{ h o p e } of another//eva oneshot

It's been a year now. A full year since the second twin of my smaller set disappeared into a coffin in the ground. Her life vanished from this world, but never in my mind. In my dreams Lily and Paige still play together, the writer and the actress, a symbiotic relationship that can never be torn apart. Everything is innocent in my mind when I think of them. When I think of my younger siblings that have departed from this world everything is no longer depressing and sad. My only solace in this horrible world is floating into my mind to watch the miniature one-person plays they set up in their room.

"Now presenting the amazing Paigdini!"

Lily would announce into the room. I would clap for my little girls as Paige appeared on the stage, in her mind imagining that she was conjuring magic tricks, shooting fire from her hands, escaping the miserable world that they were forced to live in.

"Watch her amazing feats of daring do and the magical mayhem that she causes!"

Lily would yell into the room, echoing throughout the house and drawing Preston, my parents, and sometimes Eterna, Genitian, and Canvas into the room if they were over at the house to visit. I always despised Svana when she came over, though. If she wasn't downstairs being left alone while their show was being performed she would waltz into the room like the Queen of Everything that Lily had become, and then provide scathing critique for the show, trying to make it seem as if it was all just a stupid child's story.

They had been childrens' stories too, but that is what made them so wonderful. The only way to forget about where we were in life was to change life itself.

"I volunteer!"

The words that changed everything. I never see the girl Lily volunteered for any more. I think she is trying to avoid us now for letting our little girl die. I can't blame her and you wouldn't too if you had seen the state of my parents after Lily's eye "accidentally connected with Circe Lyon's knife" as Svana put it.

"I volunteer!"

Those two words, just those two words shattered my heart all over again. After Svana came up to me after it happened I couldn't contain myself and had scathingly said to her, "So I suppose Paige's neck just happened to be in the way of Saxton Hale's spear by chance too?" I remember Svana smiling at my outburst. I hate her so much.

It is now the day of the reaping all over again. I feel like this day has happened in my mind on repeat, wondering what it will be like. Will there be some brave soul like Paige and Lily who decide to save a life, or will there be someone else being sent to their untimely death.

I have showered. I have put on my nice white dress. I have something that hasn't been with me until now though, a locket containing a picture of Lily and Paige, laughing and smiling up at the camera. I sit on my bed, and with a click, the locket slides open.

Their faces remind me of how they use to laugh and play despite the horrible events going on around them. How they kept trying to sneak peaks at the TV screen during games season and Preston and I had to literally drag their small forms away from the bloody mess playing. I feel as though it was a mistake now. I feel as though it is our fault they died. Lily and Paige went in unprepared for what might await for them in whatever hell the gamemakers might have dreamt up for them.

A tear splatters on the locket and I quickly move it away before my water works can destroy the two pictures of my lost siblings.

I hear my mom call up from downstairs, weariness evident in her voice.

"Ready to go yet, Eva? Preston already left."

I sigh and call down to her,

"Coming mom."

I click the locket close after taking one last look at my siblings, and then I wipe my final tears away before standing, ready to have my heart shattered all over again.