The Author Games: Literature

White Witch Entries

District 2 Male: Ares Finn

In silence, Ares feels a tug at his heart as he sits in the room nestled beneath the arena. He had not realized until this moment how emotional or painful of an experience it will be for him. It was a room like this one where Bellona spent her final free moments without the fear of death looming over her head. Ares knows deep within his blockaded heart that he has let Bellona down by disobeying her final words to him. Her final words that she would ever say. She told him to never volunteer, to be more than a tribute or a Victor. Bellona had learned the hard way that the games are not games at all. They are a painful and gruesome reality used to show who is in power.

"Ten seconds until launch." The voice is robotic and monotone, sending shivers down his spine. Ares let's out a deep breath and stands up onto his feet. For a brief second, he stands still pulling the thick fur jacket tighter around his large frame. Underneath of the jacket is a thick pair of khaki pants, a loose cream colored shirt, and hiking boots that just reach above the ankles. Ares stride, over to the entrance tube with confidence that no one would ever see. He wants to shake and beg to not do this, but he can't let down himself.

As he stands on the platform, he contemplates what the arena could be. In only the preliminary activities, Ares can deduct that these game makers, are far more creative than many. The arena, they create will reflect that very creativity. With the clothes given, Ares knows that they will be beginning in some sort of cold climate, but the style beneath the coat reflects a warmer environment.

After what feels like seconds, a glass shields Ares from the rest of the room and he begins the rise deep into the arena. At first, all Ares can hear is the steady beat of his heart and the whirring of the platform. A black shadow engulfs him as the final bit of light is ripped away. Then like a beacon of hope, a light appears. It slowly grows brighter until Ares is completely blind. Moments later, he is given his first glance at the arena and the only thought he can comprehend is, This is going to be a messed up day.

In the center of the wide expanse of deep snow with twenty four tribute evenly dispersed is a single lamppost. Now this lamp at first glance is utterly plain and normal with absolutely nothing remarkable about it. It seems ordinary, but to Ares it tells him exactly what he shall be facing in this arena. That lamppost represents the magical land that Ares or anyone who reads will recognize. The lamp comes deep from the pages of Narnia.

This book has deep meaning to Ares as it was the first book he had read after the fire in Victor's village. Misty tears form in the brute from Two's eyes as he thinks about that point in his life. He will not let them fall though and when he pushes away the overcoming sadness. Ares is left with nothing, but anger and fury. The Capitol is about to ruin the book that Ares had found solace within. Dark blood is about to be spilt on grounds of the place he could only dream of going, and it sadly might be by his hand that the snow may be stained crimson.

Ares balances his weight out on the platform, preparing his body for the extreme exercise ahead. His muscles coiling up as he readies himself to leap off of the platform before he tries to tackle running through the snow. Trainers back in two had prepared him, but no amount of training could prepare him for the nerves. Now his palms are beginning to become clammy as he clenches his fist tightly, bending forward ever so slightly.

Ten seconds to go and he wonders what would have happened if he had never volunteered. Would he have brought his family glory in another way? Seven seconds before the games start, he wonders how life would have been if his parents and Athena had lived? Would he be more prepared for these games? Four more seconds and the only thing still on his mind is Bellona. What about her? Would she be proud of him? Has Ares honored her name properly? Mere seconds before the games begin, Ares murmurs the words he wishes his sister could hear.