"if i'm a ghost
then so are you"
Emerald Colter hasn't known peace at any time in her life; and with her reaping comes a chance for her to finally make her mother proud of her. Only, when she returns home, everything remains the same and...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Emerald hates this time of year, the time where a bunch of children are going to be sent to a meaningless death. Whilst she may no longer be eligible, it's now her responsibility to try and get District Eight's tributes out alive. It was hard the first year she had to do it, and she's sure this one will be just as bad. What makes it even worse is that Phoenix will not be joining her this year — he wasn't supposed to last year either.
Instead, she'll be joined by Silas who is relatively a stranger. She supposes it'll be nice to finally get to know something about him, he's more closed off than she is, which is a pretty big achievement.
The brunette sinks into the lounge beside Esme, leaning her head against the older woman's shoulder almost as if she's seeking support and comfort. Phoenix sits on her other side, his hand gently grasping her's and it's probably the first time she's ever felt so secure. Her mother, on the other hand, wouldn't even sit on the same lounge as her if she was back home.
The familiar static takes over the previously blank screen, until it eventually settles on an image of President Snow who is getting ready to take the podium. The Capitol residents are yelling and screaming, joyful screeches as they await the announcement that the rest of Panem is dreading.
Who knows what they have in store this year — family members of ex tributes? Three times as many tributes? All one District having to compete instead of Twelve?
All of them are horrid and yet they may not even be the cruelest stipulations that the Capitol can come up with. The President is exceptionally cruel, and after the events of the past few months, he is more desperate than ever to assert his dominance over the Districts of Panem.
The man steps up to the podium, his lips the familiar blood red as a result of wine consumption. Emerald is convinced he keeps it that way on purpose, that it's his way of instilling fear subtly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 75th year of the Hunger Games," President Snow announces and unconsciously, Emerald squeezes Phoenix's hand just that little bit tighter.
His sentence is met with cheers so loud that they make the teenager flinch in response. These people have no hearts, no morals, it gets more and more evident with each passing year. How can they possibly cheer when they know that his will be a year of even more suffering?
"It was written in the charter of the games that every twenty-five years there will be a Quarter Quell. Now, on this the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion we celebrate the third Quarter Quell," Snow continues with almost a sickly sweet expression, the Capitol residents once again erupting into cheers.
The anticipation for what he's about to say can be seen in his facial expression, a certain glimmer in his normally stone cold gaze. He's excited, gleeful even, and that bodes well for nobody. Along with the happiness that practically lights up his face, there is a hint of smugness buried within. This man is planning something sinister.
