Reaper ~ THG AU

Ch. 35: Recap

Noviana dresses me in a gorgeous red ball gown, my prep team working on my hair and makeup to match. A buzz settles around the room as they all work together to make me presentable. As if I wasn't just laying in my temporary bed an hour ago.

Ditus stands behind me, gushing over the dress and how beautiful I look. I don't feel beautiful. In fact, I don't feel anything. Only the unquenchable grief and loneliness that hasn't left since Acacius died.

My eyes are lifeless, the only color on my skin coming from the makeup they are applying. My usually golden tan seems ghostly pale, almost ashy. Deep purple bags settle under my dull orbs, telling how little sleep I've gotten in the last few days.

Sanchi covers that up fast, dabbing a magic powder where my bags hang. Minerva and Venus fix my curls into a neat up due, a few strands loose to frame my face. Noviana bends beside me, pinning up a portion of the dress that seems a bit long.

"You look absolutely beautiful..."

Ditus gushes from behind me, the tall figure clear in the floor length mirror before me. I try to smile, my eyes dead and numb. It's impossible to feel anything other than grief right now.

And with what I'm having to watch today...

I think it's best if I don't feel at all.

"Thank you, Ditus..."

The escort sniffles, wiping a stray tear before stepping forward. A familiar gold chain hangs in the manicured hands that match the gold dress on their tall frame. My prep team makes the final touches before stepping out of Ditus' way.

"I figured you'd want this for today..."

I push back my tears, a true smile gracing my lips as Ditus steps behind me. Noviana smiles, fluffing my fixed dress before stepping back and turning towards her station of accessories. My eyes fall back onto Ditus, the cool feeling of my family locket sending a pleasant shock through my body.

"I saw it with a few of your belongings after the surgery on your neck...."

The thought of my almost crushed windpipe makes me shiver, flashes of how it happened filling my mind. Ditus seems to notice, clipping the locket before gently rubbing my shoulders. I feel tears welling up as I stare at the jewelry now around my neck. It's now not the only thing of my parents, but if Acacius as well.

I'm glad to have it back...

"Oh! Don't cry! You'll ruin all my hard work!"

Sanchi jokes, holding out a handkerchief. It has a yellow border, an embroidered daisy near two initials. Flashes of Acacius's body surrounded by the same flowers fill my mind. His eyes lifeless as his blood coats my fingers.

I blink away the memory, using the cloth to dab at the edge of my eyes. Noviana sends me a sad smile as she steps over with two different earrings. Ditus squeezes my shoulders before stepping away, allowing my stylist to hold up her options.

She hums before picking the more dainty of the two. The gold chains hang from my ears, matching my necklace perfectly. She steps back over to the table to grab a few matching gold bracelets before slipping them onto my wrist. Noviana smiles before fixing a curl out of place.

"It's almost time..."

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I watch myself in the mirror. The frame and build is the same as the girl who left for the reaping weeks ago. Yet...I feel completely different.

Acacius is gone, never to return home with me. I left with him. How can I look my sister in the eyes with the knowledge that she saw his death live on television? How can I look at his empty room? Or pass his possessions that will still haunt our home?