After Shock
Hunger Games
fanfiction
hatericeviolence
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Hunger Games. This is fiction.
Chapter 1: Hello. Reaper.
The years since the fall of the Capitol and President Snow were not what was expected. The rebellion thought they had changed everything but truly, nothing but the ruler changed. From the stories my father told me, things started to look up-that was until President Paylor was assassinated ten years ago. And for the past ten years, the biggest event of the year is the hunger games. No one can opt out. My father told us that the games are worse than when he was our age. Then, you were able to put your name in more so your family could receive a terrace. Now, you receive nothing extra. The chances of getting picked are slim because the districts have so many people but you still have a chance to die before you're nineteen. My father also told us that before the rebellion, people could volunteer to take your place. That is a rule I wish they still had.
The rules have greatly changed over the generations. From what I remember of the stories, some changes are good and others are terrible. The age you are eligible for the area is sixteen. In my father's time, it was twelve. This is the most welcome change. No one can volunteer for the child throw into battle whose ages range fifteen to eighteen. One a year the Reaping takes place. It's just as grim as it sounds. One boy and one girl are chosen to go die in the arena. Unlike before the rebellion, District 13 now has to sacrifice tributes and every five years, the Capitol must throw in two tributes of their own. For the Capitol, the rules are different. There is no age limit. The Capitol chooses their top solider. They even are provided the best weapons to begin with. Last time they joined the arena, twenty of the twenty-eight tributes died the first day. It was the fastest and bloodiest games in history. Ironically, both Capitol tributes were killed by a seventeen year old from District 13. He was our first and only victor.
Another change was sponsors and mentors. When the games were resurrected, the victors from previous games were mostly gone. This forced a new rule: for every district without a surviving victor, the tributes' parents were the mentors. It was scary for them. To be forced to decide your child's fate. Then to watch them die of starvation...that pain can never be fixed. The sponsors are a different story. Sponsors have changed dramatically. Districts can not sponsor their tributes but instead only the Major for the district can. Because of this change, a pot is set up for year long contributions. It's rare for the District to be able to give enough money to save the poor souls in the arena. The Capitol is allowed to bet on tributes. Once they bet, they can only gift that tribute once. Rarely do they ever sponsor a tribute.
The worse change that was instated was that if a family had two boys or two girls, the last born must be sent to another district at fourteen so that they have a chance to be in the arena and kill each other. This is what happened to me and my sister. My sister, Ambrosia, is in District 2 with our father. Our mother is here with me in District 13. She had to petition to move here and was only allowed to because of her medical background. That and she hasn't been the same since my brother died at the hands of the Capitol tribute five years ago. No one mentions him. I think we prefer to keep the nightmares away.
This year is my second year being eligible for the Reaping. This is the single scariest day of the year. In District 13, we get roped off into our sectors by age and inside that, by sex. We stand before the new Justice Building that is half under construction. Our Mayor is standing on the steps checking the podium. He hates this day as much as we do. Last year, his daughter was reaped and murdered. This is no ones's day. Standing with the Mayor is our only victor and our Capitol attendants.
Reece Thakur is twenty-two with hair the color of a sunset and with the heart of a lion. He is our only victor. Reece and I have a history. Upon reaching District 13, Reece took me and another girl into his home in Victors' Village until our housing unit was ready. Malasia was the girl from District 11 that, like me, was sadly the last born. Last year she was reaped. After the reaping last year, Reece took me in again. My mother tried to help me cope but the only person capable of helping was Reece.
Beside Reece are the Capitol attendants. There are only two and they are never the same. This year we have the attendants from District 4 from last year. I know these attendants. They were my brother's attendants when he was in the games. I automatically hate them. They couldn't save him. They prettied him up and sent him to die.
The mayor stepped forward and coughed. He's nervous. I would be to if I was sacrificing two innocent children. "Well, welcome District 13. Today is the day of Reaping. Let us choose our tributes from District 13," he turns to Reece.
Reece huffs and steps up. He hates this. Since he is our victor, he is the one to draw the names. He is the one that will train these victims and then watch them die. Inside of the orange bowl is the girls' names. My name is in there. My name and six hundred other girls. Reece sticks his hand into the bowl and pulls out a slip. Suddenly his face is pale. He doesn't even have to say it. My kegs go numb and I stumble forward as Reece whispers, "Ralee Hawthorn." Somewhere in the crowd, my mother screams. Reece jumps down the steps and grabs me before I fall over. My legs still refuse to work and I don't blame them.
"Congratulations, Ms. Hawthorn," the mayor says. The tone in his voice makes it obvious: none of us are pleased. The mayor waits and let's Reece grab hold of my hand before he taps the green bowl.
Reece keeps a tight squeeze on my hand and grabs a slip from the green bowl. He exhales roughly, "Giles Dang."
Giles Dang moves the others standing in the roped in area for the eighteen year old boys and comes forward. Giles could be helpful. His dark hair is shaved down. He is clearly a member of District 13's army. He walks with ease up to me and grasps my free hand. His hands are tough and warm. He's not even nervous. I find myself suddenly jealous.
"Congratulations, Private Dang." So I was right. He is a soldier. The mayor wraps up quickly and we are all ushered inside the Justice Building and separated.
I am shoved into a room that is covered in plastic. I would get the incomplete room. I move a sheet of plastic off of the lush orange sofa and sit down. The door opens and Reece rushes in. "Reece, please take care of my mother!"
Reece wastes no time and picks me up into a huge hug. "Only if I let you die. You aren't going to die. I won't let you." He puts me back onto the ground and sits close next to me. "Listen, I didn't want you to be part of this but you are now. This year is different. This is the 85th Hunger Games. The Capitol is sending in people and this year we are taking down the Capitol. The rebellion is starting again."
I sit for a moment and try to let it sink in but it's hard. Rebellion, Capitol, Hunger Games. I shake my head. "How?"
"Befriend Districts 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 11. Their mentors are letting them know the plan. There's not much I can say other than just trust me."
"Of course I trust you. I'll do what you say but why tell me now?"
Reece gives his playful smile. "Because there are no cameras and after you leave here, there will always be a camera." I nod as there is a bang at the door. I grasp onto Reece and bury my head into his chest. I know my next visitor. It's my mother. I don't want to have to say goodbye. Reece brushed the hair out of my buried faced. "You will see me in twenty minutes. It'll be okay," he said prying me out of his chest. I tried to nod but instead forced myself to turn to steel. Reece kissed my forehead and walked out.
I waited for a moment before my mother stumbled in. Her face was red and puffy. I wasn't ready for this. "Mom, don't worry. Reece has a plan. I'll be back."
My mother lifted her head fell into my arms. "Ambrosia was reaped."
Suddenly I understood. My sister and me both are being sent to our death. The same year. At least she's in District 2. She will know the plan. And I'll have an ally. "Don't worry. We will make it out alive. I promise." My mother just nodded and held onto me for the next twenty minutes before the mayor came in to collect me.
-Fin Chapter 1-
Author's Note: This is not an open story like many HG stories. This is open and shut and purely my own. I've recently found myself reading and rereading The Hunger Games series and since there will not be any more of the books, I'll just write what should come next. Review, please.
xoxo hrv