TEETH

PART ONE: ASCEND

“Fire & Ashes.”

Enobaria never really liked summer days; the heat of the sun made her feel like her own skin was heavy, sweaty, and dirty at all times. She was also very prone to mood swings, and the hot weather made it worse. The only thing that she enjoyed about those July days were The Hunger Games, an annual survival competition that took place in Panem, the country where she lived. Panem was divided into twelve districts, after the war at least, and the Capitol, which governed the whole country and orchestrated The Games.

She wanted to take part in that competition, brutally fighting twenty-three people in an arena for the possibility of winning her dream life: luxuries, power, and money. Oh, the money! More than she would possibly know how to count. Enobaria was seventeen years old, and that meant she had one last year to volunteer for The Games.

In District 2, her home, it was normal to do so, while the other districts relied on throwing names written on paper inside a ballot and picking someone at random. Any man or woman, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, had the chance to participate in The Hunger Games, and ever since Enobaria was of an eligible age, it was all she could think about.

And she trained for it—restless days, hours on end. It’s fortunate that the City Hall gave their teenagers the proper tools to prepare for The Hunger Games, with a Training Center whose slogan read, “For the Honor and Glory of Panem, Today and Forever.” Winning the competition was an honor, not only for the person participating in it but for the whole district.

Her father always told her how determined she was, and damn, he was right. It was easier to get rid of her whole head than for her to get rid of a thought. Enobaria missed him lately more than ever because they used to watch The Games together, writing down strategies or things that could help her when her time arrived. He also helped with her physical training, since he was a peacekeeper and had a military background. But her father got deployed to District 7 four months ago, and she hasn’t been able to contact him ever since. Enobaria just really hoped that he could be back home to see her in the arena next year.

As every other day, she was finishing her routine at the Training Center; the gymnasium was underground, and Enobaria hated the fact that it had no windows. She felt trapped, like an animal inside a cage. The funny thing is that she hated the bright summer sunlight and also hated being in the dark. No one understood the conflicting thoughts inside her head, no one but herself. Well, almost no one.

“You don’t know what a day off is, do you, Aria?” Evander asked, spear in hand, playfully pocking her back with the wooden side of the weapon.

“Get off me!” She replied in a stern tone, even though she wasn’t mad. And of course, he knew she was playing. “When will you get a life?”

“After I win The Games.” He said, “The life of a victor or a life bothering you, those are my only two options.”

Evander Katsaros, the only person who could talk to her like that without getting stabbed, and the only person who called her “Aria”.

“Get yourself together.” She laughed, and her beautiful smile lit up her face.

Enobaria was very charming and had no issues socializing with her other classmates at school or at the Training Center, but Evander was the only person she actually liked or, at least, didn’t want to strangle.

They had a plan—an almost foolproof one. Since The Games only allowed one victor per year, they would go on consecutive years. Evander, being already eighteen, planned to volunteer in two days, as it was his last opportunity to do so. After spending approximately three weeks in the arena, he would then assist her in preparing so she could volunteer the following summer. She was definitely going to miss him for a little while.

“Are we catching the sun?” He asked, taking the axe out of her hand and placing it back on the tall panel. She was going to complain, but he threatened her with a small pocket knife. Funny jokes they shared.

“You should be training, lazy animal!”

“Shut it, you’re making my ears hurt.” He said.

Their district had a lot of mountains, and the biggest one (the old mine, like they called it) was right there, in the middle of District 2, surrounded by the most important buildings: The City Hall, The Training Center, The Military Academy, The Merchants Market, and The School. Neither of them liked spending time there because it was always packed with peacekeepers and mine workers. Too many people, too much noise, and too much dust.

There were other mountains on the outskirts of that overpopulated urban area, smaller mountains surrounded by working-class family houses—that’s where they both lived. Enobaria and Evander had to walk one hour back home every day after their busy schedules, but usually it took them longer than that. They went to watch the sunset daily and wandered around the district until lock-down. After seven, no one could be on the streets except for peacekeepers on active duty or any worker with credentials on hand.

They humorously named their daily activity “catching the sun” to make it sound less pathetic, at least according to Enobaria. Evander, however, had reached a point in his life where shame was long behind him.

The scorching sun made it almost impossible to walk on the concrete street without combat boots, and Enobaria knew that thick socks were also a must during the summertime to prevent painful blisters caused by the heat. Another bad thing about that awful season!

Enobaria complained a lot, about many different things, all the time. Evander just nodded and listened; he didn’t mind.

They hung out anywhere, be it the sidewalk, their backyards, or the broken benches at the deserted park. On certain days, when they had the energy for it, they liked to climb up Echo Ridge, the smallest mountain in the district. Rocky, ashy, and dry, the place was not pretty at all, but the panoramic view compensated for it. Conveniently located in their neighbourhood , they could return home before lock-down. Also, the smoke from the nearby factories wasn’t as thick at the summit. Living almost next to a weapons manufacturer did have its downside, as the residue it emitted could leave you with half a functioning lung.

“So this is finally happening.” Enobaria said, leaving her heavy backpack on the ground.

“Aria, don’t start. Come on, you’re better than that.” He complained, throwing a rock down the cliff. “You think I’ll ever hit someone with one of these?”

“I’m being serious!” She got easily mad at him because nothing ever seemed to phase him. “You’ll be in the arena in two days; we should talk about it.”

“We’ve been talking about it for years; let’s give it a rest. The calm before the storm, like grandma says,” Evander sat down and made her do the same thing. The wind was warm and strong, and the sun was setting slowly in front of them, bathing the whole place in an ashy-golden light. “It’s not like I’m dying or something.”

“You could.” The words came out of her mouth like icy daggers, surprising the both of them.

“I won’t.” Evander reassured. “Oh, I see what’s going on! You are going to miss me.”

His mocking tone and made-up song earned him a smack on the head. He just laughed it off; he knew that he wasn’t going to get those words to come out of her mouth.

“I’m just hoping that we don’t get into a Kentwell situation again.”

Evander had an awful experience at the tribute selection ceremony last year. He was going to volunteer for The Games, but an older boy stopped him from doing so.

Volunteering was a big deal; everyone wanted to be part of The Hunger Games, and sadly for Evander, he had some strong competition at that time. The boy grabbed him by the back of his shirt and tossed him to the ground like he weighed less than a bag of apples. And to top it all, he got thrown in front of Enobaria, who didn’t waste a chance to make fun of him for that.

“My socks got stained with your blood.” She laughed, remembering what happened. He didn’t get seriously injured, so she never felt bad for mocking him. “You’re still mad about it, aren’t you?”

“If he wasn’t dead, I’d probably still be.” Evander said, “Oh, man, I hate The Kentwells.”

Maximus Kentwell was the name of the boy who humiliated him in front of the whole district, and Evander held grudges even against the dead. No matter how much he would like to deny it, a part of him was relieved when that boy didn’t win The Games. Evander was the laughing stock of the Training Center for a little while, but at least he was alive.

“Do you? I never noticed it!” Her sarcastic comment made him sigh, “I think his brother needs a reminder.”

Maximus had a younger brother, Anmon, and Evander took any chance he had to fight him during practice. It was petty, but it made him feel better. Enobaria always reminded him to take it easy because those siblings came from a well-positioned family, and they had connections that could ruin their lives in the blink of an eye. And she included herself in the drama because everyone in the Training Center knew that she was close to Evander.

“Laugh all you want, but someday I’ll knock the shit out of that idiot.” He declared, thoroughly offended by Enobaria’s remarks.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Enobaria laughed. She understood why Evander was so bothered by The Kentwells, but couldn’t help finding his petty approach absolutely hilarious.

She reclined on a large heap of rocks, making sure not to strain her back. Closed her eyes, enjoying a moment of peace as the gentle summer breeze played with her hair. Suddenly, loud sirens echoed across the neighborhood, announcing the start of the lock-down. They had 30 minutes to return to their houses.

“Wait!” Enobaria shouted, signaling for Evander to stop before heading back home “I wanted to give you something. I mean, I was planning to do it after the ceremony on the fourth, but then I thought, ‘Oh! He has seven siblings, two parents, a grandma, and probably even the dogs saying goodbye.’ So, I figured I wouldn’t get a chance with so many people around! And I wasn’t sure that…”

“Get to the point, Aria.” He interrupted, laughing. If there was one thing Evander knew about Enobaria, it was that when nerves took over, she wouldn’t stop talking. She just rambled on and on, for hours if you let her.

She took out a small bracelet from her backpack, it was maroon, made of leather, and with a small number two engraved on it. Enobaria wasn’t very sensitive, but this was her way of showing him she cared. Evander stared at her with curiosity, but she avoided eye contact, feeling completely embarrassed. It was stupid, lame, and pathetic—what was she thinking?

“What’s that?” he asked, trying to get her to look up. “Aria, you alright?”

“Yes, it’s just some kind of token I got for you. Something you can take to the arena,” she explained, speaking so fast that he barely understood a word she said.

As he held the bracelet in his hand, a blend of surprise and gratitude washed over him. The maroon leather felt warm against his skin, and the engraved number two served as a perfect reminder that he needed to stay focused and return home safely.

“Thanks,” he said, his voice touched with genuine happiness. Enobaria managed a shy smile, still avoiding direct eye contact. Sensing her discomfort, Evander softly requested, “Mind putting it on my wrist? I’m quite clumsy, you know.”

She carefully took the bracelet, her fingers deftly securing it around Evander’s wrist. He couldn’t help but notice the focused gentleness in her actions. For a second, her fingertips brushed against his forearm; she didn’t even noticed it, but Evander felt like his whole body was melting to the ground.

They were close, but not that kind of close. Enobaria strictly adhered to a “no touching” rule, a boundary Evander never dared to cross. He didn’t know what love was, so he couldn’t possibly feel that towards her. But he liked being around her, just listening and being part of her world; and if Enobaria ever needed it, he would willingly set the entire district on fire for her.

Of course she didn’t know; they both had more important things to do. It was something Evander wanted to discuss after returning from The Games. Becoming a victor was a big deal for both of them, and he knew that Enobaria would hold onto it no matter what. However, he sometimes wished that, after winning his games, they could simply move together into the Victor’s Village—a neighbourhood designed for Hunger Games winners.

Perhaps they could take on roles as trainers at the Training Center or something similar. Additionally, he just wanted to support his parents, his grandmother, and his siblings. While they weren’t financially destitute, they were going through a tough time. The good thing about winning The Hunger Games is that it fixed your life.

Evander was aware of Enobaria’s formidable strength and determination; those were the traits that drew him to her in the first place. But he sometimes thought about how nice it would be to give her everything she needed, creating a world where worry could never find its way. However, he understood that pride and honour, the very things she valued deeply, couldn’t be purchased with wealth. He knew that she wasn’t his to keep.

Enobaria never had time to actually feel her emotions; instead, she would encapsulate everything within a mental vault, sealing it away to be forgotten later. It was the only way she could survive; her life wasn’t easy, and obsession was an easy path to take. A path that could kill her faster than the sharpest sword.

In the quiet moments after she fastened the bracelet, Enobaria broke the silence, talking softly. “Well, there you go.”

“Thanks. Want to have dinner with us?” He asked, remembering the last time that happened.

He had a large family, consisting of seven siblings—three brothers and four sisters—his parents, and his grandmother. The latter truly enjoyed having Enobaria around the house, as she could easily see through her grandson and understood how much happiness Enobaria brought him, even when she yelled at him during their backyard training sessions.

She joined the Katsaros family for dinner three times within the past two years. Due to the lock-down, she had to stay overnight; and since Enobaria’s mother never cared about her whereabouts, there was no problem with that. She slept in the same room with Evander’s sisters, and each time, he arranged his own mattress for her, choosing to sleep on the floor with just a couple of blankets to make sure she was comfortable.

“I wish I could,” Enobaria replied, “I have to go and check if my house is not on fire yet.”

“Want me to go with you?”

“No,” she quickly objected, “It’s fine, I can handle it.”

After a couple of seconds of awkward silence, he spoke again, “Things are going to change soon, I promise.”

“I know,” she said, “I trust you.”

Enobaria wanted to dig her own grave and jump in it after saying those words. She hated how pathetic she was every time she opened her mouth to say something that wasn’t related to The Games. Gladly, Evander never made fun of her for it.

She walked alone, aware that not even the deadliest arena was as dreadful as what awaited her at home.