Thank You For Your Kindness {Destrii/Jacinta}

Why was I even going to bother approaching the one who reigned victorious over everyone else in the arena of the seventy-seventh annual Hunger Games? I wanted to try to make an excuse for myself so that I didn’t have to. No, no one else was pushing me to. Just me. It’s just that I felt I needed to, and couldn’t find any way to convince myself otherwise.

It was necessary for me to approach Jacinta Salazar and speak to her. If anything, I needed to thank her. I needed to thank her for ridding the world of Daniela Rasoio. Daniela was the thing that Zagreus’s parents wanted him to be, and that wasn’t a positive thing. They wanted him to volunteer, and Daniela did just that. They wanted him to kill, and that’s exactly what Daniela did. The only thing that they wanted him to do that Daniela didn’t do was win the Games. I could only imagine what they’d do upon their son’s District partner returning, rather than him.

I knew what I would have done to the Rasoio girl if she were the one that came home. I’d punch her square in the face like I did to Zagreus’s father after Zagreus died. She didn’t deserve victory, and luckily, she didn’t achieve it, either. Jacinta made sure of that. Jacinta Salazar was going to be the one that returned home to her family, and I was glad that that was the case. Anyone who could rid the world of something that was perfect to Zagreus’s parents was good in my eyes.

Zagreus was never perfect to them. His mother abused him physically, and his father did so emotionally. They treated him like absolute rubbish. Nothing they ever did for him or said to him was kind. All they wanted was a victor in the family. That was their pure reason for having a child. I’d heard them say it themselves. They just wanted a child that would bring the Moon family into the victor pool.

Unfortunately for them, it didn’t happen. Zagreus was reaped for the Hunger Games (although his parents wanted him to volunteer) and he died while he was there, fighting for survival. He watched each of his allies fall before him. First Ella, then Bruce, then Tobias. He cared about all three of his allies in that arena. I could tell. He didn’t want any of them dead, even if he knew in the back of the mind that they’d have to die for him to survive.

I couldn’t imagine seeing friends you care about die in front of you. I’d seen plenty of people die in the Games on the television, but never in front of me. I didn’t want to see that, as long as I could help it. If I could prevent it from happening, I would. I wouldn’t have let Zagreus watch his friends die like that. Although, if I could have prevented absolutely anything from happening in that arena, it would have been Zagreus’s death. At least someone who deserved to win still reigned victorious, even though it wasn’t him. I’d even have the chance to see her today on her victory tour.

When I ventured out into the cold winter air, it nipped at my face. I ignored it, however, and proceeded onward to the District Square where I knew that I’d eventually find Jacinta Salazar. I needed to talk to her. I needed to thank her for what she’d done. I don’t think she ever really knew Zagreus, but she’d seen him die. I at least knew that. She’d also seen Daniela die, but that time, it was at her own hands. That was the death I’d thank her for.

When I saw Jacinta, I decided that I needed to approach her. As soon as I did, I knew there was no turning back. I had taken a deep breath before walking over. Now, I just had to hope I could compose myself well enough. I couldn’t tumble into asking her about Zagreus. At least, not quite yet. I had to thank her for what she did, and congratulate her.

”Miss Salazar,” I began. ”Congratulations.” I expressed this with a slight smile, and then continued with what I had been wanting to say. ”I’m Destrii Moon, Zagreus’s cousin. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for… for not letting Daniela win.” It must have sounded strange to her, someone from District Eight thanking the victor for killing one of District Eight’s tributes. Regardless, it was what I needed to say.