𓏲 . SURVIVAL GAME . .៹♡
                                                       CHAPTER TWO
                                       ─── THE REAPING DAY

It was unavoidable ; the day of the reaping arrived. Velren did not know what he was supposed to feel. He stood with the other victors on the small stage where the names were drawn. His former mentor Tobias Hale, who was eight years older than him, stood to his left, while his sister's former mentor Adrian Everett stood to his right.

His eyes searched through the crowd, falling on his younger brother standing among the other citizens; his face was blank, but Velren knew Elias well enough to know that he was filled with worry. 

Velren averted his gaze as the opulent escort of District 13, Jenna Wood, joined the victors on stage. With her glittering top, which swayed with her every movement, and her tight pencil skirt, which faded from red to black and had small silver phoenix figures sewn into the hem, she clearly represented her district. 

After they played the video of utter bullshit, Jenna started talking. "Hello my fellow citizens of District Thirteen! It is my pleasure to announce for you the Victors that will take part in this year's Quarter Quell!" Jenna sang the last part as if it was her favorite song, earning a subtle glare from Velren and the other victors.

 Jenna walked towards the large glass bowl with Velren's sister's name on it. "And this year's tribute for the annual Quarter Quell is..." She grabbed the name and unfolded it. "Celestia Black!" When Celestia stepped forward to take her place next to the escort, her face was devoid of any emotion, she looked like a robot. 

Jenna cheered and then began talking in excitement. "Now for the men!" She clambered over to the giant bowl of names that held three male Victors. Her hand didn't hesitate this time around, and as she unfolded the second tribute, Velren closed his eyes.

His heart was now pounding with excitement as Jenna read out the name in a clear voice. And it wasn't his name. It was the name of Tobias Hale, his former mentor. 

Before Tobias could take a step forward, Velren shot forward and stopped Tobias from moving with his arm. "I volunteer as tribute!"  The words felt like poison on his tongue, but they also gave him a justice that strengthened his purpose. 

"Don't do this,Vel!" Tobias demanded as he turned to him. "You can't stop me." Velren remarked in a determined voice before  he turned around from the boy and  went to stand next to Jenna.

"Well, our two victors for the 75th Hunger Games, Velren and Celestia Black!" Jenna exclaimed. "Now shake hands you two!" Velren met the brown eyes from his sister as he turned to take her hand.

Then first one, then another, then almost everyone in the crowd touched the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and held them out to them. It was an old and rarely used gesture in District 12 and 13 that is occasionally seen at funerals. It signified thanks, it signified admiration, it signified farewell to the one you love.

Jenna accompanied the twin into the justice building, closely followed by a group of peacekeepers. Velren and Celestia soon realized what was going on. They weren't given the time they needed to say goodbye to their loved ones, but were taken straight to the Capitol. "No." they whispered under their breaths.

They looked at  Elias, the words forming into a goodbye in their throats. But they didn't come. They felt someone push them forward and towards the main entrance of the train, leaving them with their backs to their district.

They slammed the door shut. The wheels began to turn and Velren stared out the window and watched District 13 disappear, with all the goodbyes still clinging to him. 

He remained with his sister at the window long after the forest had swallowed the last glimpse of his home. This time Velren had not the slightest hope of returning. Before the first games, he had promised Elias he would do anything to win, and now he had sworn to himself that he would do anything to keep Celestia alive.

"You both can write letters. "  said Velren's former Mentor from behind them. "It will be better, anyway. Give him a piece of you both to hold on to. Adrian or I will deliver them for you ... if they need to be delivered."

Jenna reminded Velren und Celestia that they could eat anything they wanted, wear anything they desired, and stay up as late as they wanted since they weren't the usual pair of tributes she received every year; and they're adults. All she requested was that they made it for dinner at seven.

Velren headed to his room that was made especially for him. It had a bedroom and a bathroom with various types of silver buttons ranging from luxurious soaps to scented oils to spiking and plunging water temperatures.

As he undressed, Velren allowed himself a moment of respite, relishing the solitude that enveloped him.With deliberate slowness, he approached the array of buttons, each one holding the promise of a unique sensory experience. 

He hesitated for a moment before choosing a combination that sent powerful jets of hot water cascading over him, the sensation both invigorating and calming. The warmth seeped into his muscles, soothing the tension that had accumulated throughout the day.

Velren wrung the water from his hair and briskly opened one of the drawers in a large dresser. He grabbed a pair of comfortable trousers and a navy blue sweater, quickly dressing after the refreshing shower. Then he headed towards the dining area, where the aroma of a modest Capitol dinner lingered in the air.

The clinking of cutlery and muted conversations greeted him as he entered. Tobias looked up from his plate and  welcomed Velren with a bright smile. "There you are finally! We were wondering where you were." Velren nodded at him and took a seat across from Jenna and Tobias and next to his sister,who was sitting next to Adrian.

"It's so lovely to see you both again, especially you, my dear."Jenna turned her attention to Velren. "Now, this year will be different because it's a Quarter Quell. The Capitol has spared no expense, a new training centre. New tribute living quarters and of course, a very special arena. "

Adrian patted the corner of his mouth with a napkin before he talked. "Jenna is right. This isn't like going into the arena with twenty-four other kids. These people are adults and just as smart cunning, skilled as you, maybe even more so." He glanced at Velren when he said this. "Which means you need to make allies." Tobias added and looked at the twins. "Okay. Who have we got?" Velren agreed instantly while twirling his soup spoon.

After dinner,they gathered in the compartment with the television to see who their competition will be in the arena. They were all in place as the anthem begans to play and the annual recap of the reaping ceremonies in the thirteen districts begans.

"Cashmere and Gloss. " Tobias said, and pointed to the television on the wall behind him and Adrian.  It showed two people, a man and a woman, who were holding hands and smiling proudly. "Brother and sister. District one. They won there games a year apart as you both. Capitol favorites. Lots of sponsors. They will be lethal."

Adrian switched to the screen and showed the tributes from District 2. "And the other half of the Career Pack, Brutus and Enobaria." The young man introduced the two victors, with the woman baring her bared teeth at the camera. "Don't trust them. They've both known each other for awhile and they are a great team. Enboria had her teeth filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out."

"Wiress and Beetee. " Tobias continued after Adrian changed the screen again. "Not fighters, but brilliant. And weird. Real tech-savvy. He won his Games by electrocuting six Tributes at once." Then Adrian changed the screen to District 6. "The Morphlings. Masters of camouflage. Basically, won their Games by hiding until everyone else was dead. Self-medicating ever since. " he told them.  Tobias couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Which I applaud. Not a threat." he said.

Velren and Celestia exchanged glances with each other at that, but waited for Adrian to change the sceen to the next district. A handsome young man with blonde hair and sea-green eyes from District 4 was now on the screen.He waved to the fans , a charming smile playing around his lips.

"Finnick Odair,right?" Velren inquired of the others. Tobias nodded. "He won his games at fourteen— Extremely humble." The sarcasm in Tobias ' voice was obvious at the last sentence.  Celestia's incredulous sigh mirrored the disbelief shared by the others. "You're kidding." she remarked, her gaze fixed on the screen.

Tobias, with a sly smile, admitted, "Yes, I am kidding. He's a peacock, a total preener. But he's The Capitol darling. They love him here. Charming, smart, and very skilled at combat—especially in water, just like you, Velren." Velren raised an eyebrow at the comparison, a smirk forming on his lips. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment. Water has always been my element. " he replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

As they continued watching, Finnick's younger sister, Aurora Odair, graced the screen. The resemblance between the siblings was uncanny. "Aurora Odair.  She won the games five years after him. " Adrian announced.  Tobias, always the insightful mentor, added, "She's brilliant, much like Finnick, but in different ways."

"What about their weaknesses?" Celestia asked, as she leaned forward and rested her forearms on her knees.  "Every victor has them."  "It's simple to put it,each other. " Adrian replied. "The relationship between Finnick and Aurora makes them vulnerable. If one of them is in danger, the other will try to protect that one in any way."

The large television soon showed Finnick and Aurora hugging, and him placing a gentle kiss on top of her head while whispering something to her.

Adrian then changed the screen to District 12, revealing the images of a young woman with shoulder-length, dark hair and olive green eyes and a young man with blond hair and blue eyes. "Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, you know them both. They are lovers and won the games last year. Make friends with them, they are loyal allies."

━━ AUTHORS NOTE

Hope you enjoyed chapter two!

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Until next time <3