her foot had touched the surface of the train platform in District Four, Elena Rogers has felt nothing but pain. Being in the Capitol brought a sense of illusion — perhaps everything she'd been through was simply something she had conjured up within the depths of her mind. Yet, coming home and doing so without her District partner Everett, makes it seem so much more real. People adoring the surface with smiles and clapping their Victor, glorifying the murder of other children. Not only does it make her feel sick but it messes with her mind - she knows here they're just happy that one of them made it back, in the Capitol it was different.

Normality was no longer within her vocabulary, not that it really was in the first place. However, before she was forced to participate in something so barbaric, abnormality was her normal. She wasn't the most social nor was she one to go out of her way for people who she didn't know, Elena has always preferred a close knit circle of people or in her case, two people. Her older brother Jace and her mentor, Finnick Odair. She wouldn't let anybody else in no matter how hard Caesar Flickerman has tried during her interviews.

All those events over the past year and a bit have led her here, to the couch in the living room with a book in hand and a small smile plastered upon her face. Whilst joy is an emotion that comes and goes for her, it's gone more often than not, reading is one of the few things that can bring it to her. The idea of living in a world without the Hunger Games, one where all people would worry about is their friends, hanging out and their relationships. It's an almost ideal world for the blonde girl who would give everything to only have to worry about relationship dramas.

She'd told her brother quite animatedly of the stories and would even get to the point where she would gush about the idea of having a group of friends. Yet, she was unable to translate it to real life. She's too closed off, those within the district having given up years ago in regards to trying to acquire her friendship. It's something her brother never truly understood, he didn't know how to help her either because he has never really been one for friendships either.

"Reading another story, Rosie?" Jace asks as he walks into where his little sister is sitting on her lonesome. Her head snaps up and she nods. Whilst Rosie is not her real name, Elena's middle name is Rose and for some reason, her brother has always preferred that to her real name. "Is it a new one?"

"Yeah. Finnick dropped over a few books yesterday. Apparently they used to be Annie's," The blonde comments quietly as she looks back down to the book. She turns the page as the story pulls her back in, a small chuckle falling from her brother's lips as he goes to the kitchen to make them lunch.

"You hungry, Rosie?" Jace calls from the other room and received a no in response. He shrugs and makes himself a sandwich before returning to her and sitting on the opposing couch. "Are you ready for today?"

"I don't really have a choice do I?" Elena responds quietly as she shuts the book, her gaze moving to the brunette boy who is eating. "Snow let me off mentoring last year but he won't be generous enough to do it two years in a row,"

"It won't be so bad and Finnick will be there with you. You know that he wouldn't let anything happen," The older boy assures her.

"Maybe not but it's a Quell, Jay. It'll be even worse than any other year," She replies and he nods his head, knowing that she's right. "Who knows what sick things he has in mind this year,"

Jace sighs and moves to sit beside her instead, his arm laying over her shoulder, her head leaning on his — both of them seeking comfort from each other. The thing that scares Jace the most is the fact he won't be with her, she's not okay and she needs him but he cannot be there.

"I know watching your tributes die is something you're scared of, Rosie. I know. There is only so much you can do from where you are and they'll be grateful for whatever you can give them," he says quietly to the blonde who nods her head minimally.

"Maybe the stipulation will be that there is no games," the suggestion from the blonde is somewhat hopeful but Jace can detect the disbelief in her tone. She knows it won't happen, they both do. Snow wouldn't cancel a games, ever.

"We both know that's not going to happen," Jace interjects. "Maybe it'll be a little kinder though,"

"Yeah maybe,"

The blonde finishes her freshly food as Jace turns the projector on later that afternoon. The two of them settle in beside each other as they await for President Snow to appear on the screen before them with his big announcement. Millions of different scenarios run through Elena's mind as she thinks about what he could possibly come out with this year.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 75th year of the Hunger Games," President Snow announces as he appears on the screen. Elena flinches at the sound of his voice, Jace gently grabbing her hand in his own to help her keep calm.

Jace has to stop himself from snarling out loud when the Capitol residents clap and cheer happily, not caring in the slightest that they'll be sending another group of children to their death's — at least twenty three more innocent lives lost at their expense.

" It was written in the charter of the games that every twenty-five years there will be a Quarter Quell. Now, on this the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion we celebrate the third Quarter Quell," Snow continues with almost a sickly sweet expression, the Capitol residents once again erupting into cheers.

Elena tightens her grip on her brother's hand as the man readies himself to make his massive announcement. She stares at the projection of him and sees something within his eyes, almost a smugness that does nothing but evoke more fear from deep down within her. This man is evil, despicable. She takes a deep breath as he begins to read.

"As a reminder, that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the Capitol. On this, the third Quarter Quell game, the male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of Victors in each district," He exclaims and the blonde freezes.

Jace is frozen himself, knowing that there is a very likely chance his little sister will be forced to face this again. There are only three living female victors from District Four — Mags, Annie and Elena. Not one of them are in with much of a chance when you look at who else is available to be reaped from other districts. Then his mind goes to Finnick, who no matter what, will be apart of these games with somebody who he cares about. It would tear him apart.

"Jace," Elena almost whimpers, practically hiding against him now as she holds him. "I don't want to go back. Please, you can't let them take me again!" She cries.

All the boy can do is try to calm the girl's cries — there's no point of reassurance because not even he can predict what will happen. The Capitol is the one thing he can't protect her from, and it eats at him everyday.

Hi everybody! Thank you so much for all the support I've gotten so far, I hope you guys enjoy this story!

Made by @/caradunes