Chapter 1
"Sarah!" My eyes fluttered open, the darkness of my room greeting my eyes. I closed them to try to go back to sleep, but I heard another shout from my father. "Sarah!" I gritted my teeth and threw back my covers, revealing my spaghetti strapped top and pajama shorts that stopped above mid-thigh. Getting up, I meandered around my room, flipping on the lights so I could find the door. My feet made stomping noises as I went down the hallway, my waist length brown hair flowing behind me. As I went down the stairs, my feet began cramping up on the cold hardwood floor and then I entered into the carpeted living room. The room was dark, only lit by flashing of the commercials on the TV. My eyes fell upon my father who was sitting in his recliner, his stubbly beard accenting his hardened face.
"What is it?" the room smelled of alcohol and Capitol cigars. My nose wrinkled at the smell and I realized that it also had been days since my father had showered. He cleared his throat and scratched his greasy head.
"…Get me another beer please…" I felt heat creeping onto my cheeks, a vein on the side of my neck beginning to protrude.
"You-" I felt myself becoming angry. "You called me down here to get you a beer?" He looked over at me, his glacier blue eyes reflecting my own, only more bloodshot from lack of sleep and use of alcohol.
"…yeah, what of it?" his brow furrowed, mouth down in a frown.
"You could've got it yourself; the kitchen is two steps away! Or you could've called one of the helpers!" I crossed my arms in anger, but mostly to keep myself from shivering. "I need as much sleep as possible for work!"
"…Just get me a beer you stupid girl…" I felt a lump form in my throat. I nodded.
"Alright fine." I walked into the kitchen and picked up a bucket and filled it with ice cold water. I took it in both hands and carried it back into the living room and dumped the bucket of water on my father from behind. In a flash before I could even run, my father was up from his chair, gripping my right wrist as tight as he could. The bucket had long since fallen on the floor. I was clawing his hand and trying to run away.
"You ungrateful brat! I take care of this family and this is how you repay me?" I felt his free calloused hand come across my face. For a few moments I was in shock, but then I was brought back into reality.
"Last time I checked…I was the one who started working while you gave up and stayed in that chair, day after day since Mom and Avery died!" I snarled at him and grabbed his throat and he let go of my wrist and I took a hold of his shoulders and kneed him in the stomach. He dropped to the ground and I tried to run away up to my room, but he regained himself quickly. My father grabbed my ankle and I fell into the ground, the carpet digging into my arms. He was now standing over me; his breathing was labored, his hair hanging in wet strings and shirt still soaked to the bone. The man reached down and grabbed my shoulders tightly, pulling me up and turning me around to face him. My heart was beating fast, trying to escape my ribs. I spoke through gritted teeth.
"Let me go. Now." He looked me dead on, flames in his familiar blues. Those blue eyes used to hold so much life…so much love for me. But is has long since then been extinguished.
"Not until you apologize." I felt the tears building up behind my eyes, the lump in my throat become much bigger.
"No, you are the one who needs to apologize. I've needed you… but…but you're always too drunk to see that…" I flung his hands off my shoulders and stomped out of the room to get ready for work, praying that a bruise wouldn't form over my left eye.
I made my way around my room, getting my work clothes, and quickly shuffling into the bathroom, making sure the door was locked. As I leaned up against the door, my breathing becoming more relaxed, that was the first time our fights have evolved into something more than a screaming match. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, seeing their faces in front of me, and I shook my head, my wavy brown hair flying about in front of my face. I set my clothes down on the counter and spoke aloud.
"Shower on." The shower turned on and water began to run in the tall, silver, wash area. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair and then walked over to the shower. I left my clothes at the showers edge and stepped in, the warm water pelting my now sore skin. After standing for a few minutes under the extremely hot water, I pushed the red button and soap dispensed. I began to wash my hair and then I hit the rinse button. My thoughts all rushed to me at once, but I fought them off. I wouldn't cry, that was weak and would only present me as such. I pushed one final button and the water stopped and the dryer turned on, I was dry within 60 seconds. I walked over to the counter and pulled on my fresh clothes. Then I pulled on my work jumpsuit, only zipping it up to my waist, letting the sleeves and the collar hang. I left the bathroom in disarray and went back to my bedroom. Working around in my routine, I pulled on socks and my boots, and then pulled my hair back into a bun and finishing with a rolled bandana to keep my bangs out of my face.
Before leaving, I went back into the bathroom to look at my left eye. Sure enough, I could see the hint of bruise beginning to form. I reached into the drawer and pulled out a tube resembling toothpaste. I shook it briefly, knowing that there was not much left, but I just needed enough to cover my eye. Opening the tube, I began to rub the lotion type substance onto my face and instantly the bruise began to disappear. What this lotion type stuff did was even out the redness and different tones of skin upon a person's face, making blemishes and marks disappear, helping the many Capitol citizens to appear flawless. I put the cap back on the tube, hoping the mark wouldn't get any larger than the spot I had covered. Breathe in, breathe out. I scratched my forehead and was off to work.