"Wake up!" My eyes shot open at the sound of my sister's voice yelling in my ear. "Get up!" She yelled again and jumped onto the bed, her knees hit me square in the chest and the air was knocked out of me.
"What do you want?" I managed to get out after the air started to fill my lungs again.
"Wake up!" she repeated.
"I get that but why?" I moaned and pushed her off me. I rubbed my sore ribs and rolled on my side. That girl had boney knees!
"I want to play pretend! Cleo told me to get you," She said then started poking my cheek. I growled then forced myself to sit up, "Give me five minutes, okay?" I asked and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. A huge smile spread across her face and she skipped out of my room.
My little sister, Lydia, was only five years old and loved to play pretend. She loved it so much that she forced the rest of us to play us well. My little brother Cleo, who was seven and didn't care much for fairies and rainbows, would get really into it only if there was fighting involved.
Ajax was Cleo's best friend, they were the same age and always found a way to turn Lydia's princess games into die hard thrillers. Neo and I, Ajax's' older brother who was only two months older than me, only played to make the younger kids happy but I have to admit at times it was pretty fun.
My name is Aradhana Pierce but everyone calls me Hana, I'm sixteen and live in Panem. Panem is made up of twelve districts and the Capitol; I live in Capitol with my family. We live in a good sized house, not to big but not too small. It doubles as our family business; the upstairs works as a shop.
My mother, who is a wonderful seamstress, sells handmade jewelry and many beautiful clothing items. My father sells anything he thinks look interesting from the catalog. The shelves were a mess of random knick knacks but they brought in money. To be honest, I think we got most of our income from mom's dresses. She even taught me a thing or two about sewing. The basement was where our bedrooms, kitchen, and living room were located.
Living in Capitol was interesting; the people for one thing were…different. They sure did have their own style, everything from dying their skin to getting implants. It all seemed a little too out there for my tastes but that didn't mean I didn't have work done. For my tenth birthday my parents let me get anything done on me that I wanted.
Instead of dying my skin rainbow and changing up my hair to the latest do, I got a tattoo. It was a delicate design of swirls that started from my left middle finger and extended up my arm to the shoulder, there was also the same design that traced the corner of my right eye. It was black with silver and went nicely with my tan skin. I liked it, I stood out but not as much as some people.
I combed through my reddish brown hair and made three small braids on one side then pinned them to the other so it looked almost like a head band. I quickly got dressed in a clean top with a dark brown tool skirt that I only wore when playing pretend because Lydia wanted me too. I pulled on a pair of old boots then raced upstairs.
My parents were already up, Dad was fusing with the inventory and Mom was sitting at the counter sewing what looked like a coat. I noticed the TV in the corner was turned on and the 74th annual Hunger Games were playing. The Hunger Games were something that everyone in Capitol seemed to get excited over. It happened once a year and was broadcasted everywhere, it was also a requirement to watch it but I didn't care much for rules. The Hunger Games were started as a punishment to the districts after district 13 tried to rebel against Capitol and now everyone else had to suffer from it. Another reason why I agreed to play pretend with the younger kids, it kept them distracted from the TV and it gave me an excuse not to watch.
Sure I had seen bits and pieces of each one, at times it got intense and I couldn't take my eyes away but others it just seemed sad. I didn't know any of these kids but I pitied them. What would it be like to loose Cleo or Lydia to the games? To know that I might never see them again and their death was broadcast as entertainment.
What would I do if I were in the games? Would I survive? I doubted I would last five minutes, I barely know how to fight, how to shoot arrows or swing a real sword. What would it be like to die? I didn't like to think about it and I was grateful I lived in Capitol so I didn't have to live that way. We never ran low on food, sickness wasn't a big deal, I had nice clothes, and I never had to worry about who might be the next to enter the games. Despite the fact that this was cruel, I never questioned the Capitol, I learned it's best not too.
"Good morning darling," Mom looked up and smiled at me. She had one of those smiles that could brighten anyone's day, her hair was the same color as mine but it was cut short, I guess what you'd call a pixie cut, and she had purple eyeliner that seemed to make her bright eyes pop.
"Morning Mom," I smiled back then glanced at the TV. This was the only games I ever got really interested in. Mostly because of the star crossed couple, Katniss and Peeta that everyone was talking about. It really was a tragic love story.
"Going to play pretend?" Dad chuckled at my skirt. I just smiled and stuck my nose in the air, Dad knew I hated this ridiculous skirt, it reminded me of ballerinas and I hated ballet. But I wasn't going to let that ruin my day.
"I'm ready!" Lydia came bouncing through the shop. She was wearing a whimsical pink dress with matching crown, both made by Mom. I swear that whole girl's closet was full of tool and glitter. "Let's go!" she pulled me toward the door.
"Have fun!" Dad waved goodbye. His hair was a sandy blonde, the same as Lydia and Cleo's and he had warm brown eyes that crinkled around the corners whenever he smiled.
The day was hot and bright and Lydia skipped down the street, our neighborhood was located toward the outskirts of the big city area and had a metal gate out front but it was rarely ever closed. We continued walking past the other shops and homes until we reached a big oak tree that stood in the middle of the square. It had a few lower branches that Lydia quickly struggled to climb onto. Cleo ran over to me.
"Finally!" he rolled his eyes at me and adjusted the pilot's hat on his head.
"Finally? Be happy I even got up this morning," I said and walked over to the tree. Sitting at the base of the trunk was Athanasia, she looked completely bored.
Athanasia was the same age as me and was one of my best friends. But unlike me she was the definition of 'out there'. Her skin was dyed a light pink and her natural hair color was blonde but today it had streaks of every color, I bet a rainbow would be jealous of her stripes. She also had golden hearts tattooed on her cheeks like little freckles. She sometimes reminded me of a pixie or even one of Lydia's Barbie dolls but I wasn't about to say that out loud.
"I thought you'd be watching the games," I raised an eyebrow at her. Another thing we didn't have in common was she loved the games, especially this year.
"Nah, things died down for the moment," she replied.
"Yay!" Lydia cheered and ran over to place a crown of flowers on her head, "you can be my handmaiden!" Lydia adored her, maybe because of the whole pixie thing.
"Oh aren't I lucky," she said sarcastically. Lydia gave me my own crown made of wild flowers and I placed it on my head then I took a wooden sword from Cleo, gotta love your siblings if I'm willing to look the part.
"Where's Ajax and Neo?" I asked looking around for them.
"Hiding," Cleo whispered and cautiously looked around like they could jump out at any second. "They could attack at any minute so be on guard," he swung his wooden sword through the air.
"Oh no, I'm terrified," Athanasia said in her bored tone.
I ignored her, "What's the game plan?" I asked.
"I'm the princess! I'm the princess!" Lydia hollered and waved her hand in the air which almost made her fall off her branch. I walked over to help steady her again.
"The castle is under attack! The villains, General Pain and Sir Awesome," those were Ajax and Neo's names in the game, "Are wanting to take over by kidnapping the princess."
"Which is me! I'm the princess!" Lydia hollered out again.
"Yes Lydia you're the princess," Cleo reassured her.
She smiled proudly and adjusted the crown on her head, "that's Princess Daffodil to you."
"Battle strategy?" I asked.
"Protect the Princess and the castle, duh!" He said like it was the most obviously thing in the world.
"Good plan," I agreed.
We started walking in circles around the tree. This went on for about fifteen minutes. Where were they? They had made no moves yet, and if they didn't soon I was going to start looking for them.
"Not that this isn't fun but…." Athanasia started to say, "I'm going to go see how the games are progressing so far," She gave her crown back to Lydia then raced off. Typical Athanasia, but she was more fun when we weren't playing childish games.
"Aw," Lydia frowned as she left but was quickly distracted and started humming to herself.
"Shhh!" Cleo hissed for us to be quiet.
"No!" Lydia protested and started to sing louder.
"Be quiet for a second! Do you hear that?" Lydia fell silent and I listened closely trying to hear what Cleo was fussing about.
Then I heard it, rustling coming from…the tree! The leaves were so thick that it was a perfect hiding spot. Of course, why hadn't I thought of that earlier?
"The tree!" I yelled and we started charging. Before I could even reach it, a dark figure jumped down from a higher branch, snatched Lydia, and started running in the opposite direction.
"We're under seize!" Cleo screamed, "Charge!" And he raced after Neo.
In every game we played, Neo was always the bad guy. He fit the part too. He had dark brown almost black hair with striking grayish blue eyes, plus he was very athletic. He also had a scar over his left eye which earned him the nickname hot shot because he thought he could do anything.
The scar had come from a Jabber jay. When we were about seven or eight Neo, Athanasia and I were all playing near the big oak tree. Athanasia spotted the bird first but it was Neo who wanted to catch it. I told him it was dangerous and to just leave the poor thing alone but he wouldn't listen.
"I'll be fine! Just wait and see it'll make a great pet!" He had just started up the tree and toward the bird when it screeched at him. It sounded like a loud scream from a person;Jabber Jays could mimic the voices of others. But that didn't stop Neo, he kept climbing until he was only a few feet away from it. He reached a shaky hand out toward it but just as he moved the jabber jay attacked.
It flew right for him, luckily Neo was smart enough to close his eyes as it charge for him, claws bared. It flew away and Neo fell from the tree and landed on his back. I ran over to him and gasped to see him sprawled on the ground. Athanasia screamed frantically for help. But when I reached him he had this huge smiled across his face.
"That was awesome!" He laughed. Later his mom scowled him for it but he didn't seem to care. What was even odder about this was that I thought all the jabber jays where dead?
His mom offered to get the scar removed but instead he got a tattoo to cover the scratch up. Now three black claw marks covered his left eye and an image of a jabber jay on his arm. "Battle scars," He told me.
"Stop thief!" Cleo yelled as he chased Neo. Lydia just giggled as he swung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Never!" Ajax called and darted out in the middle of the street to block Cleo's path. Ajax was a spitting image of his brother, same hair, skin tone, at times even the same cocky attitude. The only difference was he had bright green eyes like his mother. He raised his wooden sword high in the air and adjusted the Viking helmet on his head. They had gotten most their props from Dad, they were items that didn't sell.
Cleo raced toward Ajax and swung his wooden sword at him, Ajax blocked and wood met wood.
"General Pain, we meet again!" Cleo said and swung. Ajax laughed and swung back, "prepare to be defeated Commander Incredible!"
They laughed as they each continued to swing their swords at each other; I couldn't help but get all goo goo eyes at them. They were just so cute!
"Lady Hana, go save Princess Daffodil from Sir Awesome's evil clutches!" Cleo yelled at me.
"Yes Commander!" I giggled and saluted him before running down the street in the direction Neo went.
I ran until I had made a full circle around the block and was back standing at the metal gate. Lying on the ground asleep was Titan, Neo and Ajax's dog, a Rottweiler to be more exact. And next to him was Lydia's glittering crown. I walked over and picked it up. Did Neo take her outside the gated area? That was against the rules of the game, stay within the boundaries.
I heard footsteps and looked up in time to stare down the wooden blade of Neo's sword. He was wearing a black cloak because he said, "All villains like to hide in the shadows." Lydia was clinging to his back. I just smirked and pointed my sword right back at him.
"Surrender," He said his voice full of steel.
"Or what?" I taunted.
He thought about it for a second then replied, "Or I'll feed the Princess to my dragon," He gestured to Titan, who just yawned and turned his head away from us. Titan would never hurt a fly and had to put up with us and our silly games.
"Not if I get her first," I said and shot forward to whack him in the shin with my sword.
"Ouch!" He cried and whacked me in the side. Lydia giggled as we went back and forth swinging our swords at each other.
"Lydia! Run!" I told her.
"I can't!" She replied still clinging to his back.
"Just let go."
"Oh," She unwrapped her little arms from around his neck and fell to the ground. She gently dusted off her dress, took back her crown, and then started running back toward the tree.
"Not fair!" Neo protested but I blocked his path.
"It's totally fair, hot shot," I laughed and blocked his swing.
"Keep talking, maybe someday you'll say something intelligent," He joked. Oh he was going to get it.
"Now I'm mad," I said but Neo just smiled because he knew just how to push my buttons. "Titan sick 'em!" I called to Titan who lifted his head to look at me. I whistled at him this time and he responded instantly. He got to his feet and tackled Neo, knocking him on his back and started to lick his face.
"No Titan, you're on my side remember?" Neo pushed the dog off of him and wiped the slobber from his face. I ripped the sword out of his hand and pointed mine at him, "okay okay, I surrender," Neo raised his hands and smiled.
I escorted him back to the tree because Cleo wanted all prisoners thrown in the 'dungeon', which was just sitting at the base of the tree until someone came to rescue you. When we got there I found Cleo, Lydia, and miserable looking Ajax sitting in the 'dungeon'.
"Looks like the castle is safe," Cleo smiled.
"Or is it?" Neo said and snatched both of the swords out of my hands when my guard was down. He threw one to Ajax then wrapped one arm around my waist and held the wooden sword to my throat.
"ha-ha-ha!" he laughed menacingly. I just rolled my eyes at him, he always was a little over theatrical when it came to playing pretend. I guess it was just for the younger kids. "I'm taking lady Hana as my prisoner unless you surrender the castle to us!"
"Oh no!" Lydia really looked terrified. Sometimes she took things to seriously.
"No don't!" I said dramatically, real damsel in distress like, "save the castle, leave me! I sacrifice myself for the sake of your safety Princess!" Ajax and Neo took over the castle the last time and I wasn't going to let them win again.
"No!" Lydia stomped her foot on the ground looking frustrated. "I command you to release her!"
"That doesn't applied to us," Ajax said and joined his brother. Lydia stomped her foot again and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fine if you won't surrender the castle to us then lady Hana is of no more use to us," Neo declared and pretended to slit my throat. He let me go and I think I got a little too into my death scene.
I fell to the ground, clinging to my throat and gasping for air. I pretended like I couldn't support my own weight so I fell on my side and started having seizures. Lydia gasped but the boys had a hard time stifling their laughter. Finally I went limp and stuck out my tongue. Lydia ran to my side.
"Hana? Hana! Don't die!" She said and I would have opened my eyes to tell her that it wasn't real until she said, "Who's going to worship me now?" Seriously? That's what she was worried about? Here I was dying, well it was just pretend but still. Little kids were so confusing sometimes.
"She was a brave warrior," Cleo said.
"Aradhana!" I opened my eyes when I heard Athanasia calling me, "Aradhana! Neo! You guys have gotta see this! The games are almost over, come on!" She beckoned for us to follow her inside my parents shop. I told the kids to stay outside and continue playing; I didn't want them seeing any of the bloodshed.
We both walked inside to see what the fuss was about and joked along the way. I wasn't all too excited to see how this year's Hunger Games ended and I could tell that Neo wasn't too thrilled either. I guess that's why I liked Neo, he was a relief from Athanasia when I couldn't take all her fussing over simple things, changing her look ever week, and excitement over something like the games. We joked, helped each other out, played with the younger kids, and he was easy to talk too. But Athanasia was a good friend when it came to girl stuff, I would hang around Neo and Ajax so much that a little girl time was great. So I guess they balanced each other out.
"The Gamemakers changed the rules! Now two people can win if they're from the same district, can you believe that!" Athanasia explained when we found our way to the TV.
"They'd change the rules just like that?" Neo ask.
"Yup! Isn't it great! That means if Katniss and Peeta win they can be together, it's so romantic!" She said, jumping up and down excited and flailing her arms around.
"In a morbid way I guess," I said and turned my attention toward the screen. She filled me in that there were only three tributes left and they were attacked by mutts, and just a few moments ago Katniss had killed the other tribute meaning they had won the games. The tributes from district 12 were slowly making their way down from the huge cornucopia and over to the lake, it looked like the boy was badly hurt. Finally they made it and we all waited in silence for the announcement signally the end of the games. The hovercraft came to take Cato's body and the minutes wore on.
"It's dragging on," Neo said looking at the clock.
"Why aren't they ending the games yet?" Athanasia asked impatiently.
"Something's up," My Dad had a suspicious look on his face. His eyes narrowed as he studied the screen. I looked over at Mom, still sitting at the counter and was totally consumed in stitch work.
Finally the announcer's voice, Claudius Templesmith, broke the silence, "Greetings to the final contestants of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games. The earlier revision has been revoked. Closer examination of the rule book has disclosed that only one winner may be allowed. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor."
"NO!" Athanasia yelled, pulling on her fair and falling to her knees.
"I knew something was off," My Dad shook his head and went back to organizing the shelves.
"It's so sad," Mom said but she didn't look up from her stitch work, "making lovers turn on each other, it's cruel."
"Yes it is! That's totally unfair!" Athanasia cried stomping her feet the same way Lydia does.
"That's why I hate this, too much..." Neo began.
"Drama?" I finished his sentence and he nodded in agreement.
How would that feel? Loosing someone you love? Worse yet, loosing them and knowing you were the cause of it, their blood forever on your hands. Or even giving yourself up in order to save the one you love. Would I ever be able to do that? Would I ever love someone so much I'd give my life to save theirs? Probably my family, I know I'd take a bullet for them any day. But would I be scarred to die then? It was for a good cause that would take some pressure off, right?
We all watched as the tributes argued back and forth about who should die. I could hear the kids outside laughing with each other. I looked over at Athanasia who looked close to tears, Neo was fiddling with a small statue he found on a shelf. Like he could care less about what happened next, or maybe he was just trying to distract himself.
I turned back to the screen. Peeta was saying something about how there had to be one victor and he was going on about how it should be her and how much he cared about her. But she looked miles away, deep in thought. Then she pulled out a pouch and handed him what looked like berries and helped him to his feet.
"On the count of three," they told each other.
"The berries!" Athanasia screamed, "Their poisonous!"
"How do you know?" I asked.
"Because they used them earlier, haven't you been watching?" No, I hadn't. I missed a lot actually.
They were back to back now and counting down.
One.
"That's suicide, isn't it?" Neo put the statue back and turned toward the TV.
Two.
Mom had stopped her sewing, her eyes wide and glued to the screen. Even Dad was speechless at what he was watching.
Three.
"They can't stand to live without each other," Athanasia said dreamily.
They lifted the berries to their mouths now and were about to swallow. About to both take their lives. Was it out of love? Obliviously, but why did Mom and Dad have those odd expressions of their faces, like they knew something I didn't. There wasn't going to be a winner of the games this year, was that what worried them?
"Stop!" Claudius's voice broke through, the tributes immediately spat the berries out, "ladies and gentlemen, I am please to present the victors of the seventy-forth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you the tributes from district twelve!
"Thank goodness!" Athanasia looked relieved and had her hand on her chest like she just had a heart attack or something.
"That was intense," I said but I couldn't help look around at the still concerned looks of my parents even Neo had that look.
"What's wrong?" I asked, "Did it not end the way you hoped?"
"They just tried to kill themselves," My Mother said.
"I know, so tragic, so romantic," Athanasia sang.
"Yeah so?" I said, still not getting what was so important.
"It almost looked like she tried too…" Dad trailed off.
"Tried to what?" I asked again, now frustrated.
"Defy the Capitol," Neo said, "they both tried killing themselves that has never happened before."
I finally was able to put it all together, "that's why Claudius stepped in before they could," He had said it only moments before the rule book states…
"There has to be a winner," I whispered the words. That's why they bended the rules again, because without a winner, what was the point? That was the partly the point, only one could come out alive, but two did this time. They had defied Capitol. That could get a person killed. Were they going to be killed for what they did? What would President Snow say about this?