THE NEXT FEW DISTRICTS WERE A BLUR; Haven read the empty words Pandora fed her, and gave condolences to the families that in no way made up for their losses.

Haven stood on the stage in District 8, the cards shaking as her hand trembled, and she mustered all of her will not to break down on the spot. She didn't just feel sorrow, but also utterly crippling guilt as she stared out at the single family standing on the platform across from her. Not only had they lost two of their children to the Games, but one of them was at the hands of the Victor.

"Good afternoon citizens of District 8. I'm Haven Cleary, Victor of the 67th Annual Hunger Games." The blonde spoke into the microphone, her voice shaky.

Haven paused before returning to the cards. "The tributes of this District were brave and noble warriors, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten. I would like to offer my condolences to the family of the fallen tributes-"

"You're not sorry bitch!" Her words were cut off by a yell from the crowd. Within seconds, the audience erupted into chaos once again, screaming profanities and hateful remarks at the girl.

"Murderer!"

"You should be dead!"

"Fuck you, you're the reason they died!"

Peacekeepers stormed through the crowd, and Haven felt a pair of arms pulling her back into the building. The insults stung, but what hurt her most was the look of sheer pain that she saw in the family's eyes right before the doors shut behind her.

Haven felt so incredibly numb that she couldn't even cry, she just stood there motionless. The crowd could still be heard outside, their screams piercing through the walls of the building. Collin slung his arm around her shoulders, guiding her to walk with him. "I'm sorry. Don't listen to them, they're just angry and you're the easiest person for them to take it out on. Let's go princess."

The train backed out of the station as soon as they boarded, the textile factories and smog of 8 rapidly disappearing. Haven left the rest of the group without saying anything, retreating to her room.

She crawled into the bed, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. Her mind was spinning, the spiteful comments tormenting her. The brave face she had put up on the stage came crumbling down once she was alone, the words sinking in.

Tears streamed down the Cleary girl's face as the insults replayed in her mind, and she couldn't shake the image of how broken the family looked. The guilt crippled her beyond belief, and the blonde didn't even realize that she was screaming until the door flung open, Finnick standing in the frame.

"Haven! Are you okay?" He said, his voice piqued with worry. The blonde shook her head, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

Finnick walked over and sat next to her, wrapping one arm around her, grasping her hands with his free one.

"What's wrong?" He asked. "M-maybe they were right. I shouldn't have won, I- I don't deserve it. I'm just some cold blooded murderous bitch." She choked out, burying her head in her hands.

"Hey- hey that is not true. Look at me." Haven lifted her head up, her blue eyes meeting his sea green ones. "You are about the farthest thing from a cold blooded murderer Hav. The sorrow you feel, it shows your compassion, that you're a good person. You were put in the worst situation imaginable, and you did what you had to in order to survive. Don't beat yourself up for that."

"This fucking sucks. What did any of us do to deserve this." She muttered, tears beginning to spill out of her eyes again. "Nothing, that's the worst part." He responded.

Finnick pulled his sleeve over his wrist, using it to dry the tears on the girl's face. She giggled. "Thanks Fin."

"Huh, no one's ever called me that. It's either Finnick or 'Golden Boy'. I like it." He smirked. "Good, cause it's what I'm calling you from now on." She grinned.

"C'mon, let's go out and sit with everyone." He said standing up, reaching his hand out to the blonde. She grasped his hand, standing up alongside him.

"Oh, and by the way, if anyone else says you're a bitch, they're going to have to fight me." He whispered in her ear, to which she shook her head playfully, rolling her eyes.

➸

"It's like the torture is never ending." Haven mumbled as she stepped off the train platform in District 5. "You're over halfway done. It'll be over soon." Sebastian said as he walked alongside her. "I know today is going to probably be the hardest yet, but I promise you'll be alright." He continued, patting her on the shoulder.

Right before she was about to walk on stage, Haven froze. "I can't do this. I- I can't." She stammered, turning around. Mallory put her hands on the blonde's shoulders, staring straight at her.

"I know this sucks. I know you're probably feeling all kinds of guilt and pain and sadness. But you need to do this, and you'll get through it I promise. Even if it's by the skin of your teeth, you will make it Haven." The Cleary girl nodded, knowing that she didn't have a choice.

Moments later the doors swung open, Haven stepping out in front of the microphone. On her left stood Reeve's family: his parents and his younger brother, who looked around 10 or 11. To her right was Roxy's family: her parents and two younger siblings, a boy who looked around 14 and a girl who looked about 9.

Unlike some of the other families, their faces weren't painted with expressions of hatred at the sight of the blonde victor. Haven took a deep breath. She didn't have any cards with her, no artificial words would suffice today.

"Hello. I'm Haven Cleary, Victor of the 67th Hunger Games. But today I'm here not as a Victor, but as a friend of Roxy and Reeve. District 5 arguably had the bravest tributes of all this year. Both Roxy and Reeve were strong, tenacious fighters. But they weren't just good in combat. They were two of the most genuine people I've ever met."

She turned towards Reeve's family. "I didn't spend as much time with Reeve, but from the time I did, I know that he was so incredibly kind and compassionate. Even in his last moments, his selfless nature rang true. I'll never forget how he helped me, and I wish I could repay him." His mother wiped away a tear, and his father pulled his wife and son into a hug.

"I spent almost the entire time in the arena with Roxy. She's the closest thing I've ever had to a best friend. Roxy brought light and laughter to the hardest situation I've ever been in. I have a sister already, but Roxy felt like a second one to me, and I'm so sorry she didn't come home. She was such a bright person, and she deserved so much better than this."

The last sentence cracked her front she'd put up, and tears welled in her eyes. "I wouldn't be standing here today without Roxy and Reeve; I owe my life to them. From the deepest point in my heart, I am so sorry." The last words were strained, as she stepped back inside.

"I know. Come here." Mallory hugged her. "See, you did it. The hardest part is over now."

// author's note
me: i love haven! she deserves the 🌎
also me: here sweetie have some ✨pain✨
ALSO thank you SO much for getting this story to #2 in the #district4 tag that's literally insane 🤯
anyways sorry in advance for probably making y'all SAD with this. will never be over roxy and reeve's deaths. deserved better😔
please leave some comments or vote if you feel like it, it literally makes me so excited:)
thank u for reading!
- a <3

me writing this:

haven:

@ all of us: