Page 5

Odessa

A ll night, I spent looking at my ceiling, unable to sleep with dread boiling deep in my stomach.

As much as I tried to push away the anxiety, it kept coming back tenfold.

The city was eerily quiet, making me feel even more unsettled than I already was.

Normally, I could hear the rumblings of people at all hours, but not tonight.

Even in years prior before the games, the streets would be packed.

I wondered if it had anything to do with that mysterious arrival at the gates.

Since the war was ongoing and the gods were picky about who was allowed within our borders, we didn’t get many visitors since our city was flanked by battles on all sides.

Our high walls surrounding the city kept us safe, for now.

But the Kings of Destar were relentless in their pursuit of our lands, wanting our people and resources for themselves.

I feared that one day they would breech our defenses.

Jean would soon be joining the military ranks, and that knowledge filled me with dread.

While he was strong, tall, and agile, he was still mortal.

Most first years that get carted off to war barely make it past their training, and if they did, they were stationed at the front lines.

Used as cannon fodder. They were nothing more than another body to place between us and the enemy.

Even with the war raging outside, the games were still scheduled to commence.

For as long as I’ve been alive, the gods have hosted the games every year like clockwork.

We’re told it’s a chance at a better life.

One with magical powers and more riches than we could fathom.

But I liked my life the way it was. Sure, there were things I wished I could change, like my mother’s condition, but overall, I was content for the most part.

My mind whirled with possibilities of what was to come, remembering all the stories of the winners throughout the years.

How they fought their way through the labyrinth of tunnels full of traps and ultimately clawed their way to victory.

Many of the winners chose the strength mask, barging through the limestone rock and their fellow opponents until they reached the end.

A few others chose invisibility which afforded them the ability to slink through undetected.

If the healing mask wasn’t available, the invisibility one might be my best bet at survival.

No matter how much I theorized though, I wouldn’t be able to make a selection until I was down amongst the dirt and bones.

Light filtered through my sunroof alerting me to the new day. I dressed carefully in the outfit Marley, and I had chosen together the night before.

I’d chosen a simple black v-neck shirt with long sleeves, and hunter-green pants that were easy to move in and more my style than that of any colorful ensemble they might be expecting.

My black boots were ones I’d worn in the winter months, that would be perfect inside the catacombs.

They had a good grip, and held my ankle in place, which was extra helpful when walking on ice.

I didn’t know what kind of terrain to expect in Nocturne, but I figured these were my best bet.

The last things I put on were my necklaces that Marley insisted I take to give the outfit a little something more. Marley loved anything that sparkled.

My fingers worked with practiced movements as I tugged my long brown hair into a wispy braid.

There. That should do it, I thought, taking one last look in the mirror as nerves skate down my spine, pirouetting along my limbs and finally settling into my core like a boulder.

It’s shape lumpy and cumbersome, and ugly.

Just as I was tucking my hair behind my ear, a loud bang came from downstairs, before muffled shouts could be heard. A stampede of feet clamored up the steps and before I could even inhale, three large guards burst through my closed door.

“It’s your lucky day, sweetheart. Now grab your things and let’s go,” the tallest and meanest looking one with greasy black hair and pock marked white skin said, his black gun prominently displayed like the very real threat it was.

He was across my room and in my face within two short strides, leaning down over me and flicking his soulless almost completely black eyes down the length of my body.

I felt like I wasn’t wearing any clothes from the hungry way he stared at me.

Certainly, I’d heard the stories of maidens who’d been caught in the crosshairs of the guards to either go missing or come back violated.

People disappeared for even looking at a guard the wrong way.

Their reputation was as cruel as the gods they served.

It was best to steer clear of them altogether, but now, here were three of them in my room, with nowhere to run or hide.

They smelled of body odor and gunpowder.

I swallowed hard, hoping they’d let me around them, but as I made to move, the tallest one grabbed me by the elbow and yanked me into his body.

I could feel all my parts smash against his muscles, making me feel trapped, helpless, and panicked.

His hot breath hit my neck and sent unwanted shivers down my spine.

“Such a shame that something so pretty should be forced to play the games. I bet you don’t even last an hour.” His hands roamed down my sides, and instinctively I took my elbow and jabbed it into his ribcage.

He doubled over, wheezing with surprise. “You fucking bitch! You’re going to pay for that.”

His large, calloused hand rose to slap me, but one of the other guards stepped forward halting him midair. “You know they don’t like it when we’re late.”

“Watch your back you little bitch, I’d hate for you to end up dead before you even started the games,” he sneered.

Dread, cold hard dread settled into my stomach.

I’d heard of accidents happening to contestants before.

It wasn’t uncommon for a few to end up dead before the games had even started, but his warning sounded like a promise he intended to fulfill himself.

“Davis, we gotta go.”

The one called Davis flared his nostrils as he looked down at me one last time before righting himself. “You’re right, this one’s not worth it. She’ll be dead soon enough anyway.”

The guard’s words followed me all the way down the stairs and into the living room where my family waited for me with forlorn expressions, save for Marley, who looked like she would burst from the excitement.

I clutched my suitcase in my hands so hard, that my knuckles were blanched stark white with the strain.

My skin was still tingling from the guard’s touch and my stomach was churning with nausea.

I didn’t even eat that morning for fear of throwing up.

“Remember to be ruthless, my darling,” my maman whispered as I crouched down to kiss her cheek.

I inhaled the familiar scent of lavender and hoped this wouldn’t be the last time I saw her.

Just in case, I memorized the faint lines around her eyes and mouth.

The way her eyes misted over with tears, and her brown hair done in a similar braid as mine.

It took every bit of strength I had to not break apart right then and there.

Her thin hand cupped my cheek sending a sharp fissure in my resolve, but Davis was all out of patience.

He hauled me away fingers tightly gripped around my arm, shuffling me out my front door to be shackled like a prisoner to the float.

His cruel expression turned almost giddy as he pulled the metal tight around my wrists before locking them into place The restraints bit into my skin as he sneered down at my misfortune, happy to be apart of my demise.

“Don’t trip,” he taunted, taking up his position to escort the contestants to the catacombs, but not before knocking my side and making me falter in my step.

I brushed away his words, not wanting the encounter to get under my skin.

I had more important things to worry about, like how in the seven hells I was going to survive.

Maman stayed behind as the rest of my family boarded the parade float.

I watched my mother’s face disappear from sight with fear gripping my heart as I was yanked away by the chains as soon as the float began moving forward.

It was a red and white beast filled with flowers and blue glittering ornaments.

No matter how prettily they dressed it up though, it still was an open-air cage designed to drag me off to my uncertain destiny.

The parade to the game was long and grueling.

We were required to pick up all the contestants along the way, and the temperature was quickly climbing.

From my vantage point, I couldn’t see them joining us but could hear the moment that they emerged based on the crowd’s enthusiastic reaction.

This parade was for the people, but the games?

The games of Nocturne were for the gods.

The chains around my wrists were heavy and dug uncomfortably into my flesh, leaving angry red welts. That jackass made them too tight on purpose. I hoped he would someday accidentally shoot himself with that gun of his. Maybe in the groin. A girl could dream.

The longer we walked, the more my nerves rumbled around in my chest. The arrondissements were arranged in a circular pattern, twisting from one into the next. Several contestants had already been picked up, but there were still more to collect.

I could feel my exposed skin beginning to crisp from the unrelenting bright sun and it had me wishing I’d chosen another outfit. Maybe something with more breathability. I’d been preparing for the cool underground, forgetting the trek there would take hours through the streets of Paris.