71st Annual Hunger Games
This is the story of how Johanna Mason became the victor of her hunger games.
Note: Andreev is pronounced On-dray-If.
I walk along the usual path to get to the east side of the forest near the mountains. It's still two hours before the sun sets. I dig up the box underneath my usual tree with my name and Andreev's carved into it. Well, technically this is a tree that belongs only to District 7 but it was some kind of joke we had when I turned 16 last year. Today is my 17th birthday and like every other day, I dig up the box with my axe and knives and begin to practice throwing. Lumber is my district's industry so even children are capable of using axes without killing themselves, but my hits are very precise and accurate. Thanks to training everyday after school for self defence, occasionally an animal can come and attack you in this district when you're chopping wood. I go up mountains to gather wild berries for my family so it is essential. Occasionally, I hit the nearby rabbits to make a good soup for the night. I keep myself busy for another hour and score two rabbits that I hide in my bag. Without warning, he appears behind me and whispers, "very inattentive today, Mason?"
I startle and Andreev laughs as I glare him down. There is nothing I'd rather do but to spend this special day with the person who is the most important to me. Andreev Wagner and his family were my neighbours ever since I can remember. We were always friends but we got into many, many nasty fights. It was not until I was 15 he had any interest in me. He was always just a big brother to me but he eventually turned into something more. We were together as a couple before us and the rest of the town even realized it. He just turned 19 three months ago, being in the industry officially full time for the first year is always the easiest but as lumberjacks get older, the jobs given to them become more and more risky. We don't get to see each other as much but he tries his best to spend at least two days a week with me.
I put the box back into the hole and bury it again. If the Peacekeepers knew we had weapons here… I stand up and he holds my hands. I feel a hard object crash between our palms.
"What's that?" I ask, examining the small box.
"Open it," he says casually.
The most unrealistic object just appeared in front of my eyes. A ruby necklace passed on for many generations in his family. Our district is very traditional about the family necklace passed on to the wife of the eldest son. Even the most starving families would never even think about selling it. This could only symbolise one thing. Marriage.
"I know what you're thinking. You're just 17, but next year we can go to the Justice Building, sign up for a house, and have our own family… This is like a … heads up… or engagement or something... Well, uh, will you wear it?" He says.
My heart stops for a moment and my instinctive reaction is to jump into his arms and let the tears come down. This is unreal. It's hard to believe it but I've never thought about marrying him before. We are lovers, and it's no secret but marriage? I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with him and I would give up everything to keep him.
"I will. Thanks. This is the best birthday present I've gotten so far," I say calmly.
He puts on the necklace on me and we sit under our tree together until it is completely dark, holding hands. We talk about things ranged from our future to the milk man's cat. He also made a fire so we can roast the rabbits and chestnuts we found. Since it's my birthday, I ate all the rabbit legs and filled myself with chestnuts and berries until I can't eat anymore. Finally, we make our way back to our part of town eventually and he walks me to the door and kissed me on lips.
"I'll see you at the reaping in the morning," he says.
"Bye," I say as I close the door and before I watch him slowly make his way to his home right next door.
"Johanna, wake up Johanna, the reaping starts in 3 hours," my brother's voice says.
"Five more minutes, Nole" I mumble in my sleep.
I don't wake until Nole wastes all his energy screaming, hitting things, making noises, and finally, singing that gets me awake. I clean my teeth and throw on one of my grandmother's old dresses. I join the rest of my family at the dinner table. My house is small but cozy. I sit and see that my father has made carrot bean soup for breakfast.
"Nole sung you awake?" he asks.
"As usual," I reply.
"How was your birthday last night with Andreev? You came home after your brother and I were fast asleep," he says, with a little fatherly concern in his voice. This is pretty rare since we never had a close relationship. I think it's because I remind him too much of mom, who died months after I was born from a disease that hit our district. The Capitol refused to send medicine until they knew it was very severe when almost a quarter of the population were dying. It was too late for my mother though. Those people with all that money… what do they care?
"It was not that late dad, and Andreev walked me to the door so it's perfectly safe," I say. Even if he didn't I wouldn't be scare, after years of learning combat fighting from Andreev has made me very strong.
"Just be careful, alright? And, good luck in the reaping," he says.
"Thanks," I reply. I only took tesserae once when I was twelve. That was the year when harvest was horrible and the food of price doubled. So coming to this reaping at age 17, I have 9 entries.
I enter the 17-year-old section in the town centre, where the reaping is held. Many people are suffering from anxiety right now, and as the time gets closer even my palms get a little sweaty. It's ok, Johanna. You only got 9 entries. I tell myself. I only have to last through this reaping and next year's reaping, and I won't be in danger of going into the games anymore.
As the mayor, the escort and the three victors are seated, the mayor talks about the history of Panem, reads the long Treaty of Treason, and District 7's escort Dobley Stewart reads out the name of the girl after taking it out of the bowl.
"Marla Edison," he says.
One of the victors walks towards Dobley and whispers. I think I know what this is about. Marla passed away a few weeks ago. I guess she's pretty lucky then, it's better to die at home where your family can be by your side and love you than to die a slow bloody death in front of the entire nation.
"Unfortunately, our system forgot to take away Marla Edison's name as she passed away. Don't worry. We'll pick another lucky girl!" he says and puts his hand inside the bowl and pick out another slip of paper.
"Johanna Mason," he reads.
So I guess I'm the lucky girl.