The Author Games: Rhapsody

Nevia Saille

It was a shame, really. Everyone knew the Capitol loved sentiment, and they loved emotion, but Nevia had none left anymore. She was cold now and nothing would warm her up ever again.Her dress was supposed to reflect her personality, her stylist had told her, and Nevia neglected to remind her that the Games had changed her quite a bit.The dress itself was the finest shade of blue, royal, almost, with hints of light blue mixed in. Teardrop-shaped studs decorated the dress, in a diagonal line then downwards from there like rainfall, leaving a small triangular area of baby blue undecorated at the top. Sparkles coated the dress almost as though she had walked through a pile of glitter. One larger teardrop-shaped hole was up at the neckline and the dress itself went all the way to her chin, almost choking her.Nevia hated the entire meaning of the dress. It told the whole of Panem that Nevia Saille was a sorrowful, crying mess of a person and, while the statement may have been true before, it wasn't anymore.There was a throne set out just for her. An entire throne for her to sit on regally. It was her turn to be the Queen of Panem, even if just for one night.Gloss began speaking in a booming voice, his face shining - though whether it was from delight or five pound's worth of makeup, Nevia wasn't sure."Welcome all, to the crowning of this year's victor! She was a strong young lady from the beginning, and there was no doubt that if she went down, she would have went down fighting! Nevia Saille, everyone!"She put on the best smile she could muster, and strutted down the stage, sitting herself down on the throne. The crowd went wild, and Nevia could make out a few broken sentences. "I was rooting for you!" and "I knew you would win!"Nevia came to a most sudden realization. The Capitol didn't care for her well-being one bit. They didn't care that she had won the Games. They didn't care about the twenty-three dead children. All they cared about was the game."I'm so sick of all these people..." She murmured quietly, praying that no one had overheard her. If anyone had, they said nothing.The president wore his most genuine smile - which, mind you, wasn't very genuine - and stepped over to he throne where he sat. Each movement he made reeked of triumph and it was all Nevia could do not to wince as the intimidating man stopped in front of her. The crowd began to scream again as the crown was placed upon her head, and Nevia smiled. For now, she was the queen of the world.The excitement of the crowning had long since worn off when Nevia was forced to sit down and watch the recap of the Games. She didn't mind too much, for she'd already seen plenty of death, but one question pondered her mind.Who had killed Technick?She watched the Bloodbath once more and smiled lightly as she relived her first encounter wth Jem Darling, the ferocious career. The boy hadn't deserved to live, and she was glad he didn't.A few more scenes passed. Phoenix Miller, killed by a young girl named Shadow. A little boy, Samuel, his head getting bashed in by a girl she didn't know. None that she cared for much, for all she needed to see was Technick. She watched with interest as the resurrected Jem and the other boy, Waye, ran in a line after Nevia, and as Nevia killed them both without thought. She felt Chess Winchester look over at her now, as if to see her reaction, but she merely shrugged. It was all in the past now.Finally the cameras switched to a small, sleeping Technick, and she let out a small gasp of anticipation. The camera panned out and she stared directly into the eyes of Mye Bentler, a knife held to Nick's stomach. She didn't bother to close her eyes as Mye plunged the knife into the heart of his former ally.Nevia wished that she cared. She wanted to cry at the death of such an innocent boy, but she couldn't bring herself to. She didn't care anymore.A few more deaths, and now it was down to four. The finalists of the competition. Mye, sleeping alone in the dark. Shadow staring blankly at a ceiling. Dilen pacing a hallway. And Nevia herself, walking down the dark hall that had been her former home for a week.And then the first death of the four. Poor young Dilen, only fourteen years old. Dead at the hands of the last remaining Career, the girl of District Two. And then Shadow Skye herself, murdered by Nevia's former ally.And the final cannon, one last fallen tribute. Rather than simply showing the death of Mye, Nevia figured that the Capitol wanted to see Nevia break as she relived her final kill."Sup, Nevia." Mye held a faint smile on his somber face. He looked so innocent now, as though there was nothing wrong. "It's been a while.""Hasn't it, now?" She asked lightly. "Oh, Mye, I wish it hadn't come to this." Her eyes held every possible emotion as she spoke."But what else could have possibly happened?" He murmured. "Either way, one of us would die, if not both. But asides from that, how shall we go about doing this?"She thought for a moment. If Nevia killed him now then she would win. If not, there wasn't anything she could do to save herself. So rather than answering, she threw out her finest kick and knocked him to the ground, pressing hard on his stomach so he couldn't get up."I am so, so sorry, Mye," she whispered almost inaudibly, "But there was no choice." She slammed his head into the floor multiple times and began to sob as blood ran down his once-handsome face.Nevia's did not falter. She sat in silence for a moment, then began to slowly clap, in the ringing silence of the room."Nevia, darlin'," Her escort asked with a confused expression, "Why do you clap?""I'd like to congratulate you all," she replied, "on successfully killing twenty-five kids and completely breaking the last living one."Her mind was scarred from millions of memories, but the scars were already starting to heal. She had faced death before, and now it was no different."Nevia Saille, this year's Hunger Games Victor! And how are you today?" Nevia smiled. "I'm just great, thanks." The words were hard to force out of her mouth. Smile and wave. Smile and wave."We've got quite a few questions to ask our victor tonight, haven't we?" Nevia sat in silence as the crowd cheered, and turned to face Gloss."So, Miss Saille. You were a fierce competitor from the start, and as it seems, most of Panem appears to agree." A couple of cheers again, and silence as they waited for her answer."So apparently I was," She replied smoothly. "I didn't think so myself, not at all, and I don't see why anyone would. I was just some weak, emotional girl who honestly didn't care whether she lived or died. There were plenty of contenders for the Games this year, and I'm not too sure why anyone would choose me.""So it is..." Gloss murmured. "Now, you say that you didn't care whether you lived or died. But from what we can tell, you seemed to change your mind. Why is that?"Nevia hesitated. She didn't have much of an answer. "Well, I guess the entire concept of the Games didn't really sink in until I had been in the arena. Once I had seen the face of death, I suppose that I realized that I didn't really want to die.""We all know that you have a very depressing past. But if you could say one thing to your parents, what would it be?"Nevia raised her head to the ceiling, as if to think. "I wouldn't bother saying anything to them." A couple people in the crowd gasped."And why is that?" asked Gloss, surprised by the answer."I can't anyway. They're dead. The past is the past, and my parents died in the past. I don't care anymore. Wouldn't you just rather look ahead than back?"More gasps came from the crowd, and Gloss was silent for a moment."Well, if you wish, what will you say to your living family members?""My aunt..." She whispered, reminiscing the memory of their last meeting. The thought of her poor aunt, seeing her so heartless and cold, made her want to cry. "I'd like to tell my aunt that I'm sorry if I've changed, but this is who I am now." She quickly wiped any emotion off of her face and stared blankly ahead."Oh." Gloss frowned, as though something was wrong with the answer. "And your aunt, is she you only living family member?"Nevia was suddenly aware of the Capitol people in the crowd. Their faces seemed less giddy now, and more solemn. There was something wrong.She stood up, the chair she sat in creaking as it slid slightly across the glossy stage. "Where is my aunt?" She demanded, her voice threatening. "What happened to her?""Your aunt has unfortunately passed away," Gloss said, maintaining a look of faux sorrow. "We are all sorry for your loss."Nevia froze in place. After all she had been through, after how hard she had fought to stay alive, her only reason for living was dead. "Would you care to sit again, Miss Saille?" Gloss asked in a kind tone. Nevia didn't move. Everything she loved was dead. She had fought so hard and now everything that she had fought for was gone."Miss Saille?" Gloss asked again, and rather than answering, Nevia strolled right off the stage.She had been depressed from the beginning. Nevia Saille had hated herself, and wanted to change oh-so badly.It seemed as though her wish had been granted. No longer was she a mess of a human, but she was cold and emotionless, the equivalent of a robot. And now she despised herself even more.Today, she had reigned victorious. Today, she had done something no one thought she could do. Today she had lived.Her name was Nevia Saille, and this day would be her last.