It started out as a normal summers day. The sun was high in the sky, it's rays keeping us warm. The lake was calm, gently lapping at the sandy beach. Children's laughter bubbled across the distance of the lake. It was a normal summers day.
We had come to the family cabin at the lake for the long weekend. Days we planned to spend having barbeques, and swimming in the lake. Today was the first day we brought the boat out of the boating house, all of us wanting to spend the day tubing and speeding over the waves further out.
My step father was behind the boats wheel, zooming over the bumpy waters, looking back at us young ones, laughing in merriment. It all changed in a split second. Funny how your life can completely alter in a seconds notice. One second you can be laughing, adrenaline flowing through your veins as you scream in laughter, the next, your screams turn to fight.
The tube somehow got pulled under water, turning it into an anchor of sorts. The tube, that normally weighed next to nothing, was suddenly what caused the boat to jerk back and bring its back end into the water. I heard shrieks above the waters surface. I had tried to pull away from the tube to swim to the surface and found myself attached to the sinking tube. My life jacket, the thing that was supposed to save me in these types of situations, was what was endangering me right now.
My fingers hurriedly fumbled with the buckles, my movements clumsy. My ears were ringing and my chest burning. I gave a few hard tugs, my vision darkening around the edges fast. My movements turned sluggish as my world went dark.
Today started as a normal day for Cecil. He had woke up before the sun rose, gave his slumbering wife a kiss before he went downstairs for a quick breakfast. He went to the docks were men were already getting the boats ready for the days voyage. It wasn't long before he and some other men had set sail to throw their nets to catch some fish.
She had seemed to appear out of nowhere. He had been helping reel in the net when he spotted her. She had been floating on her back, and he hadn't thought twice about what he did next. He dove off the boat, the other men yelling in alarm as he swam towards her drifting form.
As soon as he reached her he immediately checked for a pulse, signing in relief when he found it beating beneath her flesh strongly. He began pulling her back towards the boat. "She's unconscious!" He announced as he reached the boats side, the other men reaching down to help pull her in.
They laid her down before taking a few steps back, all just studying her prone state. She wore an obnoxiously orange life jacket over her purple floral print bikini. The men shifted slightly in embarrassment at her unclothed state. Her long brunette hair clung to her body in ropes. It would have surly been uncomfortable had she been awake.
"Do any of you recognize her?" One of the men asked.
"No, I don't think I've seen her around the district." Another stated, the others murmuring in agreement.
Cecil ran a hand through his hair. He let it fall to his lap with a sigh. "I'll take her home. And will find out who she is. Find out what to do from there. She may be from one of the other districts"
"You know how unlikely that is." One of the men whispered.
"But not impossible." Cecil retorted.
He looked back to the young girl. She couldn't be more than eighteen, if that. A child. He wanted to know why this child had been in the middle of the ocean, unconscious and barely clothed. He just hoped her story wasn't too traumatic.
The first thing I noticed upon waking up was how stuffy my nose was. I felt so congested. I groaned as my eyes opened, my vision taking awhile to focus. I immediately knew I wasn't anywhere I recognized. I sit up and instantly regretted that decision. My head spun, my stomach churning as a result.
I slowly shifted to my right, and carefully planted my feet on the wooden floor. The wall had a clock framed with seashells. It was a little past noon. I turned to the window, and just saw the clear blue sky. I slowly stood up, and staggered to the window. I caught myself on the windowsill gasping. This room had a beautiful view of the ocean. The ocean had dozens of boats dotting the horizon. I heard the squawking of seagulls but paid them no mind, keeping my eyes on the ocean and the surrounding beach. Families played in the sand. Couples splashed each other with water. It was an endearing sight.
Endearing sight it may be, but it didn't completely distract me from my current predicament. The fact I had no freaking idea where I was. The last thing I remember was the tubing accident, resulting in my imminent demise. That seemed to not have happened since I'm still very much alive.
"Oh, good! You're finally awake!" A tinkling voice startled me from my thoughts. I jerked, quickly looking over my shoulder. The voice belonged to a woman with a young toddler attached to her hip. She was smiling softly as she hefted the boy higher up her hip.
"Uhm," I whimpered.
"My names Gin, and my little one is Alesso. My husband, Cecil, discovered you unconscious out at sea. He brought you back a few days ago. It seemed you caught a cold and developed a fever. We've been taking care of you." Gin cooed.
I nodded before clearing my throat, "Thank you," I rasped. It seemed my voice was shot.
Gin smiled a tad wider before gesturing me to the bed. She sat down beside me. "What's your name? My husband has asked if anyone is missing a daughter and no one has said anything yet, but maybe if we knew your name we would have better luck."
"Mairin Murphy."
Gin brows furrowed. "Murphy doesn't sound familiar. Are you from district four?"
Excuse me?
"District four?" I squeak. What in the fiery blazes of hell was this woman talking about?
Gin tiled her head slightly, a crooked and slightly confused smile on her lips. "Yes. District four. The fishing district? Or are your from a different district? Three maybe? Well actually, with what you were wearing maybe you are from the Capitol? Is that the fashion there? But how did you get here?" Gin chattered away.
Air whooshed from my lungs. District three? The Capitol? All of this was familiar...but in a FICTIONAL WORLD! There is no way this is real. I must be in some pre-death hallucination. That's the only logical explanation for this. There's absolutely no way I was in The Hunger Games right now. Nope. None.
I may be a fan of the series, but that didn't mean I had actually wanted to live here! Panem sucked pre-revolution. True, I could have fallen into a district that was worse off, but with the Hunger Games, I just wasn't down. I had no idea what to do, or what to say!
"I-I...I don't remember...I-" I stuttered. So it seemed I was going the cliché, "I have amnesia, help me!" route...
Gin gasped before reaching out with her hand, petting my hair. "I'm so sorry! We will find a way to help you. I was callous. I apologize."
I shook my head. "I'm fine. Just in shock." And it was the truth.
To Be Continued...
I wasn't planning on starting a new series. I barely have time to write these days, and already have a few open stories of different fandoms on the go. LOL . But inspiration would not leave me!
And the part with the boat? Yeah, that's actually possible. Don't ask me how, but it is. Because I experienced it first hand. I went with a friend one long weekend, and we were all tubing. I had actually been on the boat as my friend and her cousin shared the tube. It was a little scary. I doubt it happens often to people who go tubing. It was just a freak accident.
I don't know what my upload schedule will be. There's only one computer, two people who need it. So when I actually can use it, I use it wisely. And for Sims. Because it's The Sims! hahaha! I'll try to spare more time for it. I'm sure I can. When there's a will, there's a way!
Until next time, stay gorgeous! (Five points for someone who can guess where that is from! I couldn't help myself :p)