Chapter 1: The Quarter Quell Begins
The whistle rang throughout District 8 and Carol squeezed her daughter's hand. Her body is trembling with fear and completely gives her away, despite the calmness and strength she tries to portray. She doesn't want to show Sophia that. Her daughter doesn't need to know.
Sophia is looking up at her curiously, almost as if she can tell, but doesn't comment. Instead, she allows her mom to lead her towards the district square, where familiar and unfamiliar faces are waiting, staring curiously at the large screen and multiple peacekeepers that awaited them.
There's so much tension in the air, every man and woman is terrified that they will be picked. That it is their name that will be drawn from the bowl.
Carol's name has been thrown into the drawing at least 100 times so she knows the odds are not in her favor, but she knows that there are others who's odds are far worse than hers so she can only hold out hope that she will not be picked. For her daughter's sake.
She leaves Sophia to wait with the other children who are all staring fearfully up at the adults, tears are in their eyes, almost as if they know that they could be losing their parent today.
A tap on the microphone in the center of the stage grabs Carol's attention and she stares up at the man standing at the center. He's a handsome man with just a twinkle of insanity etched into his eyes. He's dressed well for the occasion, staring happily down at everyone in District 8. It's time.
"Welcome to the 50th Annual Hunger Games. Now, as you all know, The Quarter Quell has different rules from our previous games, and for today, it has been decided that all adults will be tried," he informs and no one utters a word. They have all been informed of this, the only reason they are being told again is because it is their policy.
"Good. Now then, let's begin. We'll start with the women," The representative speaks and turns to move towards the bowl on the right, several slips of paper rest inside, each carrying one name.
Time seems to slow as his immaculately clean fingers dip into the bowl, his hand diving inside amongst the pieces of parchment until he pulls out one slip.
He moves towards the microphone with a large grin on his lips and removes the tape that kept it together. He unfurls it and everyone is silent and tense as they wait.
"And the female tribute for the 2nd Quarter Quell is... Carol Peletier!" The informant beams and Carol's heart stops. There is scattered applause around from those who believe that being chosen is an honor, but there isn't much.
She's terrified, but she doesn't want to show it. Not in front of her people and potential sponsors. She takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders before she pushes ahead, one step at a time, until she reaches the stage.
The Capitol representative is grinning at her as if he's proud and leads her to stand on the left while he goes to the right to pick from the bowl from the men.
Her heart is heavy and the baby inside of her is kicking unhappily against her. A single tear runs down her cheek at the thought that she was going to lose her other child.
She stares firmly into the cameras which are focused on her, only for her eyes to widen as the male tribute's name is spoken aloud.
"Dale Horvath," the informant gleefully announces. Dale. She knows Dale. She knows how he protested the games and was vocal about his objections. It wouldn't surprise her if they had doubled his entries just to make sure that he would be chosen in order to silence him.
He sluggishly makes his way to the stage, a slight limp in his step, and stops directly beside her.
"Well, this shall be interesting, won't it?" The informant preens into the microphone and claps happily.
"Good luck to our victors and may the odds be ever in your favor," he says and Carol and Dale exchange a look full of nervousness and caution.
Dale's gaze flicks down to her slightly swollen belly and flicks his gaze back up to her eyes, pity and sorrow etched in his. She avoids his eyes after that and has the strongest desire to vomit, but reigns it in. If she wants to survive, she has to be strong.
The peacekeepers lead her and Dale away into separate rooms. Dale has his wife to say goodbye to and she has her husband and her daughter. She bites down hard on her lip to prevent herself from crying, wanting to seem strong.
The door flings open and only Sophia is there to see her. Part of her is grateful for that, but part of her is scared. Ed isn't going to take care of Sophia. She's noticed just how he looks at her so she can only hope that Sophia will find someone to stay with while she's gone. Maybe even stay with her mother.
Sophia's small hands clamp tightly around Carol's dress as she buries her head in her stomach, small hiccups leaving her and her hands come to wrap around her daughter protectively. "I love you, Sophia. Don't forget that, okay?" Carol whispers and Sophia nods her head, her shoulders shaking before she releases her.
"I love you too, momma," her daughter mumbles and Carol smiles, tears blurring her vision.
"I want you to stay with grandma, okay? Just while I'm gone. Understand?" Sophia nods and Carol breathes a sigh of relief. At least she doesn't have to worry about Ed being alone with Sophia anymore.
Sophia doesn't know about her sibling yet and Carol knows it's only a matter of time before she finds out. She opens her mouth to tell her, but nothing comes out. She is interrupted by the peacekeepers coming forward and ripping Sophia away from her.
Carol is taken away and pulled onto the train. The same train that will take her to the Capitol. Dale is already there, wearing his signature hat on his head, but she doesn't comment. They're both going to their deaths and suddenly, being critical of clothing choices doesn't seem so important anymore.
Dale lifts his gaze to her as the door opens to reveal her and he nods to her as she sits down. They don't speak to one another and the silence between them is almost unbearable and she's grateful when the doors open up to reveal their mentor.
Hershel Greene won the 10th Hunger Games and was 17 years old when he accomplished it. He managed to avoid getting into battles up until there was only one tribute left. He managed to lead that tribute into a trap, but lost his leg in the process.
He has been the only victor from District 8 and many considered him a living legend. Even the ones who didn't agree with his method of survival.
Her gaze is instantly drawn to his plastic limb, given to him by the finest surgeons in the Capitol, but it doesn't stay there for very long. He's staring at both of them, as if he's not even sure why he's here.
Only after a few silent filled seconds does he finally move forward and take a seat beside Dale. His white hair is unkempt and unruly but she doesn't comment, merely smiles faintly at him and waits for him to speak.
"Strengths," he mumbles and Dale and Carol both exchange a confused look as if they weren't sure exactly what he meant.
"You. What is your strength?" Hershel asks, staring pointedly at Dale. Dale doesn't say anything, merely staring at the other, still slightly confused.
"I'm not bad with a gun," Dale mumbles, memories from the war resurfacing into his mind. Carol doesn't know why he's bringing up a gun in the first place. Citizens were never allowed access to a gun, and throughout the past 50 years, a tribute had never even held a gun. It was impossible.
"Anything else?" Hershel asks and Dale eventually sighs before he finally gives in and tells him what his ideal plans are. He doesn't want to fight and he doesn't want to kill. He wants to die and not give the Capitol the satisfaction of turning him into a killer. Hershel tells him it isn't wise, but Dale refuses to speak anymore after that.
Hershel turns to her and asks her the same. "I think if I could get my hands on a knife..." She mumbles under her breath and Hershel nods in approval.
"A knife isn't a bad thing to have. Just know that when it comes time to fight I want you to run. It will be a blood bath for the first thirty minutes or so. Don't take any unnecessary risks. Understand?" He warns her and his gaze flicks down to her belly and she knows that he knows. He's telling her this for her own safety.
So she listens and agrees to take his advice. She will do whatever she can to make it home with both her and her unborn child intact.
Hershel then sighs and rests his head in his hands as he turns to the silent man beside him. "Dale, I'm assuming that you don't even want to talk strategy?" Dale only nods and stands from his chair and leaves the car to move to another, searching for something he could swallow to drink his anger away.
She and Hershel are the only ones in the car now and he's staring at her with curiosity. "My child died. He was in the 30th Games. The odds... They weren't in his favor," he tells her, his eyes filled with haunting.
"I'm sorry," Carol murmurs, her hands coming to rest on her stomach, worry and concern radiating from her petite form. She remembers Shaun Greene. Everyone had expected such great things from him, but he had died during the blood bath. No one had mourned him, no one except the Victor before her.
"It was a long time ago. Do you have any other children?" He asks her and she nods. "Yes. My daughter, Sophia. I don't want to leave her alone, Hershel. Please... Please, just help me get back home to her," she begs, her voice cracking as she speaks.
"...Come on. Let's see your competition," he says, his lips tugged upwards into a slight smile as he reaches for the remote on the table. A television reveals itself from the ceiling of the car and the reaping from each District is shown.
It starts with District 1, two figures are on stage beside the wildly dressed representative, both looking extremely proud of themselves and manic grins on their faces.
The male was well built with sun kissed skin and a full head of raven colored hair. He was shouting expletives and pacing along the stage, continuously throwing his arms up in the air as if he had won the whole thing already.
The woman was more composed than he, and Carol couldn't help but admire her appearance. She was beautiful and the long brown hair that cascaded down her back made her envious, but there was something cruel in her eyes. Something altogether malicious.
"That's Shane and the woman beside him is Lori. They will most likely join up with the tributes from district 2," Hershel explained as the tributes from District 2 revealed themselves.
A black woman with her hair tied into several braids and a mocking smirk appeared first, though she didn't say much. The pale man beside her didn't say much either, just nodded, an honored smile on his lips.
"Michonne and Philip. They will be the others and these four are the ones you want to worry about. If you can, be sure to try and take one of them out as soon as possible. The longer you don't, the higher chances you have of being outnumbered if you survive that long," Hershel instructed and she nodded, being sure to keep tabs.
She was shown the others. Some younger than she and some of the same age. It was only when they reached District 7 that someone caught her eye.
"Hershel... Who is that?" She asked, watching the scene on the television. It was not the blonde female who caught her attention, but the rugged male who was snarling at anyone who tried to touch him.
"Daryl Dixon," Hershel informed, watching as the reaping was replayed.
Daryl's name was chosen and he made no move to go. He didn't look scared or resigned. He just looked bored and firm. The peacekeepers were trying to get him to move, but he continuously refused. It was only when a peacekeeper mentioned something to him that he finally stepped forward, a wild look in his eyes.
She turned to look at Hershel with questionable eyes, but he only continued to inform her of the other tributes and what she should watch out for.
Carol paid little attention and only nodded when she was supposed to. What had the peacekeeper said to Daryl to get him to go? And why did it bother her so much?
A/N: Well... I'm trying my hand at a Hunger Games AU. Hopefully, I did it justice.
Next chapter will be the interviews and the parade where Daryl and Carol will finally meet :)