Full Summary: Should I have seen it coming? Probably. Was I expecting to be chosen? Not really. Did I want to be the last one standing? Not in this life. Tayma is a girl from District 12 specially picked for the 77th Hunger Games. She accepted being reaped, but she definitely didn't want to win, not with her current life. For all she knew, this could be the year she says goodbye.
Hiya! This time, I promise to finish this story(unlike all my others -_-) for my RL friends. I hope you enjoy~
Chapter 1: District 1
Hanja Flicker eagerly tapped the microphone while the camera crews got set up. The mayor has made the announcement for everyone to gather in the square. As the thin streams of people gradually became rivers flowing through the streets, one fifteen year old, Maple, anxiously paced around her house, waiting for her mother and father to pick up the pace.
"Mom, Dad, hurry up! I want to volunteer for this year's Hunger Games!" she screamed, her bleach blonde hair swaying by her pale face as she whipped around to face the halls.
"We're on our way, Maple. If you really want to, go on to the square without us!" said girl's father yelled back.
Without a moment to spare, Maple rushed out the door and slammed the door shut so hard that the entire house shook a little. I can't wait for this year, she thought. I've had my amount of training, I know I can win this! Running into the square, Maple followed the flow of people until she stepped into line with all the others that had to get a fingerprint check. Her purple silk shirt and skirt clinging to her with sweat from running, she obediently laid out a finger. Blinking from the slight sting from the injection, the blonde received permission to go to her appropriate line, which she did. Looking around at her fellow fifteen year olds, she noticed that there were many people with their eyes slightly lit up. Maple smiled at this and nodded her head when she saw her parents in the crowd.
"Attention, attention everybody!" Hanja screamed. The people of District 1 didn't listen and kept whispering and murmuring to each other. Hanja flinched and forced another smile and called out even louder, "May I have your attention, please?" And that got everyone's attention with their ears ringing. After the usual history of how the Hunger Games were formed and how District 13 was obliterated, Hanja proceeded to turn and reach a hand into the female's reaping bowl. "Ladies first!" she said. Dramatically fumbling with the tiny envelope, Hanja poised it in front of her microphone and announced the female tribute.
"Shine Heatstone!"
Everyone turned to face said girl, who stepped up in front of everyone else that was lined up. She was skinny, with blonde, almost ginger, hair that reached her waist and fiery amber eyes. Unlike most children and teens here, this girl looked almost scared to be chosen to participate this year. Hanja nodded as Shine walked up onto the stage, lifting up her dress as she did so.
"Now, would anyone like to volunteer in place of Shine?" Hanja asked, and was answered with plenty of people ready to take the younger tribute's place. Maple rolled her eyes and began shouting with the rest of the girls, "I volunteer!"
Hanja scanned the mass of wanna-be female tributes, looking for just the right girl. Hanja stopped looking on a certain blonde and smiled. "All right then, Maple Shimmerlight will be taking the place of Shine Heatstone!"
The latter quietly shouted "Yes" and forced herself to slowly walk up the steps to the stage, giving a quick nod at Shine, who flashed a grateful smile.
Hanja then turned once more and this time, reached one overly manicured hand in the male's reaping bowl. Swirling her hand around in the bin, occasionally picking up an envelope then dropping it back in, the woman finally decided on one slip and faced the eagerly waiting crowd.
"Marble Thorndusk!"
The rest of the district turned around again, this time facing the slender boy stepping out from the thirteen year old line. He was lanky, that's for sure. He had dirty blonde, messy hair and bright blue eyes shining with excitement; apparently he had been training too.
Hanja walked the rest of the way to Marble and grabbed his hand and went back to the stage, where she grabbed Maple's. She raised both teens' hands in the air and into the microphone, said, "Your District 1 77th annual Hunger Games tributes!"
The district roared with applause.
"Honey, remember what you've learned in training. You know you can trust your prep team to help you make a good impression. You know you can trust your partner to help you," Maple's mother reminded, holding her daughter by the shoulders.
Of course I will, I might be able to trust that prep team, and I'm not relying on my partner, Maple thought, absent-mindedly nodding at her mother's words. "Mom, I have to go. Marble's waiting for me and the train is coming soon!" she protested, softly stomping her feet on the plush carpet.
"I know, dear. Just remember to follow your instinct, okay?"
Maple's only reply was a nod before she ran out of the house once more, possibly her last time.
Later that night (the reaping was in the late afternoon), Maple turned to Marble, slightly jumping as the speeding train ran over a bump in the tracks. "So, how many times was your name put in the reaping bowl?" she asked, hoping to start some sort of interaction.
Marble widened his eyes, as though only just noticing Maple's presence beside him. "Um…this would be my second time, my first when I was twelve- obviously," he replied, his eyes expressionless. "How about you?" he quickly added at the end.
"Same," Maple nodded.
There were a few moments of both awkward and tense silence before Hanja opened the door to their car with her ever-present smile. "Dinner's ready two cars down if you're feeling hungry!" she trilled, walking across the car and crossing out of sight.
Marble spoke first. "You hungry?" he asked; speed walking towards the door Hanja had exited from.
Maple glanced down at her stomach, which was rumbling so loud that she was sure Marble heard it. She then remembered that she hadn't eaten breakfast that day; or lunch for that matter due to her hope for being chosen to compete. "…Yeah, I'm pretty hungry," she replied, softly smiling as she turned around. "Come on!" she grabbed Marble's wrist and dragged him out the car door.
Maple took a quick look, surveying what the Capitol ate at this time. There were plenty of options to choose from; including some foods that she remembered eating back in District 1 (A.N. …That I'm too lazy to list XD). She had some manners though, and pulled her chair in when she sat down next to Hanja. She laid an unfolded napkin across her lap, much to Hanja's approval. As they ate, Hanja spoke up. "So," she began. "What do you two think the Capitol will be like? I'm just asking to see what you think," she asked.
Marble thought over it for a second, while Maple jumped at Marble's hesitation. "I think the Capitol will be very similar to District 1. It'll be fancy, but basic."
At Hanja's nod, Marble voiced his opinion. "I was thinking what Maple was; except I also think that the people there go overboard with their looks, from what I've heard before."
Hanja blinked. "Well, surprisingly, you two have the basic description of the Capitol down. Have past victors told you about that?"
The two tributes nodded in response.
"What do you know? It seems we're already nearing the City Circle!" Hanja spoke, gesturing out the window to the dozens of people swarming around the high window. "Now, once we get off, you'll be meeting your prep teams; one for each of you. Have faith in them and they'll have faith in you," were the older woman's parting words before ushering them into a large building where they'll meet the two Capitol-bred teams that would make their first impressions.
What do you think? I couldn't resist putting in the part with Maple and her mom...next chapter, District 2!
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