A.N.- Hey, guys, this is my first chapter of my Hunger Games story! I finally got the guts to post it... so yeah. Hope you like it. Apologies in advance for any typos, I have yet to run spell check on this document but I will do so soon as I can. Review!
Chapter One- Reaped
"Ladies first!" Effie Trinket's voice filled the square of District Five. I stood in the crowd with my father and my cousin Cog. Cog was here with my aunt and the rest of his family (my aunt, uncle and cousins). Cog was thirteen, and this was his second reaping. All his siblings were too young to be reaped, but his little sister Semolina was turning twelve in a year and a half.
God help the poor girl.
"Litnicki Peckerwood," Oh shit. That's me. I heard my breath increase to the point where it could be hyperventilating. This had to be a mistake. A bad one. I heard a few in the crowd cry out my name, but not a soul stepped forward to scream 'I volunteer!'. I was stared at in pity as I made my way to the stage that was in front of our Justice Building which was lit up thanks to our electrical industry here in Five.
I finally reached the stage when Cog finally realized that all this was actually real and he screamed out, 'NICKI, NO!"
Oh double shit. I sighed as I looked away sadly and turned to Effie who gave me a mere smile as she announced the boys' turn.
"Roan Lockley,' she announced. I watched as a boy walked up towards the stage. His appearance was blurred by my vision (which was very foggy and I suppose that was because of shock). I knew the name though, Roan. Roan had been at school with me, and I considered him my acquaintance. It was too bad that now I had to kill him.
No one volunteered for him. Well don't I know that feeling? I thought with surprising sarcasm.
He reached the stage and now he was next to me. 'Hi Nicki,' he offered a smile, something I could not return.
"Hey,' I said politely, not wanting to leave him hanging. This wasn't his fault.
Fuck the Capitol.
There, I said it. In fact, I've thought that many times in my head, but in nicer ways. But now, standing here, the explicit thought forms easily in my mind.
"Wonderful! We now have our tributes,' Effie nearly sang. Before we could do much more, Roan and I were escorted to the Justice Building behind us. On the outside, light from the electrical factory reflected on the building. That seemed to be sort of ominous in my mind. I was walking into my death sentence. I felt my legs wobble as I walked. But this wasn't going to happen, no fainting yet.
I'd save that for the arena.
'You okay?' Roan asked me, concerned.
'No,' I said honestly as we got inside the building. I was too lost in my racing mind to focus my brain on the interior of the building. I felt Roan help me in to an elevator. I should thank him, but no words form on my lips. I'm just frozen.
Me. The Games. Me. A tribute. Twenty four go in, one gets out.
There is no chance for me, no hope. I'm good as dead.
'Oh my God," Cog runs into the room where I was put to say my goodbyes. I stood up, stronger now but still in shock that this has happened. My breathing is even and I'm almost accepting my death as I hug Cog before I can say anything. I just hugged him, trying to remember how it felt to hug my family member. Vaguely, I glimpsed my father and my aunt also here.
My mother died when I was born. She never saw me. Her heart just gave out as she tried to help me into the hellhole that is Panem. The medics tried to save her, but it was too late. So I'd grown up in Five with my father as a worker in the plants while my aunt took care of me. My aunt told me about my mother all the time, though. She had been her sister. My mom was apparently this beauty (like my aunt claimed I was) with the same dark and curly hair that I have, and the same hazel eyes with the soft face.
"It's okay,' I said to Cog as we hugged.
"Lynne would never let this have happened,' my aunt Kellie whispered to my dad. Lynne was my mom's name. It was also one of my middle names. I tried to listen closer but make it look like I was too busy comforting Cog over my departure.
"You've got to come back,' Cog said as he let me go, 'for Uncle Rig." He's right, my dad can't lose both my mom and me.
"I'm gonna,' I said, but uncertainty rocked me.
"Time's up!" a Peacekeeper came in and ushered my family out of the room. No! I hadn't said anything to my dad. No.
"I LOVE YOU GUYS!" I screamed as loud as I could, hoping they'd at least hear my voice one last time as they faded away from me.
I wasn't going to see them again.
I was going to die for the Capitol's pleasure, for the cruel Games. I was a pawn in deadly chess.
