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βfemale.18. tags: noneJuniper sank to her knees when Hailey's cannon boomed. Tears streamed down her face... she had just killed someone. A voice crackled onto the sound system ahead. "Congratulations to Juniper Ashe of district seven. The 99th victor of the annual Hunger Games." Said head gamemaker Aelia Gold. Her words barely registered in Juniper's mind before she heard the buzzing of a Capitol craft. Someone ushered her on board and offered her a water bottle. The ice water was cool and refreshing against her lips. It was then Juniper really seemed to gather what was going on. She had just won the hunger games... she was the last one left...
It didn't take long for the Capitol craft to descend upon the tribute center, back in the Capitol. Crowds of people cheered as she stepped out, although Juniper was quickly lead inside. It was then she could get a shower. She was finally clean for the first time in days, although it felt like so much longer. Juniper's stylist met her and showed her a sleek, dark green dress. It rolled down to her ankles and criss-crossed around her back. It was purely stunning. Juniper's stylish finished the outfit with lots of shiny golden accessories, as well as golden eye makeup. Finally, her hair was pulled up into a neatly braided bun. Juniper thought that it was all way too extravagant, but she was still living in a daze. The Capitol had managed to scrub away the bloodstains on the victor's hands, and masked all of the wounds from the arena so that on the outside one could never tell that she had just survived the hunger games. The only wounds they couldn't mask were the ones on her heart.
Juniper was escorted to the interview studio. She had been here once before, for her pre-game interviews. She had been so nervous... now she barely felt at all as she stepped onto the stage. Panem's anthem played as she crossed towards two sitting chairs, one already filled with the eccentric interviewer Tayvie Lavender. Hundreds of Capitol citizens stood and cheered in her presence, but Juniper could barely hear them as she sat in one of the pale blue chairs. The interview barely went through Juniper's head. She remained calm, with a smile on her face, as she answered questions the best that she could. However, Tayvie soon began playing highlights from the games.
"Benji..." Juniper breathed, seeing his handsome face appear before her, alive and well, unknowing of what was coming for him... She watched Melanie's smiling face... She watched as Cassia and Daniel chased them... she watched the cold calculated murderess take poor Melanie's life, which prompted Juniper to start to cry. However, the tears stopped when they caused an audible: "awwww" from the audience. She wouldn't cry anymore. Juniper got to see Cassia's death though, struck down by her own weapon with her own dirty tricks, although the laughter that rang out in her dying breaths haunted Juniper's ears.
Juniper's broken heart seemed to shatter when the screen showed her and Benji's first kiss. But Juniper wouldn't let herself cry, so instead she just smiled. "Benji Jameson... He was... he was my best friend. My ally. My true love. I will never forget him, and I hope Panem never does either." The words felt so heavy in her mouth, it was a struggle to talk after seeing that, but no way would she let Panem see her weak after her win. "I think that's enough... I know how it ends." Juniper said jokingly, but she wouldn't be able to keep her composure watching the rest. Surprisingly, Tayvie Lavender didn't press it, maybe the interview was running out of time.
"Congratulations Juniper Ashe!" Tayvie exclaimed. "Panem's Princess!" The title hit Juniper hard. Most victors got one at the end of their games, but she hadn't expected it to be Benji's sweet nickname for her. It stuck with her as she was escorted from the interview to the throne room- quite literally. She staid strong with a steady composure as she was crowned with the modest golden crown, surprisingly simple compared to the extravagance of the games themselves. However, Juniper knew from this moment she could no longer be sad for herself, she'd have to remain strong.
Every princess wears a crown. Juniper Ashe thought as she was crowned the 99th victor of the Hunger Games.
