Happenstance of fate [86th reaping reaction; Fable]

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Fiona Zachariah-Adric

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Day three of being married to the most wonderful man should have been the same as the first two. Waking up next to Fable had become the best thing I'd ever done in my life and it seemed to be coming together for the both of us. I would have even stayed in bed had it not been for the fact that his little brother, partially adopted by myself, was ours to care for since his mother's murder during the raids. He was like the little brother I never had. Everything about him made my days better and in a way, it made me whole to care for someone who depended on us. He was our little family.

I should have known that every light that shines always has a shadow and that was today.

The fear of the games had reared its ugly head once again. This time it was knowing that someone I was close to and loved with all my heart was being thrust into the bloodlines and being shepherded to the capitol's mercy. I feared for Spencer, but I also dreaded what would happen to Fable if his little brother was ever reaped. Fate had always been cruel to us in one way or another. In some form, it was as if death himself wanted to make himself known by taking away anything we hold dear.

"We have to get up Fable..." I whisper into his ear, beckoning him to wake up and enjoy the morning before we were to make our way to town and watch the escort dig into the bowl of names to extract two that would be taken away. And like always, my heart hammered against my chest and I held onto Fable tightly, resting my face against his shoulder cause I couldn't bear to see the two that would ascend to the stage. Memories of my own games still so present on my mind even after six years now.

So, I focus on my ring. My eyes cast a gaze into waiting until after the two were called but as the names were called, they were unfamiliar and I jerked my head up to look for the twelve year old's areas to see Spenser's face.

"He was spared... Fable-" I found myself clutching onto him, my arms wrapped tightly until I realized who would need the comfort more and I proceeded to go collect my son and take him home with us all. We were once again a family, safe for another year and I would get to enjoy my first year of marriage without heartache.

As the day drew on, the recap of the reaping always would turn on the visual screens in the households that had them and be controlled to only watch one thing. The last three years were free from anyone I collectively knew. The twins weren't called anymore and Wander had been spared their last years along with everyone else. There was only one that remained and he had turned eighteen and just one more reaping to go.

Spencer stayed in the room with us and while we had to endure the torturous minutes of the escorts greetings, it went rather quickly through the first district. The second district, however, I tensed up immediately knowing who was there. The rest of the districts wouldn't play too much of a part in me being particularly aware of the names. So, I wrapped my arm around Fable, leaning my head against his arm. My body wrapped in a blanket and I felt comfort with him.

The escort took the stage and their voice called out the name of some beautiful young lady. A black blazer around her shoulders and she gave a court wave. I don't understand how someone could be so cool under the pressure of being called but they were also known as the career groups that underwent way more harrowing ordeals when not training for this exact purpose. Still, I watched her take the stage and then the escort went for the boy's names.

I clutched against Fable, fearful for a reason.

I was right to do so when I heard a familiar name being uttered and I could practically hear the silence that fell over their coms. My cheeks felt hot in an instant and something trickled down my face, tickling me so I reached up to wipe away the tears that were already falling. I couldn't glance away because I just knew that someone was going to volunteer for him. Someone would speak up for someone who had already been in the games six years ago and take his place. Someone would protect a kid that already proved themselves worthy of living - wouldn't they?

"Won't they..." I start to whisper, watching him walk down the aisle. I see him reach into his pocket for something and I can see the pill bottle that he carried but no movement went to his mouth. We had all suffered in one way or another and I unwrapped my arms from Fable and sat up on the couch. "Why - why isn't anyone saying anything? Fable... why is he on the stage?"

I stand up, legs like gel as I frantically look around the lined off sets of kids and no one was making a sound. No peacekeepers going to a section to retrieve another child in his place. "Shy... don't go. Please-" I beg the tv as if it wasn't already done and he was already on his way to the capitol right now, probably getting his skin scrubbed or his hair cut. Maybe he was eating some fantastic capitol meal that they shoved down our throats while we were there too.

I shake my head and turn to Fable half expecting him to go and pull shy's image to safety.

Droplets of tears fall from my cheeks and I turn back to the tv and see him disappearing into the justice building and the channel shifts a moment before going to another district symbol and I feel my heart crumble. I scream out and aim for the tv with my closed fist to smack it, but my judgement is only two dimensional and instead, I feel the breakage of glass and a pinch of pain in my wrist before something crashes to the ground and I find my vision faltering, blinded by a pounding heart and a realization that we were going to lose another eightieth tribute.

"Fiona! Fiona..." The muffled voices call out to me and as I try to respond to them, I succumb to fate's cruel hand. I never liked the capitol anyways-