Kapitel 76: A mirror

When Katniss woke up, she felt afraid to move. The room she was in was illuminated by a soft yellow light, allowing her to see that there was only one bed and no doors or windows in sight. The air had a strong and antiseptic smell. She noticed several tubes coming out of her right arm, connected to the wall behind her. She was naked, but the sheets provided some comfort.

With caution, she pulled her right hand out from under the sheets and noticed that not only was it clean, but her nails had also been groomed and the burn scars seemed less prominent. She touched her cheek, lips, and the wrinkled scar above her eyebrow. As she started to run her fingers through her hair, she froze. She apprehensively stroked the area above her left ear and realized that she hadn't imagined it: she could hear again.

She tried to sit up but realized that a strap was fastened around her waist, allowing her to only rise a few inches. The physical restraint caused panic and she began to struggle, trying to free herself from the strap. At that moment, a section of the wall slid open like a door, and the red-haired avox girl entered the room with a tray. Upon seeing her, Katniss calmed down and stopped fighting. She had many questions to ask her, but she was afraid to trust too much and put her in danger, as it was clear they were being closely watched.

The girl placed the tray on Katniss' lap and adjusted something so that she could sit up. While she arranged the pillows, Katniss dared to ask her a question aloud and clear, trying not to seem suspicious.

"Did Jacob survive?" Katniss asked.

The girl nodded, and as she placed a spoon in Katniss' hand, she noticed that she was holding it as if they were friends.

Katniss assumed that, in the end, the girl didn't want to see her dead. And Jacob had succeeded, of course he had with all the expensive equipment they had in that place. However, she wasn't sure until that moment.

When the girl left, the door closed silently behind her, and Katniss, feeling hungry, turned to the tray. There was a bowl of clear broth, a small serving of applesauce, and a glass of water. Katniss frowned, thinking that her welcome meal should have been more impressive. In the end, she discovered that she could barely finish the small amount of food she had been given. She felt like her stomach had shrunk to the size of a chestnut and wondered how long she had been unconscious, as the last morning she spent in the arena had no trouble eating a substantial breakfast.

Normally, several days passed from the end of the competition to the winner's presentation, so they could transform a hungry, wounded, and broken tribute into a presentable person. Cinna and Portia would be nearby, creating their outfits for public appearances. Haymitch and Effie would be busy organizing the banquet for the sponsors and reviewing the questions for the final interviews. Back home, in District 12, they would be immersed in the chaos of preparing the welcome celebrations for Jacob and Katniss, especially since the last celebrations had been almost thirty years ago.

"Home! My mother, Prim! Gale!" Katniss thought excitedly. Even the image of Prim's old and scruffy cat made her smile. She would be home soon.

She wanted to get out of that bed, see Jacob and Cinna, and find out what had been happening. She felt fine. However, when she tried to release herself from the strap, she felt a cold liquid flowing through one of the tubes and entering her vein, almost immediately losing consciousness.

That happened again and again for an indefinite period: she would wake up, be fed, and although she resisted the temptation to try to escape the bed, she would become unconscious again. It was like being trapped in a continuous twilight. She only took note of a few things: the avox girl hadn't returned since the first time she fed her, her scars were fading, and... had she really heard the screams of a man? Not with the Capitol accent, but with the rough cadence of her own district. She couldn't help but have the vague feeling that someone was taking care of her, and that comforted her.

Finally, after waking up after a long time of unconsciousness, Katniss didn't see any wires attached to her body.

Katniss swung her legs off the bed, nervous to see if they could support her weight, but she was glad to discover that they were strong and ready. At the foot of the bed, she found the outfit that all the tributes wore in the arena, which sent shivers down her spine. She stared at it for a moment until she remembered that it was what she should wear to meet her team.

She quickly gets dressed and begins tapping on the wall, knowing that the door is there even though she can't see it. Suddenly, the door opens, and she steps out into a wide, empty hallway that doesn't seem to have any visible doors. However, she knows they must be there, and behind one of them must be Jacob. Now that she is conscious and moving, her concern for him grows rapidly. If something had happened to him, the avox would have told her, but she needs to see him with her own eyes.

"Jacob!" she calls out, knowing there is no one else to ask.

She hears a response, but it's not Jacob's voice. It's a voice that first irritates her and then makes her impatient: Effie.

She turns around and sees all of them waiting for her in a large room at the end of the hallway: Effie, Haymitch, and Cinna. She runs towards them without hesitation. Although the victors are supposed to show a certain level of restraint and arrogance, especially when they know they are being watched, Katniss doesn't care. He runs to them and catches Haymitch giving him a hug. When he whispers in her ear, "Good job, sweetheart." It doesn't sound sarcastic. Effie is a bit teary-eyed and keeps patting her hair, talking about how she always knew they were pearls. Cinna simply embraces her tightly and says nothing. Then she notices that Portia is not present, and a sense of dread washes over her.

"Where is Portia? Is she with Jacob? Is Jacob okay?" Katniss asks, worried.

"She's okay, but they want them to meet live during the ceremony," Haymitch responds.

"Ah, I see," Katniss replies, and the horrible moment of fearing that Jacob might be dead fades away again. "I guess that's what I would want to see."

"Go with Cinna. He needs to get you ready," Haymitch says.

As they move away from the cameras, they walk through corridors and reach an elevator that takes them to the lobby of the Training Center. This means the hospital is in the basement, even below the gym where the tributes practiced knots and spear throws. The windows in the lobby are darkened, and a handful of guards watch over everything. No one else sees them arrive at the tribute elevator. The echo of their footsteps resonates in the emptiness.

...

Slowly, Jacob opens his eyes and is surprised to notice that all his scars have vanished. He runs his hand over his skin, marveling at its smoothness and the absence of pain. His body feels tired but light, as if it has been rejuvenated in some way.

Carefully, he gets out of bed and heads towards the mirror in the room. As he approaches, he notices that his left eye seems weak, as if his vision is affected. A knot forms in his stomach as he prepares to see his reflection.

When he finally faces the mirror, his heart races as he sees his own face. His eye, once dark and intense, now has an albino appearance, slightly affected by blindness. The reality of his condition hits him hard, and a torrent of emotions overwhelms him.

He moves closer to the mirror, examining his new appearance closely. Although his left eye is no longer the same, he is still himself. He can see the reflection of his resilience in the other eye, which shines brightly. He will not be defeated by this new limitation.

A mix of confusing emotions washes over him as he thinks about the future. He knows he will face even greater challenges now, but he won't give up. He has overcome obstacles before and is willing to do it again.

With each step he takes away from the mirror, Jacob prepares himself to face the world with his new appearance. Although his looks have changed, that's the least of it. He is determined to make the most of what he has left, defying all expectations and proving that true strength comes from within.

Although his vision may be weak, his determination remains clear. He sets out to walk towards the future with bravery and confidence, knowing that true beauty lies in inner strength and the ability to overcome any adversity.

As Jacob moves away from the mirror, the intelligent assistant approaches to provide you with a detailed report on the changes made to your body. Its soft and comforting voice informs you about the transformations you have undergone:

"[Master, allow me to give you a detailed report on the changes that have occurred in your body. During the treatment process, several interventions have been performed to restore the functionality and appearance of your missing fingers. By using advanced regenerative medicine techniques, the missing tissues and bones in your right hand have been regenerated and reconnected. This has allowed you to regain mobility and sensitivity in that area.]"

"[Furthermore, a bionic prosthesis system has been implemented in your right hand to optimize the functionality of your fingers. This prosthesis features advanced sensors that synchronize with your nervous system, enabling you to control movements and gripping strength with precision. This technology provides you with the ability to perform everyday tasks with greater ease and naturalness.]"

"[It is important to note that your left eye has undergone significant changes. After a meticulous process, a specialized ocular lens has been implanted to correct your vision and enhance your focusing ability. Although your eye appears albino due to the loss of pigmentation, this condition does not negatively affect your visual perception. Your vision may seem weak at first, but it is likely that you will adapt and learn to use it efficiently over time.]"

"This is incredible..."

"[I hope this information is helpful to you, Master. If you have any additional questions or need any kind of assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. I am here to help you with whatever you need.]"

Just at that moment, someone entered with a sumptuous meal, and Jacob's immediate response was to satisfy the hunger that was begging for food.