The Odds
District Three is where Elysia Wires called home, not that she had much of one. Home is a place where your welcomed in by friends and family, however Elysia didn't make friends easily and the only family she had wasn't welcoming at all. Her mother had passed away giving birth to her, foul play was suspected but there wasn't enough proof to start and investigation. Her father raised her until her 14th year when he eventually passed away from liver failure due to alcoholism. Elysia was forced to get a job, lucky for her a physicist name Kuval Notus took her under his wing and helped her thus far in life. Elysia was 18 years old now and this would be her last year having to put her name into the reaping bowl. For six years the odds had been in her favor, sparing her from having to face the games and if they'd spared her once again she would enter a career as an experimental physicist, no longer would she be an apprentice.
***
I waited with the rest of the 18 year old girls from my district to hear which of us would be the unlucky one this year. Hemeros Bucket, District Three's assigned escort hobbled on to the stage in a pointed neon orange suit, his hair teased and just as orange as his eye and lip makeup. He was middle aged and rather annoying with his squeaky voice, it sounded like someone was constantly pinching his nose. He walked towards the glass ball that was about 6 ins in diameter and full of every female name from the age of 12 to 18, including mine. He reached inside and grabbed a hand full of papers slowly dropping them one by one until he had a single slip of paper in his hand. As he approached the microphone we all found felt anxiousness take us, my forehead began to shine with sweat but i didn't know if it was from the sun blaring down on me or the worry of my name being called. I forced a calming breath as Hermeros announced the female tribute.
"The female tribute from District Three," he looked down at the paper once again reconfirming that he was announcing the correct person. "Elysia Wires!"
My entire body tensed up, my muscles tightened and my eyes tunneled in on Hermeros, my ears rang with a persistent ringing. I didn't notice everyone's eyes turning to look at me, i only noticed Hermeros's gaze searching the crowd for me. The peacekeepers must have followed everyone's gaze to find me because they were quickly making there way to drag me onto the stage. As one stood in front of me i nodded and began to walk without his help and he followed me until i was stepping up on stage. I came to stand on the left side of Hermeros as he went to pull the male tributes name. I looked out among my peers and the town and knew no one would volunteer to take my place, i was 18 years old, not many people liked me so my chances were almost nonexistent.
"Donar Flakes!"
I hadn't been paying attention until Hermeros brought me back to reality by announcing my district counterpart. Donar emerged from the group of 16 year old boys, cries following his departure, he had many people here that loved him and i envied that. We were guided into the justice building and placed in separate rooms for our loved ones to come and see us one last time. I sat in the room alone for a long time, not expecting anyone to come say goodbye, that's why the door opened I was shocked onto my feet. I looked over to the older man who had been my mentor for the last four years. His silver-grey hair and familiar brown eyes had me running into his arms and finally releasing my tears of fear.
"Kuval, how can i do this?" i cried into his faded shirt.
"Hey," he pulled me back just enough to look into my eyes and smile. "You can do this, don't let them see your tears. Make them believe this is exactly where you want to be, what you want to do. Don't for a second let them see your weaknesses"
"I can't ... kill" i whispered the last word like it was a curse word i wasn't supposed to be saying.
"You don't have to, you know how to defend yourself. I've seen the way you fling those knives when you get angry utilize that, avoid the other tributes they will do all the killing for you" He pulled me close again hugging me like this would be the last time we would embrace, and it probably was. I looked up at him, not breaking our hold.
"Thank you for everything you have ever done for me" i whispered.
Kuval let a few tears of his own fall as he placed a rough kiss to my forehead, just like my father used to do. Holding onto this moment, trying to remember everything about it, the amount of love and affection i felt coming from a man i thought of as a father, remembering the smell of him: bleach and chemicals, remembering his rough hands and how they held me. And then the door burst open and in walked peacekeepers pulling us away from one another. Just before the door shut, closing us off from each other i shouted out to him.
"I'm sorry!"
Then the door was shut and i was alone, but it wasn't silent. I could hear as Donar had many people coming to tell him goodbye, i could hear the uncontrollable sobbing from his mother and three sisters, i could hear his friends shouts of protest and anger. Donar didn't deserve this, he had so many reasons to return home as the victor and i promised myself i would make that as easy as possible for him. I vowed that District Three would have a victor this year and i would do everything in my power for that victor to be him.