Oh yes I did Just combine bending with the Hunger Games, this is set to be the 25th annual Hunger Games, the first Quarter Quell, it's in the point of view of a young girl 14 years old from District 8, actually this story has lots of things from my actual life, like the girl is my personality and her best friend is my best friend, she has as many siblings as I do and they're personalities are based off my siblings, her friends are my friends, I've just given them odd and somewhat unique names, some events are based off events from my life just changed somewhat to fit the story line better. Note: I do not own the Hunger Games. Some things in this story are direct quotes from Suzanne Collins book the Hunger Games, like when it describes the district as an urban place and whatnot that is a direct quotation from when Katniss sees it and describes it, so if you haven't read the Hunger Games I encourage you to! Best books ever! The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay are the best books I've ever read, anywho after that long authors note here comes a long chapter, enjoy and Happy Reading!
The 25th Annual Hunger Games
Chapter 1
I just sit in bed. Staring at the floor, questioning if my existence is worth it. I sigh and stand, walking to the almost empty closet I get out my old t-shirt and jeans, I dress quickly as I don't want to be late.
I put on my old brown boots that are covered in mud from hiking in yesterday's rain storm. Just before I head out I realize my hair is gonna get in the way. I quickly braid it off to the side and then wander to the kitchen to find something to eat.
I find a couple grapes and scoop them up into my pocket. Quietly opening the door so as not to wake my other siblings I step outside into the the fog of the early morning. I don't know if mothers already at work or not, but I walk on anyways. I'm from District 8, we are the manufacturers of cloth or woven fabric. We make all the fancy clothes the Capitol people are so obsessed with. I live in the South Eastern corner of District 8, not a very pleasant place but good enough compared to the other districts.
Of the 12 remaining districts, 8 has the largest population, back many years ago we were in rebellion, our district fought against the Peacekeepers and we would've beat them too, except the Capitol sent in dozens more Peacekeepers and used hovercrafts to bomb the rebel strongholds. Everything went into lockdown mode, and no one was allowed out of their houses for a while. The factories were shut down and the only time the TV played anything other than static was when it showed suspected rebel instigators being executed. Eventually things returned to normal, but the Capitol blew up one large factory when they found out the talk of rebellion started there.
We are one of the poorest of the 12 districts, we live in an urban place stinking of industrial fumes with no greenery, the people here are housed in run down tenements, barely a blade of grass is in sight. But my family of five manages just fine. My father died in the factory explosion during our rebellion, I have an older brother and a younger sister, and a younger brother.
I'm afraid for my sister, she's eleven, next year she'll be old enough to enter the Hunger Games. A terrible thing really, things have gone completely out of balance since the assassination of the Avatar. He was killed by a man years ago who wanted to change the entire way of life. He claimed he was gonna make things better but the result was The Hunger Games. Each year one boy and one girl from each district is selected to take part in a gruesome fight to the finish. With one victor, kids from ages 12 to 18 fight to win an extra amount of food for their district, it's a televised event for the entertainment purposes of, mainly the Capitol and the President.
I shiver in the cold of the morning. It would be nice to have a warm jacket, but the Capitol won't let us keep any clothing we might make, it all goes to them. Peacekeepers are everywhere, it's tough enough living in these conditions without having them constantly hovering over you making sure you don't break their laws.
I see a Peacekeeper by the fence eating a pastry. Normally I'd roll my eyes at how lucky they are, my stomach would growl and I'd walk on. But this time it's different, this time there's a little girl standing next to him. I've seen her around before, she looks to be five and has blonde tangly hair and a dirt covered face.
She's talking to the Peacekeeper, pleading with him. I move closer to try and catch what they say. Suddenly the man raises his gun ready to hit the poor child. Instinctively I move forward to intercept and before I knew it the gun collided with my face.
I fall to the ground and after a moment of excruciating pain I stand up in front of the girl. "Leave her alone," I say gritting my teeth, my hands have formed fists. The man stares at me with a blank expression. "I said leave her alone!" I say in a louder voice. I know I could get into massive trouble for speaking out but I can't help it. She's just a little girl.
"Get out of my way and let me do my job!" He demands shoving me aside. The girl whimpers and curls up in fear. I come back and shove this mans shoulders. "Back off!" I say angrily. Suddenly two more Peacekeepers come and grab my arms.
The first man who hit me with his gun punched me in the gut. I shrivel up in pain, my empty stomach now twirled. "Hey hey! What's going on?!" One of the new arrivals asks. "This girl came at me for no reason! I suspect she's a rebel," That's a lie. Plain and simple. I want to speak up but can't for two reasons; one, my stomach is still hollow, two, no matter what I say they'll believe one of their own rather than me, a poor kid from District 8.
"Hey, today's the day of the reaping k, maybe she'll get picked and we won't have to worry about punishment," One of them states with a smile. The pastry eater grins and nods understandingly. I take in sharp ragged breathes. 'Today is the day of the reaping' his words swarm my mind. 'Maybe she'll get picked' everyone from our district is usually the first to die in the Hunger Games. They always end up being killed in the first 24 hours of the games.
Am I doomed to failure if I get picked for the girl tribute of this district? There aren't many volunteers from our district, no one else wants to be killed for anyone else.
The Peacekeepers let me go and walk off. After crouching on my knees and holding my stomach as I rock back and forth, I look up to the girl. "You ok?" I ask dryly. "Yes, you didn't have to do that," She whispers fearfully. I smile through my pain. "It's ok, what's your name?" I ask gently so as not to scare her further. "Shimmery," She answers brightening a little. "Cool, where's your home?" I ask further. Shimmery shrugs and her eyes wander. "Wherever I want-" She says with a small voice. "Well, where's your family?" The pain in my stomach lightens somewhat. "They're dead, the men in white killed them," I nod slowly understanding.
I attempt to stand but can't yet so I stay down on my knees. "Ok, why did that man try to hit you with his gun?" I am curious about what they talked about before I stepped in and was hit on the face. "He was eating something and I was hungry so I asked if I could have one too but he said no," I understand now. The Peacekeepers get full meals three times a day whereas everyone else is lucky to find a bread crumb off the streets. "Your face is hurt, want me to fix it?" I'm not quite sure what this girl means so I ask. "My mommy was a doctor, she taught me a little, your face is bleeding do you want me to fix it?" I smile at her and nod. She smiles too for the first time and extends her hand to me. I take it and, even though she couldn't help me up if she tried, I stand on my own.
She leads me off to a shack where she pulls out a small beat-up medical kit. I sit down and watch as she carefully pulls out a box of band-aids and gently takes off the paper surrounding it. "So is this where you live?" I ask looking around. There's only three walls, one of which has many holes in it, the fourth wall has been taken out completely, you can't even see the floor it's covered in so much rubble and debris, I'm sitting on a broken piece of the wall that doesn't look like it'll hold up very well.
"Sometimes, I have stuff like this hidden all over the place," She explains holding up the medical box. I nod and glance out the window. Sitting in the sill is a cat. Another look and I realize it's my cat. I've had her since she was a baby, I raised her. I am her mother, she'd like to follow me everywhere but I can't let her.
I coax her over with the clicking sound I make by pressing my tongue against my top set of teeth and bottom lip, then pull my lip out making a clicking-squeaking sound. Shimmery looks to what I'm doing and sees the cat scamper down and run to me.
Keiko. That's her name, she's the most beautiful cat you've ever seen, she's calico she has a white stomach and chin and legs, she's got black and grey stripes down her back with spots of orange stripes, she has green eyes, like me, and a long tail.
She keeps herself clean unlike most everything in this district. And despite her slender figure she's pretty plump, I suspect she's been going to the Peacekeepers and begging for food. Food that she gets nonetheless. After all, who could resist such a pretty face? I stroke her back gently and she purrs. Shimmery just watches on in awe.
"Is she your cat?" The young girl asks finally. "Yes," I always give simple answers to strangers. Even if they're adorable little girls. It's just a force of habit. "Oh, she's pretty," Shimmery doesn't touch her, she just looks. Which is probably a good idea, Keiko isn't a very nice cat, she's only nice to me because I fed her when she was young and raised her, we used to have a goat that I'd get milk from, I'd always feed my kitten with that. But sadly the goat died of starvation.
The cat must've had enough love for this morning, she jumps off my lap and runs away. "Thanks for the band aid," I tell Shimmery. She smiles. "You're welcome," She says in her sweet little voice. I stand preparing to leave. "I gotta go now, I'm late for meeting a friend," As I walk toward the missing wall I stop suddenly remembering the grapes in my pocket. I walk back and hand them to Shimmery who gasps and stares at them in disbelief. "You may have them, a gift for helping me with my face," I say smiling as bright as I can. She takes them gently as if they're gonna disappear if she's too rough.
"Thank you!" She half whispers. I nod and walk away satisfied.
As many Peacekeepers as there are here, I can manage to slip past them every day. There's a hole in the fence that I can just fit through. A shadow cast delicately hides it during the day, and at night it's too dark to see anyway.
I am a Shadow Bender, which makes escaping ten times easier. I can take my shadow and cover myself in it so I almost seem invisible. Unless you were looking very closely no one would be able to spot me slip through the hole in the fence and silently creep through the forest out if sight.
I like the forest, all it's greenery makes up for not having any within our district limits. I wander through the paper birch trees and listen to the birds sing.
I start humming a five note tune as I walk. For all that talk about Shadow Benders not having good eyesight mine is actually pretty good. I can still do the whole 'seeing with my feet' thing but my eyes are pretty sharp, I guess maybe that's because my father was a Light Bender, and they were known for their especially good eyesight.
Halting and tilting my head a little, I hear the birds. They've copied my little song and are now singing throughout the forest. I smile to myself.
I've finally reached the top hill where my best friend and I always meet. He sits there alone, throwing stones over the edge of the hill into the water.
I sneak over and then jump down beside him. He jolts and then smiles. "I thought you were a Peacekeeper come to take me away," He says as he resumes his rock tossing. I smile as well and pick up a few rocks to throw with him. "Nope, just me," I say tossing a rock high into the air and listening as it hits the water below.
He turns to look at me for the first time and that's when he notices my small band aid and bruised face. "What happened?" He asks sounding a little demanding. He's got this thing about him, when he's worried his voice sounds more angry than concerned. But that's ok with me, I've known him since I was born so I know he means well. Both our mothers were best friends since high school, that's why we've known each other so long, our mothers are constantly visiting each other and trying to help each other survive.
"A Peacekeeper was gonna hurt a little girl so I stepped in and he hit me," He gets an angry look in his eye, he's gotten that look before, but it usually goes right away. This time it stays. "Drake, I'm fine, he would've hit the little girl if I hadn't intervened," I tell him pleadingly. "I just wish I'd been there, I coulda taken the hit for you, I'm a lot tougher it wouldn't have hurt me as much," He gently strokes his finger across my injured cheek. I smile and take his hand off carefully.
"It's ok," His face brightens and he turns away reaching in his pocket. "I got some cheese for us, I cleaned a lady's house and she gave it to me," He says enthusiastically. It's kind of like our tradition that we both bring a little something to share before we go hunting, so I felt guilty about not having anything. "Oh, um, I gave our grapes to that little girl, Shimmery," I tell him and his shoulders droop. "Those would've been great with this," He says glancing at the cheese in his palm. I know they would be, but-"She was starving, I had to do something," He's always been a little skeptical of my need to help people. Where I feel the need to do what I can when I can, he's always been the practical one who says we'll die too, it's one of the things that's drawn us together.
"Yeah, it's fine, we'll be ok with just the cheese," After having an argument a few weeks ago he's come to respect my decisions on helping others, he no longer questions them or criticizes them. But he doesn't agree either, he just nods and compromises as best he can. We eat the cheese in silence for the next few minutes.
"Ok Katna, what's on the menu for eats today?" He says jokingly and stands. He extends his hand to help me up and we head off to hunt our family some food. Drake is a Shadow Bender as well, also one of the reasons we're best friends, we can relate to each other in bending skill as well as we both don't have fathers.
His father is still alive though, he just left his mother and was later moved, by the Capitol, to a different district. To my knowledge he's still alive as he sends money every few years. He doesn't give the money willingly though, he's being forced by someone to give money to his poor ex wife and kids, and he doesn't pay the exact amount either. But I guess that's none of my business.
We trek through the woods silently. Over the years we've learned to walk without breaking a single twig which would scare away anything we'd be trying to kill.
I guess us sneaking out of our district every day has made us better survivors than most of the kids our age in District 8. If either of us were chosen for the Hunger Games we'd have a better chance of actually surviving the first 24 hours, but I know I'd never want to be in the Hunger Games and I definitely don't want Drake going in that death trap. But what would make it worse is if we had to go in together, because we'd have to kill each other. I shiver at the thought, maybe he and I wouldn't have to hunt each other down, we could easily be killed by any of the other 22 tributes.
There's a rabbit just ahead. Drake looks to me and nods his head, our code for 'You can have this one' I nod back and turn to face the small white animal. Reaching my hand back I bend my shadow up in front of me, the black smokey silhouette hovers in front of me waiting for me to twist my hand and bend it to a bow, with the extra part of my shadow I create a black arrow and harden the tip.
Aiming carefully I pull the shadow string back and release the arrow. It flies swiftly through the wind and strikes the rabbit in the side, killing the creature before disappearing.
Drake and I both run over and pick up the little animal and stuff it in a hunters bag before moving on. We don't talk much while we hunt, we might give away our location to the animals and besides that there's not much to talk about. I suppose we could be like other kids and talk about all the stuff that goes on at school, but we're not gossipers.
"I so would've had him if you hadn't stepped in!" I say playfully as Drake and I start heading back to the district limits. "Oh no, you would have missed and then I'd be left with no lunch!" His fingers find there way to my most ticklish spot; my ribs.
I squeal and impulsively jerk away. I drop the hunting bag and run as Drake chases me tickling me whenever he gets the chance. "No!" I squeak and squeal every time his fingers grip my sides, arm pits, and belly.
We finally stop as we're both out of breath. This is the only place we can be ourselves. At home we have to be the strong, brave, older kids, we have to be smart and take care of our siblings. At school we have to keep quiet or be beaten by the Principal. Around the district we have to be perfect citizens or risk being badly hurt or even killed by the Peacekeepers.
This is like our safe haven, a place of peace and freedom. This is us. Our world. "We should get back, they're probably worried," Drake says with a slight laugh. "It was fun, be back tomorrow same time?" He asks excitedly. "Of course," I say as I stand. We walk back to where we left the hunters bags and grab them and split. He's got his own way into the district that's close to his home.
Using my Shadowflage I creep through the hole and make my way to the local trade center. It's actually just a run down warehouse, but it's where everyone goes to trade things for food or clothing. And it's where I'm going to trade my rabbit and squirrel for things we need.
"Two of these and three of those," My father taught me how to bargain when I was very young, the people here do drive hard bargains but I've made up a reputation of always being able to beat them. Right now I'm trying to trade my squirrel for a basket of berries and two apples, my siblings love berries. The squirrel I caught is bigger than most any squirrel that's been brought here for any of them.
Sarry, an old woman who's worked the trade center for as long as I can remember, thinks a moment before making a deal. "Alright take the berries," She finally hands me the basket and I give her the squirrel.
"You are so much like your father," I hear her mumble before I walk off. I take a look through some of the little nicknacks they've all collected. Many people here have put almost there whole lives into this business, I don't know what they'd do if the Capitol finally decides to shut them down. They'd all be broke and have no where to go.
As I look through a small box of old things I find a gold locket, opening it up I find inside a faded picture of a young man and on the other half is a ripped picture of a young girl, she's beautiful. I wonder who owned this before the trade people found it. There's an unspoken rule around here that no one can steal for their merchandise, they're only allowed to sell what they find.
I look up to the man selling these items. "How much for this?" I ask. He's an old worn man, he's gone bald and he doesn't smile. I twist the locket around in my hand and smile at him. Immediately he lights up, a smile spreads across his features and his eyes go wide. He reaches up and closes my hands around the piece of jewelry.
"Your smile is enough," He says in a slight accent. "Oh no, I can't do that, I have to give you something," I tell him. I'm not one to take charity, well not usually. "You did give me something," He says and I don't understand. I look to him confused and he goes on, "You just gave me a better day, a reminder of what my old life was like, you gave me hope young lady," His hands are still clasped around my own and he squeezes them with a large grin. Finally he lets go and rushes me on. "Go go, have a good day," He says in that accent, I wish I could pinpoint where he must be from, his accent is too strong for him to have been born in Panem, but I move on just as he instructed. I put the necklace around my neck and look further.
The last thing I need to do before heading back to the shack I call home, is trade my rabbit for some money. My mother has no idea Drake and I go out of the district limits, she thinks we got a job somewhere and that's where we are half the day. Drake's mother has no idea either, we'd like to keep it that way, the less things they have to worry about the better.
On the way home I stop by a friends house to buy some bread from them, they're the richest people in our district but they're still pretty poor as it is. They've got an oven that works and almost an entire house to live in, it's got four walls that are standing upright and a full roof, something no one else in this district has. They're known for their bread, the best anyone's ever tasted. They sell it but most people can't afford to buy any of it. Today I can.
I knock at their door, another unbroken thing nobody else has. The door swings open revealing a tall slender girl my age in a white dress. Her eyes are red, she's obviously been crying. I go to school with this girl, I think her names Cynthia, but we don't talk at all, we're not exactly friends but we don't hate each other or even dislike each other. It's just a matter of shyness that we don't speak.
"Katta right?" She says sniffling. I don't think she knows I can tell she's been crying. "Katna," I correct her in a shy low tone. "Oh, what are you doing here?" She asks. I don't think she was trying to be rude or anything, she was just curious. "I came to buy some bread," I explain in that same dead tone. My shyness has ruined so many good opportunities. I hate myself for being so shy, but I can never bring myself to be outgoing like most other girls my age.
"Oh, I'll get Papa," She leaves the door ajar and scampers away to get her father. I'm left standing on their broken porch awkwardly. Not knowing what to do I just look around in a wide circle. This lot is pretty much empty, there's a little brown dead grass in one spot, and a fence with a goat grazing in it next to the house. Behind me is an old broken half-shack it looks abandoned but looks can be deceiving, Cynthia's father has come to the door now.
"Yes you've come for bread?" He asks in a sad depressing voice. I nod awkwardly and shyly. He brings out from behind the door a basket full of the warm food. I take my pick and give him the money. We exchange a curt nod and I leave.
I'm certain the sadness that family is experiencing is because today is the day of the reaping, they'll come and draw the name of one boy and one girl tribute to join in the Hunger Games I sigh as I make my way back home. The Capitol is cruel to invent this annual reminder of just how powerful they are, to remind us not to rebel against them. It's horror.
"Katna!" My seven year old brother is the first to acknowledge my return. "Hey," I say with a smile. "What did you bring?" He asks excitedly looking at my bag. "I've got some real treats this time," I tell him pressing a finger to my lips for him to be quiet.
I walk to what's supposed to be the kitchen, our 'house' is a two room hut, the first room is a combination of the living room, dining room, and kitchen. The second room is the bedroom for all of us. Our beds are separated only by a single torn curtain. The girls on one side and the two boys on the other.
One of our walls is only half standing, the other half lay just outside shattered across the ground as a reminder that we are inferior to those from the Capitol and the Peacekeepers. My sister stole something once so the Peacekeepers stormed our house, breaking our wall and my mothers heart. They had proof that my sister stole from them even though she denied it and claimed to be elsewhere. I believed the Peacekeeper, my sister has stole from people all the time, I think she does it for attention, mothers always working and my brother and I are usually busy trying to find work of our own or help keep everyone else safe, and a seven year old isn't fun to play with.
Zinnia is her name. She was named after a flower, she is pretty like a flower, she has dirty blonde hair but it still looks nice, she has freckles dotting her entire face just like our older brother, Zerek. She has blue eyes that show innocence even though she is usually far from it.
She's what you call a compulsive liar, she herself believes the lies she tells others. There's no way to get her to stop, but she is my own sister, so I can't help but love her even though she's broken my trust more times than I can count.
My little brother on the other hand, couldn't be more honest, and that gets him into trouble sometimes. If someone looks stupid or ugly he'll freely say so, which usually ends in him getting into a fight and being blamed for it and getting beaten half to death by the Principal.
We've tried explaining to him that you need to keep your mouth shut about how people look, and that it's not only rude but gets you into too much trouble, but he doesn't get it. He doesn't understand. Zerek is extremely shy, I mean he talks to me and tells me everything, he can be himself around me. But around strangers and even around mom he's quiet and keeps to himself. I've learned how to read his face, I can tell what he's thinking just by looking at him.
I set the bag down on our only table and look around. "Who all is home?" I ask Merlin. "Just me, Zinnia was here, but she left with Elainia," I nod, my best friends youngest sister is my sisters best friend. Those two get into so much trouble together, Elainia is a diva who acts like she's princess of everything, that combined with my sisters habit of lying and being manipulative can be a dangerous thing. One day they're going to be taken away by Peacekeepers and my mother will go off the edge, when dad died she locked herself away from everything, she was so heart broken. I can only imagine what would happen if one of us were to be taken from her.
I sigh and slump to one of our two chairs. "Do you know when Zerek will be back?" I ask hopefully. "No," Merlin just scampers away to play with his 'toys'. They're actually just little sticks he found outside and tied together with string to make stick people.
I'm glad he at least had something to play with, with the way the world is its hard for anyone to find joy in anything anymore.
I reach for the hunters bag and peek inside in case somehow it's contents disappeared. The berries, apples, bread, and money is still inside. I smile to myself and then wonder what Drake got for his family. He has a smaller family than me, he also has a nicer shack to live in. But I'm not complaining, ours is good enough.
I glance at the TV in the corner. The Capitol made sure every person had access to a television so they could watch the Hunger Games live every year. Right now I wish we had a clock so I could see what time it is. Then I walk to the window and look out as I'm reminded of when I was younger and my father taught me how to tell time by looking at the sun, it's about two thirty-ish, mom should be coming home. She gets out of work at the factory early on the day of the Reaping.
Just as the thought enters my head she walks through the door. She doesn't smile, she hasn't since dad died. "Where's Zerek?" I ask her plainly. "He had to help at the factory a little longer, he should be back soon," Mom whispers in a sad monotone. I nod and grab my hunters bag. Moms eyes stick on it as I walk out of the room, it used to be dads, he was the one who cut the hole in that electric fence and taught me how to hunt.
I gently toss the bag under my cot before flopping down on it. I kick off my boots carelessly and that's when the TV starts wiring up. I jump out of the room and rush over to see what's going on. Mom sits in one chair and Merlin sits on the floor.
Both are staring fixedly at the screen as an image of President Rust is flashed across the screen.
"Citizen's of Panem," A deep booming voice rang, "It is time for the very first Quarter Quell!"
Cheers erupted from the Capitol audience. "At the end of the dark days, a committee of very wise men and women had created the event known as the Quarter Quell. This event would take place every 25 years. Each Quell would have a brand new stipulation for the Hunger Games which will add a new twist to the fun!"
The audience was roaring with excitement.
"Such stipulations were planned in that very meeting so that no conflict of interests would sway the Quell. So without further ado," Rust reaches into a small box pulling out an envelope labeled 25, gingerly opening it and letting the crowd become silent with joyous anticipation.
He draws a small card from the envelope and grins devilishly.
"In order to remind each remaining District that it was their very own citizens who rose against the Capitol that loved them so very much, each district will elect two boys and two girl tributes by democratic vote to compete in the 25th annual Hunger Games! Also, another interesting twist I will share as a surprise for the tributes as they enter the arena later!"
The President smiled with a ghastly expression "With that being said, Districts of Panem, May the odds ever be in your favor!" The television is switched off as the announcements are over.
"This is terrible," I turn to see Zerek standing behind my mother who's sitting in the chair silently weeping. "Where's Zinnia?" She asks with teary eyes. "She ran off with Elainia," I say without the slightest hint of sympathy to my voice.
I guess there's a bit of resentment in me toward my mother. When I was younger I needed her badly, but she was never there for me, she was always too busy taking care of my younger sister or too busy at work. She was never there for me, and I hate her for it, I spent many nights curled up outside our house silently crying myself to sleep. No one would even notice I was gone. No one except Zerek, he didn't tell on me. But he did bring me a blanket once and another time asked if I was too cold at night.
When I got older I realized the stupidity in staying outside during the night, so I slept inside most every night but that didn't change my feelings for my mother. I still hate her for all the times she wasn't there for me when I needed her most, and I still hate her for shutting us all out and staying locked up in her room all the time she's not at work.
The door creaked open and I barely heard Zinnia call out to someone, probably Elainia, and then she walked inside only to be greeted by our sullen faces.
"What?" She asks as if she's done something wrong and is preparing to defend herself. "It's the first Quarter Quell," Zerek was the first to say it. "What's a Quarter Quail?" She asks purposely using the wrong word, she likes to play dumb sometimes and see where it gets her. I hate that about her. "Quarter Quell," Merlin corrects her with a roll of his good eye. When he was five he got in an accident with a nail gun, a Peacekeeper was building something and Merlin got in the way resulting in his eye being shot with the nail gun. He pulled the nail out instinctively, luckily he didn't lose his eye, but he is partially blind in it now.
"Where'd you get the locket?" Zinnia's the only one to notice my new nicknack, perhaps she sees it as a new thing to steal. But she's not getting this. "I found it," I tell her simply. I can't say I got it at the trade center, mom doesn't like me going there and that would raise the question of what I was doing.
Zerek explained the Quarter Quell to Zinnia, trying to get back on topic and then I remembered my treats under the bed. I rush to get them and then hurry back. "Fate was kind today and I got us some goodies," I announce with pride. Mother sits up in her chair and Zinnia perks up. Merlin runs up close ensuring that he will be the first to get a look at my treasures. I pull out the two apples and they all stare in awe. Next comes the berries which they all drool over. These are certainly things we never get. Ever.
I dump the coins onto the table and mother quickly scoops them up. "Thank you dear, I'm sure you've worked hard," She says touching my shoulder. I nod silently and she leaves. She has no idea what I do out there with Drake. No idea.
"I don't want to go!" Merlin argued as we tried to get him ready for the Reaping. He's too young to be called up to join the Hunger Games, so he just stands by with my mother and sister. Zerek and I have to actually go up and wait to see if our names will be pulled from the glass bowl. But I guess this years Quarter Quell will be different, people will vote on who goes in. And to top it off they're choosing twice as many tributes. This year there will be 48 tributes in the Hunger Games, 48 kids sent into an arena to kill or be killed. Horror.
"Here, I thought you could wear this," Mother holds up a navy blue dress. I'm assuming its one of her old ones. I don't really want to wear a dress but seeing how I may be sent in to my doom I may as well give her this last moment. I quickly put on the dress and mother does my hair up in a twisted braid bun on top of my head. It doesn't look too ridiculous but it's not something I'd choose to do with my hair.
Zinnia puts on a dress of her own that's too small for her so mother gets something else for her. A soft pink dress that's obviously supposed to be above the knees on an older person, but since she's wearing it the skirt half reaches almost to the floor. She's got a ribbon tied around her waist to hold it up.
We head out to the middle of the district where there's a large fenced in platform. Everyone from ages 12 to 18 slowly file in, my breathing increases as my family moves away, back behind the fence. This year will be even more terrifying because the people outside the fence will be voting to send into the arena the children inside the fence.
My heart rate increases to an even faster pace as my brother leaves me to go to his age group on the boys side. I glance to where the family's of every child stands waiting, watching, whispering. I know everyone else will vote for someone besides their own kids. Why would they even want to send their children in to be killed?
I step up to the lady at a desk. She takes my hand, I look away and wince as she sticks me with a small needle and draws a little blood. The little screen in front of her has my name, age and location of where I live. She waves me off and I walk into the fenced in platform. I am directed to my age group, the group of 14 year olds, where I stand and wait to be called on.
"Testing! Testing!" The announcer, Meena Menlow, steps up to a microphone and taps it. "Welcome all, and what a pleasant day it is!" She looks up indicating that the sky is blue and beautiful. How can anyone be so happy on the day you're sent to your doom? But I guess Capitol people are happy, they get to stuff themselves with luxurious foods and watch us kill each other off. Meena's hair is a powdery blue as is her makeup and nails and even her clothing.
As she goes on and on about how the rebellion was bad, my eyes revert to the crowd. I'm at the edge of my group, right at the gap between boys and girls. I scan the boys crowd when I finally see him, already looking at me. He smiles reassuring me that everything will be ok. I try to smile back but deep down I know as long as the Capitol rules nothing will be ok.
This morning I questioned wether or not my existence was worth it. Now I feel like its not, if we have to live under Capitol rule where no one is free like this nation was supposed to be then I don't want any part of it. But looking back I spot, through a break in the crowd, Merlin holding tight to the fence and staring directly at me. Then someone moves and I can't see him.
He's known to be overly attached to me, he loves me like a mother because I took care of him while my mother was locked away in her room ignoring us all, or at work too busy for us. My stomach churns as I'm reminded that I might be voted to go into the games.
"Alright, it's time to announce our lucky four tributes!" Meena squeals with excitement. "This first Quarter Quell we had people vote on who would enter the games, plus there are twice as many tributes and a BIG surprise for the tributes once they're in the arena, ooh I can't wait!" She's way too excited about all this. It disgusts me.
"Alright, ladies first!" She has a squeaky voice, way too high pitched to be natural. She unrolls from her hand a piece of paper and holds it up to read. "By popular vote, our first girl tribute is-" She pauses I assume for 'effect' and then moves on. "Tianna Wooven," She looks up and waits. No one steps forward. Then Tianna runs to the platform as Peacekeepers threaten to chase her. I've seen her around school, she's a small little thing. She's got blonde hair and she's really skinny. Skinnier than most people around our district anyway.
She fiddles around with her hands as she stands there shaking like a leaf. "Any volunteers?" Meena asks her voice going higher in anticipation. No one speaks up. I think Tianna is an only child, but none of her friends volunteer. But then, I don't think she has many friends. At school she just follows a boy around all the time, I assume they're best friends, the boy, Kenniathan, already has a girlfriend.
"Alright moving on," Meena's all-too-cheery voice breaks my thoughts. "Second girl tribute-" I hate that she pauses. Just get on with it already! I sigh and my eyes meet Drake's again. He's staring at me like he just saw a ghost. Why? Someone behind me nudges me. I turn around. A Peacekeeper is heading my way and the girl who nudged me is telling me to go up stage.
Was I just called? Did she say my name? My heart is too fast for me to function. She couldn't have, no, the girl must be mistaken. "Katna Rosen?" Yep. My name just rolled off the lips of Meena Menlow. This can't be. No, I won't let it.
My feet are glued to the pavement. The Peacekeepers are getting closer. My foot finally moves and I walk up there and stand beside Meena and my fellow tribute. My heart is racing and I know my face must be red. It tends to do that when I'm nervous or in a crowded room. Meena shakes my hand and I shake Tianna's hand before she moves on. I notice no one volunteers for me.
"Yes yes, now to the boys," She says excitedly. I stare out across the lot. All the girls faces are relieved that they weren't chosen. I wish I could be one of those faces. But no, I'm standing here waiting to be taken to the Hunger Games to be killed.
"Jasper Renshaw," I jerk my head over to see a redhead boy walking forward. I don't know him. But he winks at me just the same. "Any volunteers?"
"I volunteer!"
That voice could only be one person. Drake. No. He can't do that, I know he's only coming to protect me, he thinks it's his job. I can't let him do that, if he got killed while trying to save me I'd never be able to live with myself. What's more if I made it out of the games without him I wouldn't be able to function. I'd surely go insane and kill myself. He can't die, I can't live without my best friend.
"No!" Suddenly I blurt out the word. "You can't do that!" I yell at him as he makes his way up here. Meena stares at me as well as everyone else. But I don't care. I need him to stay home and be safe.
"Stay back! You can't enter the games with me!" I say drastically. He just keeps coming until he's right in front of me. "I am entering, and I will make sure you win," He pushes a stray piece of hair from my eyes. "You can't stop me," He whispers. I bat his hand away from my face.
"Please, don't do this," I whisper in a shaky voice. My entire being is having its own miniature earth quake. I tremble in fear. "I can't live if you're not here to live with me," I say my voice breaking. The look in his eye is one of determination and stubbornness. "And I can't let you die," He says and then walks away to shake Meena's hand then stand beside her on the other side. A tear threatens to escape my eye. Knowing that I'm on live television and my fellow tributes will see me and count me as weak, I take a deep breath and suck it in taking on a tough look.
"Well, well, is she your girlfriend?" Meena asks. I feel the heat rising to my cheeks. My face must be beat red right now. "No," Drake says sharply. "She's my best friend," He explains. Meena nods although she has a sinister look in her eye. Drake is a handsome boy, so I don't think she can see us as being 'just friends', but we are. True I did have a crush on him from the time I was six to the time I was twelve, but I got over it, I came to realize he's like a brother to me. And you don't fall in love with your brother.
"Alright, our next male tribute to be voted for is-" Again with the pausing. Whatever I guess it's fine. It doesn't really matter now. My life is over.
"Kenniathan Applberry," My breathing stops. As the dark skinned boy approaches he glances at me with sorry eyes.
Not him, my mind flashes back to when we were in school several months ago, he used to pass me notes and we would start up a whole conversation. He was so funny, I grew to like him more than I should've. One day at school, while the teacher was busy, he passed me a note asking who my crush was, I wrote a note back saying I couldn't tell. He said I could trust him and I still said no. Truthfully I didn't really have a crush, but I did happen to like him a lot. He passed another note pleading with me to tell him. So I gave him clues, and he tried to guess who it was by asking what color hair he had was he tall what color eyes etc.
Finally he started asking names. He guessed some boys that I'd never think to have crushes on, then he asked me if I liked him. I said maybe and he said, 'Ok not me,' and continued guessing. I passed another note just before the teacher came back that said, 'I never said it want you,' that day after school was over he walked me home and asked me if I liked him. I told him it depends.
"Depends on what?" He asked with a sweet smile that made my stomach twist. "On wether or not you think that's creepy," I said back not looking at him directly but quietly looking away. "What if I said I kind of feel the same..." He trailed off scratching his head awkwardly. I looked up to meet his brown eyes and we stopped walking. His dark hands touched mine but didn't hold them. "My heart would attack me..." I whisper then realize how stupid that sounded. "Is that bad?" He asked grinning slightly. "No, it just means I'm happy for once," I said smiling brightly. He smiled as well before racing home.
He kept passing me notes in school of random topics and even told me he loved me. But that all washed down the drain when someone mentioned to me that he was in a relationship. I hurried to school and couldn't resist passing him a note asking who he was in a relationship with. He said her name was Trisha, and he thought I knew. I told him I didn't know and quickly went back to my work.
He passed me a note that said, 'You're mad :(' I quickly wrote back saying that I wasn't mad, and then he said he felt like a jerk. I told him he wasn't, he couldn't be a jerk. And I couldn't be mad at him, I allowed myself to fall for him and that caused me to be broken in a way that couldn't be fixed. He told me he loved me, he even suggested we flip a coin heads he's mine tails I'm his. It was cheesy but cute. I never really liked my name, but the way he said it made me feel like I had the best name in the entire world. He broke my heart but I still have those feelings for him.
Now seeing him standing there next to Drake and Meena, it makes me ache inside. If he dies I will be crushed, life is so unfair. Meena says something into the microphone that I can't comprehend and then she leads us into the Justice Building where we're all separated.
My mother comes in and wraps me in her arms tight. I can't breath and don't really want to hug her, but since I'm going to die I hug her for her. "Be safe, be safe," She whispers in a panicked tone. Fearful of what may happen while she watches the games on TV I take her by the shoulders and glare at her. "Don't you dare abandon those kids," I say to her sternly. "Don't forget you've got three other children that need you to protect them, don't you dare forget," I say angrily remembering when dad died and she forgot us. She just looks to me shocked. I'm not one to speak my mind to her, I don't disrespect her ever. This must be surprising to her.
"If you just sit there and worry about me all day long then dammit, your children will slowly fade and die, they need their mother they need you, so if you love me then you'll take care of them for me, I've had to be their mother because you're too busy, but now that I'm gone and even if I don't come back you have to take care of them, do it!" I yell quickly. I don't have that much time with her so I have to get my message through. "You watch your language missy! And I loved your father very much that's why I was so torn over his death, I work so hard every day to provide for my children which I love," She's a Christian, she believes in god and whatnot. I did once, but he never did anything for me so I've given up on him. Mother doesn't like me using bad language, she's pretty much forced her religion on all of us, but since dads death she's let up some.
"I will be their mother, I will take care of them but you have to do something for me," I take in a sharp breath thinking of what she may ask. "You have to take care of yourself in those games don't just fool around try to win," She says squeezing my arm. I nod. "I will," A Peacekeeper opens the door and says times up.
"I love you!" Mom cries out. Despite our differences I love her too, she's my mother and suddenly I don't want her to leave. I need my mom. "Mom!" I yell running after her. "I love you too!" I scream as she's pulled away from me. I step back breathing sharply. The door opens again and someone else enters the room. It's Merlin and Zinnia. "Five minutes," The Peacekeeper at the door says rudely.
Merlin rushes into my arms and Zinnia hesitates before coming in for embrace. "I love you guys," I whisper. Merlin refuses to let go but Zinnia steps back with tears falling freely. "You're the best sister ever, I love you, be safe," She stares at me sullenly. I nod. Despite how much we fight, argue, and boss each other, we both know we'd take a bullet for each other. With our three year age difference we never really got along, but I've protected her and she's been kind to me sometimes.
The door opens and the Peacekeeper summons them out. Merlin won't let go. Zinnia runs out and into Zerek's arms but Merlin won't let go. "Come on kid," The Peacekeeper steps in. Merlin's vice grip refuses to loosen. "No! Katna! Please!" He starts balling his eyes out. He gets overly attached to me sometimes, it's really quite dramatic and makes me wanna cry. But he needs to let go or risk being injured by the Peacekeeper. I manage to loosen his grip around my hips and push him back. "I love you, be safe and be strong," I tell him with a strong confident smile. He nods with tears and turns away.
Just before the door closes Zinnia rushed in for one last hug before she's jerked away by the Peacekeeper. "Don't forget the song!" She screams. "Don't touch the pearl! Remember!" She yells and I nod. "I'll remember!" I say recalling the old song our aunt taught us once.
"Can I please have-" The door closes before I can hear what all Zinnia said. I slump down defeated by the Capitol and their rules. The door opens and Zinnia walks back inside, Meena walks in with her. "I talked the guard into letting her stay five more minutes," She explains to my confused look. Maybe underneath all her fake Capitol look she's a real person with a heart.
"Sing me the song," Zinnia whispers in a scared-to-death tone. I nod and quickly try to remember the lyrics.
"Uh," I try desperately. Finally the words flood my mind in an old memory.
"Down near the swamp
Where the alligators stomp,
There is a treasure buried deep below,
The pirates and captains sing of it so low, they tell the tale of old where the jewels are gold, " It sounds somewhat cheesy, but it's really a good song.
"Sing sing, sing a lullaby, tell me you'll find me don't let me touch the sky, the slithering snake, an old earth quake,
Sing the song of new and that's where I leave clues. " I don't like my singing voice, but it seems everyone compliments me on it when they're lucky enough to hear it.
"Come to my treasure, I don't need pleasure, just take me away from this musty old clay.
But don't touch the pearl, the wind and the rain, the storm will come and you'll go insane, so don't touch the pearl the wind and the rain. "
I remember when I used to sing this to my siblings every night, but one night my mother came home early and when she heard me singing it she ordered me never to sing it again. I didn't understand then why, it was just a harmless lullaby, but now as the words swarm in my head I realize it's a song about a pirate searching for treasure and when he finds it his greed leads him to take it all away for himself, but the guardian of the treasure cursed him turning him to a pearl, others searched desperately for the treasure but when they found it they'd always go for the most precious piece, the Pearl, but when they touched it a hurricane would come and they'd all go mentally insane, as the song goes the girl guarding the treasure meets someone who seeks to find gold jewels she warns him not to touch the pearl but he doesn't listen and falls insane along with the others, the girl longs for someone to break this curse but finally accepts that she will never be free. It's really quite sad.
"Sing sing, sing a lullaby, tell me you'll find me don't let me touch the sky, the slithering snake, an old earth quake,
Sing the song of new and that's where I leave a clue."
Meena stands transfixed on my song. She's really emotional it seems.
"I'm cursed here alone, no way to go home. It will just be a minute, a moment a scar, I can't but its just too far.
Now I'll stay here forever, leaving here never, see my treasure touch my soul, but nothing could ever, make me whole.
Sing sing, sing a lullaby, tell me you'll find me don't let me touch the sky, the slithering snake, an old earth quake, "
All she wants is to find true love, but the girl in the song never finds it. Sadly.
"Sing the song of new and that's where I'll love you, it's where, I love you. " Zinnia curls up in my lap to cherish the last couple minutes with me in silence. She wipes at her tears but they won't go away. The Peacekeeper ushers her out and I'm left alone once again until Sarry, the Trade Center woman enters the room. I'm not sure at all why she'd be coming here.
"We elected you to go into the games because you would have the best chance out of all the children in District 8," It takes me a moment to understand what she just said. The trade people voted for me to enter the Hunger Games.
"You are an amazing hunter, you always bring me the best of the best, I know you can win," She says staring me down with a confident look in her eye that makes me feel small and insignificant. She turns on her heel and walks out before I can say anything.
After a couple minutes where I reflect on my life so far and wonder what my future holds, Meena comes back and escorts me out of the room.
She leads me to a train, something I've always seen the tributes ride but have never ridden one before. It's very luxurious, there are seats with velvet coverings and nice carpets line the floors. The trains not moving but the view from the windows looks nice. I'd enjoy this if it wasn't for the fact that I'm being shipped off to die for the entertainment of the world.
Meena leads me to a room and tells me I get it all to myself. I walk in and look around as she shuts the door behind me. The room is as big as my house, and I get it all to myself? The carpet is fancy and there's a bed folded into the wall. There's a table and two chairs on one side with a vase of white roses in the center. I spot something I've never seen before in my life. My mother told me the Capitol people had something called a shower, she explained its purpose and expressed her desire to have one. But we can never afford running water. The only time we could clean and 'bathe' ourselves was if we went to the stream on the outskirts of the district. But that was fifteen miles from where we live, so it wasn't often we were clean.
I suddenly want to take a shower, to wash my hair and body, I take a look at my arms. I'm filthy. There's at least three layers of dirt covering my skin. I decide I'll hop in the shower.
After an amazing experience I didn't want to leave, I find a closet and search through its contents for something to wear. I find a pair of pants and t-shirt that remind me of my own clothes back home and put them on. I retrieve my golden locket from the bathroom floor where I'd left it and put it around my neck. I don't want to leave my dress on the floor, messing this clean compartment so I take it and hang it up in the closet. Before I do anything else I brush my long red-ish hair. It can't really qualify as red hair, it's more brown but it's got a deep red tint. Almost a mahogany color.
I want to explore more of this richly decorated train so I leave my room and wander the halls. Meena had mentioned earlier that it would take almost a day to get to the Capitol, giving me plenty of time to explore this train.
As I walk the halls admiring some paintings on the wall I hear someone walking just around the corner. My heart pounds. What if I'm not supposed to be here?
The persons shadow creeps closer. I freeze. But as he comes around the corner I realize it's Kenniathan. We stare at each other a moment, not uttering a word. "I had no idea we'd be thrown in this together," He says at last. I try to speak but when I move my mouth nothing comes out. He huffs air out of his nose and smiles slightly, touching my shoulder gently. "It's ok, I know what you're thinking, and I'm sorry, I honestly thought you knew," My mind flashes back to when he passed me a note in class asking why I was so sad, I asked why he thought I was sad and he came back with, 'You never smile anymore' I finally admitted that I was sad, and he was right. He then passed me a note asking why. I simply told him I was in love and it hurt sometimes.
He asked me to explain. I told him I couldn't and he told me to try as best I can. He knew I loved him so I said it just hurt me a little when he told me he had a girlfriend, he sent back a note apologizing and saying that it's complicated, he said she had some sort of mental illness and he was afraid of what might happen to her if he broke her heart. We kind of stopped talking after that. He didn't pass anymore notes in class, and after school he'd walk home with Tianna, he wouldn't look at me. If he did and I waved he'd kind of half wave and smile but turn away. I felt like he was pushing me away from him, I felt grateful because I kept telling myself not to fall for him. But no matter how hard I try, his smile, his eyes, his voice, it all makes me fall deeper in love with him. Which I shouldn't be. I can't help what my heart feels, no matter what my brain is telling me I should do.
"Yeah, um, it's fine," I stumble out. I'm reminded of all those times I told him he was cute and that I loved him, and what hurts more is all the times he told me he loved me. One time he asked when I started liking him, I thought about it and told him I started falling for him when he and I sang Its A Small World After All, sometime after we first met. We'd seen each other at the Trade Center a week before we officially met and exchanged names and became friends, when we remembered seeing each other there he started up singing the song and I joined in. Anyway, I asked him the same question, when did he start falling for me, he said it was the moment he first heard my great laugh when I laughed at his stupid whatever it was he was doing.
The memory makes me smile and giggle to myself. Then I realize he's still standing in front of me. "What's so funny?" He asks with a grin. "Nothing," A frown quickly crosses my face and I turn away stalking out the hall and back to my room.
I can't believe him. Flirting with me when he had a girlfriend. Although, I don't know when exactly he and her got together, he could've been single when he was flirting with me. But that doesn't make sense, why would he flirt with me like that and then get someone else as a girlfriend? Either scenarios it hurts me, and I don't like it. I have to stop liking him so much.
"Dinner time!" Meena calls out as she treads down the hall. I get off my bed reluctantly and follow our escort down to the dining car. There's a man sitting at the table when we get there, he's a stranger to me, also at the table is Drake, every time I look at him I'm reminded we'll have to kill each other. Although there's a good chance one or both of us will be killed by another tribute before ever having to face each other, but still, the thought reeks my mind.
I take a seat next to my best friend, sitting across from me is Tianna, and next to her Kenniathan, at the end is the stranger and next to Drake is Meena. I begin to recognize the man at the end, I think he's the District 8 mentor, Woof. I decide that's who he is and then turn to my empty plate.
Some people enter the room carrying tray after tray of delicious looking food. I stare as they place it all in front of us. "And we can have as much as we want?" I ask Meena, then realize that was probably a dumb question. She laughs and says, "Indeed, you may have your fill," Drake and I exchange excited glances and then politely take some food. I'm smart enough to know that if I wolf it all down like the starving child I am I'll throw it up later. So I slowly eat, and I know not to eat too much or I'll throw that up later as well.
"Mm, Kat, you gotta try this," Drake hands me a small piece of bread stuffed with grapes and cheese and more things I can't name. I take a bite. It melts in my mouth, the warmness of the bread combined with the juiciness of the grapes and the flavor of the cheese makes it wonderful.
"Mmm," I mumble in pure pleasure. "Good eh?" Drake says smiling at my happiness. "Try this," I say giving him a spoonful of cranberry sauce. He lights up at the taste, Drake has always been the one to throw out ideas about what food would taste good with other food. He loves cooking and would do it if he could, but our poor living conditions and the lack of food we're allowed forbids him from being able to enjoy making good food. "Are you sure there isn't something between you two?" Meena just has to ask. "Meena, Drake is like a brother to me, we've grown up together, I wouldn't want to date my brother would I?" I talk to her like she's five. She acts like she's five how else can I talk to her? At my last sentence I couldn't help but glance at Kenniathan, who was already looking my way.
"So, you're all my ducky's this year," Woof speaks up from his place at the table. "Got any advice?" Kenniathan asks curiously. "Yes, the most important thing-" Woof adjusts his sitting position before going on. "Don't die," Kenniathan and I laugh but no one else seems to find it funny. Woof just grins.
"Looks like we got a couple o' comedians," He notes looking to me then Kenniathan. Meena clears her throat and mumbles something about him being senile before leaving. "You look like a good lot, I think you'll do fine," Woof says with a grin. "Except, her," He points to me. My heart skips a beat. "She'll win," He says. "Th-thank you," I say surprised.
"Alright, I'm taking a bath," I'm starting to think Meena might be right about him being senile. He stands and leaves, I notice he hasn't touched his food. Drake and I look to each other and shrug before going back to eating our food.
I think I ate more than I should've. I didn't eat too much, but just enough to feel fat. Which is probably good, I need to gain some weight, I've always been a skinny person. I walk to my room with Drake by my side. "If you need anything-" He taps his door which is only a few feet from my own. "I'll be here," He whispers. I nod thankfully. He pulls me in for a hug before entering his room.
As I enter my temporary room I shut the door and flop down on the bed. I don't bother changing my clothes I just sleep in what I've got on. I lay there for awhile trying to fall asleep.
I keep thinking of Kenny, and how much I've fallen for him, and how much it hurts to know he's got someone special, and what if I have to go up against him in the arena? Would I be able to kill him? Or would he kill me first? He's hurt me enough, killing me would be merciful. What a horrible thought.
My eyes start to close and I slowly drift to sleep, the light from the window fading in my mind.
p.s. My other story, A Guide To Shadow Bending, I encourage you all to read that if you haven't already, it helps you learn more about the Shadow Bender Katna is, I love this idea so much! Hehe I'm having too much fun!