The sky was dark and the air was still in District five. 16 year old Finch Jayden Crossley waited inside the building before setting foot into the night. Food was the only word in her mind as she walked through the deserted streets, occasionally slipping into a side alley to avoid the peacekeepers. Finch was used to this. She'd done this every night for 6 years. Her parents didn't support the Games and openly protested so both of them were killed. Her older sister was caught by the capital and her brother was shot for illegal hunting. It all happened at once. Finch still remembered her late family, even if they were gone. She could remember her mother's red hair, blue eyes and radiant smile. Her father's brown hair and brown eyes. She saw her sister and brother every day in her dreams with their red hair and blue eyes. Nobody in the family looked like their father, all had the same red hair and blue eyes so their father used to look out of place but that was six years ago. Just thinking about her family made Finch queasy but she still had someone left. Her name was Sierra and she was Finch's sister.
Finch thought that she was unlucky with no family but at least she was alive.
*Flashback*
It wasn't just any reaping, it was Lavina's first reaping. 10 year old Finch stood nervously in a corner, sweating while her four year old sister, Sierra clung to her pale hand. Her parents were whispering about something sneaking glances at Lavina and Jordan. Everyone quieted and looked at the big pink person on the stage. 'Welcome to the 68th hunger games!' Cherry, district 5's escort, spoke into the microphone. They watched the video which they play every year and then Cherry came forward, 'Ladies first!' She walked to the bowl holding the girl's names, 'LAVINA CROSSLEY!' Finch froze, watching Lavina walk forward. 'NO LAVINA!' Her dad ran forward, pushing three peacekeepers and dodging their bullets. Her mom ran behind him. Both of them starting shouting curses at a point which Finch realized was a camera. They were pulled away by peacekeepers. 'Finch, take care of Sierra!' Her mother called as she was dragged through the crowd, past Finch. Finch elbowed her way after her mother but before Finch could even call out, the sounds of bullets filled the noiseless square.
*Flashback ended*
Finch slid down against the stone wall of an alley. Why had she allowed herself to think of that horrible day? Finch stood up and tried to block out her thoughts.
'Get it together Finch! How many times have you been told to conceal not feel!' She mentally scolded herself but her thoughts gave way.
*Flashback*
The morning was cold. Their parents had died about a week ago. Lavina hadn't gone to the capitol as an 18 year old girl, Marilyn Joyce had volunteered for her. Lavina had made a plan that all of them would run away to the woods. Her eighteen year old brother, James had gone to the woods to get some food for the day. It was not allowed but James somehow managed to fill their stomachs.
'James will be here soon, then we'll be out of here,' Lavina said touching the old wood walls.
Finch didn't know what to feel. They were leaving the house that they'd called their home but it was for the best.
They waited till Lavina declared that they should have a last look at district 5. They passed the reaping square and the justice building, stopping when they saw a crowd.
'What's going on?' Lavina asked a woman when they got there.
'A boy's was shot for illegal hunting.' The woman said.
Lavina pushed her way to the front with Sierra and Finch behind her. Lavina gasped and tried to block Finch and Sierra but Finch had seen it. It was a similar sight to her parent's. Her brother lay there, expressionless with a bullet through his head and a pool of deep red blood on the ground. Some peacekeepers pushed through to take his body away and then threatened everyone with guns.
'Finch, Sierra. We're leaving.' Lavina said, her voice sounded strange, like she could burst into tears any second.
They ran to the forest. Lavina pushed herself through the fence. 'Sierra hold on to Finch.' She helped them get through.
About half an hour later, they heard a strange rumbling. Ahead, they saw a silver plane which was unmistakably sent by the capitol. Lavina grabbed the younger girl's hands and forced them into a hole in the tree. 'Finch take care of Sierra.' Were her last words before the ship took her away.
*Flashback ended*
Finch let a tear run down her cheek. Now her only job was to do what her mother and sister told her, take care of Sierra. Her stomach started grumbling and then she remembered that Sierra hadn't eaten all day.
Tonight she would find bread. They had some cheese left over from last night's meal so they had enough. Finch sneaked into the alley beside the bakery, opening the bakery's side door and going inside. Being as quiet as possible she grabbed a burnt bread on the top of the oven. She sneaked back to the alley and went home.
'Sierra!' She called when she arrived home and set the bread on the bed. Sierra popped out from under the bed, her favorite place to pass time.
'Bread?' She asked eyeing the table.
'Bread.' Finch replied lifting an old plate from one of the rotting cupboards.
The sisters sat and ate their meal in the darkness. None of them were very hungry so they ate slowly, chewing the least they could. Finch got up to put the leftovers under the bed. 'Half the bread and most of the cheese. That'll be enough for tomorrow.' She said. 'Now Sierra, go to sleep.' Finch ruffled her sister's hair and lay down on the hard single bed next to sierra.
They fell asleep to the sound of crickets.