The 118nd Hunger Games
This is my first fanfic so don't be super harsh, although critique and reviews are appreciated!
Chapter One
"Ariana!" My little sister shrieks from the bed next to me. "Ariana, it's time to get up!" I start to rise from my bed before realizing what day today is. Reaping day. Ugh. My least favorite day of the year.
"Ariana!" She cries one more time. "I'm up, I'm up!" I stand, facing my nine-year-old-sister, Grace. She purses her lips.
"We're having pancakes." She informs me. "Yum!" I reply, smacking my lips for effect. She pouts moodily.
"What's the matter?" I ask, kneeling down to her height. "The reaping." She answers sadly. I smile at her, keeping my head up.
"I know it's sad. But soon, it'll be over, and then we can come back home and celebrate, just like every year." For good measure, I pinch her cheek and then lead her down the stairway.
"How can anyone be happy when one of us goes to the Games?" She squints at me, halfway between joking and seriousness.
"Well, we'll have each other, safe, and healthy, and strong." I say. "Don't get too worried about it, though. It'll be over before you know it." She seems a little more cheered, so we enter the kitchen, where my mother is bent over the stove.
"Morning, Ariana." She places a stack of pancakes in front of me, complete with butter and sugar.
"Morning, mother." She looks at me with concern. "Mom!" I exclaim.
"What?"
"You aren't worried about me getting picked, are you?"
"Of course I am."
"Well, you shouldn't. Anyway, I'm fifteen. So after today, we'll only have three more years of the reaping to go." I don't dare mention Grace. If she was ever chosen, my mom would die. Grace is her baby. She's mine, too.
"Well, you'd better get dressed. Grace, you too." She offers me a sympathetic head tilt. I nod and push the half-eaten pancakes away.
"Come on, Gracie, let's go upstairs." She lets me lead her to our room and sits down neatly on my bed.
"What are you going to wear?" She asks, her nervous blue eyes dart to meet mine.
"My yellow dress, I think." I pull the soft yellow dress onto me and grab a silver pair of sandals from my closet.
"Do you want me to plait your hair, Grace?" I ask, and she nods. I pull her blond hair back and start twisting it.
"Ariana, if you were chosen, you have to promise me you'd try to win."
"Gracie, you know that's not going to happen." I chide her.
"I know. But if it does, just promise me you will."
"Okay. I promise." I finish it and tie it back with a ribbon.
"I think we look good. Let's go get Daddy and Mom." We walk downstairs once more, and as we do, I run my hand along the wall. I never really thought about it, but this might be the last time I ever see it. The house was my grandfather's before ours, and his father's before that, and even though it's old, it's in good shape. Most of the houses in our neighborhood are old, but well-cared for too.
Our father, who greets me with a kiss and Grace with an affectionate pat on the head, leads us all out the door in his nice suit. We meet up almost instantly with our neighbors, the Carsons: Tina, my best friend, Ben, her twin, and their parents.
"Tina!" I call, catching up with her. "Hi!" She turns and smiles at me. "Are you worried about reaping?"
"A little." I admit. Ben grins at me.
"Hey." I grin back. "Hey. Are you worried, Ben?"
"Me? Nah. First year I was. But after that it kind of went away." He shrugs.
"Yeah, me too." Tina nods. "Do you'll think District 7 will get a victor?"
"I hope so!" I exclaim. We haven't had one in ten years. Districts 2 and 4 have monopolized the playing field for a while.
We reach the stage. The escort, Talia, smiles as the mayor reads the story of the flood, the fires, and the uprising.
"And now, Talia will draw the names."
"May the odds be ever in your favor!" She chirps. She skips over to the girls' ball. "Ladies first!" And she grabs a name. My breath catches in my throat.
"Rose Evenson." A shocked, muted, sigh goes through the audience. I find Rose. And what I see raises bile in my throat.
The girl is not a normal girl. She obviously doesn't know what's going on. Her eyes flit back and forth and she shoots forward like a rocket suddenly. I hear Tina whisper "She's mad." I think my father, the town doctor, uses the term Autistic.
Does no one see how sick this is? I whip my head around. A few have sympathetic expressions on their faces, but most hold their head high, glad it wasn't them. And before I know what I'm doing-
"I volunteer!" I say, loudly. Everyone turns.
"Ariana, no!" Grace shouts. But my father holds her back, from running headlong into my arms. He understands, even though I can see the pain on his face.
"Well! A volunteer! Fantastic!" Talia says cheerfully. "And what's your name?"
At first I think I can't speak. But then, in a surprisingly calm and rational voice comes a noise that I don't mean to say.
"Ariana. Ariana Levinson." I answer. And then my mind starts working.
What have I done?
What'd you think? Reviews, please!
