Today is the day. Today, today, today. Either she'll win, and she'll die or she will lose and her father will die. It's a lose-lose situation.
She pulls on some tight jeans and a long sleeves shirt. Her hands shake as she tucks her shirt into her pants and loops the belt. Her hands also shake as she puts a spoon of cereal in her mouth. She rubs her hands, a nervous habit and she looks up as her dad and sister come down the stairs. Flora gives her a hug first.
"You better kick his butt or else no more hugs." She whispers and pulls back and gives her a smile. She wonders when their dad told her.
Her dad gives her a hug next. He sounds like he's holding back tears. "I'm so sorry..." He whispers. "I'm so sorry..."
Nyssa tightens her arms around him and rubs his back. "It's okay. I'll earn your freedom. I promise." He scowls at her.
"I'm not worried about that! You have a whole life ahead of you! I'm just an old man."
"Who'll take care of Flora then? If your gone, we'll have to resort to stealing and living on the streets."
He sighs and shakes his head. "I just... don't know what to do anymore. You look exactly like her, you know. Your mother."
She smiles sadly. "I know." She lets go of him and gives Flora one last hug and walks out the door. Before off the last step, a carriage pulls up in her front driveway. Ethan sits inside then hops out and opens the door for her.
"After you." He says with a smirk. She rolls her eyes but steps in anyway and goes to the far side and sits down. Ethan sits down across from her.
"Nervous?"
"Of course." She says then frowns. "Didn't you ask me this yesterday?"
"Feelings can change in a few hours." She nods and looks back out the window. The houses pass by and eventually, they're going up a brick road to the palace. She's probably going to fight Aspen someplace there.
Her leg bounces and she rubs her hands on her legs, liking the feeling of how her hands feel on the jeans after a while, a numb-ish feeling. Ethan reaches out and puts a hand on her leg, stopping it from bouncing.
"You'll be fine." He says. "You were trained by the best."
"Lucky me." She stares at his hand on her leg. He moves it and her leg starts bouncing again.
There's a bump in the road and she hit her head on the side. She rubs the spot and jumps when someone opens the door to let them out. She takes the hand of whoever helping her out and steps onto the brick-covered ground. She rocks back and forth on her heels.
"I'm going to die today." She says to Ethan. "Will my family be able to visit me before they...?" She asks, looking at him with her big brown eyes. He must see the fear because he pulls her into a hug. They've only known each other for a few days but it seems that they have developed a strong friendship.
"Remember who you're doing this for." He strokes her hair and she takes a deep breath and steps back.
"I want to thank you, for helping me." She says. "I'll... goodbye."
Then she follows her escort to where she'll be equipped with armor and given weapons. Into the tent that'll seal her fate. When alone she does something she hasn't done in years, ever since her mom was murdered.
She bows her head and prays.
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