Message from the author:

Hello, Viadala here. This is my very first fan fiction. I don't expect much, and you shouldn't, either. So please don't hate on this if you don't like it. I decided to make my story about the 49th Hunger Games, because in the book series and wikis, it has no known info. If another fan fiction on this website portrays the 49th Hunger Games as well, I am NOT stealing or copying ANYTHING. So, enjoy what I've written so far, I guess. Also, feel free to review the story so far, it's appreciated!

Chapter One - That Morning

Laven woke up. She listened and heard sounds coming from another room. She sighed in relief. Nothing happened to them. She stepped out of bed and looked at the wall. Am I forgetting something? I swear I am, she thought. Average mornings in District Twelve weren't usually this silent. She got out of her bed. It was small and depressing. She got dressed in her casual clothes and walked out of her room and into the living room. The face of a young boy awaited her. He looked sad.

"Laven I'm scared..." He grabbed her arm and squeezed tight. Laven felt like her blood circulation was getting cut off.

"It'll be okay, Kern." Laven spoke, her hand gently rubbing his head.

"B-But Laven, what if I get reaped?" Kern whined, tears streaming down his face. Reaped? Laven thought. Oh. She wiped the tears off his face.

"Kern, I promise you won't get picked. Your name will be one in a thousand." It was Kern's first reaping. He was only entering his name once in the drawing, while Laven was entering her name several times for tessera. The family had just enough money for a house, but not enough for food and water.

"La-" Kern was cut off by Laven covering his mouth with her hand.

"Kern. It won't happen." He closed his eyes and hugged her. She hugged him back. I promised him. He can't get picked. I... I can't lose Kern, Laven thought as she looked at Kern's tiny eyes. The grey jewels that found a home in his eyes sparkled with tears. "You're going to be okay, Kern.." she let go of him and he slowly let go too. He looked up at her. He broke out a smile.

"I love you Laven," He hugged his older sister. She hugged him back and kissed his forehead.

"Tell Mom and Dad I'm going out, okay?" She told him. Kern nodded in response. At least Kern's a little more happy, she opened the door, and before she walked out, she smiled at Kern and waved. He copied her and waved back. Then he ran into the kitchen. She walked outside. District Twelve didn't look any different, despite the fact that crying was heard from inside of almost every house, a young child scared about what might happen to a relative - or themselves. Laven looked around and frowned. And then she heard a growl. She expected it to be an animal of some sort, but she realized it was coming from her stomach. Before she could decide where and how she could find food, she was interrupted by words.

"Hey Laven." To the side of her she saw her friend, Skene. He was her age, 16. He had black hair that covered his eyes a little. He was a little taller than her. Skene was also one of those boys that the other girls went a little 'crazy' about. He wasn't the richest, but he knew how to hunt and was good with knifes.

"Hi," Laven replied, sadness in her voice. Skene looked at her in an empathetic way.

"Is everything... okay?" He responded to her. They stopped walking. Laven covered her eyes with her hands.

"E-Everything's not okay!" She yelled. She started to cry. "My brother's horrified, we're starving, and today's the Reaping!" Skene looked at her, sadness in his eyes. "And.. and... I'M probably going to get reaped for the Hunger Games and die..." She sniffed. Skene inched a little closer, but Laven turned away.

"Laven.." He continued to inch closer, but he was always out of reach of Laven. "It'll be okay.." He spoke, hoping she'd feel better, but he continued to hear her crying. Skene realized his pleading was going nowhere, and no matter how closer he got to her, she'd always inch away from him. So he put his arm around her, preventing her from moving. Her eyes met his. With his other hand, he stroked her head. "Everything's going to be fine." Laven closed her eyes.

"Skene, do you promise? That.. everything will be fine?" She quietly asked. Skene nodded. Neither of them moved. Laven opened her eyes. Her stomach grumbled. Skene looked at Laven.

"Hungry?" He asked. She nodded. "Okay, let's get some food." He let go of her and took a knife out of his pocket. She looked up at him in confusion. "We're just gonna go to the Hob." He started to walk, and Laven reluctantly followed. Laven looked at Skene. He continued to walk and didn't notice that she was looking at him. Laven began to slow down. She looked at the floor. Skene spun the knife around his fingers and noticed that Laven stopped. He turned around and walked up to her. "Laven?" Laven looked at Skene. "Laven, is something wrong?" Skene looked at Laven. Is something wrong with her again? Skene thought.

"N-No.." Laven whispered.

"Laven, can you make it to the Hob?" Skene asked. If she couldn't make it there, he was fine getting some food and bringing it back to her. Laven responded in small nod. "Alright," Skene muttered. He didn't like seeing Laven like this. Skene looked back at Laven. She was staring at the floor. Maybe it's because of the Reaping, Skene told himself. Skene frowned. "Laven, I'm here for you..." He spoke as he reached for her hand. Surprisingly enough, Laven didn't object. Her hand felt cold. Skene stared at Laven for a while, and then at their interlocked hands. "Alright. Let's go." They started to walk again. Skene had no idea what was wrong with Laven. Usually she was excited to see him, but this time, she wasn't. Skene squeezed Laven's hand. Please tell me Laven's okay, Skene thought to himself. Eventually they reached the Hob. "Hey Laven, will you be fine waiting out here?" Skene asked Laven. She let go of his hand and sat on a nearby log and nodded. He nodded back and went inside the Hob.

"Oh, hello there Skene," a voice spoke. It was Greasy Sae, one of the ladies that sold stuff in the Hob. She cooked up soup.

"Hi. Have some soup?" He asked. Hopefully soup would make Laven happy.

"Actually, I just made some yesterday. Shot a squirrel runnin' across the streets. It outta make some good stew," She replied. "Want some of it?" She asked him. Skene nodded. He took a dead squirrel from out of his pocket.

"Surprised how that fit in there," She said as she passed him a bowl.

"Hey, I have a friend outside, can I let her eat this outside?" Skene asked.

"Yup, just bring back the bowl." She said the last park sternly. Skene nodded. There was a shatter of glass nearby. "THAT BETTER NOT BE ONE OF MINE!" Greasy Sae screamed as she walked to where the commotion was. Skene decided he shouldn't linger anymore and just give the stew to Laven. So he walked outside with the bowl and met up with Laven on the log she was sitting on.

"Got some food, Laven," He said to her. Her eyes were covered with her hands. He sat on the log next to her. "Laven. Please don't act like this," He told her. He put the soup bowl on the ground. She looked up at him. She threw her arms around him and began to cry again. He sighed and hugged her.

"S-Skene..." She whispered with her face to his chest. Skene gently laid his head on hers. He was aware her tears were making his shirt wet.

"Laven. Please," He said silently and calmly. "It kills me to see you like this." She squeezed him. He squeezed her gently. She released him and picked up the bowl. She slurped some up.

"What did you give for it?" She whispered.

"Just a squirrel.." He replied. Laven frowned.

"You didn't have to give up the squirrel for me.." She looked down at the stew.

"It's okay. I'd take you over a squirrel any day." He spoke, looking back at Laven. She slurped up a little more and then laid her head on his shoulder. Skene didn't move. Laven closed her eyes. "Laven, are you okay?" He asked sternly, not moving. She opened her eyes.

"No," She replied, so silent that he could barely hear her.

"It'll be okay." He wrapped his arm around her. She took her head off him.

"Promise?" She whispered. Skene looked at her.

"I promise." He placed his other hand on her cheek gently. "You'll be fine. I'll make sure of it." Laven didn't move a muscle and just stared into Skene's eyes. Skene removed his hand off her cheek. "Now eat. Please." She grabbed the bowl and drank it all. "Good girl," he teased. Laven stared at the floor. Skene sighed. "You make my life hard, Princess." He put his hands gently on her cheeks and kissed her. Laven stared at him, shocked. Her first kiss. She never thought about what it would feel like - and who she'd get it from. It was gentle and warm. And comforting. She kissed him back. Soon enough, Skene pulled away. Laven blushed. Skene grasped her hand. "We should get ready for the Reaping now," he told her. Laven nodded, speechless. They both stood up. Before Skene walked to drop the bowl off, he hugged her. "Be safe, Princess."

"Okay.." She responded. Skene let go of her and stared at her before running off back to the Hob. She ran back home, thinking entirely about Skene.