Authors Note: Hello everyone! I really adore SYOT stories and I decided to make one of my own! Obviously, this is an alternate universe where Katniss died in the 74th Hunger Games, so the Quarter Quell was never changed. Anyways, onto the story!
Rue Harvester, 13, Victor of the 74th Hunger Games
Rue can't sleep.
This isn't unusual for her- almost all Victors suffer from insomnia of some form, and the fact that today would be when when the Capitol announced the Quarter Quell made it far worse- all Victors dread them, from what she'd been able to gather, from the stern Honoria from Two, worrying about how perhaps no one could volunteer, about how some innocent twelve year old could be forced to the stage ("just like you!" she stressed), to the aggressive Johanna from Seven, who barely concealed her hatred and said words others were hesitant to say around a girl Rue's age, despite the fact she'd heard it all before.
No, what is unusual is the nightmares. Not the fact she's having nightmares, she has them every night, Katniss's still body after the Career boy, who she later learned was called Cato, had stabbed her again and again and again, his screams when the rock from the slingshot hit him in his right eye, Thresh "accidentally" falling off the Cornucopia, though can guess the truth, into the Mutts when the Gamemakers said only one of them could ever win.
These nightmares were different. Horrifying images of new arenas, each one somehow more terrifying and impossible than the last, the Quarter Quell announcement repeated with each new change crueller and terrifying to consider, being forced to mentor a girl so much older than she is only to watch her die in ways slower and more monstrous than the last.
Barely stopping herself from screaming, she decides to stay awake all night. Waking up her parents, her brothers and sisters, that would achieve nothing but cause them to suffer alongside her. Rue catches herself thinking and if they struggle because they're tired at work, they'll be beaten before dimly remembering none of them has to work now, not ever. They're safe.
Rue sits downstairs in the lounge and picks up a book. It was a limited supply and far too childish for her liking, the Capitol seemingly deciding since she was twelve and the youngest Victor, she must have been helplessly innocent. The books are all utter trash, she's found out, pointless platitudes about Capitol kid's utterly vapid adventures and poorly hid propaganda extolling the virtues of the Capitol, but it kept the thoughts out of her head and out of the shadows they hid in denying her respite in her waking hours.
An hour later, Rue is asleep on the couch, too tired to resist. She doesn't dream, and the nights where she doesn't dream are the good ones. She sleeps through her family waking up at six, a habit formed from long ago they never managed to break. She sleeps through her father calling her in for breakfast, for one of the odd yet tasty recipes he'd picked up a habit for making ever since they had enough food.
It is near three o'clock when she finally awakes, having to be physically shaken by one of her sisters, Dolores. When Rue opens her eyes and sees her, she can only see their differences now. Dolores has a fiery passion in her eyes that Rue lost when she killed a man. After getting frustrated, Dolores speaks. "Wakey wakey, Rue! C'mon, stop being so stubborn! Do you want me to shout at you or not?"
"Dolores, I'm awake," replies Rue, too tired to speak beyond a quiet monotone. "I was enjoying that sleep…"
Dolores sighs and raises her hands to her hips. "Do you know what time it is? The reading of the card- the Quell card, of course- is in ten minutes, sleepyhead. The Peacekeepers'll beat us if we're not watching."
Rue can't argue against that. She sits up and wraps her arms around herself reflexively, just to feel a little better. The wait is agonising. She stares at the television and waits for it to turn on automatically as she counts down the minutes in her head. When she's counted halfway to a hundred billion, or at least it seems that much to her, she's startled when President Snow's voice rings out. She nearly falls into Dolores- she can't believe she forgot her family was sitting beside her-before she can pay attention.
"On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every District was made to hold an election and vote on the Tributes who would represent it. On the fiftieth anniversary, as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every District was required to send twice as many Tributes."
Rue waits with bated breath for the announcement of this years Quarter Quell. Each second is an agonising eternity, the president slowly grasping for the envelope neatly marked "75" from a box held by a boy who can't be that different in age to Rue herself. Finally, the President speaks, and Rue lets out a breath she didn't realise she was holding.
"On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that those hurt the most in their senseless violence were innocent children, every District is required to reap a Tribute between the ages of six and sixteen."
The world blurs in front of Rue's eyes, and she's vaguely aware of arms grasping around her waist and holding her tight. She pulls herself free and tries to stand, only for her to vomit up what little was still in her stomach.
All she can think is that no one younger than her should ever be forced into the hell she suffered.
Please check my profile for the rules and character sheet! As a note, please do not send tributes by review as I will most likely reject them. PM me please!