𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟 ⟢ 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕆𝕕𝕒𝕚𝕣

-օռɛ

Willa Levine sat in the living room, simply watching her roommate walk around. The TV was on for background noise at the moment as they waited for the announcement of the Quarter Quell. Despite already being reaped nine years prior, Willa had a need to know what this year's was going to be about.

"What do you think they're gonna do?" Katia asked, bouncing her kid on her hip. Kathryn Hart, Willa's best friend, and only family now, was a year older than Willa. The two had met in school when they were younger and when Willa got reaped when she was 13, they thought it was the last time they were going to see each other. But when Willa had come out alive, Katia was relieved to see her. A few years later, however, when Willa was 16 the Capitol was going to force her into prostitution because she was deemed... desirable. She went along with it for four years but when she finally refused, the Capitol killed her entire family leaving her with only Katia.

"Could be anything," Willa mumbled. Willa couldn't think of a logical thing the Capitol would do for the Quarter Quell even if she tried. The first Quarter quell, nearly 30 years before Willa was born, the Districts had to vote on who got sent into the arena. Now the second Quarter Quell, only three years before Willa was born, had twice as many tributes. Now if you asked Willa, she would've said you were crazy if you said someone from District 12 won that game. She would've bet money that a career would've won, seeing as there were 12 of them.

"Mama!" the two-year-old babbled, tugging on her mothers shirt. Clover Hart was one of Katia's two kids - the other being four-year-old Axel who sat on the couch with Willa.

"Yes, baby?" Katia asks softly, gently stroking her daughter's cheek. Clover pointed at the screen to bring her mother's attention to it. There on the TV stood Snow about to announce what the next Quarter Quell was.

"Oh thank you, baby," Katia hummed, kissing the top of Clover's head. Willa shifted her attention to the TV as Axel climbed onto her lap.

"This is the 75th year... of the Hunger Games. It was written in the charter of the games. Every 25 years there will be a Quarter Quell. To keep fresh for each new generation the memory of those who died and the uprising against the Capitol. Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by games... of a special significance. Now on this eve, we celebrate the third Quarter Quell. As a reminder, that is even the strongest, cannot overcome. The power of the Capitol. This is the third Quarter Quell game. The male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors in each district," all of the color was drawn from Willa's face as Snow spoke. Yeah, she was a Career but she didn't want to go back in the Arena.

"Auntie Will," Axel said, gently hitting the girl's arm. Katia looked back at the sound of her son's voice to see Willa as white as a ghost. District 2 had nine total victors but one had died leaving eight of them - three guys and five girls. Every girl had a 20% chance of being reaped if they didn't volunteer for someone else. But Willa knew everyone, including herself, would volunteer for at least one of the others.

"Willa," Katia softly spoke, setting Clover down on the couch and kneeling in front of the girl. The girl was now 22, being 13 when she first got reaped. There's almost always someone who volunteers, being from District 2 and all. But Willa was one of the unlucky ones. No one had volunteered.

"I don't wanna go in there again," Willa whispered, not being able to get her voice any louder. She was scared, yeah, but as much as she didn't want to, she had a high chance of being back.

"Axel, do you wanna go play with Clover for a bit? I need to talk to Auntie Willa for a bit," Katia softly spoke to her children.

"Ok, mama!" Axel eagerly nodded, climbing off of Willa's lap and doing his best to pick his baby sister up. But Axel was small, so it was hard for him to do so.

"I know for a fact that I'd volunteer for someone Kat, but.... I don't wanna go back there," Willa whispered. Her thoughts were conflicting and that was stressing the girl out. Katia just reached out to tuck some hair behind her ear, trying to keep her as calm as possible.

"You don't have to do anything you don't have to do. And besides, you'll have three others in there on your side," Katia softly said.

"Five... District 4... hopefully Finnick is with me," Willa shakily said. If Willa were to be sent into the arena, she hoped she had Finnick with her. The two won back to back games and were the two youngest victors to win their respective games. They had each other's backs.

"Ah yes, Finnick. I want both of you to be safe but I hope you have him," Katia said as a knock on the door drew her attention away. The girl stood up, gently dropping Willa's hands before heading to answer the door. Willa watched as the redhead pulled back the curtains a bit to see who was at the door before going to open it.

"It's just some of your friends, Wills. Come in, come in," Katia said, opening the door fully so they could come in. Enobaria Cyprus, the victor of the 62nd Hunger Games, and Brutus Aven, the victor of the 44th Hunger Games. Both victors had mentored Willa and she grew close to them after she reigned superior.

"Mama, who here?" Axel asks, wandering into the room, doing his best to carry Clover in his arms. Willa faintly smiled at the sight as she pushed herself up off the couch to greet her friends.
"Some of Auntie Will's friends," Katia smiled, leaning down to take Clover from his arms. Clover wriggled a bit in her mother's arms before wrapping her arms around her. Clover loved being held, especially by her mother.

"Mama!" Clover squealed.

"Auntie Will talks about you," Axel said, pointing at Enobaria. That was true. Willa looked up to Enobaria. She saw her as an older sister.

"Oh, she does?" Enobaria asked the four-year-old, a smirk playing on her lips. Axel nodded, looking up at Willa and reaching his arms up to him. But instead of picking him up, Willa kneeled down to his level.

"I have to go out with my friend's for a bit, okay baby? I'll be back soon and then I'll pick you up as much as you want me to!" Willa said to him. Axel frowned a bit but nodded in understanding as he watched Willa slip her shoes on. He gave her a big hug before she had the chance to get up and watched as she left with her friends.

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧

The three victors were out for hours before Willa finally made her back home. She had a lot on her mind and so did Brutus and Enobaria. But the two older victors let Willa talk for as long as she needed. She was the second youngest victor in District 2 but had been the youngest victor overall when she won. She needed time to talk through her thoughts.

"Wills?" Katia's voice drifted throughout the house as she heard the front door open and close.
"Yeah, it's me," Willa called back, going to the kitchen where she assumed Katia's voice came from. There stood Katia who was serving dinner for her and her kids. Clover was in her high chair at the end of the table and Axel sat in a chair next to her.

"I just made mac and cheese for the kids if you want any," Katia said as she set two bowls down in front of each of the kids.

"Yes please," Willa nodded, taking a seat across from Axel.

"Hi Auntie Will," Axel said as he started eating, not caring about the mess he was making. Both he and Clover were messy eaters but they were young so it was to be expected. Willa quietly greeted the young kid as Katia placed a bowl in front of her. Oh, how Willa loved mac and cheese.

"Thank you," she softly said. The 22-year-old needed as much comfort as she could get over the next couple of weeks. And Willa couldn't be more grateful that she had Katia.