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
