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The Flood Games
Prologue
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Mags stared out the window of her villa, listening to the waves quietly lapping against her backyard shore. The starry night was bleak and cold, and the mug of tea in her hands felt like the only warmth that was left in the world. There was a numbness in her body, and a heaviness in her heart that she recognized as an aftershock of grief.
Three weeks. It's been three weeks since I lost you.
She idly pulled her throw blanket closer to herself. It was one that Muscida had crocheted for her, many years ago. She made matching blankets for Librae and Marissa too, as the four of them had been the only victors in their district at the time. Mags sighed, running her bony fingers across the stitching. It was a lovely blanket. Really. Even if it did remind her of the loss that was still so new and raw.
A pair of soft, light footsteps caught the old woman's attention. Reef had always been a dainty walker. The near-silence of his footsteps caught most people off-guard, but Mags was used to it by now. After all, she was the one who raised him after his mother passed away so long ago, even though she was practically still a child herself at the time. Seeing him eased her spirits ever so slightly, and she managed a smile for him that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"How are you holding up?" Mags asked. There was a slight tremble to her voice, one that she hoped Reef wouldn't notice.
Reef sighed deeply, covering his eyes with one hand.
"I'm not sure. I just put the girls to bed. Attina... this is the second time she's lost a mother. She still can't sleep without her sister there next to her."
Mags set down her tea before reaching out to him. Reef leaned into her embrace, and for a moment he still seemed like the fragile orphan Mags took under her wing. Only this time, he had lost a daughter instead of a mother.
"You're doing your best," Mags reassured him softly. "The girls are strong. You'll make it through this."
The pair stayed like that for several moments, holding back their tears. Reef's age was beginning to catch up to him, though, and his back couldn't stay in such a position forever. He hesitantly broke away from her embrace, taking a seat across from the older woman.
"I just hope I'm doing the right thing."
Mags turned to face him, her expression hardening.
"Reef, we've talked about this. Their place is here, with their grandfather. Besides, we're a Career district. Those girls will never have to face the Games so long as there are volunteers who have trained for this. Sending them away now would be a death sentence, especially with their connection to Marissa. Don't you realize how thrilled the Capitol would be to see the daughter of a victor enter the Games? Attina would be reaped the moment she turns 12, and the baby would be right behind her!"
Reef looked so vulnerable, so helpless, but it had to be said. Tears pricked at Mags's eyes, and her heart pounded like a drum inside of her chest. She had to protect Marissa's children. It was the very last thing she could do for the girl.
"Mags, Snow did something to her. Rissa's death wasn't an accident. What if sending her girls away is the only way to keep them safe from him? I couldn't protect her, so how could I possibly keep them safe on my own?"
A tear escaped, creeping down Mags's cheek. "Oh Reef. You still have me, dear boy. We've gotten through worse before. And we know why Snow killed her- as long as we keep those girls far away from the Capitol, he shouldn't have any reason to harm them. If I behave myself, surely he'll leave them alone."
Reef nodded, though he didn't seem convinced. She reached out to him, patting his cheek affectionately.
"Go get some rest, all right? You've barely slept these days. It can't be good for you."
They said their goodnights, and Mags let out a sigh of relief as he walked away. It was much harder to comfort him now that he was older. His fears were far more real than the monsters she had once chased from underneath his bed. She knew just as well as Reef did that no one was truly safe in Victors' Village. All it took was one misstep, one tiny mistake, for the president's wrath to strike down upon them to keep the victors in line. As one of the very first victors, everyone looked up to Mags as a leader. While Snow was far from impulsive, he did keep her on a shorter leash than the others. Mags knew the blame for Marissa's death was solely on her shoulders. Every waking moment, her thoughts were consumed by guilt. It was only in her moments of solitude that she didn't have to put on a front for others, pretending that everything was okay when it clearly wasn't. But, of course, she couldn't tell Reef that. She just couldn't. He was one of the only people she really had left in this world, and if he ever found out the full truth of what happened to his daughter she feared he would never forgive her.
Mags closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the waves. In times like this, their gentle lapping against the shore was the only thing that could ground her. She still had the ocean, she still had Reef, and she still had his granddaughters. She would make it through this. She had to, for Marissa's sake. She owed that much to the younger victor whose life had been snuffed out all too soon. It was up to her now to protect what little of their family remained.
"Auntie Mags?"
Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself face-to-face with Marissa's youngest daughter. She hadn't even realized the toddler had entered the room.
"My goodness Anastasia! You should be in bed!" Mag scolded, scooping up the little girl into her lap.
"I can't sleep, the dark is just too dark," she whispered, cuddling up against Mags.
Mags chuckled, kissing the top of her head. "But dear, we can't turn the lights on yet, you'll wake up your sister!"
"When's Mama coming back from the ground? She makes the dark feel okay."
The sinking feeling returned.
"Oh sweetheart, we talked about this. Remember?"
The little girl didn't meet her gaze, gripping the front of Mags's nightgown and staring at the buttons. In truth, Mags knew they hadn't talked about it nearly enough, but what could she possibly say to make things right? No, it was best to change the subject. Perhaps the subject could be revisited at a less tender age than three.
"Annie, did you know the dark can be a wonderful place to be? If your room was too bright, you would never get any rest. And if you never got any rest, you wouldn't feel like playing with Attina and her friends. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Annie was still silent. A small pout was forming between her chubby cheeks. Mags sighed, smoothing down her curls. She was awfully perceptive, young as she was. But part of effectively protecting Marissa's baby meant that certain things could never be brought to the light. It would be best to dodge the subject entirely.
"Come on, then. Let's get you back to bed."
"Will you stay with me if I go to sleep?" Annie mumbled, burying her head in her shoulder.
Mags tightened her grip on the girl, feeling a wave of protectiveness. Her resolve became absolute.
"Anything for you, my darling. Anything for you."