❖ Book 1 of 3 ❖
【 Slow burn fanfic 】
║ A Prequel to the Hunger Games Trilogy ║
Isla Dunne of District 4 was a career. She had trained her whole life for the Hunger Games, an annual event held by the Capitol. A blood bath where 2 children, ages 12-18...
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ISLA WOKE TO her mother softly shaking her. She looked around in concern, her thoughts consumed by her memories of the arena. She felt her heart pounding against her chest, and gripped her mothers arms, violently jerking her off of her shoulders. "Woah, hunny, it's okay." Her mother, Ophelia, speaks in a calming tone. She doesn't attempt to remove Isla's tight grip, instead standing as still as a statue, waiting for her daughter to come back to reality. "You're home, in District Four. You're okay."
Isla takes a deep shaking breath. Her mother had stopped trying to wake her up only days after she had returned home, due to her unpredictable reactions. Isla would apologize profusely, insisting she had a bad dream and was only startled. However, her mother knew it wasn't just the dreams. Her daughter would be on edge for a long time, haunted by the feeling of being hunted at all times.
"What's going on?" Isla had to assume something important was happening if her mother decided to wake her up after months of avoiding it.
"Your team is here, Lucius, I think his name is, said not to wake you- but..." Her mother trailed off, and Isla had to fight the corners of her mouth as they threatened to turn upwards. No doubt, her stylist's team was wrecking havoc on her parents, gushing about the oddities of District Four and poking and prodding at every item that they didn't have in the Capitol.
Her mother exited the bedroom, and Isla rose to a sitting position. She tests the floor as if dipping her feet into the ocean for the first time in the summer. It's cold, and she takes a deep breath before planting her soles on the freezing hard wood. She doesn't bother to change out of her sleeping clothes, and only combs through her hair with her fingers. They would get her ready, there was no need for her to try and look presentable for them.
Isla could hear the flamboyant voices of the prep team as they chattered excitedly. As she rounded the corner and entered the kitchen, she could see her mother awkwardly smiling and nodding, a plate of biscuits and a kettle of tea set out for their guests. Her father presumably left, excusing himself to go check on his boat at the wharf. Isla couldn't imagine his reaction when opening the door, revealing such colourful people standing excitedly, waiting for his daughter.
"There she is!" Viola's sing-song voice chimes as her fiery red eyes plant themselves on Isla in the archway to the kitchen. The woman has changed, her once pale skin is now unnaturally dark, and her hair is pitch black with red streaks in a high ponytail. Kyro and Kyla, twins Isla had assumed, looked identical still. With their albino skin, electric blue hair, and empty eyes. She knew it had to be contacts, they wouldn't be able to see without pupils, but their blank white eyes still trained on her disgruntled figure.
"Good morning." Isla greeted with a weak smile. Her brain was still fogged by her nightmarish thoughts.
"Are you ready?" A voice speaks from behind her, and she turned to meet the gaze of Lucius, who had walked up behind her. She nodded before hugging the frail man. He wrapped his arms around her, welcoming the embrace.
