A/N: This is supposed to be an Ryan and Marissa fanfiction but this first chapter does end up focusing mainly on Ryan. I've never been much into AU fanfics but I've gotten caught up in all the Hunger Games obsession and I just had an idea that needed to be put into words. For those not aware of the series, the book is set in Panem previously known as good old North America. There are 12 Districts and The Capitol where much of the governing body resides. A nation is in a state of oppression and several fractions of the 12 Districts are in poverty. Every year, 1 boy and 1 girl (aged 12-18) are randomly chosen as tributes for the Hunger Games however one can volunteer as tribute which is often the case in some of the slightly well-of districts such as 1 and 2. The 24 tributes must then fight to death, the purpose of the games is to remind the districts of the suffering caused by uprisings in the past. That's the basic premise of The Hunger Games but chances this fic will be a lot more enjoyable for those who are already fans of the series. I shall be very grateful to anyone who gives this a go and leaves a comment. This is my first ever go at writing a fanfiction so I could really do with some feedback. Secondly I have no idea if there is an audience for this in the OC/RM fanfic reading world so if people were to leave a review it would be incredibly helpful indication for whether I should continue with this. Anyway, that's all I have to say, sorry it was so long. Please do read and review!
Ryan Atwood is just a boy from the Seam, just like so many in District 12. He hasn't had an easy life but nor has anyone in the seam. He doesn't pity himself, he just focuses on the present, on surviving in this terrible world where starvation could grip you any second. The years of hunger, the pressures of looking after his family and the tensions of survival have taken its toll on the 18 year old, wearing down his boyish face. As he stands in the town centre amongst the masses of kids waiting to be reaped, he spots the faces who have been part of his bleak life; some bring back brief memories of joy but most only cause anguish.
In the outskirts of the crowd he sees his mother huddled against his big brother, Trey. He loves them but he can't help looking at them without feelings pangs of resentment. His mother was supposed to look after them after their father disappeared and Trey was supposed to look after him when his mother failed.
He can't remember him or he doesn't want remember him. Sometimes he had vague recollections of a man who used to beat his wife and his kids. He doesn't ever try to search the reasons behind his disappearance because that will only cause more those bitter memories to surface. He hates him for how he broke their family and robbed him of the little chance he had a happy childhood. Then his anger turns to his mother who in the aftermath of her husband's disappearance, only cared to find herself her next drink, neglecting her kids in the process. During that time he remembers the moments when him and Trey were a team working together, hunting in the woods to feed themselves. But when his mother seemed to get better, Trey began to grow more distant. Once he was 18, he started working the coal mines and the money he earned ended up fueling his own drug habit. It was left to Ryan alone to look after himself and his mother.
Ryan kept scanning the crowds until he spotted Seth Cohen, the dark haired, wiry boy who in some ways had been more of brother to Ryan than Trey ever had been. Seth had always been a target for bullies. It was pathetic since almost all the boys were twice his size and about 3 or 4 years ago, when the violence kept escalating, Ryan finally intervened. Ryan hadn't expected a friendship to form but the next day Seth sheepishly sat down next to Ryan at lunch and when Ryan didn't turn him away, Seth kept doing it. Over time, although Ryan preferred to keep to himself, he soon came to like Seth as more time passed, he also got to know his family.
Ryan couldn't begin describe his debt to Sandy and Kirsten Cohen. When both Trey and his mother appeared to disappoint him, they really treated his as one of their own, making sure he didn't go starved. They were a little better off than his family but still not so much. Kirsten came from a wealthy family but when she went against her parent's wishes and married Sandy, a mere commoner, they cut her off with only little to spare. The little made a difference along with Sandy's income but about 3 months, the accident in one of the coal mines ended up leaving Sandy bedridden and unable to work. Seth was no good at hunting, maybe so Ryan took it upon himself to hunt not only for their family, but for theirs too. It was only fair when he considered how they had treated him.
Ryan was only broken from his reverie when the voice of the lady from the Capitol boomed through the speakers announcing the beginning of the reaping. Girls were picked first - delaying Ryan's panic for a few more minutes. He watched the hand enter the bowl of names, fishing through them until a piece of paper was gripped by those immaculately manicured fingers.
"Theresa Diaz" the speaker boomed. Theresa. He knew her. They had been friends once, more than friends some might say. She had grown up with him in the Seam, there was even a time when they hunted together in the woods but once Ryan became friends with Seth, the friendship suddenly fell apart. She thought Seth wasn't like them, not part of their world. She didn't approve. Sometimes he saw her in the woods as she hunted for her own family but Ryan never said anything, he didn't think they were friends anymore.
Seeing Theresa being picked had shocked him at first but now that male tribute was about to be picked, the shock was replaced with tension. He clenched his fist, fearing his name would be called out. Life was hard but he didn't want to die, besides there were others whose life depended on him. His mother. The Cohens. And maybe even Trey; he worried how far me might go without him keeping an eye out for him. Little tremors went up and down his arm as the fear gnawed on his senses.
The speaker boomed again: "Seth Cohen". Ryan didn't feel relieved, if anything he felt worse. Seth could never survive, this was the boy who fell over while trying to gather some simple herbs in the woods. He would die on the first day in the arena. Ryan turned his head to see Kirsten's face tied in knots of agony barely holding back the flood of tears waiting to burst out. She knew it too, Seth was sure to die. Ryan couldn't let him die, he couldn't watch the Cohen slowly crumble apart and before he knew it, the words had escaped his mouth,
"I volunteer as tribute".
The Cohens had become his family in many ways and he owed them so much, this was his way of clearing his debt. He saw his mother's face, a stark white and Trey's too. Maybe if he survived, this could be the thing to make them into a family again. If he didn't, maybe Trey would finally learn to be responsible. Seth might learn to be a man. Or everything really might just fall part. But if Seth was the one to die in the arena, he knew Kirsten would eventually fall apart, perhaps go insane. Sandy in his poor state wouldn't be of much support. Ryan couldn't watch that and not break down himself. He would still be able to help out his own mother but she was doing better nowadays and there were times where he really began to think she might just survive without him. And Trey...if he died from the drugs, it would have really just been his own doing, Ryan could have had little effect on that matter.
Ryan quickly accepted his fate as he got up on the stage, unnervingly calm. He saw a brief sigh of relief flash across Kirsten's face, Seth looked visibly less anxious though terribly guilt ridden. This is what he had to do, Ryan felt sure. He had to save Seth. He has to hope he can save himself to and when turns to look at his fellow tribute, the chilling realisation sinks in. He has to kill Theresa and 22 other boys and girls. He is sparring with his emotions as it is but now he must never let them surface. He can't let himself feel because if he did, he doesn't know if he could kill a single person in the arena.
When his family and friends come to visit, he gives himself the luxury of letting his emotions show for a few seconds. He tells his mother he loves her and he lets her comfort because it's the first time in a long time, and it might be the only time now, that he gets to feel like boy. When Trey comes to say goodbye, Ryan finally confronts him and tells him to grow up. He's not sure but he senses that Trey might actually try to change. Kirsten comes and is filled with gracious "thank you"s and a vow to look after his mother. Seth's the last to come. He wants to say so much, thank Ryan for what he's doing, ask him why he's doing it but he can barely look Ryan in the face. He might be the reason the boy in front of him dies, but he knows Ryan deserves his goodbye...he deserves so much more. Seth tries to speak but surprisingly for the boy who can never stop talking, his mouth seems to run dry so, the best he can manage is an awkward hug. Ryan's surprised by the embrace but he accepts it. Just as Seth leaves, he turns to stutter,
"You can do it, you can win Ryan. You're the bravest person I know...you can do it."
The little sentiment fills him with a burst of confidence. He's going to try, he's not going to stand by and let the Capitol tear him apart. When he gets on the train to the Capitol, he remembers his previous resolution - no feelings. He isolates himself, he ignores Theresa's existence, he forgets any friendship they ever had. He sits down to look at footage of the other tributes being picked. He watches each face with cold eyes as he tries to turn his anger at the Capitol into hatred against each face. For the most part, he manages well to keep himself detached from the other tributes until...he sees her. The girl from District 1. Her golden blonde hair glimmers against the dim sunlight, flowing in the breeze and occasionally covering her topaz eyes so she has to push the strand behind her ear. She carries herself with grace and a quite confidence as she smiles faintly to the crowds. She is beautiful in every sense of the word. Her name is Marissa Cooper; she is the girl Ryan Atwood seems incapable of forgetting as he tries to go to sleep that night.
Thank you for reading!