Hi there!
This is my first Fanfic of anything so thank you to anyone who is reading it! I'm a little nervous of it! I found while I was re-reading the Hunger Games books that I was creating this character in my head and writing her story, so I decided to do this properly!
Please review or give any advice, seeing as I'm new I could probably use a lot!
I wake up to the familiar humming sound from the plant. Delightful. I look for some sign of the time, hoping my brother would be back soon.
I look at the makeshift calendar. Tomorrow. The reapings tomorrow. My least favourite day for the past six years. The day I could lose Isaac, my big brother and the only family I have. And I suppose, for the past two years, the day he could lose me too. Both our names are three times as likely to come out because both of us are in the tesserae. Not that he knows that of course. He'd never let me do it if he did. Instead I have to pretend his extra goodies get further than they do. I guess I'm rather devious.
We're all the other has, that's why he's so protective. I'd like to say from tomorrow I'll be able to sleep easy, but I can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen this time. Especially when so few from 5 have their names in more than once. We're just poor enough to have to. And anyway, he might be too old for it after tomorrow, but seeing as I'm only 14 I've got another 4 years left and I don't want to leave him behind. No, I can't leave him behind. He needs me. He'd like to think it's the other way around – and I do need him – but he needs me just as much. He thrives through looking after me, it's all he knows.
After mother died, father drank. A lot. I was so little, but I still remember Isaac shielding me from all the fists and bottles and profanities that were being thrown. I remember his bruises and cut eyebrows from where Dad's wiry wedding ring caught him.
And I remember the day when I was 6 and Isaac was 10. I was sick and Dad was home with me. He got fed up, and Isaac wasn't there to take my beating. I remember when he walked in from school calling me, and when I didn't come he followed the sound of my muffled whimpers. I remember the anger in his eyes when he saw me. I've never seen such anger. I remember him lunging at our father, screaming the words that were the only thing he'd taught us.
I remember watching our father walk away across the electric plant, and knowing I'd never seem him again. I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not. Of course it wasn't. How could it be? He beat my brother daily, and moved on to me. But when he was there, we had money. My brother would've had education. I got to go to school, but from the day my father left he got a job on the plantation, making just enough to keep us fed and clothed. We managed to keep the house, though it isn't really anything but an empty shell now. Just a place to keep us out of the bad weather.
If my father was here we wouldn't have to enter the tesserae. His money would've made sure of that. But when he went, so did his savings. And really it might not have lasted long with his alcoholism.
Isaac should be back soon, and yet I'm still in bed. I get up and wander to the kitchen, he'll be hungry when he gets back. Except he's already back.
"Hey there lazybones, you get this day to spend with me, not your bed remember!" He smiles at me and drinks from his cup. "Have a good sleep?"
"Yeah, fine. Why aren't you at work?" I give him the sternest look I can muster, causing him to snort into his cup.
"Done for the day. Thought I'd spend a little time with my little sis but she was still out of it."
"Did you get into another fight?" I'm not fooled easily
"What? I. Yeah. "
"Why?"
"This idiot, I think he used to be in your class? His name's Caleb. Well anyway, he was talking about you to me in a manner I did not appreciate."
"Caleb? Jeez Isaac his parents just died! He's just started there, did you hurt him?"
"Nah, I just gave him a warning. Sent us both home though." He mumbles sheepish " Did his parent's really just die?"
"Yes. He probably spoke to you thinking you'd understand how tough it is. His little sister's four you know. He's got it tough, just like you did." I stop, noticing the ashamed look Isaac's wearing, allowing him to charm me just like he does everyone else. "It's okay. I'll speak to him sometime today."
"Okay, Sorry."
"It's okay." I watch as Isaac crosses the kitchen to the sink. Caleb must've been terrified. You'd be hard pushed to find a person in the whole district who wouldn't if they came up against my brother. His tall, muscular frame would be enough to stop most men in their tracks. He's the perfect 5 worker – 6'4", 160lb – who could carry his weight in barrels for the plant. I'm nothing like him. At 5'7" and 115lb, I have this underfed look about me. I guess that's why I'm still going to school, the plant doesn't want me. I'd be lucky to lift half an empty barrel never mind a full one. And then I think of Caleb. He's not exactly plant material. He's maybe just 6', and then is pretty thin himself. But I guess he'll buff up. It's not like Isaac started out as the strong man, he was 10.
"How'd you know?" Isaac's question interrupts my thoughts. "That I was lying?"
"I just do. I can always tell with you."
"You're so smart. And I don't think that's because you went to school either."
"Thanks. But smart doesn't get far in five. Smart's for three."
"Well maybe you could get upgraded? Go to three. Make the electronics rather than the electricity?"
"Never gonna happen Isaac. No point in dreaming." I know where this conversation leads, and I don't want to go there. "I think I'll go see Caleb just now, get it out of the way."
"Okay, maybe I should come too. Apologize?"
"No. He would be petrified if you just showed up outside his home! I'll go alone."
Isaac nods and gives me another ashamed look as I leave the room and head off in the direction of Caleb's house.