Nightmares. They plague children and adults alike. They show us our deepest darkest fears. Nightmares show us who we really are. Everything we try to hide, from even from ourselves, can be seen in nightmares.
That is what woke me on my first Reaping Day. Not the smell of bacon, a rare treat, or my brother calling my name, but pure waves of terror, only found in one's imagination.
"Wake up," Nico yelled shaking my shoulders hard. I snapped up clutching my chest, breathing heavily. I was covered in sweat and shaking hard. Nico rubbed my back as I struggled to catch my breath.
The room we shared had one window which gave us all the light we needed. It was painted a light green like the foam on the waves outside. I concentrated on the calming color until I felt my heart rate slow.
"Better?" Nico asked. I nodded. Even though the two of us are twins, you could barely tell we were siblings by looking at us. The only similarities in our appearances are our eyes and the tan everyone in District Four had, one that came with years of work on the boats.
"So, what was it this time?" he asked. I had been having nightmares for weeks now all revolving around the same thing.
"The Reaping," I shrugged standing up and stretching. Nico ran his hand through his wind blown, blond hair.
"Your name is only in there once, besides we live in a career district, someone always volunteers," I shook my head.
"Not always, last year no one volunteered," Nico started laughing.
"That's because River was the volunteer."
"Still, what if I get picked, what about you?"
"Nico, Kendra," our mother called. "Come eat, the Reaping is in half an hour." I groaned and started toward the door. Nico caught my arm as I passed.
"Even if one of us got picked, we wouldn't have to worry," he smiled a little. "After all, you're the top of training and I'm only three spots behind you." I nodded.
The rest of the house consisted of two rooms. One for my parents and the other was a living room of sorts that contained a stove, a small couch, and a freezer. The house was small but comfortable. We were poor but we still had more money than the rich in places like District 12.
After eating a small breakfast of salmon and bacon, I quickly washed and dressed. I wore the knee length purple dress I only wore on special occasions. I personally hated it but according to everyone else it made me look adorable. My mother hummed an upbeat tune as she braided my hair. It was a tune I vaguely recognized from when I was younger.
"What's that you're humming?" I asked as she tied off the end of one of my braids with a piece of ribbon.
"It's an old song, from before the games," she whispered to me.
"Then why sing it? We have new sings now." My mom laughed quietly.
"The song is about surviving to fight another day," she whispered. "I feel like it's appropriate, given the day." She finished my braids and patted my shoulder. I started to hum the song and she shook her head.
"Not now, sweetheart." She lead me back into the living room where my father and Nico were already waiting. They were both wearing black,freshly pressed,pants and loose button down shirts. Father's was untucked and slightly rumpled whereas Nico's was perfectly neat.
Without a word the four of us headed off down the street toward the Justice Building. In the houses around us you could hear the sounds of families getting ready. The yells of the children, too young to understand what was going on, rang through the quiet road. The only other sound was that of the waves as they crashed along the shore at the far end of the street.
The city circle was eerily silent as my brother and I hugged our parents good-bye. It was like everyone had forgotten how to speak. Nico and I signed ourselves in and after a quick hug I left him to stand with the other twelve year old girls.
Unlike in other districts, around here, there is no hand holding while we wait. There is no reassurances, but there is a sort of silent agreement. One that comforts all the younger children. The promise that someone will step up if you get picked, someone who will win the glory for our district.
The microphone squealed up on stage as our , Phox Redpath, stepped forward to begin the ceremony. He is a tall thin man, with wild green and blue hair and a pointed nose. Most of the kids in my school call him the Octopus.
I tuned out Phox for most of the speech about the districts and the rebellion since it is always the same thing. The only part I actually paid attention to was when he announced the past victors from District 4. At this point there were ten surviving victors, all fairly young. The youngest, River, having only won the year before.
"Let's get to the Reaping, shall we?" He raised a dyed eyebrow at the crowd before turning towards the girl's reaping ball. I held my breath as he slowly popped the seal. A second passed and then another before he took a deep breath and said:
"Kendra Angler."
A/N Thank you everyone for clicking this story :D I hope you liked the first chapter. Please tell me your thoughts
XOXOX