This is the story of the 6th Hunger Games. This where the Game makers are now a bit more creative with the arena. DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES AND NEVER WILL. Enjoy and please review.
Alexa Brenan District 7
My breath comes out in shallow breaths. I'm freaking out and I know exactly why: it's the day of the reaping and my name is in the glass bowl 16 times. Alexa Brenan is written on paper and in that deathly bowl 16 times. I'm 16 now, ironic much? I'm only supposed to have 4 slips in but I took extra slips for the food. Today is the only day we get to sleep in, but I don't think anyone can, not even the youngest children.
It's the 6th annual Hunger Games after the Dark Days and I have been in that reaping bowl for four years now. I know the procedure of the reapings and what follows. Knowing this makes me feel no calmer though.
So far we have had not a single victor for our district. That means we have no mentor either. One girl came close, but died in the top three. In the Hunger Games there is no prize for third, nor second – 24 go in and only one comes out. I know this too. In the past six years there was one victor from 1, one from 2, three from 4 and even one from 9, but never from 7.
What scares me most is the fact that my friend, Abigail, from school has her name in 27 times. She is the same age as me but has 4 siblings to share the food with. I often try to slip her some of my food when I'm at school like the rest of the kids around here. She never takes any though. She's stubborn.
My grades are good but I sometimes skip class. The teachers don't seem to care anyways.
This means I have a lot of free time, mainly on the weekends though, so I train.
I train in fear of being reaped for the Games. I have trained since the Games were first announced. Some other districts train their kids as well but not here. Not in 7. We have no professionals to guide us, no equipment to use, nothing that could help us but I still found a place.
I train in the woods using bows and arrows stolen from my father. I'm ok with an axe too though I find it a bit heavy for my fragile figure. No one knows that I train though. Not even Abigail.
I hear my parent's door open. We live together and our family isn't doing to well, especially in the cold winters. My father works in the woods all year round, chopping wood while my mother mainly stays home keeping our house presentable and putting food on the table.
I get up as well and find the clothes I wear only once a year, the clothes that are probably the only thing I have that I may be able to look presentable in.
I find the pale mint green dress lying ironed on the back of my bed. I pull it on, enjoying the soft touch of the fabric against my pale, freckled skin. I then pull a brush through my messy brown hair and head down for breakfast, which I normally eat alone, but seeing as today is reaping day, my parents eat with me.
When we're done I wash the dishes and we head for the main square in District 7 along with the rest of the district. Everyone seems to look a bit neater today than they ever would in school. I see familiar faces flash by and wonder if it will be one of my classmates facing their death this year… or will it be me… No! I tell myself. I wont be reaped. At least not this year.
When we arrive our mayor is already up on stage preparing to give out his annual speech that the Capitol has written for him. When that's over our new escort makes an appearance too. Her hair died a lime green; her eyes the same colour and layers of layers of makeup cover her face making her look like a clown.
"Happy Hunger Games to you all! I'm Charlotte Bell and I'm your new escort!" she says in her shrilled capitol accented voice.
She then saunters over to the big glass ball filled with thousands of girl's names sentenced to death. Her gloved hand circles the slips of paper for too long and then plucks one out right from the middle. She makes a big deal in opening it and we can hear every crinkle of the paper through the installed speakers.
"Abigail Levee!"
I turn to see the face I have known since the first day of school, my best friend is distraught but somewhere deep inside we both knew how the odds were never in her favor. I see her gulp down her fear and take a steady step forward though her hands tremble. She looks at her feet- the whole way, not meeting her siblings' gaze.
"I volunteer!"
This is the first volunteer in District 7. I turn to see who said it and find everyone staring at me. I'm the one who volunteered. I search for a reason to my actions and find it all too easily; Abigail never had any training plus she has 4 younger siblings to look out for. Admittedly, I have a better chance than her.
I walk briskly to the stage, avoiding everyone's amazed gazed, and take Abigail's place.
"So what's your name darling?" the escort asks me like I've known her for years.
Reluctantly I answer "Alexa Brenan, 16"
"Well let's give a round of applause to our new tribute and first volunteer for the Hunger Games!"
The crowd stays silent so the escort proceeds with the boy tribute. Again she takes forever to choose the slip and again she makes a big deal in opening the slip, but finally she says:
"Louis Paler!"
I don't recognize him or his name. He steps out from the 14 year old section and shakily walks to the stage. We shake hands and from there; everything is a blur.
All I remember is that we are ushered into separate rooms in the Justice building.
My parent's rush in with tears in their eyes. I try to keep my own back for the cameras but I finally break. By the time Abigail comes I'm a disgrace but so is she.
"It'll be ok. Everything will be ok Abi, I promise." Using her nickname in hope of comforting her.
"Why did you do it?" she asks and we both know what she means by it – volunteer for her.
"I don't know. I never planned it. I guess I was afraid for you. For your siblings…" I trail off, not knowing what else to say.
"But what about you?" she inquires, her pale grey eyes staring into mine.
"I've trained." I tell her.
There's a look of shock on her face but when the Peacekeepers come to take me away she gives me something through clenched hands, turns around and walks away whispering something inaudible to me.
When I'm alone, I slowly open my fist to see what she gave me. I see a small twig attached to an emerald leaf, a similar colour to my eyes. On it, is engraved a message. It reads: "Some people see a hopeless end, while others see endless hope".
I'm still thinking about the message when the Peacekeepers usher me to the car, which will take us to the train.
I think to myself; I guess I've found my district token.
Hope you liked it. Please review, alert and favorite to keep me writing! Summer holidays coming up so I will update more often :)
