73rdHunger Games – the one before the star-crossed lovers

ONE – Freya Willow, 15 years old, District 7

My hands are bleeding, the handle of the axe breaking off and digging into the palm of my skin. The bell tolls and I swing the axe once more into the tree stump. While the rest of the workers start to leave I hang back waiting for Johan and Rowan.

Johan is my twin brother. We look identical in most ways. Both slim built but with quite broad shoulders, average height. We even have matching freckles on our face. The difference between us comes in our colouring. I'm a fiery red head with blue eyes and he is a golden blonde with green eyes. We even act the same – both adventurous, both mischievous but also hard-working, caring and protective.

Rowan on the other hand is our best friend and the polar opposite of us two. He's tall and muscular with shaved brown hair and brown eyes. He's quiet and the one trying to talk us out of our adventurous plans usually. Except for tonight. He's the one trying to rope us into his plans. I heard the crack of a twig and knew that they were trying to creep upon me. I tensed ready to pounce. The rustle of a branch gave their location away. I grabbed my axe and threw the axe head over end at their hiding place. There was a whistle in the air as it got closer. I heard the yelp of my brother and best friend as they dived sideways, and then the thud of the axe as it buried itself deep into the tree. I stood there smug as they crept out cowardly. I walked over to the tree and yanked my axe back out the tree. I followed the two of them as we carried our equipment back to the yard.

"So, this plan for the evening," Johan started cautiously. I rolled my eyes. Johan and I had discussed the pros and cons of the plan all night. I was still concerned, and Johan shared some of my concerns. "It's reaping in a week. There's increased peacekeepers. What if we get caught?"

Rowan put a finger to his lips as we handed over our lumber equipment. I smiled politely at Helena as she took my axe off me and handed me a bandage for my cuts. I stopped at the tap just outside of the lumber yard and ran my hands under it to get rid of the splinters before carefully bandaging my hand. The boys sat on the tins next to me as I bandaged. "Look, you've hit the nail on the head. It's reaping next week, and I don't know about you but if I go into the games I want to be at least a little prepared," Rowan whispered. I glanced up at Johan who shrugged. "And… well I just have a bad feeling that one of us going to end up getting reaped and I want to set us up with the best chance possible." I tied the knot in my bandage and then looked up at Rowan. For the first time ever, I saw pure terror in his eyes. He really believed one of us was in danger.

I sighed. "Fine. Meet at the edge of the Orchard at 9pm. We're in," I said speaking for both me and Johan. Rowan smiled at me and I saw the confidence boost he had. We said goodbye and parted ways.

Johan grabbed my hand and we walked down the road towards Victors Village. We were going to visit the only person who might just help us prep. The latest victor of District seven. Johanna Mason. Or as we knew her our cousin.

We stopped outside the door of her massive grey bricked house. I glanced at Johan as he reached out a hand to grasp the knocker of the door. He hit it three times. We heard footsteps and then silence. We held our breath. Cousin Johanna had a temper that we didn't want to get on the wrong side of. I heard it before Johan, the click of the lock. I pushed Johan down and jumped to the side as a knife was thrown through the open door as it was flung open. "Stop!" I shouted from the bush I was hiding behind. "Stop!" I heard no noise so poked my head over the bush to see Johanna stood on the doorstep fire burning in her eyes. She took one look at me and sighed.

"Well I suppose you two had better come in… and quickly before they find out," Johanna said. We snuck through the door into the spacious living area which she had painted pure white. She sat on the sofa and indicated that we should do the same. I perched on the edge as Johan leant back. "There had better be a good reason for you two to be here. You know if Snow finds out about you two you'll end up dead."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah as if we don't know that. The only reason we survived was because we had pre-warning and ran and hid. Look there is a reason. Rowan is getting stressed. Again. You know how he can tell when something bad is going to happen. Like he did when Snow came for our family. He thinks one of the three of us will end up in the games. He wants to practise in the woods. To get a bit of an advantage if he needs it, or we need it."

Johan leant forwards. "The fact he predicted Snow coming for us I'm not doubting him over this. And I agree. If any of us end up in the games, we are going to need a plan and better practise than you had. We can't use the same technique."

Johanna nodded slowly. "So, what do you need?" she asked.

"Whatever you have," Johan said.