prologue
the 75th hunger games!

          "Dad, I can't do this again," Victoria sobbed as she buried her head in the palm of her hands. "I–I'm not made for these games."

"Bird, you won the last one," he reminded her, his hand on her back as he rubbed it gently. He always had been gentle with Victoria. "If you end up with that Odair kid, you will be fine, won't you? He's the youngest winner."

"I don't want to be with him or whoever will be there," she muttered. "I'm tired of having sleepless nights, full of nightmares of the people I've killed. They're haunting me, dad. And–and I can't leave you there by yourself!"

Her father, Otto, chuckled as he locked a piece of hair behind her ear, "Bird, everything will be alright. I took care of you for many years, I think I can handle myself perfectly," he told her as she sighed. "If you get reaped then you survive, alright? You do whatever it takes to win and come back home. Once you are home, we will go fishing like we always did."

"Okay, okay," she repeated, letting out a long and shaky breath. "I love you."

"I love you too, Vicky," he responded, kissing the side of her head and offering her a smile. "Now, go to bed. It's getting late."

Victoria nodded her head, giving him a tight hug before reaching the main bedroom of the mansion. But, she couldn't close her eyes and when she tried to, there was something bothering that brought her back to reality. Quietly, Victoria grabbed the cardigan on the armchair near her bed and headed outside. The victor's village was near the sea which led Victoria to spend many nights outside by the water, her safe place. When she reached the beach, she was surprised to see Finnick, her mentor, sitting there.

"What are you doing here?" Victoria asked, sitting down as he glanced at her.

He shrugged, "I couldn't sleep."

There was a pause before she replied, "Me either."

Victoria and Finnick weren't each other's biggest fans–not at all, really. Victoria always thought he was full of himself ever since winning the game and when he became her mentor, he kept acting as if he was better than anyone else. All he did was shoving orders down her throat which she hated. Victoria never liked listening to people–even her own parents.

"Are you afraid to hear your name tomorrow?" He queried, still watching the sea. Victoria didn't answer as it was obvious that none of the victors wished to hear their names. The odds weren't in Finnick's favour considering he was the only male victor, leading to him being the only option. "I'm afraid I will hear Mags' name being called."

"Me too."

Mags had been Finnick and somehow Victoria's mentor as well. When Finnick became her mentor, he was never sure of what to do or what to say–Mags helped. Mags soon became a mother figure for Victoria and it would rip her heart out if she was being reaped tomorrow.

"If she gets reaped, I will volunteer," Victoria mumbled, not waiting for his answer as she rose to her feet and headed back to her house. Finally, she was able to close her eyes and sleep until the next morning.

Later that day, she stood on the stage, the sun hitting her face as the victors wore no smile for the cameras. Victoria was jealous of people watching them–the lucky ones that did not get to be there, to be in that arena. Perhaps that was selfish but she wanted those people to know what it was like. Violet Canville's voice echoed through the District's marketplace, her smile bright as ever and Victoria noticed she wore less makeup than before.

Annie and Mags stood next to each other, holding hands as Victoria stared ahead of her, trying to find her father in the crowd. Finally, when her eyes settled on him, she smiled in relief. He was there. The rest of the speech had been a blur until Mags was being reaped.

I volunteer, she thought so loud and hoped the words would reach her mouth but nothing came out as she opened it. Mags was being called out, her poor shaky legs struggling to reach Finnick Odair in the middle of the stage. Victoria needed to gain control of herself and to shout loudly, just as Katniss Everdeen did last year.

"I volunteer!" her voice echoed as gasps were heard. Victoria offered a sad smile to her father as his eyes became water, and she preferred looking away.

Violet smiled widely, "Ah, I see we have a volunteer. Come closer, Victoria," she said, her voice soft and Victoria could not help but smile at the woman. Violet was one of her true friends. "The tribute of District Four. Finnick Odair and Victoria Rosebrook!"

Claps were heard throughout the crowd though Victoria could not hear a thing, just the unbearable buzz in her ears. Violet's voice faded in the background and she watched the people from her District. There were children that she helped fishing, parents with whom she traded food so they could survive and friends. Oh, and her father too.

"Victoria," her name echoed in her ear but she couldn't move, she was stuck. A hand wrapped around her forearm, bringing her in the building and finally she could breathe again. "Are you listening?"

No, she wanted to utter but once again, nothing came out. Victoria fell to the ground, her knees hitting the tiles harshly and the palm of her hands pressed against the cold floor. Her breath was rapid and made it almost impossible to fill her lungs with air. The tears were streaming down her cheeks and onto her neck, making her shiver.

Victoria was no stranger to panic attacks—that was what the doctor had told her when she came back to District Four.

"Miss Rosebrook, you suffer from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and might experience panic attacks if something traumatic comes up."

In all honesty, she had laughed. How could a mere game invented by the Capitol could harm someone that much? That was not until she had her first night of sleep that she experienced her first panic attack due to the vivid nightmare. She was taken back to the game, she kept seeing those faces of people—innocent people—that she had murdered. Thankfully, her father had appeared as a charming knight in the pitch dark.

"Victoria?" That same voice pulled her out as she finally started to breathe back correctly.

"What just happened?" Violet queried.

Finnick sighed, familiar with it, "These are called panic attacks. I have them too."

Well, Victoria was glad to know that the person she and the person she despised had a shared weakness.

"I'm sorry," she muttered weakly, the tears still escaping her eyes. "I—I don't know what just happened."

"It's fine," Finnick said.

Victoria rolled her eyes, "I was apologising to Violet."

"Oh, there we are with that attitude of yours!" He exclaimed as annoyed as she was. "Will you ever stop being the way that you are?"

"Oh, now, let's not fight," Violet told the pair, clapping her hands together to catch their attention. "I fear there is no time for close people this year," she then added sadly, noticing the peacekeepers behind the trio.

"Wha—Why? I need to say goodbye," Victoria exclaimed, rising to her feet and heading towards the double doors so she could spot her father through the crowd, but two men grabbed her and pulled her back. "Let go of me! I need to say goodbye," she cried, eyes fixated on the double doors.

Just like that, Victoria Rosebrook was sent to the Capitol.

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author's note! oh em gee, the prologue is just too good in my opinion???? im actually so in love with them already because i know whats coming hehehe!!!!

anyways, i hope you liked it!!!!