Chapter 1: There's a Spider!
District 12 is mostly made up of dirt roads and wooden shanty houses. Only in my home of the Merchant sector are the dwellings made out of stone. It's often dark, on account of the coal dust from the mines lingering in the air. Drab. Dreary. But it's still home.
My name is Lillian Foley. I am of the Foleys, the apothecaries and one of the elite Merchant families of District 12. The other Merchant families include the Donners, the politically-minded Undersees, the physically attractive Fairchilds, and the success story of the Fletches. The Fletches used to be Seam - our moniker for the poorer people and miners in the district - but rose to prominence after their daughter, Cassiope Fletch, became District 12's first (and thus far, only) Victor of the Hunger Games. She won the 16th Hunger Games.
Oh, and there is also the Mellark family of bakers, as I am reminded when I step back into my brood's apothecary shop. My father, Barnabus, calls to me, "Lillian! Someone to see you, honey!"
I smile when I catch sight of my best friend.
Steffan Mellark and I have been close friends since we were small children. He often brings the bread to the other Merchant families to sell. Barnabus lets me handle these trades, because I am usually the best salesperson out of all of us. I take the bundle of bread from Steffan with a beaming grin.
"Thanks for these, Steff."
Steffan's smile back could light up the sun. "Always, Lillian."
All at once, I drop the breads onto the counter with a scream as I spy something behind Steffan. "Oh my God! It's a spider!"
"Where?" Steffan spins about.
"Back by the shelves!"
Steffan quickly spies the little insect - I hate spiders! - and crushes it under his boot before it can dive beneath the shelves. I breathe with relief as I gather up the breads to take into our back kitchen.
"Thanks, Steffan! I'll see you tomorrow!"
Steffan grins back, gives a little way, and slips out the back door of the shop.