The Hunger Games: A Districts Punishment
This is set after the first book and after some events in the second. President Snow has already told Katniss about how her idea with the berries is about to start causing the districts to revolt. When this Fic starts, Katniss has already gone through the tour of the districts, with Peeta, trying to convince everyone that the reason why they did the berry act was because they are madly in love. District Twelve is the only one to have attempted a revolt. It's set from Katniss's point of view.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Hunger Games or any of the characters (unless it's an OC).
I sit in my new house in the Victors Village, worry tugging at me. I have returned from my tour with Peeta, only to find my District in shambles. I didn't know anything that was happening while on tour. It was been kept a secret from the rest of the world (at first), so that other's don't get the same idea and try it. I look at my mother sitting in a rocking chair, braiding Prim's hair, and thinking how close I came to losing them.
District Twelve was attacked by thousands of Peace Keepers. The entire town had begun making plans, spreading it from one person to the next, and began the preparations. They gathered in the square one day and attempted to take over the main buildings in the square. From I what I was told, it appeared they would have had a chance to succeed, but a Peacekeeper managed to get a call for help out and before long, thousands of Peace Keepers came, and began firing into the crowds. But only after the bombs were dropped.
Some hovercrafts had appeared and dropped a few bombs directly into the thickest parts of the crowd, and a few around the town. The Hob has been destroyed, plus the square. After this happened, a heavy rain came which put out the fires, but still many had died, or been grievously injured. Then the Peacekeepers came and began firing at random into crowds, killing several more. By the time most of the fighting was done, and everyone had been subdued, there were only about four hundred people left. So many were dead. Luckily, Gale had hidden my mother and Prim in the woods, with many other children, before the revolt started. When it was over, he was able to bring them back. And not a second too soon. Within a minute of Gale getting the last kid to wiggle under the fence, the electricity was back on, and it hums twenty-four seven now. There is no hope of getting to the other side to hunt for food.
A lock down was initiated on the town, while many people were tortured and hung in the square. Whether it was believed these people were a main part of the rebellion, or just used as a further example, is unknown. Our numbers dwindled further down to about 350. They will likely continue to go down quite a bit, as people are arrested for the tiniest of infractions, sometimes for breaking a law they forgot was a law. The new peacekeepers are not lenient. Every few weeks, someone is tortured in the rebuilt square, or hung.
"The lock down is over, but so many are suffering from the lack of food," I tell mother. "There are many workers lacking in the mines, and some families have nobody to look after them."
My mother sighs. We have much food, and have shared it with many, as well as our money, but the money doesn't help as much as it normally would. Some shops were blown up, and with no shops, that means no goods. Plus, with the lockdown, no supplies were brought in, and it could be awhile before a load gets here, to replenish the still existing shops. Nobody can hunt in the woods anymore, otherwise, I'd be out there, getting game and giving it to the poorest of families. Gale is the only one working, in the mines, which were mostly untouched. His mother, Hazell, takes in laundry, but there is not much to take in, with most of the town killed. The children look skinnier already, as do most of the others in town.
"Most of us will likely die," I say, bluntly.
"Katniss!" my mother looks at me with her sad eyes. "Don't say that! We-we must pull through somehow-"
"How?!" I ask, my voice rising. "So many families have lost one or both sets of parents! There are parentless children bunking with families that still have a parent left, and there is not enough food, or people to work for money, or-or anything!"
It's true. Some children just wander the street, with thin bodies, hollow eyes, concave stomachs, bird like legs and stick thin arms, their hair matted, their faces smudged, huddling against buildings at night, or in old sheds, the cries and screams from there nightmares occasionally piercing the night air.
There was an announcement that tributes and their families are not allowed to take in any homeless people or share supplies with them.. They know that us tributes and our families are the one of the few with plenty of food stockpiled away. We had tons, a result of living for years with too little, and being afraid in the back our minds that we may find ourselves in the same situation again. Before I went on the district tour, I spent many days hunting with Gale, giving game to the people in the town, and stockpiling it for ourselves, just in case.
Well, now "just in case" has arrived and we are not allowed to even share our food. This doesn't matter to me, however. Often, in the night, I take food and sneak off to the poorest families, and give them food, including Gales.
Gale. Our friendship has never been the same since I got back from the Games. The pretend love between Peeta and me had basically ruined any chance of love that I know Gale may have been considering. He talks to me, but something is just not quite the same… However, I owe him a massive debt, for getting my mother and Prim out and back in time, for saving their lives. No matter how much food I bring them, I can never quite repay this debt.
Peeta is living in his own house, with his family. We've kept up the star crossed lover's routine, to appease the world watching on TV. His family's bakery somehow survived the bombings and they continue to sell food, with what little goods they have left. However, not many have money to actually buy bread. The grain rations from the tessarae were given out, but it was about half the usual portion. There was a small shipment of food dropped into the District, the food that is supposed to come if a tribute wins, but half of it was spoiled.
W the uprising here in twelve, another district may soon follow, if they get wind of what happened here. And I fear are punishment is not over.
Darkness falls and my mother and Prim go to bed. However, I remain up and dress in black clothing so I will hopefully not be spotted too easily. I take my game bag and fill it with food and sneak out, ruminating on a way to get more food. A rumor was spreading that if things get worse, they'll be eating dead bodies soon. I shudder at the thought. A load of goods better get here quickly. Then I remember that won't do much good if the people have no money to buy it with…
I stop at some of my regular stops to drop off some food. Greasy Sae opens her door, one of her arms in a sling, bandaged, after a gunshot caught it. Mother took care of the wound, and Greasy Sae will have completely usage of her arm (hopefully) in a little while. Her granddaughter, the one who is slightly mentally handicapped, clutches her grandmother's skirts, peering at me with large eyes.
"I sure wish I had some of that wild dog you used to get," says Greasy Sae. "Or any game really."
"I wish I could go out there to hunt it for you," I say.
I make rounds, finding homeless children tucked around town, some lingering around here old homes, and leave them food to eat.
But a feeling of desperation lingers. This can't last forever. What if there isn't a food shipment for a long while; and my supply runs out at home? We won't be any better off then these people, even with all our winnings. They're won't be anything to by in the shops if they don't get shipments in.
The next morning brings a new problem, well, mostly for Haymitch, not me. His liquor supply has run out. And there is no one to buy it from in town. His supplier his dead.
We don't have any, of course, so Haymitch stumbles off to the apothecary, ranting, to see if they have any rubbing alcohol. I've already told them not to sell him any, as he will likely drink it, and they assured me they won't.
Spring is about here, and I have an idea to get food. It won't be much, but if I can get a shot on the formations of birds migrating, I can get some extra food. I have to be careful that I'm not seen though. The peacekeepers don't bother to come around the Victors village though too much, but I'm pretty sure it's against the law to hunt, even though I'm not allowed out to hunt, and I have no desire to be tied to the whipping post in town and flogged.
Gale comes to join me, despite the risk. If I close my eyes, hear Gales breath, and feel the bow in my hands, I can almost fool myself into believing that I'm in the woods. However, when I open my eyes, the stark reality comes rushing back, as the meadow and the buzzing electric fence comes into view.
Luckily, a flock of birds passes over the meadow, and we manage to shoot a few geese, who come hurtling to the earth, there life snuffed out, to be quickly plucked and hoarded away, to be cooked or brought to someone who needs it. I send Gale home empty handed, so I can bring some of newly acquired food by later. I don't want him heading through town with a game bag of food. They'll think he got past the fence somehow.
There is nothing else to do, but wait for news. No new shipments arrive. Food is scarce and a couple of homeless children were found dead in the street, having starved to death. Of course the peacekeepers chalked it up to the flu, or exposure, but were not that dumb to believe it.
The people are getting thinner and thinner, and some are growing sick for lack of food.
And even more Peacekeepers are brought in for some reason, manning the streets. One night before the Quarter Quell, there are so many lurking about, I don't even dare sneak out to pass out food. What are they doing? Do they expect another uprising? There are so few of us now, it would be a waste.
Eventually, it becomes clear why no shipments have arrived.
I'm home one evening. We've eaten and the dishes are cleared up. There is mandatory viewing on tonight. This game will be the Quarter Quells, and we wait to see what atrocity they come up with this time.
The first Quarter Quell was where the districts had to vote to decide who went the to the Hunger Games, instead of someone's name being picked from a glass ball. The second one was where double the amount of tributes was required. Haymitch won that year. And now we have to contend with this one.
We sit watching the TV. The seal of Panem appears and then is replaced by President Snow, his snake eyes glinting, his puffy lips making him look ridiculous. There is a rose pinned to his lapel, and I think of the horrid, sickening smell of blood and roses that clings to him where ever he goes.
President smiles eerily and begins to speak. "This year marks are third Quarter Quell, as a stronger reminder and punishment to those who once thought to defy us, or ever think to defy us again."
To our surprise, he talks of the rebellion in District Twelve, showing footage of what happened, and describing our town and population was destroyed. How there are so few many of left. How our actions caused so many of us to die.
"And the consequences are not over yet," says President Snow. "We cannot have such a wink link in the chain and system of our society. They sought to overthrow the country and rule the entirety of Panem themselves-" what lies! The citizens here only sought to be free of the oppression! "-and must be punished. And it is now with great pleasure, I announce what the third Quarter Quell will be.
The camera cuts in for a slighter closer angle.
My heart pounds.
"Everyone in the entire District 12 will be reaped into the Hunger Games."
So, hooray, I managed to fix my computer enough to where I can type, and post stuff. It took a bit of a poo on me several days ago, and I thought everything on it was completely lost and that I would never be able to use it again (I'm almost sobbed at the thought losing almost all the stuff I've written), but I managed to fix it…mostly…I'm still bound to have problems with it. I simply can't wait until I can afford a new one!
So, please tell me what you think of my new fic in the review box. Come on, you know you want to! :)