Amelia Montaigne: One Year Into The Future

A soft spoken word and the girl was running like a light. Smirking, Amelia sat back and watched the youngest tribute. Trinity was only fourteen but she held herself like a winner. There was something viscous inside her, Amelia was certain of it. While the boy was rude to the core, she didn't like him. Nothing about the boy was interesting. The girl, however, was special. Amelia saw in her the potential to rip out throats while stealing the hearts of the Capital with each batted-eyelash smile.

"Faster, kid," Amelia barked. "I want to see you run until you pass out!" There was only seven days left. Soon enough and they'd be in business. Training didn't officially begin until the next day but that didn't bother her. Trinity would run the course of the train another three laps, only then would Amelia let her go.

"Is this good?" Trinity was panting as she stopped and rested next to a chair. A sheen of sweat ran down her beautifully curled brown hair. While her outfit was entirely green--something Amelia could enjoy--it was ugly, and Amelia couldn't wait until the Capital girl's fixed her up. "Can I stop?"

"No."

"When I win, then?"

Amelia shook her head, red strands of hair dancing about. "Sorry kid," she said, "but the Games never end. Not even when you win. No matter what you do now, what you do there...you'll never get out. Kill them all and they'll come back at night to watch you sleep. You're going to die in the Games."

She sighed. The younger girl fell in a heap to the ground, dramatically looking back up to Amelia. There was a spark in her blue eyes, something beautiful and raw.

I know of other pretty girls with blue eyes...Amelia shook her head, No! Don't think of them. Not today.

"What's the use then?" Trinity asked. Her voice was a plea. "Why should I even try?"

It wasn't an easy answer, but what ever was? Amelia didn't even bat an eye. "Because if you die you'll never forgive yourself. Death is an eternity of defeat. You won't die. When you're in there you'll realize who you are and why you are. You'll become real, Trinity. You won't be a liar, a fake, a fraud. You'll be something perfect."

"Winning makes you perfect?"

"No."

"I don't understand," Trinity complained.

Amelia smiled, chuckling at her. "What makes you perfect is when you decide not to give up, or to give in. I want to see you cry, Trinity. They do. But I don't want to see you die. Win for me, will you?"

"Sure."

There was a stretch of silence. The memories were back, but Amelia didn't mind them so much. Looking back, she saw them. All her friends whom she deserted, all the chances that she lost. But she also saw saving Electra. She saw herself change.

Amelia saw hope in her memories.

*

Okay....guys, I'm crying! I still can't believe this. Amelia is my baby and she's my greatest joy. Honestly, she's become my favorite tribute, surpassing even beloved Toby. :)

Everyone in the completion made it SO fun, but I want to thank some people in particular.

ShayTree : You put up with my billions of messages and randomness, so thank you. Thank you for believing me and helping me when I asked. :) You're so amazing and I'm still sad that Reed and Corra had to go! :'( I still cry when thinking of Reed's death. He made Steve what he was, and the two honestly captured my heart. I'm so thankful to have gotten to write that with you. Working with you is so fun. :)

wordsmith- : Electra was SO fun! I loved everything to do with her. She helped change Amelia's character a bit, and for that I thank you for letting me do! I loved writing with you and would love to do it again sometime. Electra was honestly SO huge in Amelia's life. It's not even funny how much she affected her, and to be honest, at first I didn't even think that entry would do anything to Amelia. But it did and it was beautiful.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya : Babydoll, you're the entire reason I was able to do this. Thank you for helping me with my entries and telling me when I sounded too stupid to bear. :) You're so sweet!

WhovianHorseLover : Your comments on my entries really helped!! :) You are so kind and it's very awesome to talk to you. Amani was SO cool! I loved watching her grow with each entry and she really made me happy. Amani was so fun, and I'm sad that she didn't win, but proud of how far she came! You're so nice to talk to, and I'm happy to know you as a friend. :)

And, of course, That_Contest ! Thanks for hosting the Games and it was so fun to participate in them! It was one of the best I've been in, and one of the most interesting.