"They look at me as if I wanted to be this way, like I wanted to become this monster hidden from the world."
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Daphne Dunn is just like every other teenager in the districts. Her name was written in a small paper, four times now that...
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The next morning was much easier to wake up to since Daphne received an appropriate amount of sleep. Training went the same as the day before, and the siblings were able to collect more information on a few other tributes.
Delilah, from District Eight, and Marianette, from District Six, are the youngest tributes, and they've become rather close in the past few days. An alliance has formed between the tributes of Districts Seven and Nine and the boy, Atlas Carlson, from District Eight, and Daphne is starting to worry that they could pose a more dangerous threat than the Careers if they get resources. Each one of them were strong, intelligent, and at least decent in combat. Daphne continued to grow more and more concerned about her and Liam's chances in the Games. Well, more like Liam's chance in the Games. Daphne had already decided she wasn't leaving the arena alive.
The next day was the third day of training, which meant each tribute now had a private session with their mentor. After another Capitol feast disguised as a breakfast, Liam and Daphne had some time before they got to go in for training, so they decided to travel up to the rooftop like Daphne and Finnick had done a few nights before.
The siblings sat in silence for a long time. They simply spent their time leaning against the edge of the rooftop railing and staring below. Occasionally, they'd gain some entertainment due to a few of the Capitol buildings that had large screens on them, and they showcased all twentyfour tributes. Every time their faces showed up, Daphne would snicker and point.
"Ha, look. There's us," Daphne let out a half hearted laugh as her finger gestured to the screen in the distance. "At least we got some good pictures," she told Liam as she glanced over in his direction.
Her brother didn't share her same thoughts. "I look mad," he signed with a slight frown. "So? We have every right to be mad," Daphne reasoned and Liam just let out a soft shrug. He guessed she was right. Any tribute had a valid reason to be furious with the Capitol, but he still wished to have had a more bubbly personality like Daphne. The Capitol adored her and her smile, and Liam worried that he wouldn't get enough sponsors to keep her alive even with Finnick's constant reassurement that he had the sponsors under control.
Both siblings shared the same goal, but only one or none could ever complete it in the end.
Moments like these were bittersweet. While they both would rather the other to not be here, they were also grateful to have such a person by their side. Liam believes he would have lost it by now without Daphne. She was his voice, and he doesn't even want to imagine the hardships he'd endure without her by his side.
"I'm going to save you," Liam signed with a determined look on his face, and Daphne quickly shook her head. "No, no you're not."
"Yes I am."
"No. Stop that. We're not talking about this right now."
"You're going to go home."
"No, Liam. That's not happening."
"Yes it is."
"No."
"Yes."
"Stop!" Daphne grabbed his hands to halt him from signing any further. "Just... stop. Please. We're in this together, alright? You and me. That's how it will be until the end," Daphne vowed, urging him to agree with a pleading look in her eyes.
When Liam nodded, the conversation was dropped, and the pair returned to silence until Evangeline came to get them.
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Liam was first to be sent to training, leaving with Finnick not long after Evangeline had guided Daphne and Liam to the little District Four's mini apartment. Really, it was just a room with a nice view, couches, a fireplace, and a television set, connected to a mini dining room.
Once the boys had left, Evangeline and Daphne were left to talk amongst themselves.
Daphne plopped herself down on one of the sofas and leaned over to grab a grape from the fruit bowl on the coffee table. Evangeline sat herself down onto the recliner adjacent to the tribute.
"How are you feeling?" Evangeline questioned. Today, her hair was a yellow shade, but her eyes were blue. Daphne wondered if those were her natural eyes or not, for it felt as though the escort had a new wig and contacts everytime Daphne saw her.
"Fine," the brunette answered smoothly as she plopped a few grapes in her mouth. "Seriously, how are you? I thought we were closer than just a shallow answer, Daphne," Evangeline answered, her hands folded nicely in her lap.
"Numb, I guess. It's like I'm not really sure how I should feel," Daphne explained as her blue eyes finally raised to the other woman. "I'm here for you, you know. Both Finnick and I are here for you and Liam," Evangeline promised, leaning forward to place a hand on the girl's knee in a comforting gesture.
Immediately, the tough persona Daphne was trying so desperately to maintain crumbled into streams of tears.
"Oh dear," Evangeline whispered before getting up from the recliner and taking a seat next to the sobbing girl, who quickly wrapped her arms around Evangeline in a hug. Daphne was desperate for comfort, and Evangeline accepted the hug and wrapped one arm around Daphne while the hand of the other arm trailed up and down the brunette's trembling back.
The pair sat there for a while in silence. Daphne had stopped sobbing a few minutes ago, but Evangeline still ran a hand up and down the brunette's back to soothe her. Eventually, Daphne sat up.
"Thank you... I really needed that," Daphne's voice was a soft whisper as she wiped her eyes. "I'm always here for you, Daphne. I care for you and your brother. If I'm around, you'll always have a shoulder to cry on," Evangeline promised.
"It's okay to cry, you know," the escort continued as she did her best to comfort the tribute. "The Games are a horrid thing..." she whispered, as if she would get in trouble for saying such a thing. Daphne nodded in agreement, holding Evangeline just a fraction tighter.
Eventually, with a combination of Evangeline's massage on Daphne's back and the motherly comfort she possessed, Daphne was coaxed into a short nap.
Daphne was woken up a few minutes later. Evangeline informed her she would be going into private practice with Finnick soon, so she should get ready. Daphne nodded, and by the time she was done, Finnick and Liam returned and Daphne left with Finnick.
. + * ~ Author's Note ~ * + .
Sorry this chapter is a little bit on the shorter side, but I didn't want to make one huge chapter. I should be uploading the next chapter soon, though!
