Ok guys this is my first story so don't hate! If people like this part I will keep on going!
The Truth That Burns
A small white dove gracefully flew above me, its wings painting an intricate pattern in the sky. It looked tired yet serene as it sliced through the air. All of a sudden the sky turned black and the dove flew in a frenzied, frightened motion. I tried to call out to the sweet little bird, but it was too late. It flopped down at my feet, dead.
I jerked awake, gasping for breath.
"Not again!" I mumbled as I rubbed my eyes, looking around at my surroundings. I had fallen asleep in my mother's room again. The room was huge with beautiful dressers and furniture scattered all around. It had a shiny coat of paint on the walls and the carpet was plush and soft. A dark shadow lurked in the doorway and quietly padded into the room.
"Why are you in here?" the voice said gruffly.
"Sorry, Dad! I guess I accidently fell asleep in here again."
"What did I tell you about coming in here?" My Father roared. "The person who used to occupy this room is a disgrace and you are not to be in here!" I sighed. My Dad doesn't even say "mother" anymore.
"I'm sorry Dad. I promise it won't happen again."
"It better not! Today is the reaping so I expect you to be up and dressed and ready by then!"
"Yes, Father" I mumbled. With that he spun on his heel and briskly walked out of the room. I got up and padded over to the window facing the district. I grimaced as I saw the muddy streets and dirty, starving children. Whenever I looked outside I felt ashamed of myself. That I had it so good while the rest of the district was suffering. If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm the mayor's daughter. My Father is super strict but I shouldn't complain. Some people in the district had unemployed Fathers. I would definitely prefer a father who is employed yet mean and cold-hearted to a father who is unemployed yet loving and caring. Right? Never mind that! Sage and Elana would be here any minute with my carton of fresh wild berries. I rushed down the stairs and sneaked past Dad's office. I quietly opened the side door and squeezed through it. I was greeted by a muscular boy with dirty blonde hair and an amazingly tall girl with jet black locks. The boy, Sage, held out a bag of berries silently. I took them and dug deep into my pockets for money. Elana, the girl, cleared her throat.
"So the reaping's today" She blurted.
"Yeah, I really hope you guys don't get picked." I responded. Elana smiled. She was always the nice one. Although, you couldn't let her kind outer-shell fool you. If you get on her bad side she's like a pack of hungry wolves about to feast. I finally found some coins and plunked them into Sages awaiting hands.
"At least some of us have an almost miniscule chance of getting reaped." He said demeaning. I turned a bright red, matching the berries in my hand. I didn't have to get tesserae, which is where you enter yourself more times in the hunger games and get food out of it. I wasn't starving like Sages and Elana's families were. Sage and Elana aren't siblings or boyfriend and girlfriend. They were just friends that hunted together.
"I told you guys, I want to help the district by giving out food but my Dad…"
"Save it!" Sage spat at me. As you can probably tell, Sage pretty much loathes me.
"So you need berries next Monday and Wednesday?" Elana interjected.
"Yes." I responded, relieved that the subject was changed.
"OK, see you at the reaping!"
"Wait!" I called.
"What," she said, annoyed " Sylvie, we really have to go…"
"I was wondering if you wanted one of my dresses."
"What!" She screamed. "I don't need any help! I have enough clothes! I'm not helpless!" That is what I meant by a pack of angry wolves.
"What I mean," I said calmly "Is that my Dad got me this dress that doesn't match my hair at all." I picked up a lock of my auburn hair. "But it would match your hair perfectly!"
"Oh, well if that's it, then I am doing you a favor!" I took the dress I had been hiding behind me and thrust it at her. She took it and started walking away. Sage paused a second and quickly nodded at me. I nodded back. We both understood Elana, you never mess with her pride. The only way to get her to take gifts would be to turn the situation around. I plastered a fake smile on my face and went inside to greet Dad.
I threw my hair back in a bun with braids on the side leading to it. I quickly shrugged into my pale lavender dress and popped purple gem earrings in my ear. I was going to be in so much trouble! I was late…again. This has happened for the past 3 years! I slipped on my white dress shoes and scampered down the stairs. I threw open the front door and slammed head-first into Dad. I swear that his eyes were red. I could practically imagine steam coming out of his ears. We stared at each other for a while until his bright red face motioned me to come with him. I knew that after the reaping I was going to get the talking of my life. I wasn't really worried for the reaping. Each year I lost sleep thinking about it and each year I never got picked. There was no way that my name would be reaped. No way.
I closed my eyes as they took the blood from my finger. I have never been good around blood. I heard a ping and the woman blandly said
" Sylvie Hendrix, Female, 15?" I nodded and she motioned to where the other fifteen year-old girls were. I sliced my way through the crowd until I was in the middle. I easily found Elana, with her height, and stood next to her. We smiled at each other. Even though she looked cool and calm I knew she was really worried. I turned my attention to the giant platform where the reaping would take place. It was eerily silent as a slide show came on showing how good the hunger games were for us. As usual I tuned it out. After that they introduced my dad, he said a boring speech, same old same old. Then then introduced our only victor, a woman in her mid-20's who looked like she dressed herself in the dark. She had two different colored socks on and had on a ripped yellow dress and pink, puffy tutu. When she got to the microphone she started screaming gibberish. There was only one word I could make out which was "Die!". Some peacekeepers came and escorted her away. It was like this every year.
"Next," I mumbled. " Is the amazing Byrd Forbes" Practically a second later my dad announced those very words. Byrd was from the capital and would help teach the tributes manners and stuff to do when in the capital. His bright yellow hair was gelled up in a sort of wave and the collar of his bright pink suit was elevated and higher than his hair. His face was covered in pounds of make-up and concealers. All in all he looked like a giant lollipop.
"Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!" He yelled. There was a pattering of claps here and there, most of which was by the peacemakers. "Let's get right down to it! How about we start with boys this time!" This surprised me, they usually do girls first. A peacemaker hurriedly stood up and whispered in Byrd's ear. He paled and walked up to the microphone. "Just kidding! Girls first, like usual!" For some reason an uneasy feeling caught in my stomach. I got mad at myself. There was no way my name could get picked. I was in there 4 times! Some people were in there more than forty! There was no way…
" Sylvie Hendrix!" What! Oh gosh. Oh gosh no! There was no way! The people around me had backed away leaving me in the middle of a big empty circle. Suddenly I felt my legs moving forward as I started toward the stage. "Don't worry! I won't bite!" Byrd tried to joke. This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening. I found myself facing the rest of the crowd, watching their petrified eyes on me. The mayors' children have never been picked before…ever. My mind was a mess of memories and laughs. My life was already flashing before my eyes. "Ok, let's go on to the boys!" Byrd yelled. I could barely breathe. This is just another nightmare. This can't be happening. I watched Byrd sink his hand into the bubble of names in the boys jar. I saw the name a split second before he said it. " Sage Langley!" No no no no! This couldn't get any worse. I watched Sage make his way up to the stage. He was 16, only a year older than me, yet he towered above me. I knew I was going to die in the first scene of the hunger games. Maybe I could ask him to do it quick and bloodless. That would be a major blessing. "Well, shake hands!" I stepped forward and gripped Sages hand. My hand looked like it belonged to a toddler compared to his. "Happy 45th Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" I only knew one thing as the peacemakers lead me away. The nightmare I had was real life. I was the dove and the darkness was whatever was waiting to kill me in the hunger games.
Ok again this is my first story! I love constructive criticism but try not to be too harsh! If people like this I will continue doing this!