THE GREAT WAR (f. odair)

CHAPTER 2.

Aellia and Darius were separated as they were ushered back into the building, being brought to separate rooms so their family could say goodbye.

She nervously picked at her nails for what felt like hours until she heard the door slammed open and a harsh voice said, "3 minutes."

Her mother and father appeared in front of  her, causing her to stand up and let them circle her in a hug, "My darling girl." Her mother sobbed out.

Aellia could feel her eyes watering as she gripped onto her parents, "I don't want to go." She whimpered.

Her dad pulled back from the hug and gently grasped his daughters face.

"I know you don't want to go and there's nothing we can do to control it but come back to us. Please." Apollo spoke, tears now threatening to leave his eyes.

"Fight. Do what you need to do. We know you're skilled with your knives and a trident. Finnick can help you, he will. He was amazing with his trident, you remember. Just please try to come back to us. We can't lose another one."

The mention of her sisters passing broke Aellia's heart into pieces. Her sister, Alora, had passed when she was 5 and Aellia was 10 from an illness. The mention also brought forth a rage she knew couldn't be swept under anywhere.

She would fight to come back to her parents. Regardless of what it meant she had to do.

She nodded and hugged her mother alone, "Momma." She cried out, the soothing scent and feel of her mother holding her.

Atala rubbed her daughter's back while she held onto her own tears, "You will get through this. You will win, Aellia. Don't doubt yourself for a minute."

The Peacekeeper came into the room, "Time's up." The two parents kissed their daughter's forehead while sobs broke through Aellia.

"Mom! Dad!" She cried but the door slammed shut and they were gone. She was angry. She wanted nothing to do with these game yet she was stuck being a part.

She sat back down, her fists balled into her lap as they shook and her leg bounced anxiously. She was waiting to be escorted to the train.

The door opened, causing Aellia to look up. There, in all his glory, stood Finnick. She didn't stand up or even move other than keep her eyes on him.

"Aellia." He spoke, breaking the silence between the two first, "I'm escorting you to the train."

She sighed and stood up, brushing down the back of her dress and walked to the door. Finnick stepped out of the way so she could make her way out.

The silence between them wasn't particularly comfortable as they walked. It was full of hostility, mainly from Aellia's anger about the games.

"You know, it's normal to be mad." Finnick spoke after about two minutes of walking. Aellia turned her head and looked at him.

He looked down at her and offered a smile, "Nobody is happy to go into the games. What you're feeling is normal. The anger. We're all mad going into it."

Aellia bit down on her bottom lip and looked down at her feet as they walked together, her hands clasped behind her back.

"I don't know if it's just because i'm angry or i'm scared I will die in that arena. I can't leave my parents." She finally spoke, her bottom lip quivering after speaking the words.

Finnick rested a hand on her shoulder and sighed, "I know. I will do my best to guide you, Aellia. I remember in school, you were above me. Even if I was two years older. The games fear you."

The rest of the walk was silent while she soaked in all of Finnick's words, which did help. They stepped onto the train and immediately saw Cecelia and Darius sitting at the table. 

"Oh, hello, you two! Come, come! We are getting to know each other!" Cecelia spoke while clapping her hands together.

Darius snickered in his seat from the excitement Cecelia emitted. Aellia smirked and sat down next to Darius.

"So! You two know eachother, hm?" Cecelia pointed between Darius and Aellia.

"We went to school together." Aellia spoke, keeping her words short and sweet.

"Aellia was always nice and kind. I tried to be her friend but I think I annoyed her." Darius teased, nudging the smaller girl with his shoulder.

Her head whipped to look at him and she nudged him back, "That's not even true!" She fought.

Finnick chuckled and leaned back in his seat, "Oh, but it is. I tried to talk to you a few times and you would answer with a few words and turn away."

Aellia glared in Finnick's direction, "Fine, maybe I was a bit anti-social but in my defense, I had no time for friends."

"No worries, darling! We will work on that! The Capitol will grow to adore you!" Cecelia piped in, smiling at Aellia.

Aellia simply hummed in response and leaned back against her chair. The games weren't just about the people being thrown into an arena and fighting, the person would have to toy with the public too.

That's what Aellia knew she had to do to get home to her family. Darius was already very outgoing, very sweet and understanding. While Aellia was someone who was easy to get along with, in her own humble opinion, she wasn't necessarily outgoing.

Introverted was the best word to describe her. But she would do what ever it takes, "I'll take all the help I can get, thank you, Cecelia." She spoke, causing the escort to smile proudly.

The day passed by, Aellia looking out the window as the trees raced by from the speed they were going towards the Capitol. She ate some of her dinner, not all of it. The appetite she had dwindled.

Perhaps from the anxiety she was feeling. All the emotions she felt had hit her like a wave after everyone dismissed themselves for bed. Cecelia making sure Darius and Aellia knew it'd be big day with the parade the next day.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Aellia jumped and turned when she saw Darius standing there.

"I don't know if they'd be all the interesting. I know you're feeling the same way." She spoke softly as he sat next to her.

"Yeah. I'm feeling a lot of things right now. I'm mad you were chosen." Darius spoke and she turned her head to look at him.

"Not because you aren't strong or anything. You're physically the most equipped. Mentally though, you're too nice for your own good. You didn't deserve this. Your parents don't deserve the fear of losing another child."

Aellia felt a sad smile creep onto her face and she rested her hand on Darius' while she looked at him.

"My parents are broken over this. If you win and I don't come back, please make sure they know how important they are to me."

Darius and Aellia smiled at eachother and embraced. She almost regretted not becoming his friend sooner. Almost. Everything happens for a reason, she always liked to say.

Even now, with being chosen for the games, she still believed that. Everything does happen for a reason.

But she would make them pay for what has happened.