Hunger Games 1

Chapter 51
The national anthem played, and after that I heard Kaiser Flickman greeting the audience.Does he know that every word he says will matter from now on?It seems he knows, and he wants to help us too.When the design team came on stage, the audience burst into applause.I imagine Flavius, Venia, and Octavia all dancing with joy and bowing to everyone in ridiculous poses, it seems that they don't know the truth.Next, introduce Effie.How long had she been waiting for this moment?I hope she enjoys the moment.However misguided she is, she also has extraordinary instincts, and she should at least suspect that we are in trouble.Portia and Cinna were warmly welcomed and, of course, they did a great job designing costumes to shine at the opening.At this time, I finally understood the purpose of Cinna in choosing this outfit for me. He wanted to make me look like an innocent little girl as much as possible.When Haymitch appeared on stage, the audience stamped their feet in unison for at least five minutes in admiration.Yeah, he got it right the first time.Let not only one, but also the other "tribute" survive.What if he hadn't warned me in time?How differently would I behave?The moment you brag about devouring berries in front of the Capitol?No, I wouldn't do that, but it's certainly not as authentic as speaking now.At this moment, Yuanpan is lifting me onto the stage.

The dazzling light and thunderous roar made the metal plate under my feet tremble slightly.Then Peeta came on stage, only a few yards away from me.He looked so clean, handsome, and healthy, I could barely recognize him.But he still had the same big smile on his face, whether in the mud, on the Capitol, or whenever I saw him.I took three steps in parallel and threw myself into his arms.He took two steps back, nearly losing his balance, when I saw what he was holding in his hand was a slender box that I thought was metal but was made of rattan.He stood his ground, we hugged tightly, and the audience went wild.He kissed me, and I kept thinking, "You know we're in danger again?" About 10 minutes later, Caesar Flickman tapped Peeta on the shoulder, signaling the festivities to continue.But Peeta pushed him away without even looking at him, and the audience went even crazier.Whether Peeta realizes it or not, he, as usual, gets the audience just right.

In the end, it was Haymitch who interrupted us and kindly pushed us to the winner's seat.Usually, this is a single, richly decorated seat where the winner watches the highlights of the game, but this time because there were two of us, the contest organizers prepared a Changsha covered with red velvet for us hair.Not a big sofa, my mother would call it a lover's sofa, I think.I'm sitting so close to Peeta, it's almost like I'm sitting on his lap, but Haymitch gives me a wink that means we're not close enough.I took off my sandals, bent my legs, and rested my head on Peeta's shoulder, his arms naturally wrapped around me.I feel like I'm back in the cave again, snuggled up to Peeta to keep warm.His shirt was the same yellow as mine, but Portia made him wear black trousers.Instead of sandals, he wore sturdy black boots, steady and down-to-earth.I wish Cinna designed something similar for me, I feel weak in this flowy dress.But maybe that's what Cinna wanted.

Caesar Flickman made a few more jokes, and then the formal ceremony began.The show lasted about three hours, and the whole nation of Panham demanded to watch it.The light dimmed and the city emblem appeared on the screen. I suddenly felt that I was not mentally prepared. I didn't want to watch my 22 companions die. The first time watching them die was enough.My heart was pounding hard and I had a strong urge to run away.How can the other victors face it all alone?During the replay of the highlights, a small picture-in-picture keeps showing the victor's reaction at this time.I think back to many years ago when the show was played, some victors showed the joy of victory, some pumped their fists in the air, some beat their chests, and most of the victors were just surprised.The only reason I know I'm still able to sit on this lover's couch right now is because of Peeta.He put his arm around my shoulders, and with his other hand he took both of mine.The difference, of course, is that the previous victors didn't have a Capitol waiting to destroy them.

It is indeed not easy to condense the past few weeks into three hours, especially when many cameras are shooting a large amount of video at the same time, and the editor of the film needs to highlight a certain theme.This year, for the first time, they have a love theme.Obviously, Peeta and I won the match, but there was a disproportionate amount of content about us, and it's been that way since the beginning.But I'm also happy because it highlights our love story, that is, we don't have time to think about it in the face of death, and it justifies our defiance of the Capitol.

The first three or 10 minutes mainly reviewed the highlights before the game, the chariot passing through the Capitol, our training results, and our TV interviews.The cheers that appeared on the TV screen again and again made people feel more miserable, because almost all the people who appeared in the film died.

Next is the game in the arena. The film pays attention to every detail of the bloody fight, and alternates between the death scene of the players and our live situation from time to time.In fact, there is no doubt that Peeta has the main task of staging this romance.Now I can watch it from the perspective of a spectator—he stayed up all night before the stalker-bees attacked them, fighting with Cato to try and get me out; Softly call my name.I seemed ruthless by comparison—dodging fireballs, throwing hives at pros, blowing up supplies—until I hunted down Lulu.The film played the whole process of her death, how she was hit by a spear, how I saved her, how I shot an arrow in the throat of a boy from District [-], how Lulu died in my arms, and I sang for her.Watching this made me feel so sad and numb to everything around me, it was like watching a stranger in another Hunger Games.But I also noticed that they didn't play the scene where I put flowers on Lulu.

Yes, this action also smacks of rebellion.

My lens reappeared in the frame.When they announced that there could be two winners in the same division, I couldn't help calling out Peeta's name, and I put my hand over my mouth.If at first I seemed unfeeling to Peeta, the camera made up for it.I sought him out, nursed him, restored him to health, feasted for medicines, gave him tender kisses.Frankly, I still get the chills when I see the images of the dogs and Cato's tragic death, but at this moment, I feel again as if it happened to someone I didn't even know.

Then there's the scene where we're getting berries, and I can hear the "shhhhh" of the audience telling each other to be quiet, and everyone's afraid to miss a word.At the end of the TV film, there was a scene where the winner was announced, and at the same time, when Peeta was rescued, I screamed his name and knocked on the glass door on the helicopter. pregnancy.

In the telecast of the night, this momentary image is the most powerful evidence of my survival.

The national anthem was played again, President Snow stood in the middle of the stage, and the little girl behind him was holding the crown in her hands, which was placed on a velvet pillow.However, there is only one crown on the velvet pillow, and the audience can be heard whispering, whose head will this crown be placed on?At this time, President Snow twisted his hand, and two crowns appeared.He was smiling, putting one crown on Peeta's head; he was still smiling as he put the other on me, but clearly in his eyes inches from me. It's the stern look that won't forgive me.

That's when I realized that, while we could both die from poison berries, I shouldn't have suggested it.I started it first and I should be punished.

After the awards were presented, we bowed and thanked everyone, and the audience cheered.I was waving to the audience, and when my arms were about to fall off, Kaiser Flickman said good night to the audience and reminded them not to forget to watch the final TV interview tomorrow, as if the audience had other options like.

Peeta and I soon arrived at the presidential residence for a celebratory dinner there.We didn't even bother to eat. Capitol officials, especially those sponsors, squeezed through the crowd one by one to take photos with us.Faces flashed in front of us, and the night was fading, but everyone became more and more intoxicated in the atmosphere of night celebrations.Occasionally, I would glance at Haymitch and feel very at ease in my heart.But when I saw President Snow, I felt very scared.But when I took pictures with everyone, I still smiled and kept expressing my thanks.But no matter what I did, I never let go of Peeta's hand.

When we returned tiredly to our residence on the twelfth floor of the training center, the sun had quietly emerged on the horizon.I thought it was finally time to say a word to Peeta alone, but Haymitch sent him and Portia to try on clothes for the interview, and he accompanied me to the door of my room alone.

"Why can't I talk to him?" I asked.

"We'll have plenty of time to talk when we get home," Haymitch said. "Go to sleep, you guys start streaming at two o'clock."

Despite Haymitch's intervention, I decided to meet Peeta in private.After tossing and turning in bed for hours, I sneaked out to the hall.My first feeling was to go to the roof to have a look, but there was no one on the roof.The streets downstairs were also empty after yesterday's celebration activities.I went back to bed for a while and then decided to go straight to his room.But when I turned the doorknob, I found that the door had been locked from the outside.At first I suspected that Haymitch did it, and then a more terrifying thought came to my mind, maybe the Capitol was watching and imprisoning me.Escape had been impossible for me since the beginning of the Hunger Games, but it felt different now, it seemed personal, as if I was being held for a crime awaiting sentencing.I rushed to bed and pretended to sleep until Effie Trinket woke me up for another "long, long, long day"!
I was only allowed 5 minutes to grab a warm bowl of rice stew and then the design team came down.All I have to say is one sentence: "Everyone loves you!" No more talking for the rest of the hours.When Cinna came in, he threw everyone else out and put me in a white muslin dress and pink shoes.Then I personally adjusted my makeup until my face looked pink and soft.We chatted for a while, but I was afraid to ask him anything important.Ever since the locked door happened last night, I always feel that I am being watched all the time.

(End of this chapter)