[Prequel to CAN'T CATCH ME NOW]
Irene Portwell knew she was made for the extraordinary.
She just didn't know it was her 'destiny' to end up in the hunger games the moment she heard her name called.
Everyone had placed a sickening bet on her, sayin...
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Two Road to Hell.
—— WHEN HER name echoed in the air, silence greeted her. Not one smile or applause were sent her way the moment their beady eyes landed on her small weak figure. No meat but bones. The blonde gripped the skirt of her dress tightly as she willed her feet to move towards the stage. She did not dare to look at her surroundings, and she didn't have to as she could feel their disappointed and pitied gaze on her.
She doesn't have to be in the game to know she had no chance of surviving inside the arena.
Irene risked herself to glance up from the concrete, only to the president staring down at her with questions reflected in his pale blue eyes. Studying her like she was an interesting specimen that belonged to a case study. Once she was on stage, standing next to Violet, she forced herself to face the people of district 1. Face bare of any pride to represent her district.
What's the use of being happy, when you already know you're going to die?
Violet's long nails gripped her shoulders. "My, my, what a beautiful young lady!" The escort announced.
"Thank you." Irene managed a reply despite the feeling of her jaw being screwed shut.
"And polite too! Oh, I'm sure the world would love to see more of you." Violet giggled. She ushered her to stand next Ender before wrapping up the reaping ceremony.
As Irene stood next to Ender, all sounds became static to her ears and she could only hear her heartbeat beating loudly and rapidly in her chest. Her eyes searched through the sea of people to find her family and once she finally saw them, her shoulders fell. Jolene had turned her head away from her, a frown had been placed on her lips, and Perseus... he was nowhere in sight.
She could feel the stage swallowing her whole as loneliness began to creep in. Time had started to speed up and the next thing she knew, Irene was being led to a room separated from Ender and everyone. She was pushed to sit down in the leather chair, sitting idly until someone came to get her for departure. Irene looked up from her lap to the door, a small part of her was hoping anyone would come and at least bid her goodbye.
Seconds turned to minutes and still no one had come to see her.
Was she truly alone?
The door opened and Irene stood up with hope.
"Percy?" She questioned.
Unfortunately, it wasn't him.
Men dressed in white uniforms— the peacekeepers, had entered to get her. Her chest deflated and she finally accepted her fate. Irene let them guide her out of the room and towards the car waiting for them. Ender was already there with Violet, and being the gentleman he was, he helped the escort enter the car first before he assisted her and then went in lastly. Irene kept her head down as she wasn't the type to initiate a conversation with new faces but Ender had done a good job for the two of them as he and Violet engaged in a conversation regarding the luxurious life of a Capitol citizen. They were talking over her as if she was nothing.
