Princess of District Twelve

by phoenixrider66

" In Seventy-four years, we've had exactly two victors, only one is still alive"- Katniss, The Hunger Games. We all know Haymitch was the second...but who was the first? What happened to her? Finally, the story of Odette will be told. The story of the very first victor of District Twelve, winner of the Twenty-fifth Hunger games

1. Chapter 1

Chapter One

I hold the small piece of paper in my hands and stare at it, because I really cant believe what I am seeing. Printed on the paper are the words Girl Tribute: and Boy Tribute:

I can feel my hands getting sweaty, my body is visibly trembling and I swear you could see my heart beating. Its like I'm in a trance until someones voice breaks me free " Hurry hurry! The reaping is tomorrow and we need the votes!" says our district escort, Charon, with his stupid Capitol accent.

I roll my eyes in disgust, how can he be so cheerful about it?

I look back at the paper and shakily breath out. I slowly shake my head as I think to myself

...I...I cant do this...

Suddenly everybody starts handing their papers to the front, and without another thought I do too. I hand my empty paper to the boy in front of me and sigh with relief, but I'm still shaking. Charon collects all the papers just as the bell rings, signaling the school day is over. As people get up to go home Charon says " Don't forget about the reaping tomorrow! And May the odds be ever in your favor!". I roll my eyes again, how could we forget?

I guess I should tell you about myself, my name is Odette Bloodwell and I am sixteen years old. Im nothing like anyone here in District Twelve. Besides the mayor, my family is one of the richest families in the district. I'm not exactly sure what my parents do, but it must earn us a lot of money. I also dont look like anyone else, at all. While most people here have tall, strong builds, I'm only 5'4 and very petite. While most people here have tan skin and dark hair, I'm super pale and my hair is so blonde its almost white. I got made fun of alot for my hair, while the adults would look at it and say " How stunning!" the children would point and laugh.

Walking home from school, I run my hand across the cold metal and what should be electrified but never is fence. I longingly gaze at the forest beyond it and how it seems to go on forever. " It would be so cool... just for a bit, to see what the forest was like, to escape this world, just for a bit." I know some kids who do go beyond the fence, to hunt for their meals. I pity them, I really do, but at least they have friends, and family that's close. So what if I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day? My stomach may be full, but my heart is an empty wasteland. My parents are almost never home. They leave early in the morning, So I eat breakfast alone. Apparently because I have money I must be stuck up, therefore I have no friends and nobody sits with me at lunch.

I walk up the steps to our house and walk inside. "...Hello?", No answer. Oh, did I mention I usually eat dinner alone too? Id rather be unsure of my next meal, and have friends and close family, than... live the life i'm living now. I sit alone as I eat and sulk up to bed. My parents will be home tomorrow, of course it has to be the worst day of the year. I flop on my bed and before I drift off one more thought crosses my mind "...Tomorrow will be interesting"

"Ew, why am I up so early?" I think. Its 6:00 AM, the reaping isn't until 10:00. Trudging downstairs, PLOT TWIST...Just kidding, nobody's home. Sighing I pull some random fruit out of the fridge and without even looking, bite into it. An explosion of sour floods my mouth and the flavor numbs my taste buds. Heaving I realize I bit out of a lemon, yuck. Carefully pulling out an apple I try again. As I sit all alone, a thought crosses my mind. There is always something I wanted to do... I look at the clock, 6:15, perfect. I quickly run upstairs to change into the most earthy thing I could find, which isnt much.. ( Oh by the way I make the outfits on Polyvore, I will try to post links on my profile but if all else fails, My profile name is Phoenixrider). I head out the door in the direction of the fence.

It's reasonably warm out for mid October. The sun is starting to rise, "Maybe ill just catch the sun rise!". Finally reaching the fence, I take a deep breath and climb through the loose part. It feels odd, looking at everything on the other side of the fence, turning around I stop in my tracks. The golden sun is rising over the orange cream sickle colored sky. As if the sky was freshly painted in beautiful ,faint strokes. The clouds are dark pink, almost violet, and mixed with the crimson red, bright yellow and faint orange leaves of the trees, it's a glorious symphony of color that takes my breath away. Before I can stop myself I whisper "Wow". I allow the tears to just flow. "I wish i could just stand here forever". Suddenly my mind snaps back and I realize the danger im in. "What im doing is dangerous, illegal , punishable by death, and here I am standing out in the open! I must be more careful!" I quickly make my way into the forest.

Its like another planet under the tress. So different from what im always used to. Its sensory overload. So many sounds, the birds singing their melodies, squirrels scurrying up the trees, crunching of the leaves as I walk along. Leaves are constantly falling off the trees, making it rain vibrant color, painting the earth around me. Before I can be stopped, I start to laugh. " This is wonderful!". My heart is content here.

I extend my hand to catch I falling leaf, it gently lands, only the size of my palm. The fragile leaf is deep crimson and bright yellow. I put it in my hair, behind my ear. Leaning against an old oak, my hand softly rests against the old,textured bark. If this tree could talk, it would be very wise, have many stories, many wise words...closing my eyes I take a deep breath in. Suddenly, the distinct sound of a branch snapping, Crack! My eyes fly open as I become alert to my surroundings. About thirty feet in front of me is a tall human figure facing the other direction. I can't clearly make out his features, only that its a man. Holding my breath, backing away slowly " I just need to calmly back away and..."

RIINNG! The bells of the justice building ring, reminding the district the reaping is only an hour away. "Shit! 9:00 already?!". The sound of branches snapping gets closer behind me, as I realize he heard it too. As he starts sprinting towards me, I take off. My brain screams at my legs to run faster. The world is a blur around me. Finally I'm out of the woods. The fence only thirty feet away...Twenty feet...Ten feet...five... Panicking, I quickly struggle to get through the fence. Once I'm through, I turn for one last look. The man is just standing there...Watching...

Barreling through the door, I turn to lock it and slump of the floor. My heart is thundering in my ears. Finally after a minute, I stand up, to see my parents concerned faces. "Where on earth where you young lady?! We were worried sick! and only half an hour..." "Sorry mom! I just went for a jog and I'm going upstairs to change!" I say before Dashing upstairs without another word.

The dress my mother laid out for me is beautiful. A soft green dress with light pink accents (this one is on polyvore) pink flats with my grandmothers jewelry. Looking in the mirror I realize the leaf is still in my hair. Laughing, the leaf is placed on my bedside table. "May I come in?" my mother says. Giving permission, my mother enters and places her hand over her mouth, "you look..so beautiful." she walks over to braid my hair in a updo. When she's done, the last bell rings out, telling us its time.

We walk with a grievous silence, as if we are going to a funeral. Well, we pretty much are. In the twenty-five years of the hunger games we have had no victors. Being picked as tribute in district Twelve is basically a death sentence.

When we arrive to the ginormous, but dull Justice Building, we all line up. Once they have accounted for me, I'm herded with other kids my age like sheep into a big crowd. After a bit, Charon and some other important people walk on stage. "Welcome, welcome! Happy Hunger Games! Before we get started we have a special message, sent all the way from the Capitol!" He steps away from the microphone and a very handsome man appears on the screen. Tall and very well-built, his black hair slicked back, with just a bit of stubble. If it were anyone else, I would probably be drooling, but this man is a monster, he's the reason we are all here, President Snow.

He gives a brief speech on the war that led to the hunger games, and how "courageous" we are for sacrificing ourselves for our country, as if we choose too. He finishes his speech with that dumb saying. "May the odds be ever in your favor". The screen goes black and Charon sprightly steps back up to the microphone. "All right boys and girls! Nows the time we've all been waiting for!" "Yeah, waiting to get over with." i think to myself. " Its time to reveal the Boy and Girl tributes that YOU voted for! Cross your finger everybody!" The emotionless mayor steps up holding a silver tray with one blue and one pink envelope on it. "Laddies first!" He delicately picks up the envelope and starts to open it. I have no reason to be nervous,not for me anyway. I pity the poor people who get picked. I close my eyes

Time slows down as he unfolds the paper, and reads the name,

My name.

Please review if you like it! If not, tell me what I should fix. Im open to any criticism. Anything I can do to be better! :)

As I said before, I have Polyvore account with some of the outfits she will be wearing. I ill try my best to get them on my profile but if not, my account name is Phoenixrider66.