Flame| F.Odair

One

-- One --

It was a requirement that every citizen of each district, watches the speech that President Snow puts out every year on the national TV. My half brother Alec, my half twin little sisters lay on the floor and my mother leaned restlessly against the wall.

I fell guilty, all these years that I've been giving her hell - she had to help four of us grow up into mature adults. I learned that myself after being filled in an arena with 23 other tributes and the only one to survive. 

"Mama, you okay?" I question, and she looks over at me - her brown hair sweeping over her tired eyes. She quickly nods before drawing her attention back to the small, round television set that came with the Victors house. 

"- And it was written in, the charter of the games that every 25 years - there would be a quarter quell. To keep fresh, for each new generation, the memory of those who died in the uprising against the capital." Snow says, and I roll my eyes and lowly scoffed at the same time.

"Each quarter quell, is distinguished by games of a special significance and now on this the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate the third quarter quell. As a reminder, that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the capital. On this 75th," Snow said and I leaned forward, Alec slowly slipped his hand into mine and squeezed. 

"The third quarter quell games. The male and female tributes, are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors in each district." He says, and Alec clutched my hand in his as our mother tore her eyes of the screen as tears made their way into her eyes. 

"No, No." I whispered, standing up and running out of the house - Alec, and my little sisters voices hit off the walls as I sped away from Victors village in District six. The only female and male victors that I knew off were the Morphlings, Theo - my mentor, my brother, Leah and me.

And I knew both of the female tributes and that I would step up and volunteer for them.  

--   

I pulled my small jacket around my body tighter, and closed my eyes as the small amount of gusting wind hit my hair - causing it to fly everywhere. "How are you feeling?" I heard a male voice ask behind me and I turn to see Theo leaning against a tree.

He won the 55th games, just 12 years before I did. He was 18 when he did, so he's now 38. I ran my fingers through my blonde hair before looking over at him. "Not good, It's like Snow knows that I will volunteer for the other tributes." I admitted, looking to the floor.

"You're going to be okay kid," He says, pulling me into a tight hug - although I never knew my father, Theo became like a second father to me, after my games - he helped me through a lot, more than my own family could. 

We stood there, in each others arms for a good half an hour before the sun set and Theo sighed. "It's time to get home, tomorrows the reaping." He says, and I heave a large sigh in before nodding as we walked back towards District six's victors village. 

I tried to push the worries out of my head for tomorrow, but I knew already that there was no point in doing so. 

-- 

"Welcome, Welcome to the 75th hunger games. The third quarter quell," Quinton, the speaker here for district says. She looked over at the female tributes or victors before walking towards the bowl. "As usual, ladies first," She says, before putting her hand into the bowl.

Her red hair was somewhat blowing in the air, as she picked up a small piece of paper and walked back to the microphone. "And this years female tribute, Is Leah Colton." She says, and Leah looks about to stand up.

"I volunteer as tribute." I say, and Quinton looks at me shocked. Her face falling, because she had said multiple times that I was her favourite - Leah looked at me with gratitude, but there was a little bit of horror in her face.

"Okay, this years female tribute is Ali Black." She says, as I walk to stand up beside her as she chuckled nervously. "Now for the male tributes." She says, and I look up to see Theo looking at me, he knew what he was doing if my brother was called. 

"And the male tribute for district six is, Theo Sanchez." She says, but Alec stands up quickly.

"I volunteer as tribute" Alec says, and I close my eyes. We heard our mother screaming in the background and I glared at him - with hatred, I needed him here for our mother and sisters. He rolled his eyes as Quinton shook her head. Obviously annoyed and sad that both Black siblings were going into the arena. 

"Wonderful," She says, and I heave a big sigh in. Once the peace keepers had successfully manoeuvred us inside the justice building, and towards the train was when I let my blonde hair fall out of the messy bun it was in. 

"Wait up," I heard Quinton say, she was extremely laid back when it came down to us - so she could say anything without feeling judged. "Ali, I know how hard it is for you going back into the arena, just now - me and Theo will do everything to get you sponsors." She says, and I nod before giving her a tight smile and getting on the train.