Chapter Twenty Two: Against all Odds 

Images flashed before Lucy's eyes. 

Her when she was back in District 1 as a young child. 

Her listening to her father deliver his speech in the reaping in her mothers arms. 

Being chosen for The Hunger Games. 

Grabbing the bow and arrows in the Cornucopia. 

Her attacking the two District 9 tributes and the District 4 girl. 

Being attacked by tracker jackers for the first time.

Rookie looking into her eyes just before she died. 

The tribute muttations trying to kill her. 

Cato trying to kill her. 

And Marvel confessing his love for her. 

Marvel. 

The boy she had thought was her best friend all these years had been hiding that secret all these years, in fear that Lucy would hate him for it. Or perhaps she would get bullied more because of it...but he had confessed it just before they both died, before the tracker jacker venom had taken over their bodies and made a sheet of black cover their vision. Then they were nothing. They were just soulless bodies that would never move again. 

But why did it matter now? Nothing mattered now. Nothing was going to change. Lucy was dying, she was watching her life disappear. As though someone had put a DVD in and pressed the re-wind button. Things she had almost forgotten from her life, she saw. 

Yet, it still didn't matter. 

As soon as the tape of her life ended, she would be officially non-existent. There'd only be her body left. It would serve as a reminder that she had been a citizen of Panem, a citizen of District 1 but had tragically died in The Hunger Games. No remorse from the Capitol given. 

Now she couldn't feel the pain of the tracker jacker stings and she felt weightless. Nothing could hurt her now. Perhaps that's what death did to you, made all the pain go away as you watched the film of your life in reverse...Lucy liked death. 

That was until the film of her life ended. 

The memories, the good and the bad, drifted away. Lucy tried to catch them, concentrating really hard. But it was like trying to catch smoke...they just drifted away from her mental grasp. She could never get them back now. 

Now it was just total blackness, as though she'd been watching her film in the cinema and nobody had bothered to turn the lights on so she could make her way out to...where though? She couldn't go anywhere, she was dead. She was being left to die. 

But why though? Why hadn't the Capitol people forced some drug into her system to make it less painful? But they surely weren't that nice, they would leave her to die in a darkened room. Leave her body there until they were ready to shove it in a crate and send it back to District 1 where she could be buried. 

A ceremony would be held for both her and Marvel, respects would be paid, tears would be shed, their bodies would be buried...unless requested, the dead tributes from The Hunger Games ceremonies' would be held together. But because of recent events, Lucy presumed her and Marvel's funerals would be held together. They'd probably even bury Lucy next to Marvel. 

She was suddenly aware of the throbbing pain in her head, it gradually got worse and it felt as if she was one of Thresh's victims. As though he'd killed her the exact same way as he'd killed Clove. She wanted to scream out in pain...but she couldn't, she was dead. 

But if she was dead, why could she feel the pain in her head? Wasn't death supposed to take all tha away? Wasn't death supposed to take all her woes away too? Let her die peacefully, make everything go away...

'Damn you, death.' Lucy thought grimly. 

But how could she still think? 

Lucy was starting to have second thoughts (if that was possible) was she really dead? Or was that all part of it? What was delaying her death? Who'd delayed it? Why wasn't she dying?

Suddenly she heard a low humming noise. 

Tracker Jackers. 

Now she really was frightened, the tracker jackers were after her again. She braced herself for the agonising stings as the sound got louder...she waited...and waited...but the pain never came. She waited for a while longer but still no pain came. 

Perhaps as she was dying she couldn't feel the tracker jacker stings but really her body was covered in them and she was suffering. But then she saw the bright light, she was being dragged towards it like she was in a tunnel. 

This really was death. 

She was certain this was death. 

Then, suddenly, her eyes snapped open as though it was a reflex action. 

The humming continued and Lucy painfully looked around for the tracker jackers as her eyes adjusted to her surroundings. Then she realised that the humming was coming to some sort of machine. 

When her eyes adjusted she realised she was in a big room that consisted of a few pieces of machinery and a hard metal table that she was laying on. A bright line shone down on her, almost reflecting off the arena clothes she was still wearing. It was as though she'd woken up in an operating theatre. 

Her head continued to throb and she noticed that her body was still covered in tracker jacker stings. It was as though she'd just been taken out of the arena and thrown on an uncomfortable metal table. It just showed how much the Capitol people bothered.

Lucy couldn't even sit up she was in so much pain, she just had to painfully lie on the metal table and wait until something happened...

Suddenly the door swung open and Lucy's eyes snapped shut, she thought it was best if she fooled the Capitol in that she was dead...because she had decided she was alive now. 

"What do we do with her?" A Peacekeeper grumbled. 

"Same as the other one," another Peacekeeper said. "Shove her in a crate and get her back to District 1. We don't need them in the Capitol when they're dead." 

"Agreed." 

The two Peackeeper's were about to take her out of the room when the first one stopped. He stared at her and then took hold of her wrist. 

"What, what is it?" The second Peacekeeper demanded. "What's wrong?" 

"She's alive." 

Something was jabbed into her wrist and then it all went black. 

*      *      * 

Lucy woke up again at some point, but there was no telling as to how long she had been asleep because she was now lying on the floor. There was no metal table and she wasn't dressed in her arena clothes, just a hospital gown and that was it. 

She stretched quickly before reaching her hand out and spreading her fingers on the hard cold floor. It felt like she'd been asleep for a year and all her limbs had gone numb. She groaned and sat up. 

All the throbbing pain was gone in her head. She then touched her face and neck and realised that all the tracker jacker stings had gone. In fact, that one scar she had had on her chest was gone too and she hadn't even acquired that from The Hunger Games. Her skin was perfect. There was no damage on her body at all, no bruises, no marks, no anything. 

She felt both her forearms and realised that the tracker had been taken out of her too. The Capitol could no track her whereabouts. They had no idea as to where she was now...well they had to have some idea as the two Peacekeeper's that were about to take her back to District 1 must have informed somebody as to what had happened. 

Against all odds she had survived. 

But what about Marvel? 

Had he survived? 

Or was he definitely dead and on a train back to District 1? Had he been buried already? Was there definitely no more of him? Had the tracker jackers definitely killed him off? 

She had to find out. 

She grabbed hold of the wall and tried desperately to haul herself up but fell almost immediately. Lucy tried again and again but wouldn't stop even though she kept falling over. The desire to get out of the room (which had a small white door) and to go and find Marvel was too strong to give up. 

When she finally got on two feet again, she decided that her legs were in use and they weren't going to fail her now. She had to get past that white door and find Marvel as to wherever he was. But she had to find him no matter what. 

She held onto the wall as she walked forward towards her destination. She wasn't going to fall, she was going to make it. Marvel would try to find her if he was in this state so she was going to find him. No matter what it took. 

She grabbed hold of the door handle as soon as she reached it and pushed down and opened it. To her surprise, the door opened with ease and she was able to escape her big white room that made her feel like she was a psycho...she wondered why they hadn't put her in a straight jacket to make it even more realistic. 

Lucy made her way down the corridor, holding onto the wall as she went, and studied the white corridor with white doors either side. She'd already lost track of where she'd come from. Anyone could easily get lost in this place unless you knew where to go...even then it could be confusing. 

She looked up and looked at all the doors and tried to decide as to where Marvel would be. But something pulled her towards the door at the end of the corridor. Marvel had to be there. If not, Lucy would tear the place apart looking for him, she had to know his heart was beating. 

She walked faster as her legs got used to the weight of her body, she was determined now. More determined than she had ever been before. And when she made it she forced down on the door handle and made it inside. 

And there Marvel was, wearing a hospital gown identical to hers and was lying on the floor motionless. The Peacekeeper's must have discovered he was alive too and had decided not to leave him on the train that would take him back to District 1, they had decided to let him suffer further. 

Lucy noticed that they were both considerably thinner, there was hardly anything of them. They hadn't been fed in ages but Lucy didn't care, she was alive...but she couldn't say the same for Marvel. 

She walked slowly over to him and bent down to him, she took one of his hands and intertwined it with hers. She shifted his head onto her lap and with her other hand stroked his pale face. 

"Marvel," she whispered, her voice was agonising. Her throat felt like it had been cut a dozen times. "Marvel!" She cried. 

No response. 

She began to get frantic and laid her head on his chest, listening for a precious heartbeat that meant he was alive and had survived the tracker jacker stings just like her. 

She couldn't hear anything and in that moment all hope was lost, she let go of his hand and placed her head in her hands and cried. The one person she so desperately wanted to be with her right now was gone, the person who'd confessed his love to her would never come back. 

He would never tell her he loved her again. 

Lucy would probably be left to die in the Capitol, but if they were really mean they'd send her back to District 1 and let her suffer. Let her suffer the loss of her best friend. 

Then she felt an arm around her and was certain it was the Peacekeeper's. They had come to take her away and let her begin a miserable life that would feel like it lasted forever. 

"What are you crying for?" An unrecognisable voice asked. 

"It doesn't matter," she replied, her voice hoarse. 

"You're out of the games now, there's nothing to be sad about." 

"Yes there is! Marvel's gone!" 

"I'm gone? Oh...I didn't think I was dead. Well, I was pretty certain I was but now I guess I'm not." 

Lucy removed her hands from her face and saw it was not a Peacekeeper talking to her, but it was Marvel. She gasped and then he enclosed her in a meaningful hug. Now, she could hear the faint thud of his heart. She was more than happy that he was alive with her. She could of held onto him all day and not regret anything because she knew he was there. 

He gently stroked her hair as they stayed in an embrace and she leaned into him happily. She couldn't believe that they had both made it but definitely wasn't complaining. He pressed his forehead against hers. 

"I love you," he whispered. 

"I love you too," she whispered back and then Marvel leaned in and kissed her on the lips, making sure this kiss lasted, making sure it was meaningful, that Lucy learned what feelings he had kept under wraps for many years. 

"We have to get out of here," Marvel confirmed when he let go. 

"But where?" Lucy asked as he took her hands in his. "Where do we go? The games are over and everyone thinks we're dead." 

"Well then, we have to let them know we're alive." 

"What! Are you crazy?! We just need to get home and not bother with this nonsense any longer. Lets go home, lets just forget about The Hunger Games and move on. We can be together and nothing will hurt us again." 

"But we have to let them know. They need their victors, right?" 

"But they have their victors. Katniss and Peeta won. They are the victors of the 74th Hunger Games and not us." 

"Perhaps there can be more victors too...right?" 

"But technically we didn't win, technically we got out of the arena 'dead.' We can't just run around the Capitol and announce we're alive!" 

"No, but we can get on Caesar's show." 

"That could have happened ages ago, who knows how long we've both been out."

"We'll have to find out then, won't we? District 1 is probably going to be confused as to why our bodies haven't come back yet...they need answers. You don't want to leave your parents worrying do you?" 

"Hmph..." she muttered and Marvel stood up. 

"We're getting on Caesar's show, we're going to let everyone know that we're still here." 

He helped her up and they both walked towards the door, Marvel opened it and then saw two Peacekeeper's standing there. One was holding a gun and the other was holding some sort of drug that would most probably knock them out. 

"We can either go about this the easy way or the hard way," the Peacekeeper with the gun said. "Miss Dime, you either go back to your room and leave Mr. Sanford alone or you stay with Mr. Sanford and you'll both be knocked out and separated from each other so you'll never see each other again." 

"I think I'll go with option two," Lucy smiled and then Marvel punched the Peacekeeper with the gun in the face and knocked the drug out of the other Peacekeeper's hand. 

They both ran down the corridor and turned right, although they had no idea where they were going. They were in a maze that looked exactly the same. 

"Where do we go now?" Lucy asked as they kept turning sharp corners. 

"We find the way out!" 

They searched for half an hour for an exit from the white maze and at last they found it, guarded by Peacekeeper's with guns. Marvel was about to run around the corner when Lucy grabbed hold of him and pulled him back. 

"We can't go out that way," Lucy hissed. 

"Then how do we get out?" Marvel asked. Lucy pointed upwards towards a lose tile on the celing and Marvel nodded. He hoisted Lucy up and she slowly shifted the tile and then got herself up before helping Marvel up too. 

They climbed through the vents as quickly as they could, they had no idea where it would take them but hopefully they would make it out of wherever they had been taken hostage. Once Lucy was sure they were in a safe place she grabbed hold of the tile and loosened it then shifted it and jumped down, Marvel followed. 

"I recognise this place..." Marvel said as he stood up. 

"I should hope so, it's District 1's floor in the training centre and if I'm right there should still be a few back-up dresses in our wardrobe for Caesar's interviews. Our stylists make spares just in case something goes wrong with the first one, so go into your room and find something to wear." Lucy said as she ran down the hallway to her room. 

"Oh I thought we were going to go on stage in these hospital gowns!" Marvel called from outside her door as she tore the dreaded thing off. 

She opened her wardrobe and found, like she said, a few back-up outfits and chose one that had sequins embroidered on the skirt and was in fact pink. Marcel must have been inspired by District 1's Luxury for this. 

As soon as she was done, she slipped on a pair of black ballet flats and opened her door to find Marvel dressed in a suit which was black with small diamonds embroidered on the collar and trim. 

"Not something I'd usually wear but it's something my stylist made," Marvel laughed. 

"Honestly, Marvel, you look so dashing in that suit!" Lucy teased. "And just like last time, we match...sort of." Lucy pointed to her shoes and then at his suit.

"Right, lets go see if Caesar's show is up and running." 

*      *      * 

" — I just couldn't live without him...the thought of not being with him was un-thinkable..." Katniss blushed on stage, during her interview with Caesar. Peeta sat next to her and smiled as she blushed. 

"Aww..." Caesar smiled. 

"I'd rather commit suicide rather than be without her," Peeta chimed in. "Being without her would just be terrible." 

"Ladies and Gentlemen the star crossed lovers from — " Caesar began but was interrupted by two people walking on stage. 

"District 1!" Marvel growled. The crowd gasped as Marvel sneered at Peeta, Lucy standing by Marvel's side had the same disapproving look. "We are the star crossed lovers, Caesar." 

"I-I..." Caesar looked just as shocked as everyone else, he looked backstage for any sort of help but no one came to his aid. "Ladies and Gentlemen, it appears we have four victors this year." 

"Four!" Someone yelled out from the crowd and the Capitol crowd began screaming for some sort of explanation. 

"I don't think you should blame us for being alive," Marvel said. "It's not our fault the tracker jackers didn't finish us off!" 

"It isn't their fault, even if they did try to kill us I say it wasn't their fault." Peeta said and Lucy and Marvel turned around to face him. "It's not their fault they're alive...it's the Gamemaker's. They set the tracker jackers on them but the tracker jackers didn't kill them." 

"Well, congratulations to Lucy Dime, Marvel Sanford, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Our four victors of the 74th annual Hunger Games." Caesar said and put on a brave face for the cameras, he took Lucy and Katniss' hands, Peeta held Katniss' hand and Marvel held Lucy's hand. Caesar held both Lucy and Katniss' hands up and the crowd cheered, although they were also confused. 

Caesar let go of their hands and then Lucy and Marvel stared at Katniss and Peeta and they stared back. They were about to shut off the cameras when Marvel held out his hand to Peeta and he shook it gingerly, Lucy did the same to Katniss and both girls actually smiled. 

"I'm sorry," Lucy said. "I'm sorry I went after you in the arena." 

"It's OK, it's The Hunger Games. That's what you're supposed to do...at least Cato's dead." Katniss smiled and both girls laughed. "Have a safe journey home." 

"You too, and I'll see you when we all get crowned Victors." 

The cameras shut off and the whole of Panem was left in a state of shock.