𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟 ⟢ 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕆𝕕𝕒𝕚𝕣

- ɛɨɢɦȶ

On the morning of May 20th, Willa was violently throwing up. It was a rough start to the day for her. The last month was a complete blur to her. The days were blurring together more frequently as they got closer to the Reaping day. Especially when she did much of the same things every day, it was hard for to tell the days apart.

Willa wasn't throwing up because she was sick, she was because she was anxious. She felt lightheaded after she was done throwing up. She never liked throwing up, she thought it was icky. Katia gently knocked on the bathroom door and peeked in.

"Lovey," Katia murmured, kneeling down beside the blonde and gently rubbed her back.

"Kath," Willa sniffled, climbing into her arms.

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm right here, you'll be okay," Kath gently shushed her. Willa clung tightly to Katia, feeling the tremors in her body slowly subside as the warmth of her friend's embrace calmed her down. Katia's steady heartbeat was like an anchor in the storm that raged inside her mind.

"I don't like this," Willa mumbled. Katia brushed a stray lock of hair behind Willa's ear, her touch as soft as the morning light filtering through the small bathroom window.

"I know, Wills. I know. But you're strong. You always have been," Katia said. Willa didn't want to be strong. She didn't like being strong. But she had to ever since she became deemed, The Assassin. She was 13 when she was first called that. Something a 13-year-old should never be called. But that was the reality of living as a Career. The reality of being a Victor. It haunted Willa.

"I'm scared," Willa admitted, her voice trembling. Katia held her tighter, her fingers threading through her blonde hair.

"I know you are, but it's okay to be scared. You don't have to be strong all the time," Katia quietly said. Willa nodded, though a knot of dread remained lodged deep in her chest. Katia had always been her protector, her shield from the cruelty of their world. But even Katia couldn't stop the Reaping. A small knock on the bathroom door echoed in the room.

"Mama?" Clover's little voice was heard through the door.

"I'm here baby. I'll be out in a second," Katia told her daughter.

"Okay!" Clover happily said, the sound of her little feet padding away.

"She's been asking for you all morning," Katia murmured. Willa nodded, feeling too shaky and weak to get up from the floor. Katia sighed, gently moving Willa so she could stand up and pull her to her feet.

"Thank you," Willa mumbled as Katia's hands rested on her hips.

"Come on. Let's get you out of here, get you some fresh air," Katia said. Willa hummed and leaned on Katia as they left the bathroom. She took slow, deep breaths, trying to steady herself. As they stepped outside, the cool breeze kissed her flushed cheeks, offering a brief reprieve from the suffocating anxiety. But even as the wind whispered through the trees, Willa couldn't help but wonder how many more mornings like this she would have. How many more days until everything changed forever? Katia looped her arm through Willa's and squeezed gently.

"We'll get through this, Wills. One way or another," Katia said. Willa leaned into her best friend, grateful for her steady presence. But even Katia's warmth couldn't completely dispel the shadows of uncertainty that lingered at the edges of her mind.

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧

Willa was tired as she played with Clover that afternoon, you could see it in her eyes. But Clover was just happy to be playing with her Auntie. Clover's squeals echoed through the house as they played with her blocks, building all sorts of things.

"You're doing so good, sweetheart," Willa praised. Clover giggled happily as she placed her final block on the tower she was currently building. Willa loved Clover and Axel with all of her heart but she was absolutely terrified of having kids of her own. She didn't want to have her kids go through what she had to. It was a lose-lose situation - dead or traumatized for the rest of your life. Willa was alive, but if you asked her, she was on auto-pilot most of the time. It was the only way she knew how to deal with the trauma she had.

another short chapter yuhhhh