So I had this idea and decided to write it. I hope you guys like it!
In this story, Katniss and Peeta and the rebellion never happened. The Hunger Games is still going strong.
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or the Hunger Games.
Chapter One
"I win," I whispered in my brother's, Malcolm, ear. The point of my knife was poking his chest, and he smiled up at me. I had him pinned on the forest floor, where we came out everyday. Sometimes we hunt, and other times, we practice swordplay or archery. Beams of light hit his face, making his dark eyes twinkle. I put my knife up and held out my hand to help him up.
"Great job, Annabeth," Malcolm said.
"Thanks." I looked at my watch. It had been a birthday present from my best friend, Silena Beauregard, the mayor's daughter. It was beautiful, with it's silver face, black numbers and hands. It was my most treasured possession. "We should be heading back. It's almost noon, and we have to get ready for the reaping."
"Oh, goody," Malcolm said sarcastically. I couldn't blame him for being bitter about it. The reaping was a ceremony to choose who would go represent their district in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games was a show put on by the Capitol every year, to remind the districts of how we lost the rebellion. The districts were forced to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to go compete in a fight to the death against twenty-three other kids, who are representing their districts. Only one can survive. It's all aired on live television. It's the Capitol's way of showing the districts that they have complete control over us. That they can take our kids and kill them off and we can't do anything about it. It's cruel, really.
Malcolm and I ditch our weapons and traps in a tree and sprint to the fence that leads back into District 12, where we live. The fence was supposed to be electric to prevent anyone from escaping the district, but it was never on. So Malcolm and I came into the woods as often as we could. It was our sanctuary, our haven. We could be ourselves out here, say what we want, act how we want, without having to look to see if a Peacekeeper was nearby. We practiced swordplay, archery, setting traps for animals. In the summers, we would swim in the pond and make jewelry out of flowers. But we never dared stay out longer than a couple of hours. District 12 was small, and people would notice if you were gone. Although most people know about Malcolm and I sneaking out into the woods, we don't dare take any chances.
Malcolm slithers under the fence to the other side, and I quickly follow him. We jump up and run back to the Seam. The Seam is the poorest part of District 12. We have shabby, run-down houses that look like they couldn't last another month. The most common cause of death around here is starvation. Of course, the Capitol uses our hunger to their advantage. Say you're starving and you're family can't afford food. In exchange for putting your name in the reaping another time, you get tessera. Tessera is a year's worth supply of grain and oil. When I turned twelve, my name was put in five times. One because I had to, and four other times for half of my family. Malcolm took the other half. And the number of times you put your name in is repeating. So now, at sixteen, my name will be in the reaping thirty-five times. At eighteen, Malcolm's name will be in the reaping sixty-four times. He had to take eight tesserae for two years, because I was too young to be in the reaping. For the next two years, I will have to sign up for eight tesserae because Malcolm will be too old to be in the reaping.
As I walk down the dirt path that we call a street, I watch through the windows of the houses, I see mothers laying out their best clothes for their children on the beds. Girls brush through their hair and boys scrub their dirty faces. Since the reaping will be broadcast on television later tonight, every kid is ordered to be dressed in their best. Here in District 12, what we consider our best is a solid color dress, nothing else, for girls, and a clean shirt with jeans, dress pants if you're lucky, for the boys.
I tear my gaze from the nervous children and frightened parents, and look over to my right. Standing in the sun, in all of it's glory, sat the Victor's Village. Victor's Village is a small neighborhood with grand, fancy houses towering over the rest of the struggling district. They were built for the winners of the Hunger Games. In District 12, we have only one living victor: Dionysus Abernathy. He's supposed to mentor the tributes, but usually he's too drunk to say anything. Maybe that's why we don't have many victors.
I'm drawn out of my thoughts by my stepmom's voice, "Annabeth! Malcolm! There you are."
"Hey, Cheryl," Malcolm said. "Sorry we're late. We kinda got sidetracked, and-"
"Oh! You two are filthy!" Cheryl interrupted him. "Now why don't you come on inside. Annabeth, you can take a bath first, since you have more hair to dry."
"Thanks, Cheryl," I said. Cheryl had always been the mother I never had. My birth mother had died when I was seven and Malcolm was nine, and my dad had gotten remarried a year later. Malcolm and I were unsure about her at first, but we eventually came to like her. She treated us like her own kids.
I walked inside our little two bedroom house to be greeted by my little brothers, Matthew and Bobby. They were both seven years old. They were born a year after Cheryl and my dad got married. When Cheryl first got pregnant with them, I had decided that I wasn't going to like them, since they were my dad's kids born of a different woman than my mother, but when I held them in my arms and saw how cute they were, I couldn't help but love them. "Hi, Annie!" Matthew exclaimed. "Do you like my drawing?" Matthew shoved a drawing of a stick person in front of a square with a triangle on top. I guessed it was a house.
"I love it, sweetie," I said, smiling at him.
"No, Annie! Do you like mine more than his?" Bobby showed me his picture. It had a bunch of squiggly lines on it and what I thought was a boat, but could've been a whale.
"Hmmm," I said, pretending to think. "I like them both the same. They are both pretty great and show some great potential."
"Thank you!" Matthew and Bobby both told me. Then they went back to drawing. I smiled at them and walked into the bedroom that all of the kids shared. My little sister, Karalynn, sat on her mattress, which lay next to mine on the left side of the room. Malcolm and Karalynn's twin brother, Caleb, sat on their mattresses on the other side of the room. My stomach tightened when I saw the twins. They are my biological siblings, and this year is their first year to be in the reaping. Malcolm and I didn't let them take any of the tesserae, for fear that they might be chosen. Malcolm was helping Caleb get his wild mop of dark hair tame. They were standing in front of the cracked mirror that stood in the right corner of the room. I walked over to Karalynn, who was deciding between two pretty dresses.
"Hey, Kara," I said, sitting down on my mattress. We couldn't afford actual beds, so all of us each had our own mattress that were our beds. "What are you doing?"
"Cheryl put these out for me," she said, still studying the dresses. "She said that she wore these to the reaping when she was my age. I'm trying to decide which one to wear." Both of the dresses were pretty. One of them was a denim that buttoned all the way down. The other was a pale yellow, with a v-neck. "Which one do you think I should choose?"
"Hm," I said, examining the dresses. "I'd go with the yellow one. But the denim is pretty too."
"Go with the denim," Caleb said from across the room.
I shot him a playful glare. "Are you just trying to disagree with me, Caleb?"
"Yup," Caleb said confidently. I rolled my eyes.
"You better go get in the bath," Malcolm said. "It's almost one, and the reaping starts at two."
Karalynn and Caleb both fell silent at the mention of the reaping. They had been nervous about it ever since they turned twelve in February. "Don't worry," I told them. "There is no way they're going to choose you. You're names are only in their once."
Karalynn nodded solemnly. She went back to choosing her dress. Caleb took a shaky breath and went back to fixing his hair. Malcolm glanced at me and I knew we were thinking the same thing: what if it wasn't enough? What if taking the tesserae, doing everything to make sure that the twins won't get picked; what if it's not enough?
Malcolm broke his gaze and turned back to Caleb. I sighed and walked out of the room to the our family's bathroom, where my bath awaits.
(********)
"You look beautiful," Karalynn gasped as we examined my dress in the mirror. It was a beautiful silver, which matched my eyes perfectly. It came down to my knees and didn't have any sleeves, so I wore a light white sweater, the sleeves rolled up to my elbows. My watch from Silena was strapped tightly on my arm. On my feet, were a pair of silver ballet flats. My hair was curled more than usual, and half of it was up, while the other half was resting on my shoulders.
"I look like I'm a townsperson," I whispered. The townspeople are considered rich in District 12. They can afford food and always dress much nicer than the Seam kids on reaping day. As I examine myself in the mirror, my father walks into the room.
"The boys are ready to go," he says. When I turn around, my father's eyes widen.
"What?" I ask.
"You look amazing," he says.
"Thanks, Dad," I say, smiling.
"That was your mother's dress," he whispered.
I turn around to the mirror and examine my dress with newfound interest. I try to think back, to remember if she ever wore this dress in front of me. "Really? It's beautiful."
My dad nodded. "She was wearing it when we first met. You look exactly like her, you know."
I stare at myself in the mirror. I can see it, yes. My gray eyes, she had the exact same eyes. And our hair, blonde and naturally curly, unlike anyone else in the Seam, with their dark hair. Our features were the same too: small nose, full lips, high cheekbones. "Yeah," I said. "I guess I do."
"Hey, don't worry," my dad said. "You won't get picked. It'll be all right. You'll see."
I smiled. "Thanks, Dad."
"Well, we should probably get going. Come on, Karalynn." Karalynn hopped up off of the mattress and followed me out the door.
"Wow," Malcolm and Caleb both said when Karalynn and I walked into our family room. Karalynn had chosen the pale yellow, v-neck dress. She wore her worn black, lace-up boots with it, which actually looked good. Her dark hair was down and flowing over her shoulders. She really was beautiful.
The boys looked great too. Malcolm was wearing the gray polo shirt I had got him for his birthday. It would've been really expensive, except I had traded a fox I had killed out in the woods for it at the Hob, an illegal black market. Malcolm and I go there all the time and trade game that we've hunted in the woods or sweaters that Karalynn had sewn for food and other things that our family needed. With the polo, Malcolm wore nice jeans and his work boots. Caleb wore a white button-down shirt with jeans and his nicest dress shoes.
Bobby and Matthew wore their usual attire: t-shirts and old jeans. Since they weren't in the reaping, they weren't required to dress nice. But once they were entered into the reaping, they had to wear nice things. I clutched my stomach. Just the thought of these two sweet little boys being thrown into the reaping made my stomach twist.
"Annabeth, are you all right?" Cheryl asked.
I smiled at her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just nerves." Cheryl nodded. She was wearing a light blue dress that reached her knees, and her usual white Keds, now dirty from years in District 12. Her long, black hair was pulled back in a messy braid.
"You don't need to worry," she comforted. "It'll be okay." I nodded.
"All right, is everybody ready?" Cheryl asked. "Let's go." We all followed Cheryl out the door. Karalynn walked right next to me, her hand gripping mine. Her face was beaded with sweat, and she was rubbing her lips together, like she does when she's nervous. I looked over at Caleb and Malcolm. Caleb was gripping Malcolm's hand just like Karalynn was mine and he was breathing rapidly. Malcolm glanced at me. A worried look was etched on his face. I tried to give him a look that said, Don't worry. They'll be okay. He smiled gratefully at me, but still didn't look convinced.
We entered the town square where the reaping was to take place. It was all the same as last year, the section where everyone not in the reaping sat, the sections where the kids sat according by age. The stage was set up in front of the Justice Building and Mayor Beauregard, Dionysus, and Lila Pearson, our Capitol representative, sat. Lila did the reaping and helped the tributes while they were in the Capitol. She wore the Capitol attire, of course, crazy hair, loud clothes, freaky make-up. She always looked different every year. This year, Lila's hair was bright purple and she wore a neon green dress with more ruffles than I can count. I pointed her out to Karalynn and she giggled.
The eight of us separated, my dad, Cheryl, Matthew, and Bobby going to sit in the back, Malcolm and Caleb going to sign in where the boys go, and Karalynn and I going to where the girls sign in.
"Good luck," I told Malcolm before we parted. I leaned down to Caleb. "And may the odds be ever in your favor," I said in the posh Capitol accent. Caleb laughed and Malcolm smiled.
"You too," he said. I gave Caleb a hug and turned to Malcolm while Caleb gave Karalynn a hug. "It's not going to be you or Caleb," I told him. "It'll be okay."
"Thanks," he said. "It's not going to be you or Karalynn either." I nodded and pulled him in for a hug. Then I turned to Karalynn.
"Come on, Kara," I said. "Let's go sign in." I dragged Karalynn towards the line of girls waiting to sign in. We got in line behind Silena.
"Hey, Silena," I said. She was wearing a beautiful floor-length white dress. Her hair was curled and put up in a tight ponytail. "I like your dress."
"Thanks," she said. "I like your's too. It looks good on you."
"Thanks." We exchanged a few more words as we progressed in line. We reached the Peacekeeper who was signing everyone in and told her our names. I said good-bye to Silena and walked with Karalynn over to where the twelve-year-old girls were sitting. "Here we are," I said. "Just sit somewhere and I'll see you when it's over. Okay?"
Karalynn hugged me tightly. I leaned down and returned the hug. "Annabeth?" she whispered in my ear. "I'll be okay. Don't worry. You just worry about you."
I pulled away. "I'm not worried about you. You could never be picked. Your name is only in their once."
"Thanks," Karalynn said. "Good luck."
"Good luck," I said and walked off to where the sixteen-year-olds sit. I took a seat next to Silena. Then the reaping began.
The mayor walked up to the microphone and said, "I would like to welcome you all to District 12's reaping for the eighty-fourth annual Hunger Games. Thank you for making time today to come out here with your kids." The mayor sounded pained as he was talking, like the last thing he wanted to do was be here, welcoming us to the most dreaded day of the year. He started reviewing the history of the Hunger Games, how the Capitol obliterated Distict 13, and how we have the Hunger Games as a reminder that we cannot overcome the power of the Capitol. I zoned out. What would happen if I got picked? Who would Malcolm confide with? Who would Karalynn crawl into bed with at night when she has nightmares of our mom dying? No, if I were picked, I'd come back. I know I would. I can fight, and I can survive.
I was brought back to reality by the sound of Lila'a voice echoing throughout the square. "Welcome! I'm so happy to be here. Now, let's get started right away. Ladies first!"
Lila made her way across the stage to where the giant glass ball that held the names of all the girls in the district. Thirty-five of them had my name written across them: Annabeth Chase. Thirty-five chances that I'll be the one headed to certain death. I hold my breath as Lila draws the paper dramatically and walks back over to the microphone. I pray as she unfolds the paper and reads the name. Please not me. Please not me.
"Karalynn Chase!"
Lila's words ring in my head. Everything freezes. My hands, my feet, my mouth, my mind. The words exchanged today, telling each other that everything is going to turn out okay, is not true. Everything is not okay. Everything is wrong. I see Karalynn's stunned expression on the screen and watch her get up from the chair. She holds her head high as she walks, despite being terrified. Maybe that's what gets me moving, seeing her act strong when she's so scared.
I jump up and see Malcolm standing up also. I glance at him and I know what I'm going to do.
"Karalynn!" I run towards her. "Karalynn!"
Karalynn whirls around at the sound of her name. Peacekeepers intercept me, pushing me away from Karalynn. I fight against them and yell, "I volunteer! I volunteer to take her place!"
At the sound of my words, the Peacekeepers pull away. I run to Karalynn and push her behind me. I say, out of breath, "I volunteer as tribute."
"Well," Lila said. "What an excellent surprise. I see we have a volunteer."
I turn and bend down to face Karalynn. "Kara, go to Dad and Cheryl. It'll be okay. Just go to Dad and Cheryl."
"No, Annabeth!" Karalynn cried. Tears streamed down her beautiful face. "I'm not leaving you."
"Kara, I will be fine," I said pushing her away. "Go." She nodded and ran off towards Dad and Cheryl. I stand up and walk up the stage. I look towards the audience to see everyone's reactions. Most people just looked stunned, like I would actually willingly volunteer to compete in the Hunger Games. Some looked at me with admiration. Some looked at me like I was stupid. Then I saw Malcolm. His eyes bored into mine, and the look on his face was truly horrified. I couldn't blame him. His sister was just chosen to compete in the Hunger Games and then his other sister volunteered to go instead. Talk about a family crisis.
"What's your name?" Lila asked me in her ridiculous Capitol accent.
I gulped. "Annabeth Chase."
"Oh, so I'm guessing that was your sister. Same last name."
I glanced back to where the rest of my family were sitting. Karalynn was sitting in my dad's lap crying. My dad looked torn, trying to comfort Karalynn and trying to hold it together at the same time. Cheryl was holding Matthew in her lap, who was completely oblivious as to what was going on. Bobby looked pretty much the same way in the chair next to them. Cheryl was breathing hard, also trying to keep it together.
"Yeah," I said weakly. Just then, Dionysus decided it would be a great time to fall of the edge of the stage. The mayor and a couple of Peacekeepers ran over to help the drunk victor.
"Well," Lila said, "I sure hope he's all right." That sounded like the last thing she hoped. "Let's choose our boy tribute!" She made her way over to the boys ball and grabbed a paper. She dramatically waved it as she had with the girl's and the opened. I held my breath as she read out the name.
"Malcolm Chase."
No.
This couldn't be happening.
Why do bad things always happen to me?
I watched Malcolm's face as his name is read out. A look of fright crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by a mask of bravery. He made his way up to the stage. When he passed the twelve-year-old boys section, Caleb latched onto him. "No, Malcolm! Don't go! Let me go instead! I can protect Annabeth!"
"Let go, Caleb. I'll be fine. Let go," Malcolm said sternly. Caleb, reluctantly, let go and and went back to his seat. He wiped away tears and sat down.
Malcolm walked onto stage and glanced at me. I'm sure I looked awful: tear-stained cheeks, red-shot eyes, stunned expression. For a second, I saw his bravery flicker and fright crossed his face. I swallowed and smiled weakly at him. He smiled weakly back.
"Well, in all of my years, I have never seen two siblings chosen as tributes!" Lila said enthusiastically. "Well, shake hands."
I turned to Malcolm and shook his hand. Never in my years of worrying, had I thought that my brother and I would be chosen as tributes together. I squeezed his hand and he squeezed it back.
It was only when we were whisked inside the Justice Building did I realize what had just happened.
I was chosen to compete in a fight to the death against my brother.
That turned out better than I thought. Review if you liked it! Also, who should be the president? I don't know who it should be!
Goodbye!
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2