Disclaimer- No copyright infringement inteded. Most of this will be my own writings, but certain characters, events, and places will belong Suzanne Collins.
Author's note- This is my story that I made up for my Panem October profile. I decided to make a FanFic out of it and see how far it goes. I would love comments and constructive critism. I hope to do more FanFic's in the future; so, any advice would be much appreciated. Here it goes-
Two weeks before the Reaping:
"Dad! I got a letter from Aunt Tracie!" I yell as I burst through the front door of our small home.
"What are you yelling about, Lilli?" he asks. I could tell he had just gotten home bacause he hadn't taken his work boots off yet. He works as a stonecutter here in District Two. He wants me to become his apprentice, but I don't know if I want to spend the rest of my life cutting up rocks. That just sounds dull to me.
He snatches the paper out of my hands playfully. "Aunt Tracie, you say?"
"Yes!" I respond reaching for the letter. He pulls it away too quickly for me to grab it.
"She says that she is bringing Sovite for a visit!" Sovite is my brother. He went with my Aunt and Uncle to live in District Three when he was ten. He always wanted to learn about electronics. So, when my uncle was transferred as a Peacekeeper to District Three, he asked if Sovite wanted to come along. It was really hard, but Dad hoped that it would give Sovite a better life than what we could. He also hoped that maybe Sovite would get a good education then prehaps be able to get a job here in District Two. That had always been his dream. We have not gotten to see him since he left us two years ago. That's why we were so ecstatic at the fact that he was coming home, if only for a few days.
"Aunt Tracie says that they will come after the Reaping, stay through The Hunger Games, then go home in time for the VIctory Tour. Uncle won't be able to come with them, but he was able to arrange the trip." I say breathlessly. I ran here all the way from the Mayor's office. Since Uncle is a Peacekeeper, he and Aunt are able to get word to us through the Mayor. We are all on good terms with the Mayor, so it works out well.
My dad collapses into his favorite chair, "I can't believe it," he says, "I get to see my son again."
My mother died in an accident when we were little. So it's just me and my dad here in District Two. I miss her all the time. She was my dad's world and I can tell he misses her too. I think that's why he is so overwhelmed by getting to see Sovite.
"Get back to training," he says with a worried tone. I stand there, confused. "Now Lilli!" He says getting more harsh. I understand now. He is about to cry, and doesn't want me to see him.
"Yes sir," I answer. "Bye Daddy! I love you!" I say giving him a big hug.
"Love you too Lil."
As I walk to the aiming range, all I can think about is Sovite. I wonder what he looks like, I think to myself, does his voice sound the same? Is his favorite color still red? Or is it some other color? I wonder how tall he is. How much has he grown these past two years? District Three isn't a Career district. Which means he hasn't been training...
Then it hits me, like a load of bricks, he is twelve this year. This is his first Reaping! Uncle is a Peacekeeper, so he won't get any tessera, but he still has a chance of going into the Games. I've been training since I was five for the Games. I don't plan on ever volunteering, but I still train just in case. Sovite hasn't had my training though. He hasn't had my experience! I don't know what to think. My mind just goes blank.
I must have looked like an idiot; standing in the middle of the road staring blankly at the rocks under my feet. My friend Scoria comes up and breaks my train of thought.
"Lilli Woods! What are you doing standing in the middle of the road? We are gonna be late for knife throwing practice!" Scoria is my best friend in the world. We have been in training together ever since we were little. We are both 16 and we both love knife throwing. Our only difference is that I was named after a delicate flower, my parents just changed the spelling. Whereas Scoria was named after a dark colored volcanic rock. Her name suits her though, she can have quite a temper somethimes.
"Scoria, this is Sovite's first Reaping," is all I have to say.
"I was waiting for you to realize that," she responds giving me a hug. "He will be okay Lil. Your uncle will take care of him. He only has one entry this year. We can talk later though. You know what will happed if we are late." Yes, I know what will happen. We will be punished. I start to run, leaving Scoria behind.
"Coming?" I yell back to her. If I show up to practice in tears, it will only make our instructor angry and the others see me as weak. Weak is something we can never be here in District Two. So, Scoria and I race to practice.