UTAG: Prompt 1

Word Count: 877

Time Taken: An Hour

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Heart pounding against her chest, and blue eyes wide as the young girl with a purple soul stood on the silver platform clutching the silver necklace around her neck tightly, digging harshly into the back of her neck as a result. Dark, strawberry red hair done up in a small braid waved in the wind as she stared at the golden cornucopia while the platform finished rising, though it was hard to see with the harsh sunlight that beamed down on each and every player reflecting off its shiny surface. The hand that wasn’t tugging on the necklace lifted, attempting to block out the light just so the perseverance soul known as Ava could peer through the perfectly clean glasses - courtesy of her stylists cleaning the cloudy lenses, and not her, naturally enough - and stare at the center of the games.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let the Hunger Games begin!”

Sixty seconds now remained.

The girl flinched at the large booming voice echoing across the arena. It was if an announcer and stage was not far off. Somewhere here, or there perhaps, maybe hidden beneath some trees. But that wasn’t the case. Ava knew better than that. She had been sprung in here, chosen after all by a pick of a lottery. A deciding of names here and there, and hers had been picked. No, she wasn’t one of the volunteers. Maybe if Fiona had been picked. Or Chloe. Or definitely Miles. But the first two thankfully hadn’t, and the latter… well, he was still too young to be put into the lottery. For now. No, Ava had been forced into the death game of the Hunger Games without a choice of a matter. No one volunteered for her. She had stood on the stage, lonely, trying not to shake too much as three others had ed her. None she knew.

Fifty seconds.

At least she knew she was ed back home, if only somewhat. Her uncle was the first one to enter. Her only living relative, as far as Ava knew. Her mother had been gone for a long time, and Ava had no idea of the identity of her father. Nor did she particularly care. Her uncle was the one who was more like a father to her than anything else. He raised her, helped her, and she couldn’t help but love the man who took her in even when he didn’t have to. Despite his gruff actions towards other, Ava knew Clyde. She knew her uncle, and she knew he wasn’t one to cry. Not usually, anyway.

Her other friends had also cried as they came in. Fiona, Miles, Chloe… though a few withheld tears. Andy did, despite the look upon his face like he wanted to breakdown any second. And Ruby hadn’t either. Instead, they were informing her on how best to survive. ittedly, she had taken in less than she had wanted to from that discussion.

Ava wished she could have pushed the slight resentment she had built up from none of them volunteering in her steed, though. She hadn’t quite yet, especially now.

Forty seconds.

Riding the train to the prep area was amazing. The abundance of items available, all free, was amazing too. From the views outside to the food, it was just… stunning the situation she had ended up in. Too bad Ava couldn’t truly enjoy it though. Despite everything, it was rather true that they were just fattening them up like pigs. Pigs dressed up for a show. She couldn’t help but wince at the thought. Though she had plenty to eat back home with her uncle, as the pawn shop he owned did quite well as a business, it still compared nothing to the rich.

[IThirty seconds.

Part of that was her fault, really. If only Ava had what her mother had. Magic. Pure magic. Something she entirely needed on the field, yet also feared greatly. People from where she had come from often threw the term “witch’s child” at her even though she showed no signs of magic. Besides the ‘potions’. The ones that were supposed to be fake. Well, it wasn’t like the materials to craft any would be here in this field. Or would they....?

Twenty seconds.

Magic would be useful against the others. A fifteen year old girl that almost looked like a twig wouldn’t do much. Sure, she had thought up of tactics. And she could be speedy if she wanted to. She had once tried out for the girl’s track team. Didn’t quite make it, but close the coach had said. She could sprint for a little, at least. With no access to any magic, she would have to simply do her best.

Ten seconds.

And that’s what she would have to do…

Nine.

After all, there was no other choice.

Eight.

Running straight off would leave her with nothing. She couldn’t win with nothing.

Seven.

The cornucopia was forty feet away. She could see a backpack at twenty feet, and more items scattered about the edges.

Six.

Get a backpack, or anything lying at the halfway point.

Five.

Then go back for lesser items.

Four.

Then flee.

Three, Two, One.

Her muscles tensed.

The gong rang out, and Ava took off.

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#utagprompt1