𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟒𝟎

two months had passed since the announcement of the quarter quell and since then, jihyun had been reminded that she was the only female victor left so she would therefore be the only name in the pool of female victors. and a month had passed since she began training like a career in preparation.

her family hadn't seen her much, as during the day she was training and then at night, she'd lock herself in her room. she hadn't spoken to her friends either. doyoung had tried to reason with her that she needed a day to process everything but she refused to listen. she needed to be ready.

"ji, please talk to me." doyoung pleaded, standing behind the girl as she threw knives at the tree opposite her.

"go away, doyoung. you should be training too in case your name gets picked." she replied, tossing her last knife. then she picked up the bow and arrow.

"you cannot be like this. you need to speak to your friends. we're all in the same situation here."

"yes, i am aware of that! very much! but i cannot stop to think for even a second because if i do, i will spiral and let my emotions get the best of me."

"that's okay to do..."

"being a victor ensured us safety from taking part in the games ever again. we had an advantage no one else did, but suddenly snow wants to throw us back in the arenas. you think i don't know what he's doing? he's torturing us because he's still mad that we beat his dumb fucking system. and do you think sol really passed in her sleep? no. he killed her. he's been planning this for months." she let out a breathy laugh, shooting an arrow. "i should've expected this. i should've been prepared beforehand."

"ji, put the bow down." doyoung said.

"what?" she sighed, tossing it to the ground.

when she turned around to face him, he pulled her in for a hug and she tensed, trying to push him away but he didn't pull back and held her in place, rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"you're not alone. please remember that. don't drown yourself in all this as a way to escape reality. you did that in the first games but then you met amazing people who helped you open up and saved you. you need them and they're waiting for you. they're only a call away. do not push them away because you're not doing anyone any favours. please talk to them, if not me."

jihyun felt a sting in her heart as she wrapped her arms around him. he was right. he always was. she had him and her friends. they were all in the same situation.

"i've been selfish..." she whispered. "i'm—"

"it's fine. you don't have to apologise. just go freshen up then speak to the boys. i think training is good and perfectly reasonable. just don't overdo it and do more harm than good to yourself."

"okay, but..."

"we'll talk more later. now go."

he pushed her by the shoulders and she nodded then took off towards the house. she went immediately towards the room with the hologram and started it up since it was around the time she used to talk to the others.

"where've you been?" was the first thing chenle asked when she joined the hologram call for the first time in two months.

"avoiding everyone." she admitted the half-truth.

"foxy, it's been two months. we were worried and we've missed you so much." jaemin said and she could make out the disappointed look on his face.

"you can't do that to us..." haechan added.

"i'm sorry. i was overworking and torturing myself by training in preparation for the games." she admitted. "there are only a couple of months left... i need to keep training."