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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act three.

(chapter forty-two, the seventy-fourth hunger games)

the stables / city circle, 74 ADD.

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THE STABLES STUNK OF HORSE manure and alcohol as Juniper wrinkled her nose up, nearly gagging as she exited the elevator. Tributes littered the space, some looking completely terrified as their mentors consoled them whilst others had looks of determination and boldness. The Careers', as an example.

The Careers' for the Seventy-Fourth held Juniper's interest. But not because they could win. There were only two Careers' that had a chance and they both came from Two. The boy was a physical wonder with a robust and powerful stature. He was probably the largest out of the tributes and his blue eyes were menacing with his spiky blond hair. And then the girl was healthy, brawny, and fit with dark hair and a face filled with freckles. Those two were in the running to win. 

But the pair from One, Juniper scoffed at the idea of them winning. The girl was tall with emerald green eyes and flowing blonde hair. She was a classic female from One and looked oddly similar to Cashmere, the Victor of the Sixty-Fourth, and Satin. The girl was too obsessed with her looks to even think of winning. Too ditsy. And then the boy was skinny and tall rather than muscular and fit. The pair from One would not even be considered in the top five. 

"They really need to clean this place," a drunk, disgusted Brent Higgins spoke up, wrinkling his nose at the place like his peer did moments earlier. "Smells terrible."

"Your stinky liquor isn't helping," Juniper snapped as she scanned the stables for their tributes.

She did not have high hopes for the duo Reaped this year. Of course, she still tried her hardest to get to know them, to at least help them, but it would never work out. The boy, Jeremy Marinas, was eighteen and had a crippled foot. He always limped as he walked and the pressure of his tallness did not help. Jeremy was starting to work at the Breeders, caring for the calves. He stunk of cows and grain and had layers of dirt underneath his fingernails. Nadine had been appalled.

And then the girl, Dakota Hood, was sixteen. She was small and skinny, looking as if she was on the verge of death. She had massive violet bags residing underneath her eyes and she was extremely shy. She was terrified of Juniper and Brent, even Nadine. But as Juniper got to speak to her more, cajoling her into eating and showering, the Hale girl realised she was the sweetest being. She had tried to get rid of the mud off of her shoe before entering the train. She tried to eat with her mouth closed whilst Jeremy Marinas ate like a pig. And she was obsessed with stars, staring out of the window the first time she saw the night sky. 

But Dakota Hood and Jeremy Marinas would not survive and both Juniper and Brent knew that.  

The Higgins man walked off as he began to chug his flask of alcohol, waving Juniper's comment away as he headed to Chaff, the mentor from Eleven. The Hale girl, however, remained standing as she tried to find Dakota and Jeremy. The Careers' were standing with their own mentors, Wade Rankine being one for Two, and then the pair from Four with Finnick, the duo from Twelve with their stylists. Juniper was about to purse her lips when she got a glimpse of Yara Give.

Yara Give, the stylist for Ten, remained the same. Her cheekbones were sticking out as if the bones were raised. Her lips were inflated. There were no wrinkles on her flesh as if someone had pulled her skin back tightly. And her hair was still an elegant aqua, braided in an intricate knot. Juniper sighed before making her way over. 

"Don't tell me you dressed them up in cow suits, Yara." 

"You have no hope in me." Yara scoffed as she crossed her arms, but did so unsuccessfully due to the constrictions of her leather attire. "Did I dress you up in a cow suit?" 

"Just show me them." Juniper rolled her eyes impatiently.

Awkwardly, Jeremy and Dakota moved into the Hale girl's sight and she had to raise a brow at them. They looked sheepish as they were dressed in golden cowboy hats, shirts, and pants. The fabric was sewn with jewels and gems, shimmering in the lights of the stables. They were cowboys and Juniper had to look at Yara with a raised brow. 

"Really? Cowboys?" 

"Don't sound so condescending." Yara narrowed her eyes. "They look perfectly fine."

"Yeah. Sure." Juniper scoffed as she clenched her jaw. There was no way the two kids would be getting sponsors. "Just — get them in the chariot." 

Jeremy and Dakota winced at Juniper, then Yara, then at each other before following their mentor's instructions. The Hale girl had to pinch the bridge of her nose as she breathed heavily. She could feel her heart thudding in her throat, airways contracting. Those two kids were going to die and she knew it. And Dakota and Jeremy knew it. Their deaths were inevitable.

It was only luck that the tribute from Ten last year came second. What was his name? Juniper couldn't remember. She opened her eyes and realised she couldn't even remember anything about him. Not his name. Not his voice. Not what he looked like. But Juniper did not think of it and just huffed.

"All right... just... try and do your best, aye?" Juniper turned to face Dakota and Jeremy on the chariot, who were both clinging to the metal rail tightly. "Smile, wave. Try and get some sponsors." 

"And if we don't?" Dakota's squeaky yet hushed voice rang through Juniper's ears.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." 

Dakota nodded slightly whilst Jeremy trained his eyes on the other chariots. There were twelve in total with twenty-four horses, two attached to each carriage. They all whinnied and nickered as they waited in anticipation for the large stable doors to open. Juniper could practically hear the thunderous roar of the crowds already. She hated the Tribute Parade. 

"Are they good to go?" Brent Higgins asked as he came sauntering over. He had left Chaff behind and now, a well-built, bearded man was following him. He had to have been a mentor, but Juniper furrowed her brow as she couldn't remember who he was, what district he came from, or even what Games he had won. 

"They better be." Nadine Groves, decked out in pink, trotted over in her obnoxious heels. She had a grin on her face, but it soon morphed into that of shock and disgust as she examined Dakota and Jeremy. "Cowboys! Why are they cowboys?" 

"Because they're from Ten?" Yara said as if the answer was obvious. 

"So?" Nadine screeched. "They don't need to be cowboys! Oh, they look hideous—" 

"Well, I'm going to go sit in the crowd." Juniper took a breath as she saw Finnick Odair waving her over near the stairs. 

Juniper Hale and Finnick Odair were close friends. They had a sick, twisted bond ever since the former turned eighteen. Ever since Snow visited, threatening to burn everything Juniper loved if she didn't do what he asked of her. Her and Finnick were good friends as the man knew exactly what she was going through. And he was about the only person, besides Orion Hale, who knew how to calm her. Who knew her inside out. Who actually cared for her. Juniper didn't know what it was about him, but she knew he was about the only person she could fully, completely trust within the Capitol. 

"Wait — Missy, stay here for a minute," Brent slurred as he took another swig of his flask. "I want you to meet this guy." 

He gestured to the man that had been standing beside him, who was currently eyeing the screeching Nadine as she verbally fought with Yara about the costumes. Juniper gathered he was a mentor, had to be, but she still had no idea who he was. It was only when Brent nudged him in the ribs that it caught his attention. 

"Oh — I'm Blight." He extended his hand, which was calloused and rather large, as he gave her a slight smile. "From Seven." 

Blight from Seven. Juniper tried to rack her brain for any Victor that came to mind as she squeezed his hand. The only Games that went to her mind was the Fifty-Seventh. Seventeen-years-ago. Juniper barely remembered what happened during those Games. The Capitol never showed clips from that year. 

"Right..." Juniper grumbled. "Well... nice to meet you." 

The Hale girl was about to set off towards Finnick when suddenly, Brent grabbed ahold of her bicep and pushed her backwards with a drunken smile. Juniper groaned as she stared up at the older Victor as well as Blight, who pursed his lips uncomfortably. 

"Woah, slow your horses, Missy." Brent chuckled. "Are the kiddos good to go?" 

"Ask them yourself." Juniper scowled as she removed herself from Brent's grasp. 

"See, Blight," said Brent. "I told you she's snappy." 

Blight didn't say anything except smile awkwardly at Brent before sending an apologetic look to Juniper. But she did not return it as she glanced at Dakota and Jeremy. They were currently getting scolded by Nadine as Yara threw her hands up and it caused Juniper to sigh as she ran a palm down her face. 

She gathered that this year would not be a good year. She barely managed to survive during the Seventy-Third and did not have the energy to deal with the Hunger Games this year. Dakota and Jeremy were going to die. It was inevitable. And Nadine would wave it off, saying there would always be hope next time. Yara wouldn't say anything. Brent would drown himself in liquor. And then Lucy Stevens would offer her condolences from Ten. 

Lucy hadn't mentored tributes since the Seventy-Second. President Snow found it smart to have Juniper come to the Capitol for the Seventy-Third and Seventy-Fourth considering she would have to spend extra time there anyway. And Ten couldn't have three mentors. They always needed one female and one male and there was only Lucy, Juniper, and Brent as Victors'. Brent always had to come and Juniper was forced to because they couldn't just bring her in for the extra time required outside of the Hunger Games schedule. They had to have a reason to bring her to the Capitol. And so, Lucy Stevens hadn't come in two-years. Juniper envied her.

Suddenly, the opening music began to blare as the large stable doors slid open to reveal the thunderous screams from the crowd-lined street. The first chariot, District One, began to roll out and Juniper spared a look at Brent, then at Blight, then at Nadine and Yara, and then at Dakota and Jeremy before quickly hurrying over to Finnick Odair, who was waiting impatiently. 

"What took you so long?" Finnick asked once she reached over to him. District Two's chariot was starting to move and Wade Rankine was making his way to the stairs with a female Victor from his district. 

"Brent being Brent," Juniper replied as they began to climb the stairs. As they were walking up them with other mentors, the deep yet soothing voice of Blight echoed around. 

"Juniper!" Blight called out. The girl looked over her shoulder to see him rapidly climbing the stairs to reach her. "Juniper, wait!"

"What?" Juniper asked impatiently as she glanced over to Finnick, who stopped in his tracks. 

"I just want to apologise for Brent," Blight said as they continued walking up the stairs. The District Three chariot had just left. "He's a real pain when he's drunk." 

"Yeah, well, try living next to him." Juniper rolled her eyes as she noticed Finnick speeding up his pace. He wanted to get a seat before he missed his district's chariot. 

"I just felt like I had to apologise," Blight said once more. They had reached the top of the stairs and were heading down a hallway that had an archway at the end of it. The area was packed with Victor mentors. 

"Well, thanks." Juniper breathed. "But you really don't have to, Blight." 

"I know," he said. "But—"

"Felt like you had to. Yeah, I got it," Juniper interrupted him. 

Juniper, Finnick, and Blight managed to squeeze through the archway and were making their way down the row of seats. The evening sky made it difficult to find spare chairs that had a good view and so, most Victors' nearly tumbled on Capitol citizens' feet and accessories they had placed on the floor. Swearing and grumbling echoed around until finally, Juniper and Finnick found two empty chairs. 

"Come on, June," the man from Four ushered. "My two are coming out." 

He hurriedly sat down and craned his neck to see District Four's chariot as Juniper turned around and said to Blight, "It was good meeting you. Really." 

"Yeah." Blight nodded. "You, too." 

Blight went off down the row to sit with Johanna Mason, who was eyeing Juniper Hale with such rage that even the younger girl had to clench her jaw. But Finnick pulled her down into a seat and her attention went immediately on the chariots. She watched how District Six's carriage was pulling out of the stable, the tributes' faces lighting up on the large screens that littered the city. But when Finnick began to cling to the side of his seat as he stared at his own tributes, a small twelve-year-old boy that jumped at everything and a strong, mighty sixteen-year-old girl who was already being considered a Career, Juniper delicately placed her own hand over his. He clung to her instead of his chair. 

District Eight went out and even the Hale girl gripped onto Finnick. With the screams and cries of joy coming from the audience, Juniper could barely hear anything going on so it brought some relief to cling onto something, even if she possibly broke the man's hand. But neither of them hissed in pain and continued to study the chariots in silence. 

Nine passed and Ten's chariot was just beginning to trot out of the stables, Dakota's and Jeremy's faces lighting up the big screen. Eyes were all on them as they waved meekly at the crowd. Everyone had massive expectations for the two ever since Juniper won and that boy, whose name the Hale girl couldn't remember, came second. But as Dakota and Jeremy smiled rather uncomfortably, Juniper couldn't help but groan at how apathetic they were being. The Hale girl felt the sponsors slipping from their grasps.

Eleven came out and both Juniper and Finnick had lost hope as they glanced at each other, slowly letting go. Maybe Finnick's girl had a chance. Marina, Juniper thought her name was. She was already making her way into the Career pack and could win if she really tried. But not his boy. No, Juniper was certain the twelve-year-old would die at the bloodbath. He was too jumpy, too skittish to make it past the first hour. 

Juniper was about to ask Finnick if they could leave to go back to the stables, but suddenly, a huge wave of ear-ringing screams and gasps left the crowd. The two Victors' looked at each other confused until suddenly, someone stood up and yelled, "District Twelve!" 

The Hale girl whipped her head around to look at the entrance of the stables, finding two glowing balls. But they weren't glowing balls. They were on fire. Two tributes were on fire. Juniper felt her heart leap at the sudden suicidal act, but then she took a look at the large screens to see the two tributes from Twelve smile and wave whilst holding hands. 

"Is that their costumes?" Finnick chuckled with admiration as he leaned further to see the duo. 

"Katniss! Peeta! Katniss! Peeta!" The crowd shouted as they began to shower the tributes with flowers, watching as the girl blew them a few kisses. 

"That's... amazing..." Juniper said, loss for words. 

Now that she got a better look at them, all cameras trained on the District Twelve chariot, she saw that the two were wearing simple, black unitards that covered them from ankle to neck with shiny, leather boots laced up to their knees. And then their capes, which were made of streams of orange, yellow, and red with a matching headpiece, were lit on fire. All Juniper could do was laugh and shake her head as she looked through the audience to find Haymitch Abernathy. 

All the chariots entered the City Circle, filling the loop as the music ended with a flourish. They halted right up to President Snow's mansion with every window and balcony surrounding the area being filled with the most prestigious citizens of the Capitol. Everyone in the crowd fell silent, but their eyes still remained on the flickery fire that consumed the two from Twelve.

But Juniper's gut recoiled with rage and disgust as she watched Snow, a small, thin man with paper-white hair, come out onto his balcony. She practically snarled as both her and Finnick readjusted in her seats. Even from where they sat, they could still feel his venomous stare. Eyes suited for a snake. 

"Welcome! Welcome," President Snow greeted, his voice echoing around. "Tributes, we welcome you. We salute your courage and your sacrifice. And we wish you... happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour."

The national anthem played and the cameras made an effort to do a quick show of every pair of tributes, but they lingered on District Twelve's chariot far much longer than they should have. And once President Snow disappeared and the exiting music played, most Capitol citizens got up from their seats and started to leave. 

"Well... that was surely something," Finnick murmured as he ran a sweaty hand through his hair. 

"Haymitch has got to be happy with that," Juniper commented as the pair started to get up. They had to head to the Training Centre to greet their tributes. "He'll get all the attention now." 

"Ah, he deserves it," said Finnick. "There hasn't been a Victor from Twelve in — what — twenty-four-years?" 

"Something like that," Juniper grumbled. 

The two followed the crowd of Victor mentors as they all began to walk back down the row of seats, through the archway, down the corridor, and down the stairs until they reached back to the stables. It still smelt like manure and alcohol and so, most held their breaths until they most necessarily had to breathe. 

"Ah, they did good," a drunk Brent Higgins came up between Finnick and Juniper as they went down the stairs. "Probably going to die on the first day, but they did good." 

"Go drink some more, Brent." Juniper shoved him away and the man would have fallen down the stairs if it weren't for the big cluster of mentors. "I'm going to punch that prick someday."

"I would give my soul just to see that," Finnick said. 

The two friends went their separate ways after saying goodbye, heading to their respective chariots. Nadine and Yara were already at the carriage, arguing already and it left the task of helping the boy with the crippled foot out of the carriage to Juniper.

"You did good, you two," she said once Dakota and Jeremy were both safe on the ground. They both looked sheepish and the girl readjusted her golden hat. "Now, come on. Dinner."

"Ah — wait one moment, Juniper!" Nadine screeched as she sent daggers towards Yara. "Aren't you going to scold them?" 

"For what?" Juniper scoffed. She supposed she could have told them off for not being enthusiastic, but that would get her nowhere. They still had the interviews to get sponsors. Maybe. Probably not. 

"There was no enthusiasm—!" 

"Oh, let it go." Yara launched her head backwards as she groaned. "You're so uptight."

"And you — pardon my language — stink at your job!" 

Juniper clenched her jaw as she spoke, "All right, let's go... please."

Dakota and Jeremy nodded earnestly and both began to slowly make their way to the elevators with Juniper walking behind them. Nadine and Yara continued to argue by the chariot and Brent was sharing a flask with Chaff whilst Blight stood there awkwardly. But Juniper also scanned the area for the two tributes from Twelve and eyed them when she saw their two stylists, Cinna and Portia, stand around them. The two were new this year and yet, they had already made a big bang at the opening ceremony. 

Juniper sighed and entered an elevator with her two tributes whilst assuring them to not listen to Yara or Nadine, that they were too filled with plastic surgery to have an opinion. The kids stifled laughs as the doors closed and they began to head up to the tenth floor, Juniper smiling slightly. 

Dakota died in the bloodbath and Jeremy on the eighth day.