for them | d3 train blitz

It's all becoming a little too real for Atticus Manor. Everything in his life exists on the back burner until a lifetime dwindles to a decade, a decade to a few years. Now, with less than three months until their twelfth birthday, what he thought of as the future way back when is caught braiding with the present and the past. His kids are much more mature, now, at eleven years old. Each has a personality of their own and a little more understanding of him and his life. They know what the Hunger Games are, and they know what they did to Atticus and could do to them if luck goes astray. He said goodbye to them this morning, Sylas, Eryn, and Maddox. It's painful to say goodbye even when he knows they'll be here in a few weeks' time. It's even more heart-aching to think of saying goodbye and never seeing them again.

The door abruptly slides open and Atticus jolts back from his worrying. Attempt Number Nineteen of trying to help these kids break out of their shells and win the Hunger Games. Sometimes, he truly wishes them the best when they succeed, but the other half of him doesn't want to live through decades and decades of trying (and failing) to mentor someone else's kids into surviving and killing.

Sparky is in first while the two tributes saunter in after them: Kassia Simons and Linnaea Valentine. He shoots them both a calm wave and invites them to have a seat. Nineteenth time is a charm, right? "Welcome, both of you. Settle on in, have some food or drinks or whatever you want." He's trying to remain calm but he burns on the inside. Atticus needs to master this game and bring one of them home. For their families. For themselves. For everyone.

a. m.