Hey guys! This is my first fan fiction so be nice please! Well I hope you enjoy! Oh, and I will probably update like once a week or sometimes twice!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games all rights go to Suzanne Collins.
Hello. My name is Rue Stonehawk. I was a tribute for the 74th annual Hunger Games. Most people thought I would die quickly, just because I was younger than all of the other tributes, but I didn't. This is my story.
I was awoken to the sound of my baby brother, Levi, crying. Of course he would cry. He could feel the tension, just like everyone else in District Eleven could. Today was my first Reaping Day. I was 12, and my name would be entered a total of nine times into the reaping ball. Once because it was necessary and the other eight times for tesserae. Tesserae is a year's worth of grain and oil, you could take one for each of your family members if you put in an extra reaping slip. The reaping slips are used to find one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each of the twelve districts. Those two people would compete in the annual Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is where 24 tributes, or people chosen from the reaping; go to fight to the death in an arena. Did I tell you the worst part? The Games were put on national television for the Capitol to watch and 'enjoy', and for everyone else it was mandatory viewing.
I tried to go back to sleep. I really tried, but I couldn't. So instead I dragged myself out of bed and decided to walk to the orchards. I live in District 11. District 11's main export is grain and fruits, and we are known as the Agriculture District, just like District Twelve mines for coal and is known as the Coal Mining District. Each of the 12 districts makes something for the Capitol to use, and in giving all of our exports to them, we starve. And that's probably just how they meant for it to work, I think grimly. But I could never say those things to my parents, or my coworkers in the orchards. That would draw the unwanted attention of the ruthless, evil-minded Peacekeepers.
I headed out into the early morning mist to the orchards, hoping Cable was there. Cable was my best friend. He helped me harvest from the tops of the trees because he wasn't as big and strong as most of the men in District Eleven yet. Just thinking about him brought a smile to my face. Of course, a lot of things could do that. Such as my baby brothers and my sister. Who would be missing one sister if I were reaped. Come on, Rue, I berated myself. Don't think like that. Your name isn't in that many times.
A voice shocked me out of my thoughts.
"Hey," a voice called down. I looked up and grinned. Cable was sitting in fork about 15 feet up in a sturdy old apple tree that had been there nearly as long as my father.
"What are you doing up so early?" I questioned as I climbed up to meet him.
"Oh, I couldn't sleep. You know, the typical pre-reaping nightmares, You too?" Cable responded. I nodded.
"How is your brother doing?"
Cable had a twin brother, Collin. They were both two years older that I was.
"He is just as good as last year. How are all of your brothers and sisters doing?" I was the eldest of six children. It was hard working from sunrise to sunset and then going home to take care of five younger brothers and sisters.
"Good I guess, Levi woke me up crying, and I think Maria is getting sick. Keith, Faith, and Daisy are all doing okay though. Well, as good as they can be. They really need more food, even though I always give them most of mine," I say.
We sat there for a while, just making small talk about things like the weather. Everyone had to be home by ten to get ready for the Reaping at eleven. When I heard the clock chime ten, I jumped lightly down from the tree and dashed home. Mother and Father looked stressed. Probably because their firstborn had a slim chance to go die on national television. I am the only person who must go to the reaping from our family today, so the other children are settled down for a nap. Mother unearthed a light green dress out for me, my first reaping clothes. The thought made me shudder. It was a few sizes too small, and had a few little tears here and there. But I pulled it over my head nonetheless. It was nice compared to what most kids would be wearing.
After I was ready, my father and I headed over to the town square, where the Reapings took place each year. I left my father in the crowd of non-eligible people and slowly, reluctantly walked over to where I needed to sign in. I sign my name and they take a little blood. I wasn't sure why; these tables were not here last year. Maybe it was so they could bring me back if I was reaped and I died. The Games were very mysterious.
After getting blood electrocuted out of my finger, I went over to the section for twelve year olds. This section was in the very back, seemingly positioned to hide us from sight, to lessen the chances of being reaped. That wasn't possible, not at all. The population of twelve year olds was at least a thousand more than the thirteen and fourteen year olds, and much more compared to the older kids. We die of starvation too much when we are older, I think. They feed us better when we're young, to squeeze the energy out of us. To stop myself from thinking such un-subordinated thoughts, I searched in front of me and after a few minutes, saw Cable and Collin a few sections in front of me. I waved and smiled at them. They didn't see me. I sent my gaze to the front of the room.
There were five people sitting on the makeshift stage in front of the Justice Building. This group consisted of Mayor Cypress, District Eleven's escort, Haven Baublebee, and our three victors. Victors are people who have already won The Games and were forced to mentor the chosen tributes. This is a horrible job, because usually The Career Tributes, or Careers for short, win The Games. The Careers are the tributes from districts 1, 2, or 4. These tributes almost always volunteer, because they are trained for The Games. You aren't really supposed to train for the Games, but they do it anyway.
Haven Baublebee, an odd looking woman with bright pink skin and a mishmash of curly purple and green hair, stood, beaming bleached white teeth at everyone she can see. The clock chimed eleven. She waved at everyone in the crowd, and started with her typical quote.
"Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!" she chirped. This made me wonder, as I have ever since I watched my very first Hunger Games, why the Capitol have such odd accents. "Ladies first," Haven stated in the silence of an unwelcoming audience, while moving toward the girls' reaping ball, filled to the brim with names. Please don't be somebody I know, I repeated to myself as Haven calls out the girl tribute. I got my wish.
It wasn't anyone I knew because the name she called out was Rue Stonehawk.
(A/N I was gonna cut off right there and be super mean, but I didn't :D))
"NO!" I heard Daisy scream. How had she gotten here? My mother had wanted her home to help out with the younger children. Daisy wove through the crowd towards me, but I saw Collin grab her by the back of her light pink collar as she passed him. I looked to Cable and saw tears streaming down his face.
"Rue Stonehawk?" Haven's high voice said again.
Slowly, as if I were in a dream, I made my way to the stage, all the while hoping somebody would speak the two words I ached to hear most: I volunteer. When I reached the stage, Haven asked for volunteers. Nobody spoke except the wind. I wanted to cry, just curl up a tight little ball like an armadillo, and weep. But I didn't. As the youngest potential player, crying would make me seem like a baby. I wanted to be counted in amongst everyone else. Haven Baublebee was starting over towards the male reaping ball. I swore I could see Cable's name at least five times.
"Now your boy tribute is…." Haven continued. "Thresh Riverway!"
I wanted to sigh in relief and in sadness as well. I knew him. He worked with me; he was the man that gave me a lift if I couldn't reach the next branch. Thresh was darker than I was and was broad-shouldered, strong and tall. Thresh was kind of scary if he didn't like you but if he did, he was like a gentle giant. He was my friend.
We stood facing the crowd solemnly and listened to the mayor read the Treaty of the Treason.
"Shake hands, you two!" Haven buzzed. My hand was lost in Thresh's; it was like a glove. The second I was hidden behind walls, I bolted into Thresh's arms, sobbing. He rubbed my back comfortingly. We hugged tightly until Peacekeepers made us separate.
Once inside the Justice Building, they let the tributes see their family and friends one last time. I had a few minutes before my first visit. I sat down on a plush sofa. It was soft. Just as I sat down, Daisy burst through the door and hugged me, bawling her eyes out. Right after her the rest of my family came filing through the door. The other children didn't really understand what I was going to do. Levi was the youngest at six months old, then it was Faith at two years old, after her it was Keith at five, then it Maria at eight.
I shifted Daisy so she was beside me, and I picked up Keith and put him on my other side. Then I picked Faith up and put her on my lap.
"I love all of you so much it hurts," I said quietly.
"We know, and we love you just as much," Daisy replied softly.
"Roo," Faith said simply. I caressed her satin cheek and resisted the urge to cry.
"I love you too, Fai," I told her.
"Now you guys can make it," I told them. "Daisy you are old enough to work now, and I know your birthday is soon but don't take any tesserae." I said sternly. "Can you guys let me up so I can talk to Mother and Father?" Daisy, Keith, and Faith I left on the couch. I bent down and hugged Maria. Holding her tightly, I said, "I love you too, Mary."
"I know," Maria said. She coughed a little.
I stood up and took Levi from Mother. I looked at his giggling face and kissed him repeatedly. "Now you be good for Mommy and Daddy," I told the infant. Daisy quietly took him out of my hands as I turned to look at my parents. My eyes watered.
"I love you both so much!" I said running into their open arms. Then all my siblings crowded around us; making it a huge group hug. We stayed like that until Peacekeepers came and took them away.
I heard the door open again and before I knew what was happening, I was engulfed in Cable's arms. I was getting so many hugs today We stood like that for a moment until he let go.
"You can win," he said calmly. I just looked at him. I had absolutely no chance, I thought.
"Get a slingshot or knives. Maybe a bow. Rue, you are fast and an amazing climber, and if they can't catch you, they can't kill you," Cable instructed.
"I'll try," I told him honestly.
"Two more minutes," said a Peacekeeper from outside.
Before I could do anything else his lips were on mine. I was surprised. What was happening?! "I've always loved you," Cable said quietly breaking the kiss. I was too shocked to respond.
"It's time," a Peacekeeper commanded, pulling Cable away. So I was left alone, waiting for my death that was just a week or so away.