So, I had a new idea for a Hunger Games fic. I can't say more than that. Hehehe. Hope you guys enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own my OC's and plot. Everything else belongs to Ms. Collins.
Italics are flashbacks of the main character when in her POV.
I stand in the group of seventeen year olds and look around. I'm supposed to be meeting Haymitch and instead I got dragged into the square. Damn Peacekeepers. I hate this time of year. I've never had to go through this before, but I've always feared for the District children who did. Now I can safely say that I know their fear. The Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. An idea cooked up by the damned Capitol to keep the Districts from rebelling like we did seventy-four years ago. The part about it that disgusts me is that the people in the Capitol make it out to be some sort of pageant. It's not. At least for those of us in the Districts and Thirteen it's not. The Games are nothing more than a means to keep people in line by making their children kill each other.
I look up at the stage as the clock strikes two. The mayor of this District and the District Escort, Effie Trinket, are sitting in their chairs. Fear grips me again and I don't know why. I don't have any slips in that glass ball. According to our intel, it's been rigged so a twelve year old is going to go in, not me. Is this how these children really feel every year? The mayor stands and starts talking. I know this tale, the history of Panem. My mind goes back to the day I left my home.
"What do you mean I'm going out? You never send me out." She looked me and smiled, if it could be called that.
"You are going out. I need you to find this man." She handed me a picture of a middle aged, paunchy man. "He has some intel that we need back here in Thirteen. He doesn't like us sending the same people every time and I've used everyone I can for now. You are the only one left. What are you so worried about?" I dared not mention that it was the time of year for the Reaping. Even though I had never actually participated in a Reaping, it scared me because it was my ancestors who had caused it before they were 'destroyed'. "Once you find him and get the information, you get out, before the Reaping if possible."
"If possible?" I almost screamed. I barely managed to keep my voice level.
"There is a risk that we can't get to you again before then. But you are not a regular in the District so you don't have your name in the ball to be drawn. You're safe enough if you don't draw attention to yourself."
Applause breaks the memory up and I look at that the stage. Trying to hug Effie is the man I was sent to find. She sent me to talk to a drunk? Isn't he supposed to be a victor? I chance a glance at the mayor and see that he is distressed. Of course he would be. Twelve is now the laughing stock of Panem. Though, I doubt Coin I laughing. This is the man who is supposed to have important information for me. The mayor introduces Effie and she steps up to the podium.
"Happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor!" Ugh, that line disgusts me. The odds are never in favor of the tributes. The only time that they are in a tribute's favor is when that tribute has incredibly wealthy sponsors. I glare at her as she moves to the glass ball with the girls' names in it saying, "ladies first!" Even her bubbly personality disgusts me. The disgust is keeping me from being worried about something I shouldn't be worried about. But the crowd's anxious waiting is getting to me as Effie digs her hand into the ball and grabs a slip of paper. I am safe, I keep telling myself. I am safe. There is no way that my name is in the glass ball. Effie returns to the podium and smooths out the paper. She smiles and looks up. I am safe. "The female tribute from District Twelve is Snowden Caltrit!" My heart stops.
It takes a minute for me to get my breath back. All the girls in my section, all the kids, turn to look at me. Of course they are going to know that I am the one who is supposed to go up there. I can feel the eyes of the younger ones on my back. I take a deep breath and walk down the makeshift path, my back stiff and straight. I am fighting to keep the fear from my face. Haymitch looks at me as I mount the stage. I can see that he recognizes me. How? I don't know or really care at this point. Right now, we are both understanding that my coming here was a ploy to make sure that I was here to hear my name be called to go into the Arena. Effie calls for volunteers. Of course, no one does. I have watched the Reaping too many times to know how it is in Districts like Twelve. Haymitch staggers forward. I can see anger in his drunken eyes.
"Look at this one!" He yells. How is he managing this when he is drunk off his ass? I'll have to ask him later since I can smell the liquor on his breath and him as he wraps an arm around me. It feels protective. "I like her! She's strong! Look, no tears! Lot's of …" he pauses to think of the word. "Courage!" He yells in triumph. "More than you!" The arm is gone and Haymitch is pointing at the camera. "More than you!" He is shouting. Is he addressing Twelve or is he drunk enough to be yelling at the Capitol? Or is he yelling at those in Thirteen. I know they will be watching the recap of the Reapings so they can see who is going to be dying this year. If he is yelling at Thirteen, then he has seen me. I often run around the place to keep in shape and doing errands for Coin. Whoever he is yelling at is never revealed as he falls from the stage at the same time he opens his mouth again. With the cameras on him, I have the chance to blink away the tears that have finally made it to my eyes. Then Effie is grabbing a slip from the middle of the boys' bowl and zipping back to the podium while Haymitch is whisked away.
"Gale Hawthorne!" She calls. I look into the crowd and see a girl with eyes a darker grey than mine and black hair pale a little bit. Then I turn my attention to the boy, more like young man, walking up onto the stage. He is eighteen and he has the same coloring as the girl I just saw. They could be siblings. I wonder if they are. She calls for volunteers, but no one does. I see him give a stern look to a clump of younger boys, a group of siblings I guess. Then the mayor starts the Treaty of Treason. I don't listen as my mind goes back to hearing my name.
Coin said I was safe. I wasn't going to be chosen to go into the Arena. My name was not supposed to be in that ball. But it was. Wasn't there a council a few months back? Yes. A council of those at Thirteen. I wasn't allowed to know what about, but I had heard hushed whispers that they needed a figure head for the coming fight. They were getting ready to attack again and they needed someone to unite the people of Panem. It should have been someone from the Districts, like the boy that was chosen to go with me into the Arena. Maybe they did decide to choose someone from the Districts and I'm just a messenger. No, they know that I will fight to stay alive, like I have been all my life. They have chosen me to be their figure head. Well they have another thing coming. I'm not going to be used as a figure head. I will lead Thirteen at Coin's side. She's already promised that I would be her successor if she died before this was resolved. We saw each other as family, the only family each other had. Did she argue against my being chosen? Or is she the one who suggested my name? She knows that I am afraid of the Arena. I have watched the Games too many times to not be afraid. The Games are what we are fighting to stop. And I have been chosen to be that figure head. Not to mention, I have to pretend that I am from Twelve. Haymitch had better be sober when I next see him. I'm going to need his help.
The mayor motions for me and Gale to shake hands. We do and the anthem plays as we turn to face the crowd again. The moment the anthem ends, we are marched into the justice building and taken to separate rooms. They're for good-byes. I won't have any of those. I don't have anyone to miss me except for Coin and she's gone. I assume it's near time for us to be taken to the train when someone comes in the door. They are given ten minutes since that is all the time that is left. From the build, I can tell that it is a man. He removes his hat.
"Boggs!" I greet happily and hug him. If Coin is my mother, then Boggs is my father. He taught me everything I know, including how to fight. "Boggs, what is going on? Coin said that my names wasn't supposed to be in the ball."
"She had to say that." He tells me sadly. "The council boiled it down to three options. Choose whoever won these Games; pick a candidate from the Districts and manipulate them, or choose their own candidate. They decided to choose their own. There was a late night election and your name came up the most. So she had to tell you what was necessary to make sure you were in Twelve for the Reaping. She fought with the council over it for hours. In the end, she had to go with what the people of Thirteen wanted."
"Then why did she send you?"
"To protect you. And to talk to Haymitch. He does have some information. Also, she wanted me to give you this." He pulls out a silver chain with a mythical creature on it. It's a dragon. No one else knows what it is. It is a private thing between the three of us. Not to mention I doubt the higher ups would appreciate that she spent so much money on me. "She knows how much you like these creatures." He clasps the chain around my neck and makes sure that the dragon is looking at the world. "I have to go back to Thirteen now and make my report. I got lucky. I was able to talk to Haymitch before the Reaping. Telling him about you is what got him more drunk than he should have been. He's promised to take care of you while you are in the Arena. You have to win, Snowden. This all rests on you now." He turns to go before the Peacekeepers can interrupt us.
"Boggs," he turns to me, "if I die and Gale wins, choose Gale. He had younger brothers who wanted to volunteer for him. I get the sense that he would have volunteered for them had they been picked." He nods and it is time for him to leave. I let a few tears fall as I watch him go. Him and Coin have been the only family I have ever known. Now I may never see them again.
What do you think? I have got plans for this fic and I hope you will stick with me for them. Thanks for reading and please please please review