A Family of Tributes

by peetafansforever

The rebellion was lost. The Capitol won. They still have the Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta's daughter is old enough to go to the reaping. This is the story of Arianna Primrose Mellark and the 87th annual Hunger Games.

1. Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

I run out into the meadow. It's the place where I go to escape from reality. Tears stream down my face. I can't believe it's happening to me. My twelfth birthday. No. Now I will be able to go into that dreaded bloodbath they call the Hunger Games.

"Arianna, wait!" My nine-year-old brother, Grayson, calls to me.

I turn around.

"Don't run off like that. It's going to be okay. They're not –" I stop Grayson before he can tell me those words. They're not going to pick you. Mom told us to never speak those words. Not after what happened to her sister.

They're not going to pick you.

The words keep swirling around in my head. They're not going to pick you. It taunts me no matter how hard I try to get those thoughts out of my head. "Grayson, please leave me alone. You don't understand."

He looks back at me with those stone-cold eyes. Great. I hurt his feelings. Wait till Mom comes out and lectures me about how not to treat my brother. Sometimes, it is just too hard to think with him around 24/7.

Grayson walks back into the house with his head down. I hurt his feelings for sure.

I look back, only to find Mom walking over to me with that I-can't-believe-what-you-just-did look on her face. I run over to her and fall into her arms.

"Arianna, it will be okay. Don't worry about that. It won't happen for another two months, okay?"

"You know those nightmares still haunt my slumber."

It's the dream of Mom's experience, except with me.

Effie's hand reaches into the glass bowl.

"Arianna Primrose Mellark."

Everybody's heads turn, looking for me. But it's kind of obvious, my head is in my hands. I wait for someone to volunteer, but nothing happens.

"Well, don't just stand there, come on up!" Effie's voice rings out.

I slowly walk up. 'This can't be happening' I thought.

"Arianna Primrose Mellark, listen to me!" Mom blurts out.

"Mom, what is it?" I ask her.

"Don't worry about it! If you get picked, you will have a large chance of surviving."

"But…but…I'm not a career," I tell her.

"Listen, we are a family of survivors. Your father and I lived to see another day out of the arena."

"But that was because you two fell in love."

"I know, but –"

"So you're saying I'm supposed to fall in love with someone? Is that how it is?"

"No," Mom says. "Just don't worry about it for now, okay? You still have two months before the reaping."