The Hunger Games: Stuck in The Past
This story picks up 3 years after the epilogue in Mockingjay and follows Madge's 14 year old daughter. Shortly after Katniss and Peeta moved back to District 12, they discovered Madge living amongst the rubble. They later found out that Madge did in fact survive the bombings after the Quarter Quell, eventhough her family didn't, and managed to hide out in the remains of the Victor's Village (which the Capitol conveniently decided to leave alone) throughout the war. I don't own the Hunger Games or the characters but the made up ones I do.
Chapter 1- A Birthday Surprise
Lily's POV:
'Peek-a-boo!' I shout, playfully, taking my hands away from my eyes. The two children begin to laugh uncontrollably at a game that, personally, I don't think is very funny, really. But I guess that's just what kids do, don't they?
'Again! Do it again!' Urges Prim, inbetween shrieks of hysterical laughter. Lucas is too young to talk, but his big brown eyes will me to go on.
'Primrose, don't bother Lily too much, sweetheart,' warns Katniss, from the dining table, where she is talking with my mother and Peeta over a cup of tea.
'Oh no, it's fine,' I say, 'Kids will be kids! Anyways, I could play with these cuties all day long!' I tickle Prim and she starts up her hysterical laughter again.
'Erm, I don't think so, missy. You have homework to do.' My mother reminds me. She always has to spoil things! It's not as if homework is important, anyways. How is it going to help me in life?
'Mom!' I sigh. 'I'll do it later. Right now, I'm busy.'
'No, you'll do it now. Come on, I'll meet you back at home at five.' I give another deep sigh.
'What's your homework about, Lil?' Inquires Katniss. 'Something boring, huh?' I stay quiet for a while. It's not that it's boring. No, it's far from it. It just- it makes me uncomfortable. Studying, reading, writing about something that affected my family and friends so badly. I get up off the floor, where I am sitting with Prim and Lucas, grab my coat and go to the door. After a long silence, I answer Katniss.
'The Hunger Games,' I say. 'We're learning about the Hunger Games.'
Katniss' POV:
I know they teach about it in schools now. About the Games. About the reaping, the horrific fate given to you by the Capitol, the endless days in the arena, just waiting to be killed. Knowing that you'll probably never get a chance to see your family again, that they will have to sit there and watch you suffer, with no way to help you. The rebellion and the war that followed the failure of the Quarter Quell. The one that killed my sister. They don't talk about it in the lower years; it's a much too gory and emotional subject. But when Prim is finally old enough, no doubt she will want to know everything. And I will tell her. Show her how lucky she is to live in a world where she isn't born to die.
Lily's POV:
As I wade my way through the thick snow that's settled like a glittering blanket of white across the square, I suddenly remember that it's Prim's birthday soon. She turns four in a few weeks and I haven't even got her anything yet! As I desperately go through what I could get her in my head, the old candy store came into view. I remember I always used to go there with my mother when I was younger. She would take me every day after school. I used to love the delicious, sweet aroma of the chocolate and that hit me as soon as I walked through the door. It was one of my most favourite things to do with my mother after my father passed away. I haven't been back to that store in years. And this will be the perfect present for Prim, I think. It won't take me long, and I'll still be back before my mother returns home. Anyways, I'd love to get out of the cold for a bit.
Of course, time totally runs away with me. The shop just reminds me so much of my childhood, it takes me a while to take it all in. So when I eventually look back at the old clock hanging on the wall, I am shocked to see that it's already 4:55! Panicking, I quickly pay for the bar of white chocolate that I have picked out for Prim (a personal childhood favourite of mine) and rush outside. As I hurry back out across the square, I'm not looking where I'm going. The only thing that was going through my head was 'Mother's going to kill me when I get back! That's when I feel myself suddenly bump into someone, falling to the ground and dropping my bag.
'Oh my God!' I gasp.' I am so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going! How stupid of me! Are you ok?' Then I look up and see who I am talking to. It's a boy.
Rowan's POV:
She looks up at me with big, green eyes. I notice her from school, but she's not in my class so I've never really spoken to her before. For a minute I am taken aback, then I hold out my hand and help her up. She is still apologising as she dusts herself off.
'I'm sorry,' she repeated. 'Are you sure you're not hurt?'
'Honestly, I'm fine,' I reassure her. I notice that she has dropped a bag, so I pick it up off the floor and hand it back to her.
'Thank you,' she says.
'No problem,' I look inside the bag. 'Chocolate?'
'It's for a friend. Well, she's more like a sister or cousin, really. She turns four soon.' She looks behind me and gasps. 'Oh, there's my mother! She's back already! I better be going. I'm supposed to be at home doing homework! She's going to be so mad at me!'
'Ok,' I reply, a little disappointed that she has to leave so soon. 'I'm Rowan, by the way.' She shakes my hand.
'Lily. I'll see you around!' She calls back as she walks away and towards her house. I smile to myself before turning around and walking in the opposite direction.
Lily's POV:
I look back at myself in the mirror and smile. It's Prim's birthday today and Katniss and Peeta are holding a party for her in the Justice Building, just like they have every year since it got rebuilt. The whole village is invited. I do a quick twirl in my new dress that my mother bought me, especially for the occasion. My blonde hair tumbles past my shoulders in loose waves with a plait around the crown of my head. I wonder if I will see Rowan again today. I am still gazing into the mirror when I hear a voice behind me.
'You look gorgeous, darling.' It's my mother. She walks towards me and I turn to look at her. She twirls my hair in her hands then rests them gently on my shoulders. 'I am so proud of you, you know, Lil. You're growing into such a beautiful, independent young woman. You know how much I love you.' She cups my face in her hands. I smile back at her.
'I love you too, Mom.' I reply.
'Better get going, then,' she says. 'Don't want to be late for little Prim, do we?' I leave the house with my mother, remembering to pick up Prim's chocolate on the way out.
When we arrive at the Justice Building, Prim runs towards me, arms wide, smiling from ear to ear.
'Lily! You're here!' I embrace her in a big hug.
'I got you a present, pumpkin.' I hand her the chocolate wrapped in a brown paper bag. I have tied some pink ribbon around it to make it look more interesting. She unties the ribbon and begins to open it. 'It's not much, but-'
'It's perfect!' She cries, flinging her arms round me again. 'Thank you! The ribbon's so pretty! Will you tie it in my hair, Lily?' I nod, taking the ribbon from her and tying it neatly in a bow at the bottom of her braid. At that moment, Katniss and Peeta walk over to us.
'Thanks for coming, Madge.' She thanks my mother, who is standing beside me.
'Oh, you knew I would! I'd never miss Prim's birthday!' She exclaims. Just then, the music starts up and Prim begins jumping up and down in excitement.
'Come on, Lily!' She urges. 'Let's go dance!' She grabs hold of my hand and drags me to the middle of the floor. Katniss, Peeta and my mother follow and we all begin to dance around in a circle- one big, happy family. Just then, I catch a glimpse of a boy making his way towards us, through the crowds of people. As he approaches me, it takes me a while to realise that it is Rowan, the boy I met a few weeks ago in the street. He smiles at me.
'Hey, Lily.' I just stare at him. Then he turns to my mother on the left of me. He gestures towards me. 'Do you mind if... I take over?' I can feel my face turning bright red in embarassment. I look down at the floor, trying my best not to make eye contact with anyone, especially not my mother or Rowan.
'Lily? You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend!' She jokes. Yes, go on, Mom- make it even more humiliating than it already is.
'Oh,no,' assures Rowan. 'I'm not her boyfriend. We just met a few weeks ago when we bumped into each other on the street. I mean, we see each other at school, but...' He sees my expression, willing him to shut up and trails off. 'Anyways,' he holds out his hand for me. I take it and he leads me away.
'Did you seriously have to do that to me? It was already bad enough that you asked me to dance in front of my mother without you going into detail about how we met and making everyone think we're dating!'
'I'm sorry!' He apologises. 'We're not together... Not yet, anyways.'
'Not ever!' I say, sternly, although deep down I can already sense my feelings for him beginning to grow. We carry on dancing, waltzing around the floor, not saying as much as a word to each other. After a while, he breaks the silence.
'So,' he starts. 'You're pretty close to Prim and her family, huh?' I pause before answering him.
'Yeah. You know, we're not even the tiniest bit related, but we might as well be. I've always thought of Lucas and Prim as my brother and sister, since I haven't got any real siblings. They're all I really need. And Katniss and Peeta- they're like extra parents to me. I guess it makes up for my dad...' I trail off, realising that I've said too much already. I mean, I've just literally met this boy. I don't really want to share my whole personal life with him, especially my dad. He looks at me, sympathetically.
'What happened to him?' I don't meet his gaze
'Let's just say it was quite a quick passing. He didn't feel much pain. Not for long, anyways.'
'That's probably best. I'm sorry, Lily.' I shake my head and dismiss the subject.
I am startled when the silence is suddenly broken again. I look over to where the noise is coming from. The Justice Building doors are thrown open, nearly flying off their hinges. My heart stops when I see who is causing all of the commotion. Peacekeepers.
Thanks for reading the first chapter to my first ever fanfic! I know this chapter is a little bit short but I will try and make the next one longer. Please feel free to review and comment!
