"Zinnia Moonlight," I said into the microphone.
My voice didn't tremble. It carried across the Square like a bell, clear and resonant. I felt the collective gasp of the crowd—the "ghost girl" of the woods had not only returned, but she had just offered herself up to the Capitol. Effie beamed, clapped her hands, and ushered us toward the Justice Building while the cameras swirled around us like hungry insects.
Once inside, David and I were separated into plush, velvet-lined rooms. I sat on the edge of a mahogany chair, my hands folded over my blue pheasant skirts, waiting for the silence. But the silence didn't last long.
The door clicked open, and the Ludington trio stumbled in. Mrs. Ludington was a wreck, her face blotchy and her eyes swimming in tears. She threw herself toward me, catching my hands in hers.
"Thank you, thank you," she sobbed over and over, her voice thick with a mother's desperation. "You saved her. You saved my Bridget."
Mr. Ludington stood behind her, looking more composed but with a haunted shadow in his eyes. He stepped forward and pressed a small, heavy cloth bag into my palm.
"This is for saving my daughter's life," he said, his voice straining to stay steady. "Dried nuts—it's the best from our shop's stock. I'm sorry this is all we can give you. It isn't enough... not for this."
I felt the weight of the bag—a small fortune in District 12—and looked up at them with a calm smile. "Thank you for the nuts, Mr. Ludington. And please, don't cry, Mrs. Ludington."
"But, but—" she started, her lip trembling.
"No buts, Mrs. Ludington," I said softly but firmly. I reached into the hidden folds of my dress, pulling out three small, shimmering silver chain bracelets—the same ones I had given the Peacekeepers. I took Mrs. Ludington's hand and snapped the first one around her wrist.
"These are for you," I whispered, my voice carrying a soft, magical command. "One for each of you. Wear them always. Never take them off, no matter what happens in the Square or the mines. They will keep the shadows away."
The parents looked at the silver with awe, feeling the strange, grounding hum of the charms. Bridget held hers like a precious gem before sliding it over her hand.
"A... alright then. Thank you," Mrs. Ludington whispered, her gratitude so raw it made my chest ache.
Bridget stepped out from behind her father. She looked so small, her soft merchant hands still shaking. "Thank you, Zinnia," she said softly. "For saving my life."
"Not a problem, Bridget," I replied, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. "I'm happy to help."
As the Peacekeeper signaled that their time was up, Bridget lunged forward and threw her arms around me in a tight hug. "Stay safe and good luck," she whispered into my shoulder. "We wish you a successful time in the arena."
I watched them go, the heavy oak doors muffling Mrs. Ludington's final sobs. When the room was finally empty and the silence returned, I turned to the Peacekeeper stationed at the door. I recognized the silver glint of a bracelet peeking out from his sleeve—one of mine.
"Good day, sir," I said politely. "I was just wondering if I may be able to go to the train early? I very much know that no one else will be coming to visit me for farewells."
The Peacekeeper looked at me, his expression softening with a respect that surpassed his orders. He tapped the silver links on his wrist and nodded.
"Alright then," he said quietly. "Let's get you to the station."
I stood up, smoothed my dress, and followed him out. I didn't need to look back. My home was inside me now, and the future was waiting on the tracks.