The Crash of the Tide // [Rhodes]

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

NAVYA SACHDEVA

Navya stepped off the train onto the sand of District Four, and held her breath. Though Harbinger avoided the televisions in their compartment, Navya couldn’t but stand, enraptured. There, already, Kirito walked through the ruins of the district. There, already Kirito reached out to the soaked citizens and offered them warmth and comfort. Is that really you? she mouthed. She had good reason to wonder; the last conversation she’d had with the victor was more Kiri than Kirito. She could still hear the dead dialtone ringing in her ears.

Even so, she scanned the horizon for Kirito, refusing to be caught in awe of the terrible ocean. A Peacekeeper greeted Harbinger by name and then demanded her papers.

She had been dreading this moment.

He leafed through a copy of her birth certificate, a declaration of every Reaping she’d entered, a notice of her status in good standing at the local school. He turned the pages over once and then lifted his shiny mask to her. “And your reason for being here?”

“To help the survivors, of course,” she said, and it was the wrong answer. She knew instinctively that he was about to lay a hand on her; Harbinger would never allow that. Navya swallowed the lump in her throat and produced the last paper.

It was both her salvation, and in that moment, her undoing.

The Peacekeeper threw the other papers at her and turned to the crowd of white uniforms. The Keepers detained them until a camera crew showed up. Before she really understood what was happening – even though Harbinger had warned her – a woman with silver facial tattoos had one hand in Navya’s hair and another pressing powder to her chin. The stylist arranged Navya at Harbinger’s side.

“No rings?”

Navya flattened her gaze. “We’d wanted to keep it a secret.”

The woman laughed as the flashing cameras clicked away.

“How long have you been married? A secret wedding – can you imagine anything more romantic? What did you wear? Do you have just one little photo for us? We want to hear all about it! And you must tell us about your plans here for your honeymoon.”

“Honeymoon?!” Navya echoed, absolutely horrified. Of course, the papers didn’t print the tone of her voice, the lift of a question. They only printed that Navya Sachdeva Rhodes confirmed her marriage to Victor Harbinger Rhodes with a wedding certificate, and that they would be staying seaside while in Four to enjoy their time as newlyweds.

It was only after, ensconced in the seaside cabin (which was really more sand-and-driftwood-side now), wrapped around Harbinger that she realized she hadn’t even seen Kirito, and Katelyn had gotten lost in the chaos of the moment. “We can’t stay here,” she declared, even as she nestled into his shoulder. “We need to find Kirito and Katelyn. And then we need to find a telephone and call our families. You were right. We should have told them before we left.”

The persistent sickness in her stomach turned to tears. “What will they think of us?” She sobbed quietly. Perhaps the Rhodes, Miristiomas and Persimmons would understand, but the Sachdevas never would. They would be horrified to discover the wedding had occurred with only the officiant and the two witnesses, and that Navya hadn’t even worn red or had her hands painted. They would never understand that there was no good way to bind themselves to each other; either they did so in secret, for themselves, or they did so publicly, with everyone they loved, and everyone they hated, too. Today’s cameras had only been one small moment in comparison to the circus the Capitol would have paraded them through.

It still felt right to her, to them, to have been married in a small and unmarked way. But now, she felt the full weight of that decision.

They lingered in the cabin until evening. When they emerged, Navya had changed to a simple brown shift, reminiscent of Eleven. She’d dug out her golden flower engagement ring and simple gold band. They shined as few things in Four did. She laced her fingers through Harbinger and reminded him of their mission: “Kirito. Katelyn. Phone."

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

Harbinger Rhodes Nineteen | Male | District Eleven

This train ride to district four was different. The first time I came here, it was to address the district with a victory speech. This time district four is need, and I’m glad that Navya is by my side. She’s my strength, my rock, the reason I wake up every morning. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have pressed so hard through the games. Yet this train ride isn’t anything like I imagined. While it’s safe from the press inside my compartment, the camera crews remain steadfast ready to interview me about my life since the games. It’s hard not being able to escape from the cameras. Although part of me has grown used to the cameras being around, the other part of me wants to remain in private. It felt like a good idea which is why I chose to marry Navya with nobody around. It was a secret. Something I didn’t want to share with all Panem.

But it all changed the moment the train arrived. When Navya steps off the train, the peacekeepers are there bombarding her with questions, and I stood behind her looking around. It’s a shame, really, that I can’t live a private life anymore, but I wouldn’t give it away. I love Navya with all my heart. It just seems like getting married in private may have been a mistake. I watch as Navya hands over a last piece of paper, and I can feel the emotions in the air shifting. And it made me angry as I watched the peacekeepers throw the papers at her, but I have to keep my calm because I can’t challenge those in charge.

I thought maybe we could just go on and walk through the district together, but the peacekeepers had other plans. They held us against my will, and it only reminds me that I’m just a caged animal in their world now. I’m a celebrity because I killed people, and anyone I come in contact with is immediately a celebrity too. Part of me fears I’ve put Navya in danger, but I will protect her from everything. I exhale softly as a stylist walks over, and for a moment I’m thrown back into the Capitol preparing for the games unable to do anything on my own. I’m being told what to do, and I hate it. Nobody has that right anymore. I won my freedom, and now it’s being tossed away again, but I put a smile on my face pretending to be happy for the cameras, yet I just want to run away from them. I never asked for any of this to happen.

"Honeymoon?!" Navya’s horrified voice sends chills down my spine, and I know that getting married in private was a huge mistake. All Panem will know soon, and I can’t just go back and undo what’s been done. I just know that if Navya wasn’t by my side, I would punch that stylist and tell her to get out my business because it’s none of her’s. I just want to live my life, but apparently it’s too much to ask. I hate what President Snow has done to us. I hate that he ruined my life. I hate that he has done this to me. I hate him, and I hope that he dies one day because Panem would be best off without him, but I’m afraid of who’ll take over after him. Probably someone so much worse than Snow.

After leaving the cameras we left, and headed towards some cabin.. It offers a bit more privacy than being outside where all the reporters pick apart my life. At least here I’m safe, but it’s nothing that I wanted. I didn’t want this. I just came to help, but I guess that’s not good enough."We can’t stay here. We need to find Kirito and Katelyn. And then we need to find a telephone and call our families. You were right. We should have told them before we left." I know she’s right. I know that we have to find them. We have to tell them before they see on the news or something. I can see the headlines now. Star crossed lovers, Harbinger Rhodes, and Navya Sachdeva, married in private. And I think about my family at home. I’ve let them down again, and it makes me incredibly sad. But I know what has to be done.

"Navya, I know we have to tell them, but we can tell them now. We have to. I’d rather them find out from us than the news reporters. I’m sure they’ll understand. At least Katelyn and Kirito should understand. I hope." I can feel myself becoming frantic, and I’m starting to panic. I have to tell my family before anyone else finds out. Before the entire nation of Panem finds out. I can only imagine what they’ll say.

Navya changed, and I smiled. It’s nice being around her, but knowing that I have to start over with everything sucks, but I will redo it all for her. "Kirito. Katelyn. Phone." She reminds me, and I repeat those three things over and over in my head as we slowly walk together. Step one, find Kirito. Step two find Katelyn. Step three find a phone. Step four breathe. "I heard that Kirito was in one of the medical tents. Could we go there and look for him? Maybe he’ll know where Katelyn is?"

Victor of the 71st Hunger Games

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