The 'Flower of Panem' or 'The Angel of Mercy', Seraphine Reza is the jewel and pride of Panem. One of their most treasured victors in the history of the Hunger Games and a favorite of President Snow.
While she smiles, comforts and plays her part ev...
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A subtle chill in the air made Sera freeze and huddle under her soft, plush and warm but borrowed covers.
It was still very early but she was wide awake.
All night she tossed and turned.
Every time she fell asleep, Sera could feel cold frost-bitten hands wrapped around her neck as she struggled to breathe and hot tears sliding down her face. But when she woke up, she was alone in the big dimly lit room, lying in the middle of a bed covered in satin sheets.
The night passed in this nightmarish cycle and she couldn't get any sleep. She could picture her face without checking the tall mirror nearby, gaunt and haggard with bloodshot eyes that begged for rest.
Tiredly, her eyes fluttered closed. Maybe one more try couldn't hurt. She promised herself she would be awake soon anyway. In three hours. Just three hours of sleep should be enough. That was all she wanted. Three hours of rest without any interruptions.
The moment she shut her eyes, her head felt heavy. She chased sleep and fell into a quiet but short slumber.
Cold.
Sera could feel the freezing chill in her bones. It was like she was submerged in icy water. She felt her head sink into the pillow and her body being sucked into the mattress underneath. Then she fell.
Despite it being early autumn, it felt like it was dead of winter. The chilly wind whistled as it passed through her and she huddled close to her sleeping bag, pulling at the cover.
Nearby, she could hear the soft snores of her temporary allies as they all blissfully slept in the next rooms. It only sound Sera could hear in between the sound of still silence. It was comforting in it's own way and reminded Sera of her home.
It had only been a month or so since she was reaped and not a day had passed since she missed her aunt and cousin but most of all she missed her older siblings. She missed how she would lie awake waiting for them every night. How her sister would come home late from her apprenticeship at the apothecary and tell her stories of her mundane adventures or her brother would ruffle her hair whenever she won a game of chess.
Sera desperately wanted to go back so she did what she thought she would never do. She stilled her movements whilst feigning unconsciousness. In the distance, she could hear some rustling. Someone was awake. Despite her small trust in her allies, she clutched a small knife under her pillow.
"Sera..." She heard a quiet voice call out to her. "Seraphine." The voice called out again as she started to stir. A few strands of her hair were moved away from her face as she turned, trying to get the person to leave. "Wake up." The voice said, shaking her gently.
Sera tossed and turned away from the stranger, keeping her eyes firmly shut. Her grip on the knife tightened. The shadow of the stranger covered her body as she saw a figure tower over her.
