↔↔↔ = Character Change

◐◑◐◑ = Time-Skip(with same character)

~~~

Chaos. That's all you could describe it as. After seeing the clip of first Johd's suicide, then of Link passing out, it was chaos. The show had been cut off directly after that--not common for one of the more typical Hunger Games.

Even some of the Capitol members shed tears--but they'd never admit it.

Johd's family cried the hardest, his aunt and his two younger cousins. They'd never imagined that THAT would be how Johd went out.

Link's being a very close second. His parents and his siblings must've cried enough to make a tsunami--which was bitterly ironic.

Was there no winners? Could there be no winners? Surely, Link would've bled out from such a wound, and there was no way anyone else had survived. The audience had watched the other bodies be carried away...

No one knew what happened to Link's corpse(?) and Johd's.

Could it be?

Of course not. There HAD to be a winner. There always was... There always had been.

It couldn't be different. It just... couldn't...

And it wasn't.

↔↔↔

Link's eyes opened. That was his first thought.

He was alive.

But Johd was not.

And he wanted to cry--but even just breathing hurt.

He glanced down at his stomach and saw it was wrapped entirely in bandages.

Of course. He had nearly died.

Maybe he was dead. Maybe he wasn't alive at all?

What had he been doing last? He couldn't exactly remember.

He remembered Johd dying. He remembered crawling over to him. But after that--it was all a blur.

How long has he been asleep? Where was he? 

He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The room he was in was all white. Vibrant white walls, floors, and ceilings. There was a single light bulb in the ceiling, protected by a metal cage. He could see a faint door frame in the corner of the room.

Were those walls padded?

Was he crazy?

He certainly didn't think he was crazy... But maybe that's what made him so. Maybe a crazy person never realizes that they're crazy...

The truth came crashing down on him so suddenly it made his head spin.

He almost killed himself too. That's why he was here.

Link tried to keep his mind blank, but thoughts just kept crawling back into his mind.

His family. Did they even know he was alive? The only reason he hadn't given up in the beginning... Did they think he was dead?

Link's head snapped to the door. Someone was out there.

Whispering.

He listened.

"He's awake. I'm kind of surprised he didn't die. That's a bad wound he has... We should go talk to him. I want to make sure he's okay."

It sounded like a girl's voice. Maybe 17.

Link couldn't hear a second voice. But there obviously was one.

"Please! I promise I won't get hurt! Does he look harmful to you?"

Again, Link tried to listen. But there was no second voice. He didn't want to move, in case someone could see him.

"Pleeeeeeeeeaseeeee!"

There was another small silence, then a cheer of joy. And then the door was open.

In stepped a girl--17, like Link has guessed. Her hair was electric orange, so Link instantly knew she was a Capitol girl, but her skin was a regular caramel brown.

"Hi Link!" the girl chirped.

Link was already annoyed. She knew his name--everyone know his name--but he knew no one's.

"What?" Link snapped.

"Aw, please don't get mad. I only wanted to talk to you!"

"About what?"

"Well, we can talk about--! I don't know. I just wanted to talk to the winner of the Hunger Games!"

It hadn't even crossed his mind. He HAD won.

Link Ashtide had won the Hunger Games.

It didn't FEEL like he had won...

It felt like he had lost. That's all he did during the Games. Lose. He lost everything.

He lost himself.

He lost Johd.

He didn't consider himself a winner.

"My family. Where are they? Are they okay?"

"Oh, I don't know about that. My dad might though!" She turned and looked out the door. Link couldn't hear anything, but the girl then turned back to him with a puzzled look.

"My dad says I can't tell you that! Not until you're in good health...?" she said, turning back to look out the door.

"Good health?"

"Mental health, he says. He says you tried to kill yourself and that they want to make sure you're stable when they tell you."

"Stable. Of course. I understand. I guess that's why I've been locked in this padded room like a wild animal."

"Well, I-- I had nothing to say in that!"

Before Link could muster up a sarcastic response, she suddenly gasped.

"Oh oh oh, I didn't even introduce myself. My name is Saffron! And I already know your name--well everyone does--so we don't have to do that!"

Link sighed, then winced in pain.

"Oh no, are you hurt?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine. I don't need your help. I'm fine."

"Do you really feel alright? And I don't mean your stomach..." Saffron asked. 

She seemed genuinely concerned to Link.

"Yes. Let me see my family."

"Okay, okay, I'll see what I can do!"

Saffron then skipped--yes skipped--out of the room.

Link resisted the urge to sigh again. 

A while later, Saffron appeared again.

"Okay, my dad said you can go home!"

Link stood, then nearly fell back over. Saffron rushed over to him, but he growled at her and she stepped back.

He wanted help from no one. The last person he'd accepted help from was Johd. And he would never forget how that ended.

But Link was going home. He was going to see his family again.

Everything was going to be alright.

He only wished it could be alright WITH Johd...

But it was done. He would never have to set foot in that arena--or any arena-- ever again.

It was over.