𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

two

   His entire body felt like it was on the verge of breaking as he pushed himself upwards. He felt his lips pulling themselves apart as he screamed, he felt his eardrums bursting in agony as he felt the softness of hands gripping his face with desperation.

"Rave..... Raven it's okay, it's just a nightmare" the man let out shaky breaths as sweat ran down his body. He grew tense as he tried to speak, his mouth didn't form any words, they pressed together in frustration.

He pressed his forehead into Johanna's shoulder, the woman holding him as she let out shaky breaths of worry. His hands twitched as he gripped her waist aching for a sense of comfort in her embrace.

He'd watch innocent children's names be reaped today, that'd be the very last thing he would ever see of this place before he ran away. He licked his lips as he moved back, he pushed his hands to his sides as he let out a soft exhale. "I'm fine, it passed" he scratched his neck slightly as he stood up off the bed.

He heard the soft creak of it as Johanna followed after him "i made coffee, it's not very good but it's better then drinking alcohol all the time, you should have a clear head for once". He knew she was worried about him, that was something that would never go away.

He smiled weakly, trying his best to appear like he wasn't on the verge of tears. His body still felt on high alert from that stupid nightmare, his gaze looked at the small cup of coffee. It rested on the small table beside his couch, the steam floating along the air as he grabbed a hold of the cup.

He didn't flinch at the hotness of it, the way it burned his skin slightly as he took a large sip. He could see Johanna roll her eyes from the corner of his eyes as she caught sight of the television turning on.

The capitols big logo present as he cringed in discomfort "you think the bastard would stop reminding people about the hunger games when half of the districts mark this day on their calendars".

He set his cup down, feeling his head grow fuzzy at the sight of snow appearing on the screen. He looked so happy with himself as he smiled brightly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the seventy fifth year of the hunger games and it was written in the charter of the games that every twenty five years, there would be a quarter quell to keep fresh for each new generation".

The old man looked pleased with himself as he read aloud for the entire world to hear. Johanna sat down on the couch, looking bored of the man all together.

Raven sighed as he sat beside her, he wanted this announcement to be over with already, he'd likely drown his sorrows in as much liquor he could hold.

Snow flipped over the card he held onto his loud voice making Raven's living room vibrate slightly. "Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by games of a special significance and now on this the seventy fifth anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion. We celebrate the third quarter quell".

Raven rolled his eyes as he took another sip of his coffee, he could feel Johanna grow tense beside him when Snow took a long pause. 

"As a reminder that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the capitol. On this, the third quarter quell games, the male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors in each district. Victors shall present themselves on reaping day regardless of age, state of health or situation".

The screen turned black after that,  Raven didn't speak his eyes wide in horror as he tried to form any words on his lips. Instead he felt frustrated rising along his very being as he stood up quickly.

The cup in his grasp was lunged forward with a heavy swing, the shards of it collapsing along the screen in front of him. He watches as heaps of coffee coated the mesh material and stained it with dots and splotches.