A/N: Trigger warning for this chapter.


Chapter 10:

Pascal Flores, 12, District Seven

One Week Before The Reaping

"Come on, twerp, it's summer!"

Pascal pouts as there's a large splash as his friends jump into the pool, covering him with water. He pulls at the wet shirt he wears, trying to get the baggy thing to not stick to him. He didn't want to go swimming with them today for exactly this reason…yet being the oldest of the four of them, Pascal somehow was responsible for keeping an eye on them.

When Elin asked their mother about going swimming today, there was no debate. What Elin wants, Elin gets.

Khaya pops her head up from the water, laughing at Pascal sitting there, soaked from her splashing him. "Lighten up, Pascal! It's the first nice day of summer, we should be having fun!"

Elin shakes their head at Khaya from where they're standing at the edge of the pool, staying near Pascal instead of joining Khaya and Cedar as they swim around and keep trying to dunk each other under the water. "Khaya, leave him alone. If anyone's the twerp, it's you."

Khaya responds with sticking her tongue out at Elin before splashing them both, leaving Pascal to hunch his shoulders over. He should be having fun like these two… Yet it's hard when every time all four of them are together, it's more obvious that he doesn't fully belong with them.

"Hey, you okay?" Elin asks him quietly, putting their elbows on the edge of the pool and watching Khaya and Cedar swim around for a minute before glancing up at Pascal.

"I'm okay," Pascal answers softly, even though he feels far from it. He hates summer time and the sticky heat that makes it a requirement to wear tank tops and shorts. Hates the way it becomes harder to hide his changing body under baggy clothes. And going swimming…yeah, there's a lot more things he'd prefer to go do compared to this. Elin sees right through him, just like they always seem to do. As soon as the frown forms on their face, Pascal quickly tries to change the topic away from himself, even though he knows they understand what he's feeling. "I'm fine, promise. You asked your mom for a pool day and I'm not going to ruin that for you."

Elin's frown deepens at this and they push themself out of the water to better sit next to him. "Yeah but it's not fair that she can force you to do things you don't want to do…"

"That comes with who she is," Pascal says bitterly, loathing Elin's mother just a little bit for the way she's always treated him for seemingly no reason. He's always tried to do his best to show he's on her side, willing to do whatever she asked of him, but it was never enough.

"I know, she's quite bossy, that's where I get it from," Elin tries to joke, giving him a nudge of their elbow, but Pascal just lets out a heavy sigh and makes their smile fade away. "Is it just the pool and being uncomfortable bothering you or is it something else?"

"That's part of it," Pascal shakes his head at them, staring at Cedar trying to push Khaya under the water for a minute before finally turning to face Elin. "It's hard not to be a little bit worried about the Reaping when I'm surrounded by three people who are all too young to be eligible. Just…it's always looming in the back of my head. It's impossible not to think about when it's all that's talked about in that house."

"Mom says we have nothing to worry about with the Reapings," Elin tells him so confidently, he almost starts to believe them for a moment.

Pascal shakes his head at them while letting out a bitter laugh, "Elin…she says that about you, and Khaya, and Cedar. The children of important people. I'm not like you. I'm nothing."

"You're important to me," Elin says quietly, not looking at him as they kick their feet in the water. Pascal can feel his cheeks heating up at their comment, even though it's stupid. He shouldn't feel so embarrassed by it, yet he does. Just…no one aside from Elin and his own mother has ever wanted him around. He's never really been important, not like the other kids he is always around, all of them forbidden from going to public school or out in the District.

Elin suddenly stands up and Pascal turns his head up, using his hand to block the sun from blinding him as he looks at them. "Come on, we're going to talk to my mother now and she'll tell you how you're safe from the Reaping, just like us."

"What?" Pascal asks them, confused at the statement for a moment but as he starts to realize what they said, he starts shaking his head. "No, Elin, please don't. She's busy and we're supposed to be swimming – that's what you asked her to do today."

"Well I don't want to swim anymore," Elin puts their hands on their hips, clearly believing their fantastic logic. "Khaya!"

"Yeah?" Khaya asks as she leans back to float on her back, looking as if there is nothing else she wants to do today aside from stay in the pool. Pascal wishes he could feel the same way as her so badly, feel comfortable enough with…everything… God, he hates puberty and the way he's become so uncomfortable with his body that he can't even relax and go swimming.

"We're done swimming so don't let Cedar drown," Elin commands Khaya, who rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at them being bossy. Cedar stops as he's about to dive back down under water to look over at them, confused on what they're doing. "Pascal and I have things to do."

"Uhuh, suuurrreee," Khaya calls at them as Elin starts dragging Pascal away from there, making Pascal look back over his shoulder to glare at Khaya. She always has to be an annoying prick to him, but at least she doesn't go for comments that actually hurt him.

Pascal turns back around, nearly tripping over the sidewalk as Elin pulls him along, shaking his head at their eagerness. He'd rather stay in the swimming pool with all his dysphoria than face Elin's mother. "Elin…is this really a good idea?"

"Of course it is," Elin answers him right away, sounding so confident about this. And why wouldn't they be? Their mother spoils the shit out of them, her precious only child. "You're concerned about the Reaping so we're going to hear directly from her that there's nothing to worry about. You know what she can do and she's going to keep us safe. Now shh."

Elin gently pushes open the sliding glass door leading into the kitchen, holding a finger up to their lips to remind Pascal to stay quiet, but he's not the concern here. He's more worried about them, knowing their tendency to act first and think second. As Elin quietly pulls him closer to the edge of the kitchen and Pascal can hear the raised voices from the living room in the next room over, he shakes his head and tries to pull them away from here. This is not something they should be hearing and if he gets caught… He can already feel the sting from times before when he got punished for stepping out of line – most of the times covering for Elin…

But Elin tightens their hold on Pascal, keeping him in place as they creep along the wall, trying to get closer to the room without being seen.

"Vera, I really can't believe you're actually doing this! Honestly, I'm stunned."

"Really, Kira?" Vera asks her husband, her voice full of accusation. "You can't believe I would do this after what you did in the first place? This is all completely, 100% your fault."

Kira scoffs at her as Pascal and Elin share a look, their eyes wide at the argument happening between Elin's parents. "God, Vera, how many times do I have to apologize for that? It was a mistake! Have I not shown my loyalty to you every day? Punish me instead if you insist on still holding this grudge, but don't punish the boy. He's innocent in all of this and doesn't deserve to die!"

"He's not guaranteed to die," Vera tells him as Pascal's stomach starts to sink at the mention of a boy, just having an awful feeling about it… "He'll have his chance to win, just like the others."

"Not if they find out who he is," Kira says quietly, almost too quiet for Pascal to hear. "You know they'll do a background check on everyone and when they find out I'm his father-"

"You are not his father," Vera interrupts, her voice cold and cutting deep, making Pascal terrified even though her words aren't directed at him. "You are nothing more than the person who couldn't keep his hands off of an attractive woman instead of staying faithful to your wife!"

They can hear Vera's angry clicking of heels on the floor and Elin quickly pulls Pascal back near the door to make it seem like they just came back inside, as Pascal's mind is reeling at what they overheard. "Hey Mom?" Elin calls out, looking around and playing up the act, both of them familiar with pretending they weren't listening to conversations that they weren't supposed to hear. Or, at least, conversations Pascal isn't supposed to be hearing. Elin has started getting the privilege of sitting in on their mother's job and then later they'll sneak into his room to tell him all about it.

"Oh, Elin!" Vera stops in the doorway to the room, shock playing across her face for a split second before she composes it into a neutral look as she glances back over her shoulder at her husband for a brief moment. When she turns back to them, a chill goes down Pascal's spine at the brief look she gives him. "And…Pascal. Where's Khaya and Cedar? And how long have you been here?"

"We just came in," Elin lies smoothly, giving their mother a cheerful and innocent smile as Pascal subtly moves to stand behind them, wanting their protection from Vera. He's known for a while that Vera doesn't like him, but now after that conversation… Yeah, he's wishing he went to the bathroom before this because he's so terrified he feels the need to pee. "Khaya is watching Cedar still in the pool because I wanted to come ask you something."

"Of course, dear," Vera says cheerfully as she steps over, giving Elin a kiss on the forehead. "Anything you want to know."

Elin looks over at Pascal, who subtly shakes his head, knowing there's no way he's speaking up to Vera. Elin turns back to their mother, finding her staring down expectantly. Their father slowly steps out of the next room, looking between the three standing there, and Pascal doesn't miss the way his face twists as he looks at him. "Well, we were talking about the Reaping…I just want to hear again that we're going to be safe."

"Of course you'll be safe, Elin" Vera says sweetly, reaching out and putting a hand on their shoulder. "I won't let them take you, my baby."

Pascal doesn't miss the way Vera only addresses Elin, not both of them, and he starts pulling on Elin's hand to get out of there. Elin glances over at him, before smiling at their mother. "Great, that's all I wanted to hear."

"Now why don't you go back outside?" Vera asks, but her tone indicates that it's not really a question. "Go enjoy the summer."

"Okay…" Elin says slowly before starting to step back from her, still keeping up a smile. Pascal is faster than them, wanting to get out of the house quickly. "Thanks Mom."

"You're welcome, dear," Vera calls to them as they step out the door, and Pascal glances back at her, finding Vera giving him a look that sends shivers down his spine despite the sticky summer air pressing down on him.

Elin drags Pascal past the pool, not saying anything to him except to call to Khaya, telling her they're fine and to stay in the pool. "Elin, where are we going?" Pascal asks, growing concerned by their silence as they start walking towards the woods lining their backyard. "Elin, talk to me."

"I don't want to talk about that," Elin responds, but Pascal knows their tone well enough to know they do want to talk, they just haven't figured out what to think yet.

"What was that?" Pascal whispers to Elin as they keep pulling him out into the woods, away from their house. "Elin?" He asks, growing concerned when he hears them sniffling.

"Something we weren't supposed to hear," Elin answers quietly, their voice wavering with tears threatening to fall. They suddenly stop and turn to face him, revealing wet cheeks and red eyes. "I…I don't know what to even think right now. What she said about my dad… And who is the boy she's talking about?"

"I don't know," Pascal tells them, but the sinking feeling in his stomach knows this is a lie. He just knows…and suddenly so much makes sense in his mind of the years spent always living in Elin's shadow, never earning Vera's praise no matter how hard he tried.

He's the boy she was talking about…and he's terrified of what Vera might have planned for him.


Winona Samson, Escort for District Seven

Winona didn't think there would be a day when she's glad to not be working with Stefan, but she's glad he doesn't have to mentor this year. Now that Glen is 18, it's finally time for Stefan to take a well deserved break from mentoring, having had to do it for so many years – and so many years alone. It hasn't been easy on her partner being Seven's oldest victor, and she's done her best over the years to help him navigate that path.

But if she has to listen to him try to insist one more time that he should be mentoring this year, she swears she's going to put tape over his mouth to shut him up.

Winona gives Stefan a look to keep his mouth shut as she takes the stage, clasping her hands in front of her as she stops in front of the microphone. Staring out at the children gathered there, she finds a sort of comfort on their faces as they look up at her, a familiar sight in their District. And it's not just their home, it's hers as well – not that she can just go around advertising that she grew up in Seven with her parents doing undercover work for the Capitol. Part of her hoped she'd get to see her sibling today, but life as a Council Member is keeping them busy like usual.

"Good afternoon, District Seven," Winona greets the crowd warmly, keeping herself calm to help soothe the growing nerves of the children in front of her. "I'm Winona Samson and as always, it's good to be back here in District Seven. But I know you're all waiting to know who will be selected today, so let's get moving with that right away."

Winona heads to the first glass sphere, glancing over at Stefan as she picks a name, finding him with his arms crossed and pouting at having to stay behind in Seven this year. Winona shakes her head at him, rolling her eyes a little before reeling in her sass as she faces the crowd, growing somber about reading the name of their first tribute. "Alright, first up is Betula Washington."

Winona waits a moment until the child steps out from the back of the crowd, looking so resigned to their fate as their shoulders are hunched over their frail body. But an angry fire is in their eyes as they approach the stage, giving Winona a hint of what Betula might have to offer. There's soon commotion in the crowd as a girl runs out, following after Betula and quickly getting stopped by Peacekeepers. "Wait, Betula, let me go instead!"

"No!" Betula snaps, turning around to glare at the girl. "Just let me go die!"

A frown starts to form on Winona's face as she watches this happen, the girl growing resigned in the arms of the Peacekeepers who are looking up at the stage as Betula storms up it, clearly wanting to know if they should let the volunteer happen. Winona looks at Betula with concern, their sickly figure so much more noticeable up close. "Do you want her volunteering?"

"Not at all," Betula answers immediately, crossing their arms as they glare out at the crowd. "I'm dying anyways, might as well go die in the Games."

"Very well," Winona says softly, glancing back at the mentors and finding equal concern on Stefan's face, making her hold back a sigh as she knows she'll have to fight him staying here again. "I'll pick the next tribute then."

Winona doesn't waste time in picking the second tribute, briefly wondering if there will be similar commotion as with Betula. "And the second tribute is Pascal Flores."

A young boy soon steps out from the very back section – terrible luck this year, drawing two twelve year olds… The boy pushes his hair to the side as he looks around with a nervous energy to him, tensing up whenever he walks past a Peacekeeper and making Winona question what has happened in this boy's past to make him so nervous around them. He's slow making his way to the stage, a mix of resignation and stubbornness in his eyes as he finally reaches Winona. He gives Betula a brief look, before crossing his arms as he looks out at the crowd.

Great…a pair of stubborn preteens.

"Is there anyone that would like to volunteer for Pascal?" Winona asks the crowd and she notices Pascal tense up for a second before his shoulders relax, and Winona makes a mental note to ask him about that later on the train. "Very well. Looks like we have our tributes for this year: Betula Washington and Pascal Flores."

The crowd gives obligatory applause, most of them just relieved it wasn't them or their children select, and Winona begins gently leading the pair of tributes into the Justice Building. She gives a look over to Stefan, knowing his stubbornness, before getting distracted by the buzzing of her phone in her pocket.

"Luciano!" Winona answers the phone cheerfully, always happy on the rare occasions that their sibling gets a chance to call them. "What's up? Any chance I can see you before we leave?"

"Actually, yes," Luciano answers with a sigh, making Winona aware right away that it's a meeting for business, not because they want to see their sibling. "We have a problem."


And there we have District Seven! Pascal and Winona are two of mine, so thanks to 20 for Betula! We finally only have one intro left for this story woo! So that's the last of my four and I will say the timing of this chapter in terms of other updates lately is *chef kiss*. I won't say why lol, that's for the RQ.

So I changed up the update schedule again to be more frequent updates because I've been chugging along with this story XD So check out my profile for the update schedule!

RQ #10: Do you know the significance of the people in this chapter?

Okie dokie, I will see you on Monday (yeah, like three days from now Monday) for our last intro!