waves of blood and fear [nerida oneshot series] 89th

waves of blood and fear [nerida oneshot series] 89th Jan 19, 2022 10:52:08 GMT -5

Post by kap on Jan 19, 2022 10:52:08 GMT -5

N E R I D A
S U M M E R S

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8 9 T H
R E A P I N G

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It was Nixie's last reaping. I probably should have been more nervous, but honestly, I had so much confidence that she'd be like Marina. She'd never get reaped, and she'd never actually build up the courage to volunteer. Marina had said for years that she wanted to volunteer and never actually did. Nixie simply trained in case she got reaped. She never actually told us that she had any plans to volunteer. So, I assumed she was safe. I assumed she wouldn't get picked— that we'd get lucky again, like with Marina, and she wouldn't have to go into the Hunger Games despite training for it.

Oh how I was wrong.

At the reaping, I stood in the back with the other parents and family members who weren't of reaping age, watching and listening to see what would happen. So many stood with bated breath, either hoping their family would remain safe another year, or hoping that their loved ones would make the move to volunteer and bring honor to their District. I was doing neither of those things. I simply felt that Nixie was safe and I had nothing to worry about, so I stood there and listened as the treaty of treason was read and the District Four escort explained the same thing that had probably been announced for the last eighty-something years.

Ladies first, they said. The name was pulled from the bowl, the slip of paper that had been meticulously folded as neatly as possible was now carefully unfolded as the escort cleared their throat and read the name aloud.

"Nixie Summers!" they announced. My heart skipped a beat, and I prayed that the career District we lived in would prove itself as one and someone would take her place, but no one did. She made her way to the stage, and they called out the name of the other tribute. Someone volunteered in their place, but not in place of Nixie. No, surely this couldn't be happening.

My daughter was strong, but I wasn't sure if she was actually prepared. I wasn't sure if she could win this whole thing and come back home alive. Even if she did, I knew she wouldn't be the same person. Victors were never the same when they came home. That's just not how things worked. The Games changed people. Victors were always killers, and I could only imagine what becoming a killer would do to a person.

I didn't want Nixie to die, that was for certain, but was the trauma of becoming a victor the better option? I hoped so. I truly hoped so. I just wanted her to come home, but I didn't want her to suffer.

I needed my daughter to make it home alive.

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453 words

waves of blood and fear [nerida oneshot series] 89th Jan 23, 2022 10:51:58 GMT -5

Post by kap on Jan 23, 2022 10:51:58 GMT -5

N E R I D A
S U M M E R S

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J U S T I C E
B U I L D I N G

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When my husband and I walked up the concrete stairs of the Justice Building, knowing my daughter was being held within so that we could say our goodbyes, I felt my heart pounding. Would this truly be goodbye? Would it be the very last time we saw her? I wasn't ready for that.

Reaching the room where she was being held, the Peacekeepers standing outside the door told us that we had to wait for a few moments: someone else was in there. I nodded, at first wondering who would have gotten here before us, and then realizing it was likely Marina.

A minute or so later, the door to the room opened and Marina came out. She didn't make eye contact with us as she left, just pushing past us to leave. The Peacekeeper then told us that we could head into the room with Nixie, so we did just that. Entering the room, my heart started racing even more. Nixie was seated on a very plush-looking couch, but stood up when she noticed that we had entered the room.

Walking over to us, Nixie gave us each a hug. A weak smile crossed my face, trying to tell her it would all be okay. Arno didn't smile. He sat there, as if lost in his own thoughts.

Nixie didn't seem all too worried, though.

"How are you holding up?" I asked her.

"Fine," she responded simply. "I talked with Marina. It'll be okay."

Nixie started fidgeting with a gemstone necklace that she was wearing. I'd seen Marina wearing it in the past, every reaping day. She must've decided to give it to Nixie as a token to bring with her into the Hunger Games.

Into the Hunger Games. That was a terrifying thought for a mother: her child going to fight in the Hunger Games.

"We care about you, Nixie," I assured her. Arno was still quiet. When he was nervous, he hid it by not speaking a single word. I could tell, right now, he was scared. He just didn't want Nixie to know.

"I know you do," she said.

There was another round of hugs exchanged before we all just sat there in silence for a moment or so. Then, a Peacekeeper poked his head into the room to tell us that our time was almost up, and to start wrapping it up. I nodded and thanked him. He closed the door and I spoke to my daughter again.

"Nixie, you can do this. You've trained for this. You'll make it home alive. I have confidence in you," I told her, although not entirely certain of my own words.

"Let's see if you're right," she told me.

Then, time was up. We were escorted out of the room too quickly for me to say anything else, or to even hug Nixie again. This could be the last time I saw her. I suppose I'd see if that was the case soon enough.

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482 words