It's still dark when I get out of bed. Well, it's not much of a bed; the flimsy mattress creaks in protest as I push myself up. Tying my hair at the nape of my neck, I walk to the front door. Silently I peek into my little sister's room and finds her sleeping soundly. "Good morning, Amber," I breathe, like I always do, and turn away. I give my parents' room nothing more than a glance as I sit and tie my shoes.
The humid air envelopes me, and I'm lucky I've taken this walk before or I'd stumble in the darkness. I feel around for the hole in the wire fence that I'd made six years ago. It's on the edge of town, a place no one would want to go. Out of that gate means out of the districts. Once I find it, I slide in. It's hard for my tall frame, but I always manage.
Stepping quietly, I walk until I find a tree to lean against that doesn't obstruct the sky. I'm only here to watch the sunrise; in town, the smog from the mines is too thick to see through when it's so dark.
As I gaze up at the sky I think. It's been a year since I took this walk so early in the morning. Reaping Day. I always came here to think. To think and to reason. Why couldn't I just dash off into the woods? Who's stopping me, who says I can't go?
But it's always the fear, and the hope that stops me. Amber is the driving force in my life. Everything I do is for her. Ever since we lost our parents I've done it all - supplied food, got money... She couldn't make it without me, not while she's so young. And then there's the thought burning in the back of my mind. Maybe this can change. Maybe it can all get better. One more year and I'm done with the Reaping. Of course there's Amber but she's only ten - I'll deal with that when I have to.
As I dwell on how the day might go, I notice the sun rising from behind rows upon rows of bushes and trees. It's beautiful, all of the oranges and pinks swirling together to make some sort of perfect color.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I realize that I have to leave. Pushing myself up, I start back to the fence at a quick jog. It must be around seven, and the Reaping starts at noon. I wanted to at least stop the market before I get back home. Sometimes I bring them animals, other times, just money. I work at the coal mines, mostly just helping out. Nothing too severe.
As I walk through town, more people starting to get up, I greet the people I pass. It means a lot to be kind in District 12. It's such a sad existence; the least I can do is make someone smile.
I reach the market in no time at all. Stopping and looking around, I suddenly have an idea. I turn and start to walk to the bakery instead. I'll get Amber a loaf of bread, for going out to the Reaping with me. I figure I'm speaking too soon - well, I know I am and I can't not focus on that fact - but I want to do something for her.
"Good morning," I say as I walk into the small bakery. The scent is incredible, but it always is. I haven't been here since last month.
"Morning," the boy behind the counter replies. He's stocky, probably from throwing around all the bags of flour, and he has a rough appearance. The oldest Mellark son, though I can't remember his name. He has to be close to my age.
"Could I just get a loaf of bread?" I ask, placing the money before him. I glance up at his eyes, but he doesn't look up at me as he scoops it up.
A moment later a loaf of bread is in my hands. "Thank you," I say, smiling at him. His strong brown eyes bore into my own. "Are you in the Reaping?"
He nods quickly. "And you?" he answers. Not much of a talker, but I'm not surprised. The Mellark family never struck me as particularly warm.
"Yeah." I clutch the bread close to me. "Um... Good luck then." He nods, and though I wait for him to reply, he does nothing. So I leave.
I set the bread on the kitchen table and walk into Amber's room. She's still sleeping, which doesn't surprise me. She always sleeps in.
"Amber, hey," I whisper, tugging on her arm. "Amber." I nudge her and she jumps, sitting up and staring at me.
"You scared me, Cora!" She laughs and pushes me, and I laugh too. "I know it's the Reaping today," she says as she gets out of bed. "I'll get dressed."
"Okay, it's around 11, so you have some time." I leave to my own room, shutting the door.
I take a bath, sighing as the cold water runs through my brown hair. Mom used to always say that it's golden, but I don't think so. After scrubbing the smell of coal off of myself, I dry off and take my dress out of the closet. It's light pink, faded from its years of use by my mother. I've never liked it much. Maybe it's more what I associate it with that makes it bother me. I pull it over my head, adjusting it so that it doesn't bunch up at the sides like it always does. My parents never expected me to get this tall. At 5'8", I used to be a head taller than Mom. I tie my hair back into a bun and sigh; I look exactly the same as I do every year. Is it ever going to change? Is there going to be a year when I don't have to do this? "God, I hope so," I mutter as I shove my nice shoes onto my feet.
"Alright, Amber, we have to go." She comes out of her room in her nice white dress and with her braided neatly. "You know, you're really good at doing your hair like that," I say, smiling down at her.
"Thank you." She looks at me for a moment then wraps me up in a hug. "One more year, Cora," she whispers. One more year.
We walk to the Hall of Justice together, eventually getting caught up in a large throng of people doing the same thing. Amber separates from me as I get in line, and I watch her as she stands near the back of the square next to a Peacekeeper.
I'm at the front of the line before I realize it, and the woman just grabs my finger and pricks it. It doesn't bother me anymore, and I push my finger onto the paper without even thinking. I walk towards the other 18 year old girls, recognizing many of them from school. I stand next to Sefa, an old friend. She greets me very briefly and we both immediately turn back to the stage before us.
Effie Trinket comes teetering out on her high heels, twittering like a bird to the guards around her. After a minute, the Capitol's video comes up, and President Snow's voice is booming in my ears. I've already seen this before and I don't need to see it again, so instead I scan the crowd. I manage to find the boy who works at the bakery, staring intently at the screen. I'm surprised he hasn't gotten tired of it by now. It's all garbage anyway.
All this thinking and looking is just me trying to avoid what I know is going to happen sooner or later; the Reaping itself. There are so many girls in District 12, I think to myself, trying my hardest to stop worrying. My hands are shaking.
The video stops and Effie laughs. "Alright, alright, let's move on, shall we?" She looks down at the two glass bowls sitting on a table before her. "The young man and woman whose name I pull from these bowls is to compete in a battle of glory and honor that has held Panem together for the past 66 years... The Hunger Games." She pauses like she's expecting applause; she should know we're too scared to do anything. "And let me say to you all: may the odds be ever in your favor. Now let's get to it!"
Slipping off her bright green glove, she leans closer into the mic. "Ladies, first, as usual." She plunges her hand in and reaches around, making me more and more nervous without even trying. I watch with bated breath as she finally chooses one and lifts it up with a triumphant expression.
I feel terrible for whosever name is on that paper. Her fate rests in Effie Trinket's perfectly manicured hand. As she starts to unfold it, I let go of a huge breath. It's not me, I think, the odds are too slim.
"Cora Arrowood!"
My whole body freezes up. I can't bring myself to move. I stand, stuck in my thoughts, until Sefa steps away from me and stares. She's looking at me - they're all looking at me. It's at that moment I realize that I'm projecting an image to the hundreds of people watching me in this town square and the millions watching me from the Capitol.
I coach myself through the motions. Look up. Smile. Right leg. Left leg. Keep going. Just keep walking. Before I know it I've reached the stage. Climbing up the stairs, I turn to Effie and smile, shaking her hand. Her hand is warm while I'm sure mine is ice cold. "Thank you very much, Cora," she says, turning away. "Now stand right where you are, okay?" I nod, only mildly processing her words.
She pulls out the male tribute's name much faster; the tension's already been ruined. "Hunter Bowden!"
I know him; he went to school with me. He's a year younger than me and a bit of an idiot. Peacekeepers shove him along as he stumbles to the stage. He stares at Effie until she steps out of his way, so we are facing. "Now go on, shake hands!" Effie orders, her voice sickly sweet. I reach out first, shaking his hand very firmly. "Good luck," I say, smiling. He just barely nods.
Effie jumps between us, grabbing the microphone. "Well, there you have it. The District 12 tributes!" There's not much applause, except for a few little kids and some people who are probably trying to make us feel better.
I am guided off the stage and into the Hall of Justice, where I am told by a guard to wait for visitors. Amber. My legs go weak, and I grab onto the wall. What am I going to say, will she be alright, who will she stay with, oh God I hope she isn't crying -
"Visitor, Cora." I look up at the same guard and nod. I brace myself for Amber to run into my arms, and I can't wait to hug her, but it never happens. Instead the oldest Mellark son walks in slowly, studying me.
"What?" I stammer. "Where's Amber?"
"We want to take care of her." Stunned, I try to formulate a response. "I found Amber and brought her to my father, and he said we'll take her in for the time being. Until you get back." If I get back. "I mean, my brother is around her age, she'll have a friend with us... Is that okay?"
I sigh, tears finally starting to fall from my eyes. "Yes, that's - thank you. I can't thank you enough, I - " I sob, hunching over. He doesn't seem to know what to do, so he just places a hand on my back. I don't cry for long, though, and soon I'm composed enough to thank him again. "You're too kind. God, I was so scared... I hadn't even thought about what Amber would do. Thank you." I can't stop saying it. "Thank you."
"I mean, you looked pretty confident walking up there, you know. I figured you weren't even that upset. Didn't understand it, though."
I shake my head. "That's how you win sponsors, isn't it?" I clasp my hands together. "I'm on display now. If I want to even dream of making it back I'm gonna have to act the part." He nods.
"Well... Good luck. We'll be watching." I smile for just a moment as he walks out.
Hunter and I meet at the back exit of the Hall of Justice. A train is waiting for us, one of the sleekest machines I've ever seen. Effie ushers us towards it, chattering to us, but I'm not listening. I squeeze my eyes shut as I take the final step onto the train and take a deep breath, composing myself. After I nearly sink into a cushiony chair, the train whisks me away.
A/N: hi there! so I used to be really into the hunger games back in 2012 but for all the obsessing I did I never wrote about it. now I'm here doing it! I forgot how much I loved it and after watching all the movies in like 2 days I decided to do this. if you know me you know that primarily what I do is make up ocs, cry over them, and then write about them, so I'm pretty much doing that with this lol! thank you so much for reading, and please leave a review! :)