Chapter Text
~Avid~
The sun glared into Avid’s eyes through the narrow window pane above him as Elle fixed his tie, looking upon him with a stare so sweet and kind he felt as if he were floating high up into the sky, away from the reaping and the killing and the most definite death and the fact he knew he wasn’t going to survive and-
Breathe.
That’s what Elle always told him when he got like this; Shaking, mind racing uncontrollably. Her soft brown eyes seemed to smile as she patted him on the head, smoothing out his greyish hair. “You won’t be picked, I promise. Think of how many names are in that bowl, only one is yours.”
Avid sighed and looked up at her, crossing one leg over the other to stop it bouncing all over the place.
“Shall we go, then?”
“Oh yes, and may the odds be ever in your favour!” Elle put on that fake, extravagant Capitol accent and he couldn’t help but laugh as they stepped out of the house into the daylight.
Avid tried to distract himself as they walked down the busy street, everyone heading the same direction to where their lives were put on the spot, and where everyone held their breath when Mumbo shouted excitedly “Now, let the reaping begin!”
He looked up at the sky, the clouds swarming over the square menacingly. He glanced at the trees, surrounding everyone in a prison of branches, knowing if a loved one were chosen, you would be entangled in the sharp, twisting limbs for eternity.
And then he looked to Elle.
If she were picked and he didn’t volunteer, he would never forgive himself, letting his best friend be sent to die in the sick and twisted games the Capitol branded “entertainment” for all the world to see was too cruel, he wouldn’t cope. He would never let that happen, he told himself firmly. Never.
As all the citizens of District 3 were marched into the square, a makeshift stage set up with blinding lights and an over-the-top smoke machine loomed over everyone.
The usual presenter for District 3, Mumbo Jumbo, stood at the centre of the stage. With a miniature comb in hand, he was gently stroking at his moustache, until he realised he had to start the reaping and quickly tucked it away.
A microphone buzzed noisily, and the world fell silent as he spoke.
“Welcome to the annual reaping for the 27th Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour.”
Elle silently mouthed the words back to Avid with a mocking gesture and they both had to suppress their laughter.
Mumbo cleared his throat and pointed up to a screen, where the usual boring video played about how the Hunger Games were a trial of “honour” to pay for the damage done to the Capitol during the rebellion era. Avid had heard it all before.
After it ended, Mumbo glided across the stage to the clear fishbowl where at least a thousand names in folded up pieces of paper sat inside, each one a ticking time bomb, ready to explode and shatter their loved ones with grief and despair as they sailed off on a train towards their bitter end.
“And now, let the reaping begin!”
Avid could feel Elle’s grip on his arm tighten, and he gave her a reassuring smile. If she got picked, he would volunteer without a second thought, she would not die.
Mumbo’s hand dived into the bowl, swirling around before grabbing a piece of paper folded up at the very bottom, and he unravelled it hastily.
“District 3’s tribute for the 27th Hunger Games is… Elle!”
Avid’s world shattered suddenly into a million tiny fragments, a broken mirror of memories and time spent together that were split into terror, bouncing far away from him. He could hear Elle’s horrified cry as a path was cleared for her, her face suddenly pale, a tear running down her cheek.
Avid couldn’t let this be.
“I VOLUNTEER!” He screeched, pushing her back into the safety of the crowd. “I volunteer!” He cried desperately, giving Elle a frantic hug as he was dragged forward by the watchers.
“Avid, NO!” Elle sobbed, reaching out for him. But he was too far away, out of reach. He had to do it, he couldn’t let her die, he couldn’t watch her suffer. He would gladly take that pain away. Avid had already lost a brother to the games, he knew the pain of watching a loved one die, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Elle.
Avid knew he wasn’t going to return, but a spark of determination was still left. He would try his hardest to survive for his best friend.
And suddenly, he was on the stage. He wiped a tear from his eye, and waited for his queue to speak. “My, my, my!” Mumbo cheered.
“Never have I seen such a heartbreaking moment! Tell me boy, what is your name?”
He took a shaky breath, staring down at the floor, and replied hastily,
“Avid, sir. Avid MC.”