TAURA DIDN'T SEE Peeta much after that, afraid of what could happen to anyone, really, if they were seen interacting with either of the victors. It was like the same went for everyone else—Porter and previous victors. Katniss and Peeta were kept in the absolute dark, even during their Victory Tour.

Taura heard about them only when their train was on their way to District 10. She sat herself down in her mansion, instead watching Katniss and Peeta mount the stage and read their speech off of their cards. It was almost painful to watch. It didn't particularly seem so genuine. It must've been the offer Peeta made while in District 11 just a day ago.

       Taura didn't see it. She had only heard about it from one of the previous victors, Chaff, from District 11, who informed her over the phone. It could be seen as questionable as to why Taura had confided and made an ally out of a victor from another district that was double her age, but that was exactly why she did—she sensed some sort of connection with him. Something about him made him out to be a distant father figure and even better friend.

      Weeks had gone between then and the end of the Victory Tour, and Taura was just awaiting the next Games to come at this point. The Quarter Quell Games were huge in Panem, as the regular seasons were already. But every twenty-five years, the President tended to make it even bigger, bolder, and bloodier.

      She began hearing the rumors of what the Games could be that year. Some were suggesting that only nineteen-year-olds were to be reaped, just outside of the age group, or only twelve-year-olds. She even heard an idea from a District 11 citizen that the Capitol was going to accept an all female or all male reaping across all districts.

       It was only a matter of time before it would be announced, however. And it had come to the day it did.

Taura was fetching a glass of water for herself. She was going to be gulping down cups and cups to get her through the announcement. She never knew how nervous she could be until her reaping, then Porter's, and now this. Each year never seemed to be better than the last, and it was almost draining to think about when something like this could go away. If it could ever go away.

"Taura," her older brother, Avan, called from the living quarters. He, their younger brother, and their mother were sitting on the velvet couch, anxiously awaiting President Snow, along with every citizen of Panem. "It's about to start."

"Yeah," she said back, and exited the kitchen to make her way to her family. She sat down between her younger brother and mother, in which her mother watched her carefully. Reading her expression, her mother reached over to place her hand on Taura's arm in comfort.

"Everybody's been talking about what this year's Games could be," Stephen, their younger brother, spoke up. There were ounces of worry gathering in him as he looked over to his older sister. "What if one of my friends are to be reaped? Or people like Avan?"

He looked at his brother with the same worry he'd shown Taura. It was clear he heard the idea about nineteen-year-olds being eligible for this years Games. But no, that would be too easy. For a third Quell they would never make it that simple.

Avan placed his hand on the back of Stephen's head, holding a tuft of hair firmly. "I won't be," he reassured, though not promising his words. Ultimately and unfortunately, anything could happen. "Don't you ever think about that. Alright?"

The boys quieted down as soon as they heard President Snow's voice from their Capitol projector, each of them listening close to what the special event for the Games would be.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 75th year of The Hunger Games," President Snow's voice echoed through the room. "And it was written in the charter of The Games that every 25 years, there would be a Quarter Quell to keep fresh for each new generation in the memory of those who died in the uprising against The Capitol."

Taura could see her brothers join in holding hands for the time being, to which she responded by reaching for her mother and brothers, too.

"Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by Games of a special significance. And now on this the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate the 3rd Quarter Quell as a reminder . . . that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of The Capitol."

      Taura's breath was caught in her throat as she stared at the projection of President Snow's face, along with his slight smug look. "Wh— What does that mean?" she whispered, already feeling her gut being ripped from her body at the thought of the Capitol beating down 'the strongest' of Panem. What could that possibly entail?

      "On this, the 3rd Quarter Quell Games, the male and female Tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of Victors in each district."

Her mother didn't pause for a second to let out a sob, "No!"

       All the color drained from Taura's face when she realized she would be going back into the arena, and this time. with people she had grown to genuinely love and care for. She would've sacrificed herself for a few of the remaining victors, but she knew she would want to stay alive for her family. If she were to go into this—what would she choose?

      "Victors shall present themselves on Reaping Day, regardless of age . . . state of health or situation."

       Taura's mother was already in a fit of sobs from her side of the couch, unable to keep herself together at the mere thought of her daughter going back into the Games. Stephen seemed to be speechless, himself, but looked over to his brother, sister, and mother to see how they were feeling. The moment Taura looked into his eyes, she could see a sense of fear for her, and it was almost immediately flooded with tears of his own.

      Taura's hand rose to clamp over her mouth, vomit threatening to spew out. She had to excuse herself from the room as she dashed for the kitchen in panic, before throwing up her breakfast into the sink. It was like all her thoughts and feelings had gone away with it, too. She stared down at the mess she had made in the sink, tears brimming her eyes. Her breathing was unstable as she let out a soft cry.

      "This isn't fair," she could hear Stephen from the other room. There was only a yell that erupted out of Avan as Stephen cried out, "Carina would've volunteered for her. She's supposed to volunteer for her. This isn't fair!"

       A previous District 10 winner, someone who lived long enough up to last year. Someone who could save her. But she was gone. It was all the more reason to cry.

      It was sickening to know Victors would have to re-enter, the people who were promised immunity from the Games after they'd won. The Capitol promised. President Snow promised. Stephen was right; it wasn't fair.

Taura hated to think what Peeta or Katniss would have thought about this. Two star-crossed lovers who managed to find love in the Games, a death war, and having to die all over again. President Snow was far below being inhuman, and he chose to not bat an eye at the decision. If anything, Taura knew he was proud of it.

She gripped onto the edge of the counter as she fell to her knees, her limbs giving out completely as she let out another sob. She cried to herself in the kitchen for what felt like hours, or hopefully long enough to have to skip the part where she would have to attend the Reaping, then the Games, and finally the aftermath, where she could step out of her home and realize it was all over. Or that this could be some sick nightmare she was trapped in, that she was lucid dreaming and begging to wake up from this retched place.

It wasn't fair.

      It wasn't fair for anyone, even those who encouraged the Games. She could only hope the Capitol citizens were just as gutted as she was—for once in their flushed lives. They never had to worry as long as they ran with the herds. The Hunger Games was continuing for its 75th year, but things were changing. They were moving upon a new year, a new chapter, a new Game, new Victors to watch.

It took only a few minutes for Taura to grab her faux fur jacket and leather boots, then hurry across the grass and snow to the mansion across from hers. She sloppily raced up the steps and pounded her fist on the front door, and who opened it up was Porter.

His skin was paler than usual, though his nose was a little red. So were his eyes. He'd been crying just as she was.

       "You are not going in there," Taura was quick to say, guiding him back inside so she could enter as well. Porter shut the door and shook his head in disagreement, wiping the lower half of his face with his sleeve. "You can't go back. You just got out."

       "You did, too, Taura," Porter reminded her. Taura set her hand on the dining table and looked over at him, insisting, as well as hoping, that he wouldn't risk going out there with her if he wasn't reaped. "You were a year before me, remember that? You're the only female Victor in 10. You're going back in. So am I."

       "Only if you aren't reaped. If you are, Alec or Senner will volunteer in your place. That shouldn't be your choice to make."

        "But it is if I'm not reaped," Porter said. He'd grown irritated from Taura's insistence. There was a faint cry upstairs coming from his baby sister, to which caused him to tilt his head down, staring at the floor for a moment. Collecting himself, he spoke again, "I'm not letting you in there without me. You either live or die to get out of this. I want to fight alongside you despite the outcome."

Taura was beyond upset. But she wouldn't be able to stop him if he were to volunteer. That was, however, unless Alec or Senner were to take his place before he could. Taura was sure that they would. Porter had just come out of his Games. They wouldn't let a child back in, even if it meant sacrificing their own lives to stand for it.

She played the part. Pulling him in, Taura embraced the boy in a lasting hug. Who knew when one would be their last?

AUTHOR'S NOTE!
sorry if it was fast paced toward the end. i wrote the majority of this a while ago n jus finished half of that conversation today😭 if it doesnt flow well then my bad !!