Come Back a Winner, or Don't Come Back at All ~ Flashback - Solo
Vincere looked on sadly at the little tribute, swinging her legs back and forth on the sofa. She was humming a soft tune, the anthem they played when they displayed the deaths for that day in the sky in the arena. Jennifer didn't know any better. Going into the games was supposed to be a great honor. She didn't quite understand how she got here and was more concerned for the volunteer that never showed up. The eligible students who were chosen to volunteer faced cruel punishment if they did not volunteer like they were told to. Some who witness District two on the outside may call it abuse, but to the academy students, the harsh punishments were just another part of training.
"Jennifer hun, you're family will be coming right?" Vincere asked her, hands folded in his lap as he starred across the room at the bright eyed girl.
"Yup. My momma, Cecil, Christian, Zatcher, and Tren are comin'." The girl nodded a light smile forming at the corner of her lips.
Vincere smiled back lightly, trying to hide the pain that was evident in his eyes. Vincere had faced many games in his life time, enough to realize winning was no prize. That these games they played were just games, not some glorified pageant of honor.
"Scotty!" A shaky voice cried, as the huge wooden doors to the Departing room flew open.
Jennifer turned around quickly, jumping off the couch and into her mother's arms. The woman was almost an exact replica Jennifer. Long black hair, parted in the middle, flowed down to her waist with only a slight wave in it. Several grays stuck out here and there but time had changed it and it was obvious it was once as dark as her daughter's. The mother's small, blue eyes shown with tears and she kissed her daughter everywhere. Her hands were wrinkled from years of work and they cradled Jennifer's face in an intense way.
"Listen to me Je-..." Her voice cut off and several more choked sobs escaped her lips as tears rolled into Jennifer's hair. "I love you, Scot-Jennifer. Promise me you'll be strong. You do everything it takes to win. I want you to come out a winner, or die a fighter, you here me?" Her mother's voice was frantic. Vincere had seen this before. Career mother's sobbing into their children's shirts because of the realization they might not come back.
"Scotty," Zatcher smiled, leaning down to his sister. "I love you." He kissed her hand and left the room, tears spilling from his eyes.
Cecil was next, only two years older than her, but his eyes refused to let tears drop from his green eyes and only gave his sister a tight hug, the small girl wrapping her arms around him loosely still confused. He left giving her a kiss on the cheek following his brother.
Eight year old Tren was next and he came up to Jennifer tentatively before hugging her with a smile. "Good luck Scotty! Bring us back honor!" Tren was too young to understand that this could be the last time he saw his older sister. There was no going back...And Jennifer just hugged him back, shutting her eyes slowly, a tear slipping past her lids.
The last Patterson sibling left was Christian. The oldest of the family, eighteen and his last year to be eligible for the reaping. "Scott..." He began kneeling down to meet her height. "Listen, you understand that you might not come back, right? You get that right?" His large hands are gripping her shoulders now, Scotty's lip trembling as she nods her head up and down in big motions.
"You're strong, Scott. You are. Stick with the rest of the careers, show em what you got. Throw some knives, make some traps, you know just like in the Academy." He nods, his voice assertive as he speaks.
"Christian," Jennifer murmurs, eyes wet with tears.
"Yeah, Jennifer?" Christian replies, turning his head in question at his younger sister.
"I don't wanna die." She cried, throwing her arms around his neck and crying into his shoulder.
Christian returned the embrace, biting his lip and fighting tears. "Shh, don't cry Jennifer." He soothed, pulling away and wiping her eyes. "I love you. I'll see you in a few weeks, alright?" He said nodding to her for confirmation.
She nodded in response, wiping her eyes and holding onto her brother's shoulders. "I love you Christian."
"That's my girl." Christian whispered, smiling and grabbing her hand. "Vincere will take good care of you." He smiled down at her, leading her over to the mentor who had clearly been crying.
Jennifer looked up at her mentor with big eyes that shimmered like the rocks from the quarry. Vincere nodded with a smile. "It's an honor to meet you Ms. Patterson." He says nodding to her as most of the students were taught to do to Victors in school.
"It's an honor to meet you to Mr...umm Vincere." She said nodding her head in question at the man.
Vincere grinned and nodded. "Call me Vince, sweety."
Christian hugged her one last time, before walking out of the room saying one last thing. "No crying Jennifer. Big smiles, remember, it's all for you."