The 150th Annual Hunger Games

Chapter One, Part One

Harper's POV

When I resurface from the depths of the gleaming turquoise ocean, the early morning sun almost blinds me as I tread water, looking around at the dock. Nobody is up yet- the Reaping is not until two o'clock, and I know for a fact that my family loves a sleep in. Unlike me, they hate getting up early and could stay huddled in their beds forever. Turning my face up to the sky, I float on my back to watch the orange sky turn a light azure blue. I don't worry about Peacekeepers seeing me; they'll all probably be down at the square, preparing for the day.

I'm starting to relax when I feel the current below me change- panic grips me and I flip away from the surely oncoming danger… right into the arms of my best friend Linnet, who catches me with a grin on his face.

"You're so easy to scare," he teases, blue eyes sparkling underneath his dripping wet hair. He floats easily on the surface of the water, legs stretched out as if he's lying on a couch, and I realise I'm lying right on his chest. Blushing, I roll over to paddle by myself.

"I can't believe you're up," I say, because he's usually incredibly lazy. We circle each other seamlessly, cutting through the water like knives through butter.

"Me neither," he snorts, skin gleaming as if embedded with a million diamonds as he swims around silently, "nerves, I guess."

We both go quiet. On the outside, Linnet always looks so calm and collected- he never shows and fear or anxiety and his strength gives me confidence. The fact that he feels nervous makes my nerves ten times worse and I feel sick to my stomach.

"I'm heading back," I say simply, turning back in the direction of the shore, "coming?"

Linnet grins.

"Race ya?"

He's barely said the words and I am off, writhing and twisting through the water, becoming part of the ocean. I dive underwater and open my eyes wide, laughing as I see Linnet flanking me to my right, but I am too fast and easily out of reach for him to catch me. When I reach the dock and throw my head above water, feeling the sun on my face and the cool air rushing to meet my damp cheeks, my skin is buzzing and I have never felt more alive.

I get ready on my own, preparing my outfit for the day. It's a simple pale green number made of soft cotton which compliments my striking green eyes, with a thin brown belt around my waist. After my shower I dress and dry my hair, brushing the thick white-blonde tresses slowly. I stare at myself in the mirror for a long time before moving at last to slip on my brown sandals. As I look around my room for one last time, opening the door, tears spring to my eyes at the thought of never returning. I will miss my four-poster canopy bed most of all, and the view of the ocean from my window.

I trot down the spiralling marble steps of our sparkling mansion to meet my family waiting at the bottom- my parents smile bravely, although inside I know they are dying. My two older sisters smile at me, but I can see the tears in their eyes. My youngest sister, Selina, doesn't know what's going on but stands silently beside Mother as if knowing that today is a bad day.

Raising my chin, I smile without wavering.

"You look beautiful," my mother says, hugging me tight. I take after her; her long, flowing blonde curls are exactly the same shade to the ones tumbling down my shoulders, her green eyes the same tone of olive as mine. I wonder if it is the last time I will hear my mother call me beautiful. I try to be positive; maybe someone will volunteer if my name is called. Then again, maybe not. We're a pretty pathetic Career district.

Outside, Linnet is waiting for me. Instantly I am by his side, gripping his hand for the comfort I so need. He holds mine tightly as we begin the procession to the square silently. Even if neither of us is picked, one of our friends may be. Or- God forbid- either of our siblings. I push the thought out of my mind.

I am reluctant to leave my best friend's side as we split into out separate age groups. As he is older than me, he slots into a roped-off area ahead of me. My parents watch from the sidelines, with my youngest sister in between them. I smile at her because she is too young to know what's going on, and because I want her to smile back. She does and I turn my face forwards to the stage.

Our district escort, Delilah, is way too cheery and bright, prancing up onto the stage like a show pony. A show pony sprayed blue. I raise an eyebrow. She grins at us all.

"Welcome, District 4, to the 150th Annual Hunger Games!"

We stare back sullenly at her. Just get on with it. She coughs nervously and quickly runs the video we've seen a thousand times before.

Delilah wastes no time in squealing and clapping after the short film, as all of the Capitol citizens do. I roll my eyes, feeling a little braver knowing that everyone's just as terrified as I am.

It's time for the Reaping.

"Ladies first!" she trills, thrusting one ice-blue hand into the huge bowl of names. I can hear my heart in my ears, my blood rushing violently through my veins. Delilah pulls her hand out, holding a single piece of paper. I see her mouth open and her lips form two words, but every sound around me is blocked. I can't hear anything. Instead there is a strange buzzing sound in my ears, as if they are filled with tracker jackers.

Everyone turns to stare at me. I look up, seeing a sea of endless faces and the stage, and Delilah searching with her scary blue eyes. With a sudden jolt of terror I realise, too late, that my name hangs like an echo in the air.

I drag myself forwards, numb. A few of my friends pat my pack as I pass, earning themselves hard, stony glares from the Peacekeepers lined up between the different age groups.

I cant look at the males' fifteen-year-old age group as I walk by, but I hear them whispering. I pick out familiar voices, listening hard. I hear every apart from one. Daring to cast a quick glance to my left, I catch Linnet staring at the ground. His hair hangs over his pale face and I can't see his expression.

Delilah jumps up and down theatrically and I want to slap her as I pull myself up the stairs to the stage. She notices my pointed glare and coughs discreetly, turning towards the boys' bowl.

"Kree Delaware!"

I breathe a sigh of relief as the small, skinny twelve-year-old boy starts to walk, trembling, up to the stage. It's not Linnet. It's not…

"I volunteer!"

My eyes snap across in the direction of the voice, fear and anger burning in my belly. No. He couldn't. How dare he? The twelve-year-old runt stops in his tracks and half-turns towards the voice.

As soon as my green eyes latch onto his quicksilver blue ones, I glare hard enough to let him know that he has betrayed me. He mouths 'I'm sorry' to me but I'm not having any of it. I look away, livid.

Why has Linnet volunteered as tribute? We'd always sworn to each other that it would never happen. We promised to never go into the Games as one. Now, we are representing District 4… together.

He walks onstage, hesitant, as the scruffy smaller boy scuttles back into the dense crowd of boys, back to safety. I glower at him from underneath my eyelashes, and then back to Linnet.

"A volunteer! Most exciting, indeed! What's your name, honey?"
"Linnet Creek."
"Wonderful! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the tributes of District 4!"
No one claps. Somewhere on the sidelines, I hear quiet crying. My friends look up at me with teary eyes, lips trembling.
I remain strong, and as Linnet moves to stand closer to me, I don't move.
"I hate you," I spit under my breath, venom lacing my voice. His reply comes from a mouth that I know is smiling sadly down at me.
"I know."

As soon as the door to my room in the Justice Building opens, my family, who hug me so tight I can barely breathe, smother me. My mother is crying, my father the complete opposite. He's the only one who stands back as my mother and sisters cling to me.

He adopts the fearsome Victor-like expression he has worn ever since he won his Games, giving me a hug with his steel grip.

"I know you'll do me proud, Harper," he says, "whatever happens."
"I know, Father," I whisper as he kisses my forehead, "I will try."
"I love you," my mother sobs, "remember that."
"I love you too." I'm choked up with tears by the time my sisters embrace me. Selina looks up and blinks at me with her emerald eyes.

"See you soon," she says, hugging my legs. She doesn't understand what the Games are yet. I plaster on a brave smile for the benefit of my little sister's belief that I will see her again soon, and stroke her face. I wish I were that young and innocent.
"You can do this," my eldest sister Destiny says as she holds my hand, "I know you can. For us."
"You and Linnet… stay together for as long as you can," Taylor, who is a year older than me, whispers in my ear, "protect each other."

I barely have time to say goodbye when a Peacekeeper barrels into the room and tears my family away- too weak and broken to resist, they don't fight against them.

"I love you all!" I cry as they leave, the wooden door slamming shut. My knees give way and I sink to the floor, head in my hands. My chest aches and I think my heart is breaking. I let the tears fall until another Peacekeeper drags me roughly towards my feet and out of the same door, towards the door of the train, towards my death.

As soon as I see Linnet's face on the train, I explode.
"What the fuck was that?" I scream at him relentlessly, only just managing not to fly at him with my fists at the ready. His bright blue eyes stare at me, startled, as I tremble with the effort of standing. Anger and fear, I have learned, is not a good combination.
"Harper, listen-"
"I won't fucking listen!" I screech, not caring who hears me cursing. Delilah bursts into the room suddenly, eyes wide.
"What is going on in here?"
"Stay out of this!" I yell, turning my blazing glower towards her. She backs off out of the room. I feel the train lurch forwards, District 4 passing by too quickly.

"How could you? After what we promised, after what we agreed on? How could you, Linnet? I've lost my family, my friends, my home- now I'm losing you too? Why the fuck do you think that's okay?"

"It's not okay- I know it's not, Harper, this is hard for me too."
"Don't! Just don't-"

I'm so livid I can barely see straight, trembling so hard. The flight-or-fight instinct rushes through me. Everything stutters. Before I can embarrass myself further by collapsing in front of him, I find myself running. Sprinting down a long dark corridor leading to nothing. Tears slip from my eyes. I hear Linnet calling my name but I ignore him.

By the time I reach the end of it, my body is wracked with tremulous shaking and I shove open a door with the last of my strength as the saltwater courses down my flushed face. It's a tiny cupboard filled with cleaning equipment- do the swanky Capitol trains even need them? – And thankfully very dark. Collapsing inside, I lean against a wall, crying hard, hands over my face. I let the door swing shut, cutting me off from the world, leaving only a small sliver of light snaking in from under the door.

Exhausted, too tired to find anywhere else, I slump over with my head on my knees, letting my eyes flutter shut as I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.