Chapter One:
The Hunger Games. They ended like, 25 years ago, right? Not. I have no idea who's idea it was to bring them up again, but the mention of them made my mother's eyes glint with fury and my father turn pale.
Take a guess at who I am. Here, I'll give the answer now. I am Laurel Mellark, daughter of Katniss and Peeta Mellark, believe it or not. So, as I was getting to, The Hunger Games had been brought up again. I guess this would be the 80th, since the 75th was brought up 5 years ago, when I was...oh, probably around ten. For three years I've been eligible. Surprisingly, I have not been chosen.
Yet again, District 12 gathered quietly for the reapings for the Games. I was neatly dressed in a pretty skirt that fell just below my knees. My top was an old one that my mom says her special stylist, Cinna, made for her when she was a little older than me. I guess it was nice. It seemed kind of old now.
"Do me a favor, sis," said my little brother, rolling his eyes at me. He was ten, not eligible for another two years.
"Yeah?" I asked with an attempt at a smile.
Hearth grinned, his eyes bright. "Don't get reaped."
"I'll try, little guy."
He socked my arm playfully, and I left to go stand with the fifteen year old girls. My mom and dad each gave me a nervous hug, my mom stiff and my dad warm and smiley.
My best friend, Alden, stood next to me, along with her twin sister, Blythe. They both sent identical smiles at me, Alden's Seam gray eyes bright and Blythe's brown eyes glittering. That was the only difference with the twins; their different colored eyes.
"You alright?" Blythe asked.
"Yeah. You?"
Alden and Blythe chorused, "Good."
"Don't get chosen," we all said together. Something we had done for three years, since the start for us. It had worked so far. Maybe we were lucky. Maybe not. I couldn't help the butterflies that were upsetting my stomach.
There were quite a few girls. As I glanced down the line, I caught sight of small twelve year olds and large eighteen year olds. The boys stood, their faces expressionless, unlike the girls, who were giggling nervously. I looked at the gathered families and caught my brother, Hearth's eyes. He gave me a reassuring smirk. I nervously smiled back and glanced at the mayor, who was stepping on to the stage.
Mayor Dudley gave his blah, blah, blah speech, as usual. My palms were starting to get sweaty. I really think that this speech was made to make people nervous. On and on and on...and then Effie Trinket was called up. She had bright blue hair this year, the same ridiculous smile plastered on her face as she walked on to stage. She looked just as young now as she did 25 years ago.
"Girls!" Effie Trinket said happily, smiling at us. She swished her hand in the large pot and pulled out a piece of paper. Every single girl clasped her hands behind her back in anxiety, pleading no, no...no. Effie Trinket trilled, "Laurel Mellark."
I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. I forced myself to hold my head high and squared my shoulders the best I could as I stepped over to them.
Alden reached for my arm, causing me to look back. The twins gave me sympathetic, sad expressions. Their eyes said it all; they loved me, but they couldn't volunteer. I understood. I gave a slight nod and forced myself to Effie Trinket, who gave me such a bright smile it was a shock that she didn't blind me.
"Congratulations," Effie said cheerfully. "And the boy...Cedric Hawthorne."
I glanced at my mother's expression. She looked shocked. I didn't know what to do, other than stand there with my sweating hands and my thudding heart. I slowly turned to watch a tall, powerful young man walk over to me. I recognized him, of course, although I had never talked to him. Gale had used to love my mother.
Cedric walked up to me, his face like the other boys. Clear of expression. The only feeling of life I got from him was the way his dark gray Seam eyes shone with something like...rage. He extended his hand to shake.
I gripped his large warm hand in my smaller cold hand and shook it. For a moment, we stood there half-glaring and half-staring at each other. Then, somebody shouted Cedric's name and rushed up to him. A girl, his younger sister. Closely following, his parents and brother. Cedric was the oldest at 17. I stepped back and turned to my family who had also rushed up, and Alden and Blythe.
"M...mom," I stammered. "Dad."
They engulfed me in hugs.
My mom said quietly, "I will be with you."
"Me too," Dad murmured.
Haymitch walked up to me, his eyes dark. He put a hand on my shoulder. This was the first time in my life he was sober. He growled, "I'm going. I'll take care of you."
"What about me?" cried Hearth, throwing his arms around my middle and burying his face in my white shirt. I put my arms around his shoulders, feeling tears touch my eyes.
"You will have to stay here, son," my dad said softly.
"I want to go!" Hearth cried. He stopped being hysterical, stepping back and punched my shoulder, hard, causing me to wince a little. He snarled, "You promised not to be chosen. Now look what's happened!" He turned and ran in the direction of home.
"Hearth!" I screamed after him. He ignored me and ran faster.
"Don't," my dad touched my shoulder Hearth had punched gently and gripped it, causing me to wince again. He ignored my wince and said quietly, "He's upset."
"It isn't my fault!" I cried. "I didn't try to be chosen!"
Alden and Blythe hugged me to try to comfort me.
I looked at where my brother had disappeared. "Hearth."
"Miss Mellark."
I turned at the deep voice. A tall older man stood next to me, his eyes dark like Cedric's had been. Gale Hawthorne. He said, "I wish you luck, young lady."
I gave a nervous nod. "Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne."
He nodded too, and then walked away, without even a glance at my mom, which pleased my dad and irked my mom.
"We're going home," Dad said to me.
I nodded and walking silently next to my mom, we started walking home. I hesitated to say what could be my last goodbye to Alden and Blythe. Blythe's brown eyes were clear. Alden's eyes start to cloud with tears. I gave each of them a hug, and we each said goodbye at least three times. Finally, I forced myself to turn away and not look back.
My dad turned to wave at someone, and mom said through gritted teeth, "Don't look back, Laurel."
I nodded and we kept walking, looking in a pointed way ahead. We finally walked in to the house.
"Hearth," I said, walking through the house, turning on lights. I finally caught sight of my little brother, curled on the couch, hugging a pillow and crying. I sat down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulders.
With his tear-filled eyes, he pulled his face out of his pillow. His face was blotchy and red and his eyes were red from tears. "I don't want to lose you, Laurel."
"Hearth, it's gonna be okay."
"No, it isn't!" he cried, putting his arms around my waist and crying in to my shoulder. "You might now come back. You have to come back."
I looked up at my parents, and Hearth didn't seem to notice them. "I will try."
"You'd better," Hearth growled, his tears starting to go away. I don't think he had any tears left to cry.
I rocked him in my arms, knowing this very well could be the very last time I held my baby brother in my arms and felt comforted by him.