She lay peacefully, in a world of anarchy and pain. The world was full of killers and monsters, hunger and cruelty, yet she knew to live each day in happiness, a rule in which she tried to abide to. Her wild black hair escaped the band it had been tied in, and flowed around her like a waterfall. Beside her, a skinny, ragged looking girl of about 14, with striking red hair, was sleeping quietly. The older girl sat up, and shook her hair away from her face, revealing blue eyes like chips of ice. She shook the red haired girl's shoulder, mumbling to her softly.
"Ember… Em! C'mon, get up!" she shook her friends shoulder again, then sighed and stood up, combing her fingers through her hair. She smiled wistfully, staring out through the trees that surrounded this small grassy clearing. A few rocks, just the right size and comfortable enough to sit on were on one side, and the light filtered through the trees above, casting a gentle, dappled light.
She came here to think often, or when she was lonely, she would always find Ember here. Ember. Her friend sat up, twigs and grass in her scarlet locks, and shook them free, but left it at that. Ember never cared much about her appearance. She was scared that if she looked pretty, she would be chosen for the games. If that was true, she though, then Kora would've gone a long time ago. Kora was her older sister, who, thankfully, was twenty, so no longer was entered in the reaping. She had been a stunner from a young age though, with black curls that achieved a sense of dignity and majestic beauty that hers never could, and huge green eyes with thick lashes. During a reaping, a few cameras decided to film her in the crowd rather than anyone else. Kora had been worried about that, so that's probably where Ember got the idea from. Ember stood up, and yawned, her light green eyes glinting in the light. She began to walk away, pausing to tease her friend over her shoulder. "Come on Circe! Don't be so slow!" Circe gave a mocked gasp of annoyance, and gave chase, outrunning her easily. She was the fastest girl in all of district 12. The fastest in all of Panem!
Ember caught her up at the fence, and they both wriggled under it, without getting snagged on the fraying wires. They got up quickly, and after a glance or two, began to walk away calmly, chatting about nothing in particular. Circe grinned. Days like this were fun; just walking with Ember, down to the town, talking. They walked through the streets, and waved at Jasmak, who was coming back from the mines, covered in soot. He waved back, tired but cheerful. Ember leaned towards Circe, and whispered cheekily "he and Kora would make such a great couple" Circe snorted, but thoughtfully agreed. They would make a great couple. She would mention it to her sister. Jasmak passed them, flicking his ruffled blond hair. They giggled, and that's when they reached the square.
"No…"
"No!"
They cried, frantic. Stupid! Stupid! The Reaping! Stupid! How could I forget it? I should be home with Sora and Kora! She looked at Ember sideways in despair. Ember looked silently back, but Circe saw a flash of panic in her eyes. She opened her mouth to talk, but found herself cut off mid breath as a familiar voice behind them spoke.
Ember jumped as though electrocuted, while Circe only turned her head a fraction, too deep in thought. A boy of seventeen, with windswept short blond hair and friendly blue eyes eyed her, half smiling.
"Hey" he said quietly, slipping his arm around both girls' shoulders. Ember snatched at his arm, as if her life depended on it, clinging on tight. She always got this worried every reaping, although they hadn't an idea why. Yeah, you might get chosen, but she had no family to worry about. No one she would have to go home to, and find missing, never to return, no one she would watch getting killed in the arena. Circe tilted her head, and surveyed her. Little was known about her, even to her friends. She was simply known as 'that orphan girl' by most people. Circe closed her eyes, and though about when she had first seen her. A skinny, dirty girl who was starving in the corner of the streets. She had offered her some bread, and ever since, they had bumped in to each other, then eventually got talking, and became firm friends.
Jackson sighed, and said in a forced bright voice "At least Jasmak's out of the reaping. One less person to worry about, hey?" Circe nodded, and held his hand lightly. "One more" Circe croaked her voice tight "Sora's first reaping." she broke off, and closed her eyes. He gave her hand a comforting squeeze. She looked up and met his eyes briefly, and gave a wan smile, then looked back down. Ember, apart from this, said very quietly "I have no one to worry about. I could volunteer, and only you two would miss me." Circe, pulled her into a hug, and murmured "I'd miss you enough for all of the people of Panem. She suddenly hissed angrily "I hate the games! I hate them!" Ember jumped back, and Jackson tugged on her arm slightly.
"Sorting time" he said gravely, stifling a gulp of fear. Reluctantly, the three separated, Circe going into the sixteen year old area, Jackson going in the seventeen year old area, while Ember headed off to join the fourteen year olds. Circe moved near the seventeen year old's side, and looked across at Jackson. As she stood there, catching his eye and biting her lip, someone wolf whistled behind her. She whipped around, and saw Teggin Miggins swaggering past. "Hey, Circy!" He shook his dark brown hair out of his eyes, and grinned. "How is the most beautiful girl in the town doing?" he waggled his eyebrows at her, and she managed a laugh. Teggin was the son of the mine owner, and constantly teased and flirted with her. He was good looking enough, with cheeky brown eyes, and only a slightly chubby stomach, but she wasn't interested in love at the moment. Not really. The right guy hadn't come along yet. If there was one. Teggin gave a cheery wave and walked forwards, swinging his hips like a girl. She stifled a giggle, and her gaze settled on the arrival of her sisters. Kora was holding Sora's hand. Sora was ill. Not ill enough to not come to the reaping, but still ill. Hungry and frail. She looked scared and small beside the other twelve year olds. Kora stood in the crowd, looking worried. With a stab of anger, Circe realized her father wasn't watching with her. Probably betting with his friends. She shook her head to clear it and bit her lip, staring at her little sister again in despair. Only good, proper medicine could cure her, and she had none of that. No one did, except maybe the mayor, or a victor. Speaking of victors, Andres arrived, dressed in finer clothes than anyone else. He had won years ago, and is so arrogant he never lets anyone forget it. Finally, Genesis Snow walked up to the creaky old platform, ready to begin the reaping. The clock strikes two. The mayor starts to read, stuff about the history of Panem, and the Dark Days. Same story every year. Then he explains the Hunger Games, and Circe clenched her fists in anger, and gritted her teeth. Without warning, suddenly Snow stepped forward and said cheerfully "Happy Hunger games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!" he gives a little speech then, but she took none of it in, crossing her fingers for luck, and trying not to imagine the worst. Suddenly, he steps forward, and pulls a slip of paper out of the glass ball. She calls out a name, someone called Xian Fin, around fifteen. Circe felt a ripple or relief that it wasn't Jackson, which immediately was replaced with a stab of guilt. The girl's name is drawn quickly, as Snow looked like he wanted it over and down with. He cleared his throat, and said loudly and clearly, but she's not listening. It's only when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye does she look back.
A small girl, twelve, stumbles towards the podium. No. It's the mayors own daughter, and the mayor looks like she's about to faint. Surrina, that's her name. The mayor's daughter. The mayor's daughter. Circe looked at her little sister, dying without medicine, and looked at the mayor's daughter. She doesn't care anymore. This isn't fair. Two lives for one. Hers. Circe looked at Jackson sadly, and his eyes widen in horror. He opened his mouth to shout, but not before she bellowed loudly and clearly "I volunteer!" just as Surrina is about to place her foot on the first step on those wooden stairs. She looks around, and when she has spotted Circe, she saw her tremble with relief. The three adults on the podium talk for a few seconds, and then wave me forwards. She can see Surrina running back, and she cast her grateful look over her shoulder. Slowly, Circe walks up, keeping her face determined. After a while with more talking, the peacekeepers surrounded us and escort us to the justice building. Circe met the eyes of one of the guards, Aarek, who smiled warmly at her. You did a great thing, he seemed to say. Just before she entered, she turned her head and saw Ember and Jackson looking aghast, and shocked, then the door closed and they were blocked from sight.
The boy, Xian, sat down away from her, crossing his arms and examining the room coldly. He seemed unflustered and unfeeling about the whole thing. Circe curled up on one of the thickly cushioned sofas, and cried silently, letting the tears flow. She hid her face in her hands, but silently, so no one heard. She didn't even hear them walk in. Suddenly, her face was lifted from her hands, and soft lips brushed hers gently. Circe jumped, and through her blurry, teary soaked eyes; saw the face of the kisser.
It was Jackson.