AN: This will be the last update for the next few weeks, the semester for study is starting again so updating time will be slow at best. I apologise in advance and ask for your patience and understanding. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far.
Chapter 6
The Quarter Quell
District five had been and gone and now it was time for their final Victors Visit. Helia sat at the breakfast table, forcing himself to eat and drink juice and other liquids while Flora sat opposite him. "Hey," he addressed and she lifted her head. "Remember our deal; I'll look after myself if you do the same." She nodded before stabbing a piece of fruit and bringing it to her lips. With breakfast out of the way they were lead towards the stage for their final address and only one family member stood at the foot of the stage. It was Mirta and Riven's father. Halfway through their address another young woman stood next to him. She was about the same age Mirta had been when she entered the arena and had long dark green hair that flowed down her back. She wondered who she was for a moment but said nothing as they were escorted to their home.
The house loomed in the distance and they had to travel by car to reach the main gates and beyond. Acreage surrounded the two as they made their way there and were brought inside and told to sit. Their last visit was the most awkward of them all. Their father never said a word and they didn't know what to say in return. Helia's offerings of 'you have a lovely home' and 'it's a warm day outside' received no response.
"I don't understand," he finally mumbled, making both silent tributes meet his unfocused gaze. "I don't understand…why. Why this had to happen. Why these games even exist…why both of my children are gone." It was the same question that all of the families of those who died asked and one that would never be answered. Instead of the long talk that Flora hoped to have with him about his children he had the opposite effect. Though he did say thank you for being with both of them when they passed away that was where the discussions stopped. The two victors left their lunch date early and started their final stretch to Magix.
To make up some lost time Flora and Helia were told to walk through the middle of town, they saw the Town Hall where the reapings took place, the mixture of country and city, production and farming, all of it intertwining together perfectly and the people surrounding them all had different gazes. Some showed compassion, others fury, but Helia's hand never left Flora's which helped her to feel secure when the environment they were in was the exact opposite. Suddenly they heard someone crying to their right at what appeared to be a catering facility of some kind.
Walking over Flora placed her hand on the girls shoulder and she wiped her tears. "I'm sorry," she apologised, her long deep green locks reached her back and she wore the same gothic style that Mirta had. A short skirt with leggings down to ankle high boots with a top, necklace, black lipstick and green eye shadow. "Don't apologise," Flora sighed as Helia removed a tissue from his jacket pocket and she passed it to her. It was then that Flora realised who she was. It was the girl who stood next to Mirta's father during the speeches.
"I'm Lucy," she introduced making Flora and Helia both shake her hand gladly.
"Is there somewhere that we can talk?" Flora asked and she nodded and guided them to an old picnic table out the back of the shop and took a seat. "You were standing with Mirta's father during the speech," she noted and Lucy nodded her head. "Why?"
"Mirta and I were best friends," she smiled sadly. "We used to work here together; we went to school together, were considered outcasts by our various friends and only had each other really. But Mirta and I had fallen out a long time before she went; we disagreed on a lot of things. Most of it relating to her charity work, this business would have gone under a long time ago if it wasn't for her."
"What do you mean?" Helia inquired.
"Mirta started using the reapings for cash, I mean putting her name in there more times for food which she'd give to the business so they could stay afloat. A few other workers did the same but Mirta did it the most. I told her that it was dangerous but she managed to go twice without getting picked so she thought that she would be safe a third time…but she wasn't." She looked to the table, her head hanging in shame. "You know there is this saying 'you don't know what you have til it's gone' and it's true. I had a real friend, an honest friend who was just trying to do her best and look at what happened? We argued about something that seems so meaningless now." She paused. "I guess the real reason that I didn't want her to help so much was because she's all I have…and I didn't want to lose her."
"That's understandable," Flora acknowledged.
"Lucy!" A head ducked out from the backdoor. "We need you in here, lunch rush."
"Coming!" She called back. "I'm sorry I need to go."
"Wait-" Flora interrupted, standing to her feet as Lucy did. She fished the slingshot from her pocket and passed it forwards but Lucy pushed it away. "No, I can't take that."
"Yes you can," Flora urged, pushing it in her direction again. "Mirta gave this to me; it's supposed to protect you and those you love from harm. Riven gave it to Mirta and Mirta gave it to me and I am sure that she'd want you to have it." Tears broke their banks as she wrapped her arms around Flora's shoulders. "Thank you."
Three districts came and went so quickly that they barely registered inside Flora's mind and when they reached Magix and were forced into a dining hall with other officials and the three ancestral witches, both of them were a little nervous. Bloom and Daphne walked behind the two at all times before a young man with golden hair to his shoulders and beautiful blue eyes stepped forwards inside what appeared to be royal attire.
"My lady," he sighed, bending down and offering his hand before Helia walked to get them some refreshments. "It's a pleasure to meet a victor of this year's games." He smiled and looked to Bloom before inclining his head. "My name is Prince Sky of Erakleon, my father has been assigned the duty of game maker for next year's games."
Flora didn't understand how he could harbour such pride when his father was being forced to design a death trap that would get innocent children killed. "You and Helia did an amazing job, to overcome such adversity and do it together, it truly inspired the crowds."
"Yes well I suppose it would have," she smiled, still wondering about his true intentions. He walked closer to her and pulled up his sleeve to reveal a watch, gold in colour with Flora's rose pin at the centre. "I had this made especially for myself, based on your rose pin." Again he looked to Bloom and Flora wondered whether there was history between them or if she reminded him of someone. "Anyway I better get going, my father will need me, enjoy the party and, may the odds be ever in your favour." He walked away as Helia approached and passed her a drink.
"Who was he?"
"No one important."
Landing back in Linphea filled Flora and Helia with relief and joy. They bolted from the ship and into their family's arms as Faragonda watched proudly from behind. They had both done well during the victory tour, followed her advice and had been slowly beginning to heal and now they were free to live the rest of their lives here in district twelve. Or at least that's what they thought.
Six months after their homecoming Flora walked through the forest with Helia by her side. The two enjoyed the sunshine, the birds singing in the trees, the fresh air that filled their lungs. Their time at home had been wonderful and although both of them still suffered from nightmares and sweats they had remained strong throughout.
"My father used to bring me out here," she sighed as Helia's hand grasped her own. She looked up, hearing a bird singing sweetly in the trees. "I never knew your father, what was he like?"
"Mum said he was an adventurer," she laughed. "Always trying to find some new bird species or rare animal, he'd spend hours out here in the woods just thinking to himself or working. He used to take me here when the sun was setting and we'd watch it together before the stars came out and we named them one by one," she giggled a little. "One time I tried to count them and he told me it was impossible but I was too stubborn so I kept on counting."
"What happened?" Helia asked.
"I fell asleep," she laughed, a bright smile widening her lips. "He carried me home, put me in bed and left a note the following morning that said 'told you'. He always used to make me laugh and Miele, well she was only a young girl when he died, she didn't get to know him as well as I did but he loved us and mum."
"I'm sorry," Helia sighed, as she looked him in the eye.
"Please don't apologise, it was a long time ago now, I just remember him when I come here."
"No I'm sorry because of this," he stopped walking and pushed a branch out of their way to reveal a picnic rug laid out in a clearing with a basket and glasses, ready and waiting for the two of them. Flora's mouth dropped as he led her through and she looked to the sky, closing her eyes as the sun rained down on her skin. "Why are you sorry about this?"
"I didn't want to upset you," he admitted. "I should have thought before I did this."
"No, it's beautiful, don't apologise."
"Take a seat," he ordered and she did as he fished a bottle of wine and poured two glasses. Flora took one and he sat next to her, taking the other and sipping it. "It's so different," he noted.
"What is?"
"This forest, it's the home to animals and almost protects everyone in district twelve. The arenas version, well it was the opposite." Flora swallowed another sip before nodding her head.
"Yeah." Helia stood to his feet suddenly before he offered her a hand up. "Flora," he spoke, looking deep in to her eyes. "I know that we haven't known each other all that long but it feels like it's been a lifetime." She nodded before Helia knelt before her. Her eyes widened as he removed a ring from his pocked and held it between his fingers. She nearly dropped her wine glass and had to forcefully stop herself from shaking. "Flora…will you marry me?"
Helia had been right, it had only been a few months since they met, a few days or weeks in the arena and recovering, but she already cared for him more than words could describe. They had both been through hell and back together, worked through the toughest of their demons, fought against the odds though they were not in their favour and made it home in one piece. And now they had the opportunity to start again, to live their lives free of the arena, to start a new and they could do it together.
"Yes," she replied after what felt like hours making Helia smile at the weight lifted from his shoulders. He carefully slid the gold band on her finger and it was the perfect size.
"How'd you get my ring size?"
"Your mother," he smiled, standing to his feet before Flora's lips pressed against his own. He took her waist into his hands and pulled her closer to him, deepening their passionate expression of love. When she leant backwards and Helia opened his eyes they dazzled with a new life, a new spark of hope and of the future and the way he was looking into her own must have indicated the same. "I love you, Flora." She kissed his lips again before replying.
"And I love you."
The announcement of their engagement brought cameras from the far corners of the other districts, all of them wanting the latest scoop and Faragonda was hired to handle the press scandals. They had only been engaged three months before a magazine had started spreading rumours about their break-up but it was all false. Though Helia had reasoned that they should live apart until they married Faragonda had told them that their marriage should be a public event to bring the crowds together for some joy and celebration but it didn't happen. Time had flown and the next reaping for the twenty-fifth annual district games was about to begin so all of the public interest in their engagement died down to make way for advertising in Magix and, with Miele starting to fret and panic as she did the year before she told Helia that they should wait until the reaping and the next games were over, at least then to bring some joy back into District Twelve, if they lost everything this year including their additional supplies. He agreed but that night on the television screen it wasn't just their wedding plans that were put in jeopardy.
Whether the screen was off or not they all buzzed to life suddenly, the three witches appeared on screen as Avalon's voice boomed through the district. "Attention all citizens, attention all citizens." Flora stopped washing the dishes and looked to the screen as Miele and Lily walked from upstairs. Helia stopped drying before looking himself as Faragonda ran inside the front door with Saladin closely following.
"As a celebration and to mark the twenty-fifth year of the games we have decided to host a Quarter Quell."
"What's that?" Miele asked, quickly hushed by Lily who placed her supportive hands on her shoulders.
"The Quarter Quell will occur every twenty five years, announcing a change inside the current games rules as predetermined by random selection from this box." Avalon walked to the witches and held the box before them and the three chanted the box open before a single slip hovered in mid air. It floated to his hand and he looked to the camera, swallowing the saliva in his mouth and nervously pulling on his shirt collar. "This year, as a reminder to those who fought against their superiors in the districts and who survived, this years tributes will be drawn from their current pool of victors." The dish in her hand smashed on the floor as her heart stopped beating in her chest.
"One male and one female victor will be drawn from each district to participate, should a district find itself without a victor of either or both genders, usual reaping procedures are to be followed. Should a district only have one victor of either gender or both genders then they must compete." Avalon looked to the camera before taking a breath and speaking again. "That is all, good night and may the odds be ever in your favour." The screen turned itself off and no one said a word.
They were going back into the arena.
AN: Thanks for reading and please review :) we are slowly nearing where the prologue started.
