❝ never trust a survivor
until you find out
what they did
to stay alive ❞
―Kurt Vonnegut, Bluebeard
[ the maze runner × the hunger games ]
No one was ever happy in District 12. They were the poorest among the distric...
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SLOWLY, ROSALIND'S HEAD swiveled round to where her brothers stood, and her hazel eyes caught Peeta's blue ones among the faces of the boys, an expression of utmost shock and fear on his face. Peter stood beside him, his face dark and grim as he clenched his jaw tightly. Percy looked like he was about to charge out of the crowd and pull her away to safety, pull her away from the square, the reaping, from her dreaded fate. But she knew he couldn't do that. He would be dead if he did.
She couldn't help but remember what Percy had said to her that morning - about how he had signed up for the tessarae more times than she did and assured her that she wouldn't get reaped - and she felt a sharp tug at her heart.
Before she knew it, Rosalind and the other tribute―Thomas―were whisked away into separate rooms.
Waiting, not knowing what was coming next, was torture.
Rosalind sat on the edge of the velvet cushion in the Justice Building, wiping her sweaty palms against the hem of her dress for what seemed like the thousandth time. No matter how hard she tried, no matter what she did, she couldn't calm down. She was about to be sent to the Capitol, where the richer and more eccentric of the residents of Panem would train her, assess her, doll her up just to participate in a death arena that was supposedly entertainment to them.
The door swung open and before she could even look up, Rosalind felt arms wrap around her, felt someone pull her into their tight embrace.
"Rose, I'm so sorry-" Came Peeta's choking voice. "I should have volunteered, I should have done something―"
"No, Peeta," she said weakly, pulling away and holding him at arm's length. She glanced into his bright blue eyes, so contrasting to her dark hazel ones. "You couldn't have done anything about it. You know that. And you're a boy anyway, it would be impossible."
"This is so unfair," Percy said angrily, but Rosalind knew he was just as upset as he was mad. "There are so many other people who signed up for the tesserae and you of all people had to get picked? This is bullshit!"
"Percy, enough," Pa said, a warning tone under his voice.
"Hey, calm down, okay?" Rosalind said gently as she turned to face her brother.
"Take this." Percy rushed forward and pressed his hand to hers, where he passed over something small and metallic, its cold surface like a shock to her skin. She glanced down to see a necklace resting on her palm, glittering wickedly in the light.
"Remember when you used to wear this?" Percy said, tears glistening in his eyes. "Keep it. So you won't forget us when you're in that... that cursed place."
"Thank you, Percy," she whispered. It was very unlike him to carry jewellery around, much less jewellery that belonged to her, and she couldn't help but wonder if he brought her necklace every reaping day just in case she did get picked. The thought only made her want to cry more.
