Chapter 1, An Uncertain Feeling
I wake up with an uncertain feeling and I don't really know why. I can't seem to remember what my dream was about, but lately I've been having these weird dreams. They're about Zane, my boyfriend. We have been together for almost five months now and fortunately we're both really new to this whole dating-thing.
Every time I wake up and think about him, I feel more in love then I already was. But all this changed when the Victory Tour of the 71st Hunger Games started two weeks ago. The winner came from our district, district 4, and here name is Annie Cresta.
I must say, she won by luck because she was the only tribute who knew how to swim.
From the moment she came home she moved to the Victor's Village and I didn't see her until the Victory Tour. Not that I used to hang out with her or anything like that, but she went to my school and I had lunch with her once or twice. She really is a nice girl. We all watched the show and saw what happened to her. Somewhere along the games she... snapped. I don't think she'll ever be the same again. But like I said, the first time I saw here since the games what at the last Victory Tour and she looked unstable and her mentor, Finnick Odair, was with her at all times.
If I ever were to be a tribute for the Hunger Games - I doubt that will ever happen - I would love to have Finnick Odair as my mentor. Purely because I want something that is pleasing for the eye before I die an extremely painful death.
But back to the Victory Tour, it was without a doubt the most depressing Tour I've ever seen. One, because Annie Cresta is just pathetic and just isn't a winner to me. Two, because Zane told me afterwards that his name will be at least twenty times in that lovely bowl. And three, Zane lost his older sister to the 65th Hunger Games, so that means I have a very grumpy and sad boyfriend during any events that are related to the Hunger Games. But I can't blame him for that.
What bother me most is that his name is in there so many times. I mean, his family has already lost one child to the Games. How can they live with the idea that they might lose another one just so you can have some extra food? My name will not be in that bowl more than it has to be, just like the last four years, and I think the odds are in my favour. But Zane… not that many kids in our district decide to receive tesserae, we're not a poor district.
Since the Victory Tour, Zane's mood has gone downhill. And I have an ever growing fear that it will be his name on the paper from the bowl.
I turn onto my other side and pull my blanket over my head. Almost every night I have that same dream. Everyone is waiting on the town's square for the Reaping. A random girl gets chosen and then it's Zane. It's Zane every single time! And there is nothing I can do about it. My response to this result is different every reaping. Sometimes I cry, I cry so hard. Sometimes I just freeze, not knowing what to do and sometimes I wake up screaming and I feel nothing but fear. Maybe I'm turning this into a bigger problem than it really is. This will be his last Reaping and his name has been in there so many times, why would they pick him? Then all this, my nightmares and worries, they we're all for nothing.
Normally, I get up immediately when I wake up, but today I decide to just stay in bed for a little longer. Feeling safe and secure.
Today I have to help my dad with fishing. I am from district four but I hate fishing, I think it's one of the most boring jobs ever. All you do is wait and wait and hope to get a good catch, ugh. I hope that there won't be any fishes because that means my dad won't need my help and I can just swim in the ocean. I love to swim, when I'm in the water I feel free. It takes my mind of things such as the Hunger Games and all the stress that comes with it. When I'm in the water I am me, just me. Rubie Surion.
Soon my younger, very annoying, brother comes in and disturbs my peaceful moment. He looks really cute, but under that very adorable layer of big blue eyes and brown curls lives a devil's child. He's ten years old but he still acts like a six year old.
He climbs in my bed, takes a pillow and starts hitting me on my head whilst screaming: "Get up! You have to help dad on the boat!"
I try to get him off me, but he's small and quick and I can't grab him. Eventually Kent stops hitting me but now tries to choke me by pressing the pillow on my face. I know what to do now. I fake struggle for a few second and then I stop moving. Kent removes the pillow from my face.
"Rubie?" I can hear he is about to cry and I love it.
"Rubie?"
I give no response, not untill he starts crying and I shout "Boo!". I scared him so much that he falls of the bed. I think it's hilarious but Kent disagrees. "Not funny Rubie!" he screams. "Yes it is!" I can't stop laughing. He is clearly offended because soon after that I feel something heavy hitting my head. That little monster threw a book at my head. I stop laughing and start screaming, calling him names. I jump out of my bed and start chasing him. "Come here you punk!" Kent starts running aswell, he's quick, but I won't give up. When I'm halfway down the stairs I can feel my feet slipping away and within seconds falling down the stairs and I'm on the flour.
I can hear a very melodramatic scream, my mum, and she runs towards me.
"Oh Rubie! My dear baby! What are you doing?"
"Kent.." I growl.
"Oh but Rubie dear, he's only teasing you," she says.
"You call this teasing?" I ask and I point at the bump on my forehead.
"You can't blame that on sweet Kent honey, you just fell down the stairs, you probably hit your head on the way down." My mum thinks Kent is an angel.
"No this is because he threw a book at my head, mum!" I'm getting really frustrated with her, always making excuses for Kent. Oh, he's such a lovely boy, wouldn't hurt a fly. No, but his sister, yes. I get up and return to my room. I look in the mirror and see this gigantic thing on my head. Luckily I'll be on a boat with just my dad the next four days. I try to create a fringe with my hear, at which I fail massively, but it shows less than before. I give up after 15 minutes, there isn't even enough make-up in the Capitol to conceal this thing.
I pack my bag and head down to have a quick breakfast.
"Your dad is waiting for you in the harbour," mum says.
"I know," I say irritated, "he is always waiting in the harbour."
I know that she's only looking after me, but sometimes I wonder if she knows that I'm seventeen and not twelve.
Before I leave the house I sneak out some food from the cupboard and hide it in my bag. Because there is no way that I'll be eating nothing but fish the next four days. I look through the window and see that Kent is playing in the garden, he looks peaceful, but I know better than that.
I say goodbye to my mum and walk down the street. I say hi to some neighbours who are enjoying the weather and doing some shopping. When I look around it suddenly hits me how lucky I am. My mum's parents were really successful fish traders and made a lot of money. That's why we can afford to live close to the Victor's Village, which is just up the hill. Zane, on the other hand, lives at the edge of our little village, close to the harbour. It's small house, much smaller than mine, and it looks like it could fall apart any day now. But it has always looked like that.
Zane has to take care of his younger siblings when his dad is fishing. After the death of Hazel, his sister, his mum couldn't take it and killed herself. Sometimes I'm surprised to see that Zane still has the ability to laugh and enjoy life. I decide to stop by their house on my way to the harbour. When I enter the house I see that Zane is helping his dad pack for his days on sea and tries to prepare breakfast for the twins, Mex and Levi and his sister Blanche and Verena at the same time. When Zane sees me he gets this big smile and his face just lightens up. Maybe it's because he loves me, maybe because my presence calms down his siblings.
I give Zane a quick kiss and help with breakfast. After a minute of negotiating with the twins they are willing to sit down if I make them a fish sandwich and Blanche and Verena ask me to make porridge for them. Before Zane's dad leaves he quickly says hi, which is followed by a bye.
"So.. how is everyone," I ask.
I regret this question because they all start screaming, wanting to be the first to answer my question.
"Wo! One at a time. You first," I say while pointing at Levi.
"Well next week is our birthday, and we both ask for a fishing rod!" Of course, how stereotypical. "Oh that's nice," I lie. "And I.." Blanche screams, "I am going to buy a dress with Zane tomorrow." "Why?" I ask. "For the reaping. I don't have a dress yet and according to papa we have to look very smart."
I almost forgot, this is her first Reaping. I try to give her a smile because I can tell that she finds it exciting. I just hope it's not going to be her name on that paper. A twelve year old will never win the Games. Not even if you're a career.
"Okay guys, unfortunately I have to go now. Four days on a boat! Yay!" I say as sarcastically as I can and everyone starts to laugh. "I will see you next week," Zane says to me. When he gives me a kiss I can hear the boys screaming "Ew!" and the girls say "Aw"! I wave goodbye and start running to the harbour because I am very, very late.
Of course my dad's boat is on the other side of the harbour so I have to run at least 5 minutes. The smell of the sea water runs through my nose. I love it, as long as I don't have to fish. When I finally spot my dad's boat, all the way at the end, I see that nearly everyone has left. When I finally reach him he starts lecturing me.
"Do you even realise what this means Rubie? All the good fishing spots will be taken now! Why are you so late?"
"We don't need the fish dad, we've got enough money."
"We don't need it?" he hisses.
I can see the vain next to his eye beating and when I can see that thing, I know I have to stop making jokes and get to work. I quickly say sorry and get to work. This is not the best way to start my four days at sea with him.