my eyes. Moray says it looks ‘boyishly handsome’, so I don’t argue. He finishes by clasping my token around my wrist. I hadn’t even noticed it was gone. It doesn’t matter; I’ll be burning it in a couple days anyway.

Before they send me out onto the stage, I see Sean, Olivia and Palana. Olivia makes a beeline for me, and hugs me gratefully. She looks stunning; whoever did her hair and wardrobe did a great job. It’s not creepy that I think so, I remind myself. She’s only a year older than I. Sean puts a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. He looks into my eyes, and it’s like we’re having a conversation. I can tell he’s proud of me and that he’s mourning Zania’s loss almost as much as I am. Palana is hysterical, crying and laughing at the same time. She tells me over and over that she knew I’d win, but I try to ignore her. Her optimism is annoying.

Finally, they send me onstage. The Capitol audience roars, so I fake a smile and wave half-heartedly. They sit me down in a chair, and I look at a giant TV screen. The recap has begun.
They repeat the Reaping, Interviews and training scores. I flinch every time I see Zania. It’s surreal that only a couple weeks ago, she was alive; walking, talking and smiling. Living.
I wonder to myself how long I was in the arena. At least a week and a half, I decide. Perhaps two. I guess I’ll figure it all out when I see then end of the recap. I’m not looking forward to it.
They play the bloodbath next; some parts in slow motion. Dane takes out two tributes in the first two minutes. Satin mauls the boy from three with her wretched katars. To my horror, I see Xavier throw a hatchet at Sarah, and blood explodes from her chest. Kelly kills him seconds later. I don’t watch when Mark and Georgie die, but manage to eye the screen when three more fall.
They cut to Maria’s death. I look cold-blooded as I throw her to the side. Zania’s screams torture me. I shouldn’t have killed her. I knew it at the time too, but I didn’t care. Am I any better than the Careers?
Payla kills Addalie then Jason disposes of her. With interest, I watch Vella snipe Harvey with an arrow; that had been a death I hadn’t seen. It’s quite impressive, I have to admit.
On the day where we are attacked by the chipmunk mutts, I see Dane beat the boy from 8 to death brutally. They play that in slow motion. No matter how much I hated Carter, I feel bad for his mother watching this at home.
In no time, they reach the part of the Games I am dreading; The Feast. Vella’s death is quicker than I remembered and much better than she deserved. I watch Satin and Breah battle it out, and cringe when Satin rips my old ally apart. Zania screams and I watch in horror as Kelly grabs her from behind. She is fastened to a tree, and I bury my face in my hands. It’s too much. I can’t watch. I feel my eyes sting, and I swear at myself quietly. I refuse to watch my sister be tortured. I hear the speakers shake with the boom of her cannon, and I compose myself. I look back up just in time to see me stab Satin in my rage.
They show me sitting with my dead sister. I look lost and frail. She looks even worse than in my memory; the blood is splattered across her face. Eventually, Jason drags me away.
They cut away again, to the trio of Careers. I watch as Mahogany sneaks behind Dane, obviously trying to surprise attack him. Kelly warns Dane just in time, and Dane stabs Mahogany mercilessly. Huh. I’d thought Jason had been responsible for that one.
Of course, next up is Jason’s death. After they show me playing in my fort, they show him stalking the two Careers. He accidentally steps on a twig, and Dane swings around anxiously. Their fighting is intense, and Jason batters the mountain from 2 up quite a bit. Dane stabs Jason through the head with his sword, and that’s that. I resist the urge to vomit all over the floor.
The rest of the recap is nothing I haven’t seen before. My face looks deranged as the hovercraft lifts me out of the arena. The Games changed me, that’s for sure.

Caesar thanks the crowd again and reminds them to tune in tomorrow for my interview. I am lead off the stage and taken to the Training Centre, escorted by Sean, Olivia, Palana and Moray. I don’t sleep in the room Zania and I shared the last time we were here. Sean lets me take his room, and he sleeps on the couch instead. He tells me he doesn’t mind, but I still argue. It’s pointless. I end up sleeping there anyway.

Thirteen days, I was in that arena. That’s one of the longest Games I remember. I finally nod off, thinking of the incredible competition I had, and what a miracle it is I’m still alive.