The transition from the silent, infinite rows of my vault to the sensory assault of the Capitol morning was like being struck. The prep team was a whirlwind of neon hair and chirping voices, scrubbing my skin until it was raw and painting me in shades of moonlight and ash.
Finally, Portia and Darien shooed them out. They brought the gown I had finished in the dead of night. As the liquid-silver fabric slid over my skin, it felt less like a dress and more like a suit of armor.
"You look..." Portia started, then stopped, shaking her head. "You look like a warning, Zinnia."
"Good," I said, my voice cold.
The ride down to the stage was a blur of steel and tension. Backstage, the air was thick with the scent of heavy perfumes. I watched the monitors as Caesar Flickerman—his hair a shocking shade of electric lavender—charmed the crowd.
Then, my name echoed through the speakers.
"And now! The woman who shattered every expectation! The highest-rated tribute in the history of the Games! From District 12... Zinnia Moonlight!"
The roar of the crowd was a physical force. The spotlights caught the iridescent threads I had woven into the silk, making the dress pulse with a light that seemed to come from within. I didn't smile, but I walked with such effortless, regal grace that the audience went wild.
Caesar met me at the center of the stage, his face lighting up with genuine delight. He took my hand, bowing slightly, and then turned to the crowd with a theatrical wink.
"Zinnia, Zinnia, Zinnia!" he cried, beaming at me. "I was told I'd be interviewing a tribute, but I think someone sent me a goddess by mistake! Look at this dress! Look at this poise! Zinnia, darling, you're making me look underdressed, and that is a very difficult thing to do!"
The audience roared with laughter. I didn't let my guard down, but I leaned into the rhythm of his energy. "I think you're doing just fine, Caesar. Though a little silver would definitely suit your eyes."
"Oh, she's sharp! I love it!" Caesar laughed, practically bouncing in his seat as he led me to the velvet chair. He wasn't probing for weaknesses; he was just enjoying the spectacle. "Tell me, everyone is dying to know—that score of twelve. Was it as easy as you made it look, or are the Gamemakers just completely under your spell?"
"Let's just say I believe in making an entrance, Caesar," I replied smoothly.
He leaned back, shaking his head in mock disbelief, clearly having the time of his life. "You certainly did that. Honestly, Zinnia, you're so refreshing I could talk to you all night. In fact..." He leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling. "I'm having so much fun that I don't want to let you go yet. And we all know there's a certain young man waiting in the wings who is just as extraordinary as you are."
He looked at the producers off-stage, then back to me with a conspiratorial grin. "What if we do something unprecedented? If we bring David out now, we can merge your segments. Let's make it a full, glorious one hour of the Moonlights. What do you say, Zinnia? Will you share your throne with your boy?"
The crowd began to chant David's name, the sound vibrating through the floorboards. Caesar looked at me, his smile wide and encouraging, enjoying the history we were about to make.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," I said, my voice clear and certain. "Bring him to me."
"You heard the lady!" Caesar shouted, standing up and gesturing toward the curtains with a flourish. "For the first time in the history of the Hunger Games—one full hour with the pair that has captured the Capitol! Ladies and gentlemen, David Hart!"
The curtains parted. Out stepped David, a small, dark shadow in his obsidian jacket. He looked tiny, but as he walked toward me, he mirrored my own calm.
Caesar didn't wait; he practically skipped over to David, gently guiding him to the stage. When David's small hand slid into mine, Caesar clapped his hands together, looking like a man who had just won the lottery.
"Look at them!" Caesar cried to the cheering masses. "The Moon and the Shadow! Sit down, sit down! We have a whole hour, and I have a thousand questions for you both!"
I sat back, pulling David close. Caesar was already launching into a joke to make David smile, his laughter infectious. He was having a blast, and for that hour, we weren't just tributes—we were the most beloved people in Panem. And that was exactly where I needed us to be.