Chapter 1
This is my first fanfic...my apologies for the boring title, or any other mistakes I make... Anyway, I hope you find this new view of the HG of District 3 refreshing.
I wake up with a start from my nightmare. I was walking through District 3 and I find my brothers Dustin and Otto getting whipped by Peacekeepers. Suddenly the skies become grey and I am in the Hunger Games fighting for my life.
I remind myself that it was only a dream and stumble out of bed. I waddle into the only bathroom in our shack of a house and splash cold water on my face. I see in the mirror an underfed, tall girl with bushy dark brown hair and Coke bottle glasses. I'm the living stereotype of District 3.
While leaving the restroom, my stomach growls, "Wonder if we have any more crackers." I'm greeted by my dad, who is helping my younger brother Otto get ready. Ready for what? I ask myself . Then it dawns on me, today is reaping day.
Oh god, I hate the day of the reaping. Not only the feeling of vulnerability, but to watch families torn apart, with one child heading for the slaughter. Thankfully, this will be my older brother Dustin's last Reaping. But he did put in his name 30 times for tesserae to support the family.
"Go get ready, we have a long walk to the square," Dad tells me. So I head back to my room and put on the dress I usually do for reapings. A light green mid length dress with a purple collar and ribbon. I fix my hair to look, well, as good as it gets.
"You clean up well." I whip around to see Dustin, also in reaping attire.
"Thanks. So last reaping, congrats. I hope I can see that day as well," I tell him.
" Don't worry, you didn't sign up for that much tesserae ."
We both stand there for a little when dad enters, "Looks like it's time to head out."
I jump on my massive brother and give him a hug whispering, "Good luck."
We assembled out of our house and started the long walk to the square where two unlucky citizens will be picked.
Otto walks up to me and whispers, "It's ok, Circuit we'll all make it through."
Circuit Elkerson, strange name, I know. It was given to me by my mother. She loved electronics and knowing how they worked. She used to design all types of new technology before she went mad. You see, she loved her sister more than anything and they were always together. That was until her twelve year old sister was chosen to fight in the hunger games. She couldn't stand to see us, her children, risk the possibility of becoming like her sister, and she snapped during Dustin's first reaping.
Dad was heartbroken. He was soon plunged into debt and all of the stress of our family dumped onto him. We all had to pitch in to get food or money meaning we had to take tesserae, trade in the black market, which is located in an old factory which used to produce car parts, and take jobs as soon as possible. Dustin headed off to a production line that assembles weaponry, but I have yet to find an opening.
I awake from my thoughts when we reach the square. A splintering wood podium and makeshift stage is set up in front of the Mayor's house. He is a plump man, obviously he has more than enough to get by, with white hair from old age, another trait to envy, and is semi-strict. I've seen him once or twice in the warehouse where we trade herbs, old programmed chips, and other things our mother has fiddled with.
We line up to be signed in. When the line finally gets to me they ask my name and draw a blood sample, then I head to my spot in the clump of nervous 15 year olds. I turn to my side and see Marjory, my old friend from school. We used to get in trouble for doodling on our worksheets instead of focusing on them. She wiggles her way through the crowd to get to me, her strait dirty blonde hair tied back into a bun, "Hey Circuit. So, here comes another reaping... 4 down and 2 more to go!"
"Not yet, we still have to get past this one," I reply.
"Aw, come on Circuit, don't rain on my parade! Besides, you didn't put in half as much tesserae as Dannay, she put in 60!"
She was right the odds are more in my favor than Dannay. Her family has a total of 6 children, half of them have yet to attend a single reaping! The odds were certainly not in her favor.
"What parade? I wasn't invited, unless this is it," I answer.
She gives me a stupid look and slaps me in the arm. "You are so smart, you know that?"
Before I can give her a response, the mayor steps onto the stage with Yula, the woman who will be our advisor of sorts and make sure the tributes get to where they need to be, and two of six tributes that have won the Hunger Games in the past, Tess and Ramon.
Yula hair, coming from the Capitol, is a light turquoise and is done up in an intricate bun atop her head. She's wearing a turquoise dress as well, but the color on the dress is much more vibrant and rich. Dresses, hair, and pretty much everything from the Capitol is garish, over thought and, well, fake. Her face, obviously surgically altered, is powdered white with brown blush and bright blue lips to match her overall look.
Marjory taps me on the shoulder and makes a vomiting gesture. I snort and shake my head vigorously in agreement. Before we are interrupted once again by Yula and her squeaky Capitol accent, "Welcome! As you all know today is the reaping day of the 53rd annual Hunger Games! How exciting! Now before we choose our brave tributes, here's your mayor, Augustus Dolmire!"
Silence. Then Mayor Augustus steps up to the podium and gets an earful of feedback from the old microphone. Practically everyone in the square covers their ears and cringe. Once he's finished tell us all the history we already know about Panem once being a place called North America, and the Dark Days, the Rebellion, and the creation of the Hunger Games, he reads the list of victors from District 3.
All in all we've had 7 tributes, of which 6 are living. The first being a man named Logan was in the 16th Hunger Games. He won by hiding in a tree near the cornucopia and shooting down any passersby. He is now dead obviously, but the next one is a woman named Renee, she was in the 27th Hunger Games. I've heard that one was possibly the worst. All the tributes had to fight with were maces. It was dirty and gross, perfect for the Capitol's citizens. She won by sheer luck and finding good spots to hide. She didn't have to kill anyone, until they were invited to a feast. All of the remaining tributes went and that was where the 2nd bloodbath of the Hunger Games began. She stuck it out, well secluded in the trees until two tributes were left. She managed to kill them both and won.
Jana was the 3rd tribute to win. Then Tess won by sneaking around and getting just what she needed to get by. That year was when they were in a desert. I've been told that that year was one of the shortest. Reno was crowned champion in the 31st Hunger Games by killing anyone in sight. And Terence continued to grace District 3 by winning the 32nd Hunger Games.
Which leads me all the way to the 49th annual Hunger Games. Ramon was a mere 14. He went in with his childhood friend, Elsa. They ended up having to face each other and a third tribute in the final three. Elsa was killed by the other tribute. Filled with rage, Ramon killed the tribute with his hands alone.
That's when Yula steps up with the two big glass balls with girls' and boys' names. "Ladies before gentleman!" She squeaks as she leans to the glass ball to the right."And the brave girl who will represent District 3 is... Circuit Elkerson!"
Fear wells inside me as I search the faces of my family and friends. Dad avoids my stare and Marjory is crying. My breathing gets heavy as I slowly make my way through he parting crowd to the stage. Now breaking into a cold sweat, I climb the stairs and shake my mentor, Tess's hand. How could this happen? I thought for sure I was safe. But, no one is safe in any of the twelve districts. Shaking, I take my seat.
"Now for the boys. Your District 3 male tribute is... Dustin Elkerson!"
