.

.

.

Home, it was all Sable could think about as she lay in bed that night. In less than twelve hours, she'd be on a train across Panem back to District 10. She'd see Colt, and she'd see Leo, and they could move into her new home in the Victors Village. They'd pretty much have the area to themselves if they wanted - since the two morphlings never left their houses and Kieran was dead.

Sable's mind was racing with the endless possibilities of what she could do once she was back home. District 10 had always been a dull place, but now, with the extra money and status of being a victor, Sable could finally make something that mattered. She could start a new life with the two people she loved more than anything in this world, and help out her community. She could use her winnings for good, making sure no-one had to go hungry again. Unlike Kieran.

The thought of Kieran's death washed over her, brining back memories of the Hunger Games. Sable wasn't sure she would ever forget the feeling of blood on her hands as she killed to survive. Ivory had warned her that she'd likely experience nightmares once she was back home, the weight of the things she had to do yet to settle in. Even now, the flashbacks would sometimes come back to her, reminding her that she wasn't as innocent in all of this.

As she closed her eyes, Sable could feel her heart racing with excitement and anticipation. The sound of the train whistle in the distance made her heart skip a beat. She'd be on that train soon, away from the Capitol and towards home.

Suddenly, a loud knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She was taken aback by the suddenness of it - and the urgency of how the knock hammered against the door, and slowly got out of bed to answer it. Sable cautiously opened the door to find Ivory standing there, a stressed look in her eyes as she looked at her victor. Her long hair wasn't in a fancy up-do, and she had no makeup on her face. Sable almost didn't recognise the woman... she looked normal for once.

"President Snow wants to meet with you immediately," she said. "You need to get dressed, and come with me now." 

Well, shit.

____

Sable's heart raced as she followed Ivory into grand building in the peak of night. Something about this didn't feel right... didn't feel normal. President Snow had already seen her that evening, when he had crowned her victor after her interview with Caesar. Anything he needed to say to her then, could have been said earlier.

The thought of what might await her in his office made her stomach churn with nerves as they reached the elevator and descended several floors upwards in silence. Sable was highly aware of how anxious Ivory seemed, her eyes darting around frantically and her fingers fiddling with each other nervously. In all of her time in the Capitol, Sable had never seen Ivory act like this. Something wasn't right.

Peacekeepers flanked them as the exited the elevator, Sable feeling bile rise in her throat again as she shuffled along. She hadn't dressed up for her visit, instead opting for a pair of comfortable trousers, a sweatshirt that she was sure was for training and a pair of basic training shoes - all of which she had found in the wardrobe in her assigned room. 

Ivory pushed open a heavy iron door and stepped aside for Sable to enter first. As soon as she stepped foot in the room, she felt like she'd been transported into another world entirely, her panicked thoughts having a moment to breath as she looked around in awe.  The walls were lined with shelves filled with trinkets from all around Panem - snow globes from District 1, carved wooden figurines from District 5 and countless other items that seemed almost too precious to touch. Her eyes looked in front of her, and the harsh reality of why she was here came crashing down on her.

In the centre of it all was President Snow himself, sitting behind a large mahogany desk looking just as intimidating as always. His snake-like eyes were ignoring Ivory and the peacekeepers, focused solely on Panem's newest Victor.

"Miss Hanover, I'm glad you received my message," Snow called out, a false sense of peacefulness radiating from his voice. He turned to look at her escort, his lips twitching as he noticed the way the woman stared back at him. "I'm sure your wife will be expecting you back, Mrs Silverlock."

Wife, Sable mused, Ivory was married?

Ivory looked at him for a moment longer, almost sensing the threat behind his words that Sable missed. The woman nodded, exiting with room without even casting a second glance at Sable who was silently begging her to stay.

Sable took a deep breath before approaching him slowly, the President having motioned for her to take a seat at his desk as he skimmed his bookcase with his fingers. The sickly sweet smell of roses hit her once again as she got closer to him, having smelt the same scent earlier that day as he crowned her victorious.

"I must say, you surprised us all," Snow said finally, turning to look at her with a faint smirk on his lips. "Winning the Games the way you did - it's quite an accomplishment. A girl from District 10 with no previous training, killing almost all of the careers? Remarkable." 

He leaned forward slowly, his cold gaze making her stomach churn in fear as she tried to keep her composure. Sable felt like this was going somewhere, but she couldn't quite figure out what the man wanted from her. His eyes now fixed on hers as he continued to talk, Sable feeling a chill run down her spine as she felt like he was trying to pry into her very soul. 

"I have no doubt that you can achieve great things in Panem if you stay focused and remember your place here." He leaned forward in his chair, a sly grin appearing in his lips as he added: "Remember, Miss Hanover what goes around comes around. Don't forget who allowed you to be here today."

Sable wasn't really sure what he meant by that. Her place here? She was going back to District 10 tomorrow... right? She didn't want to stay in the Capitol, she wanted to be back with her brothers, like she was promised if she won these games. Finnick's words echoed in her head as she stared back without saying anything.

"I'm glad you're understanding," Snow said, and Sable couldn't help but feel like she was missing something. ""You see, Miss Hanover, there are certain expectations that come with being a victor. Expectations that some find difficult to meet. I trust that you won't be one of them."

Sable's heart skipped a beat at his words. She didn't like the sound of that, but she had to hear him out. She nodded for him to continue, her eyes never leaving his. Was this what Finnick had tried to warn him about?

"I don't understand, President Snow..." Sable felt a sudden weight on her chest, as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. She couldn't quite put her finger on what he was implying, but she knew it wasn't good.

"I want you to be my personal liaison for District 10," Snow said, his eyes glinting with amusement, not the words that Sable had been expecting to fall from his lips. "You'll be responsible for keeping me updated on everything that's happening in your district - if you hear any traitorous thoughts against the Capitol. Now, I ensure you'll do everything in your power to do so, since your predecessor wasn't able to fulfil that promise." 

Her blood ran cold as she looked at how unaffected the man seemed by the words that fell from his lips. Had President Snow killed Kieran? Sable's mind raced as she tried to process his words. She didn't want to be involved with the Capitol or with Snow in any way, she just wanted to go back to 10 and pretend all of this was one sick dream.

"I have no doubt that you'll do an excellent job, Miss Hanover," he said. Snow leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "And if you do well, there may be more opportunities for you in the future. Goodnight, Miss Hanover."

Sable wasn't sure she wanted those opportunities either. He sat back again, his expression unreadable as he folded his hands on the desk in front of him. He motioned to the door, signalling that their meeting was over.

With those words, Sable was dismissed, and she practically almost from the room. Just as her hand grasped on the doorknob, Snow called out her name once more. It was taunting this time, and she knew that she would dream of that moment for the rest of her life.

"Safe travels tomorrow. I'm sure Colt and Leo will be so relieved to see you home."

Suddenly, Sable wished she'd never have to step foot in District 10 again.

____

Sable stood at the train station, her duffle bag at her feet. It wasn't like she had much to bring back with her, since the clothes she arrived to the Capitol in were long gone. Rymen had picked up her some "essentials" that he deemed all victors should have, and Sable had purposefully left most of it behind. She'd kept a few things that she thought would be useful in District 10, but she had no purpose for the rest.

Her soft brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, a scarf wrapped around her neck as she waited for her train to arrive at the station. She knew that Ivory wanted to wish her goodbye, but Sable really just wanted to be left alone after her conversation with Snow.

It had left her with a lot of questions, and she hadn't been able to sleep that night. She just kept thinking about Snow's suggestion that there were rebels in District 10, and that Kieran was dead because he didn't report back to Snow about it. She didn't even know anyone who would even consider starting a rebellion - sure, they all hated the Capitol, but none of them would ever go through with anything. But for now, all she wanted was to get back home. Away from the Capitol, away from Snow, and away from whatever twisted games he was playing.

His words last night had made her almost reconsider leaving the Capitol, the overwhelming paranoia that if she did go home then she'd somehow bring back trouble for Colt and Leo. Colt could handle himself, but Leo was much more impulsive and headstrong, and she knew that his temper was remarkably short too. She didn't believe he could bite his tongue if needed.

As Sable stood there waiting, she felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump a little. She turned to see Ivory, who smiled at her reassuringly. Sable smiled back a little sheepishly, feeling the need to apologise for flinching when the older woman touched her shoulder.

"Sorry..."

"I get it," Ivory mused, understanding more than Sable realised. "You're not the first person to win the Games."

There was a silence between them before Sable asked the one question that she wanted to know the answer to about the woman. They'd only spent little time together, but Ivory had been so vocal on other things that it had surprised her that she hadn't mentioned she was married. She didn't even have a wedding band on.

"You're married?"

"I'd prefer if you kept that between us. It's not really public knowledge," Ivory said, her voice dropping as a few workers walked past them. "How are you feeling? What did President Snow want?" 

"Just to wish me congratulations in private," Sable replied, her smile not reaching her eyes. Ivory studied her for a moment, noticing the way the girl stared at her without blinking, no change of expression on her face. She didn't believe it for one second, but if it had been anything of extreme concern then she was sure that Sable wouldn't have been able to keep a steady composure. A part of her wanted to pry further, to try and get the truth out of Sable, but she knew that it wouldn't be fair to the girl.

Ivory nodded, not wanting to push the matter any further. "Well, I'm sure you're ready to get back home. I just wanted to wish you a safe journey, and to let you know that if you ever need anything, you can always come to me. There will be a phone installed in your new house, and I've made sure that the instruction book contains my number should you need anything at all."

"Thank you, Ivory," Sable replied, genuinely grateful for the woman's kindness. "I appreciate everything you've done for me."

Ivory smiled warmly at Sable before nodding and walking away, leaving Sable alone once again. She watched Ivory disappear into the crowd, almost wanting to understand more about her. A secret marriage that Finnick and Snow seemed to know about was bizarre, and her sudden change of attitude between Sable entering and leaving the arena confused her too. It was almost like she was a completely different person. 

As she stepped onto the train, Sable felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was finally leaving the Capitol, and she could put all of this behind her. She found her compartment and settled in, staring out the window as the train began to move. But as she leaned her head against the window and watched the scenery pass by, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach ever since her conversation with Snow.

Sable couldn't help but think about the way Snow had looked at her when he gave her the new responsibility. She didn't want to be a part of his game, and she certainly didn't want to be his personal liaison. But what choice did she have? She was a victor now, and she had to play the part.

At least she'd get to see her brothers soon.

____

She hadn't expected people to be awaiting her arrival in 10. She stepped off the train, rubbing tiredly at her eyes as she thought about the quickest way to get from the station to the ranch, where she assumed Colt and Leo would be working since Leo didn't have school today.

Instead, she found them waiting at the station with huge grins on their faces, surrounded by a crowd of people Sable had gone to school with and locals that she recognised from either working with the boys, or having known her parents. Sable felt a mix of emotions as she made her way towards them. She was happy to see her brothers, but the attention from everyone else made her uncomfortable. She wasn't used to being the center of attention, and she didn't want to be treated any differently just because she had won the Games.

Colt enveloped her in a tight embrace, lifting her off the ground in excitement. Leo lingered behind, a small smile on his face as he watched his siblings' reunion.

"I've never been happier to see you, kiddo" Colt murmured into her hair, engulfing her in a tight embrace. "You look good, sis. Much more tanned."

"Well, a month in a desert will do that to you," Sable joked, some others in the crowd around them chuckling as they watched the reunion. She couldn't help but against feel a little uncomfortable as strangers watched her reunite with her brothers, but she knew it was something she'd have to get used to.

Leo was next to embrace her, and Sable felt the joy bubble up inside her as she hugged him tightly. She had missed them so much, and it felt good to be back with them when she had been so certain that she'd never see them again.

"Thank you for coming to meet me," Sable said, grateful for the warm welcome. "I didn't expect anyone to be here."

"Are you kidding?" Leo scoffed. "We've been counting down the days until you came home. We had to be here to welcome little Sable back home."

Sable smiled, but both brothers noticed how it didn't quite reach her eyes. Colt had called her little Sable since she was born, and Leo had taken to calling her the nickname once he turned twelve and began to tower above his older sister. She usually grinned at the nickname, but there was something in her eyes that told her she wasn't the same Sable that had left them alone in District 10.

The crowd cheered as Sable made her way through with her brothers following tightly on her flanks, feeling the weight of the world lift off her shoulders. It didn't matter what Snow wanted her to do anymore - she had her family, and that was all she needed. She didn't need the Capitol, she didn't need Ivory or Finnick or Rymen... she had everything she needed right here.

As they made their way to their house just past the old ranch, Sable caught up with her brothers on everything that had happened since she left. They told her about the new cattle they had been raising, and the new irrigation system they had installed. Leo told her about how his girlfriend was now his ex-girlfriend, having found out she was cheating on him with her best friend's boyfriend. Sable didn't quite know what to say to that.

They asked her about the Capitol, and she lied about how amazing it was, not wanting to worry them about any potential danger - and not wanting to share her true feelings until they were inside and away from prying eyes. She didn't trust the Peacekeepers, and she was so paranoid from her Games that she didn't trust those they had once shared food with. They talked and joked, and Sable felt like she was finally home.

But as they approached their house, Sable noticed something strange. There were marks on the ground, like someone had been pacing around the entrance. Thick boots, much heavier than the boots that the Capitol issued for the citizens of 10 to wear. She paused, her senses on high alert as she peered around them, eyes flickering around the area. The air was still, and it was eerily silent other than the occasional moo from one of the ranch cows in the distance. The boys didn't seem to notice, but Sable knew that someone had been there - someone else had been in their home.

Sable's heart began to race as she approached the door, her eyes taking in everything around her with a newfound sense of alertness. Colt caught on that she had stopped listening to Leo's story, his hand reaching out for his brother to bring his attention back to their sister who was edging towards the front door with extreme caution.

The victor could feel the tension in her muscles, ready to strike if necessary. As she got closer, she saw that the door was slightly ajar - someone had definitely been inside. Colt's eyes followed hers, the same wave of uncertainly filling his bones as he noticed the door was open. He'd watched Leo lock it before they left for the train station.

Taking a deep breath, Sable pushed the door open and stepped inside. The first thing she noticed was the pristine living room - she'd expected to see furniture upturned, cushions torn open, and belongings scattered everywhere, but it was as if nothing had been moved at all. In fact, it looked tidier than she remembered it being and she almost smiled at the idea that the boys had tidied up for her return.

Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of the intruder. But there was nothing. Whoever it was, they were gone now. Sable couldn't help but feel a sense of violation - someone had invaded their home, rummaged through their belongings, and left without a trace.

"Is everything okay?" Leo asked, his voice laced with concern as he peered inside the house. Sable turned to face him, her expression guarded.

"Someone's been here," she said quietly, gesturing to the footsteps outside and the unlatched door lock. As Leo rushed up to his room to make sure everything was okay, Sable noticed something out of the ordinary sitting on the small table that they gathered round to eat at. Her blood ran cold as she stepped forward, reaching out and lifting it into the air so that Colt could see it.

"Did you get this?"

"No Sabe, I wouldn't even know where to find a rose here, let alone a white one."

Sable knew exactly where you'd get a white rose in Panem. She knew exactly who you'd speak to if you needed a white rose. She knew exactly why there was a white rose in her family's house - and it wasn't to welcome her back to District 10.

Colt could only watch as Sable threw up in the sink.

____

A few weeks had gone by without any hiccups. Sable had deducted that the rose had been left as a reminder to her that Snow was always watching, something that had uneased her at first but had quickly became less of a problem than she expected. She'd heard nothing of any rebellions, and her brothers had moved in with her in her new house at the Victors Village. She'd been excused from school, and now her only concern was to figure out what her talent for her Victory tour would be.

Or - that's what she wanted everyone to believe, anyway. 

Sable would often wake after vivid nightmares, hearing the voices of the tributes she had killed crying out for their families. She would lay awake for hours, staring up at the ceiling, unable to shake the memories of the arena. The sound of bones breaking, the smell of blood, the taste of fear. It was all still etched into her mind, haunting her every thought.

And then there was the guilt. The guilt of taking lives, of being the one to survive when others had died. Sable had never wanted to be a killer, but the Games had made her into one.

She tried to keep it all hidden, burying her emotions deep within herself. She didn't want her brothers to worry, didn't want anyone to see her weakness. But it was getting harder to keep up the façade, especially since Leo had woken up a few times from her screaming in her sleep. She wouldn't visit the ranch anymore, scared that seeing the animals would remind her of the games somehow.

Sable had seen the other victors on their tours, watched as they were paraded around like show ponies, forced to put on a smile and entertain the crowds. She didn't know how she was going to do it - how she was going to face the families of those she had killed and pretend like it was all a game.

The previous night, as Sable lay in bed, she heard a soft knock on her door. She sat up, her heart racing, wondering who it could be at this time of night. She got out of bed, tiptoeing to the door, and peered through the gap in the door and the frame. It was Colt, looking concerned. Sable opened the door, and Colt stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He was wearing his pajamas and had a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Sable asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"You were screaming in your sleep again, Sabe. I just wanted to see if you're okay," Colt said softly, his voice full of concern. Sable felt a lump form in her throat, and she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She didn't want to burden her brothers with her problems, but it was getting harder to keep everything bottled up inside. There wasn't anyone else she could talk to - no-one who understood what she was going through.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I can't stop thinking about the Games, about the kids I killed."

"It's okay," he whispered. "It's not your fault. You had to do what you had to do to survive."

Colt's words echoed with her the next morning, waving her brothers off as they headed towards the ranch. They didn't need to work another day in their lives - Sable had enough riches now to keep them fed and watered, but they didn't care. They had their support bubbles at the ranch and at school. 

Sable sat at the table, the flickering of the fireplace reflecting in her eyes as she slowly drummed her fingers against the hard wood. She couldn't live like this forever - just waiting for something bad to happen to her and her brothers again, the screams and yells of the other 23 tributes bouncing around the house.

Her finger grappled with the piece of paper under her hand, the digits almost permanently engraved into her brain as she debated calling the woman. She wasn't sure if her offer was an empty promise, but Sable needed to figure out a way to take her mind off the horrors she had seen. An instrument, maybe. Or... gardening. She could start a small chicken coop - not like the battery chickens she'd grown up seeing in the District. Chickens that could run all day in the large garden she had now.

She'd call Ivory - ask her to put in the request that her talent be raising chickens or something. Get her to send over the supplies, and she would build it herself. Easy,

Her fingers pressed down on the house phone, not sure she had done it right at first. She'd never used a phone before. It wasn't something she knew anyone in the District having access to, except maybe the Mayor's family. 

"Hey, it's Finnick?"

Sable almost dropped the phone in shock at the sound of the voice. It certainly wasn't Ivory's - no, she knew that name and she knew that voice. Sable looked back at the slip of paper, wondering if she had inputted the numbers wrong but triple checking and seeing that they matched up.

Why the hell was Finnick Odair picking up Ivory Silerlock's phone?