AN: So this is my first Hunger Games fanfiction...yeah, it might not be very good. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! :) There won't be much POV, just a little bit.
Katryana Mellark POV
When I was little, I could remember a time when there were no Games. My parents took part in them. They said they were a horrible thing that could never come back. But they never predicted that the Peacekeepers would barge in and shoot them down. Snow's son had been taught what to believe in. Needless to say, he was strong and did not like my parents very much. I was nine years old. I don't remember much of my parents. The Peacekeepers took me and my brother to the Capitol. They trained me like a Capitol citizen. I didn't forget what they did to my mother and father, but what choice did I have? It was good behavior or death. I became the new Effie Trinket. "And may the odds be ever in your favor." I watched the Games from morning to night and cried when the kids I met were killed by those other horrible kids I met. They were all so afraid. If I was one of them, I would ask myself, Why me? Personal ties were often shared between the two of them. And the 99th annual Hunger Games were no exception.
No POV
Before District Seven Reaping
"Now, you best be home before the reaping, Emerald." Emerald Billis' mother told her. "Remember what happened last time? You and Hesse held up the entire celebration. And when you returned, you were quite filthy."
"The bush exploded, Mom. There was nothing we could do." Emerald reminded her mother.
"Darling, your best dress was ruined!"
"I'll be careful, Mom. I'll make sure to be home early."
With that, Emerald rushed out the door, her bright red ponytail flailing behind her. The thump, thump, thump of the wood choppers doing their assigned duties mocked the thump, thump, thump of her own heart. She ran into the remains of what once were the famous forests of District Seven and weaved between stumps. After half a mile of running, she reached a lake that was grey and lifeless. The once-pleasant lake had been bombed during the last uprisings, yet Hesse Rillo and Emerald chose to train there. The water had no acidic qualities or pesky creatures to get in their way. It was there, and that's what the pair needed. If (and the chances were slim) one of the two were reaped, they would have better chances if they could work with water, because they and the Careers from Four were the only ones who could manage the substance. They, of course, would most likely not stand a chance against the Careers. But it was worth a try.
"Hey, stranger." a voice said from behind Emerald.
"You're late." She replied. "As always."
"I had to talk to Natalay. I ended it."
Emerald laughed. "That's always your excuse. Why do you choose to break up with your girlfriends right before the reaping? Better yet, Hesse, how do you manage to make ten girls fall in love with you in a week, when I can barely get one boy in a year?"
"But how do you know I'm Hesse? I could be an evil killer dolphin, who stole Hesse's vocal chords."
Emerald smiled. "One. Because we have so many dolphins in District Seven. Two. Because I doubt the medical possibility that one could steal another's vocal chords. Three. Because I don't think Natalay would date a dolphin unless his daddy ruled the world. And four." She whirled around. "You don't look like an evil killer dolphin to me."
Hesse bust out laughing. "All of the above are true. Although, one could say that I look like an evil killer dolphin. But then again, that one would belong in a crackhouse."
"So what was with Natalay this time?"
Hesse shrugged. "She was too controlling."
"I didn't like her either." Emerald admitted. "On the other hand, though, she was smart."
"Natalay? Smart?"
"When you think about it. For one thing, she didn't like it when you hung out with me."
"I think it was because she was jealous, Emerald. After all, with these good looks," He tried to flip his hair, but it failed miserably, due to the fact that he sported a buzz cut. "Who wouldn't be?"
"Puh-lease. I think she knows that I'm a really bad influence on you."
Hesse chuckled. "Oh, yes, you're so bad. You've held up so many town celebrations."
"For your information, I held up the reaping last year, thank you very much."
"For your information, WE held up the reaping last year on accident. How could we have known that there was a time bomb on that bush?" Hesse pointed to what was once a bush, what was now a singed plant skeleton.
"Whatever." Emerald huffed. She glanced at the sky. "I have to go."
"Of course. I never thought you would be one to bluff."
"No, I seriously have to go. Thanks to that stupid shrub," Emerald rolled her eyes. "My mom's making me come home early. She says I have to actually look pretty." Emerald frowned.
Hesse snickered. "Lucky you." He remarked. However, the quick girl had gone in a flash. "See you at the reaping!" He yelled after her, and began his way home.
...
"I look ugly." Emerald declared. It was to be so, for the frown plastered on her face ruined her chances of even looking decent. The dress itself was not extremely flattering, but then again, nothing in middle-class Panem was. Her hair was messy, for it had not been brushed well in a while.
The only appealing factor that stood through her frown were the bright green eyes she was nicknamed for. At first, she had been named Ameline-Gale, but when she met Hesse, he named her for the only thing he could recall about her, the only thing that made her different: her eyes. A much younger and more innocent had called her "Emerald, because Gale is a boy name." He had not known at the time that Gale was the name of her father, the Peacekeeper who decided to have an illegal affair, whom her mother remained infatuated with. How could he have known, when Emerald herself barely knew anything about her namesake even now?
"There's nothing we can do, Em. What's done is done." Emerald's mother ran her fingers through Emerald's ponytail. "Now let's go cry over someone's certain death and be glad it's not yours."
They walked toward the center of the town. The Peacekeepers pricked her finger and her mother waited outside the crowd of children for the reaping to end and the butterflies to disappear until next year. Katryana Mellark elegantly walked onstage. "Good afternoon, District Seven."
Katryana Mellark had black hair, which was in a spiky updo. Unlike the rest of the Capitol, Katryana at least looked respectable. Her skin was not tinted green and her hair was not dyed bright blue. She was dressed in an electric blue gown. While it was quirky and unpredictable, the citizens of Panem had seen weirder. Katryana was the kind of hostess who got right to the point. She dipped her hand in the bowl. "Emerald Billis."
"No!" Hesse shouted. Peacekeepers arranged themselves around him as he struggled. "Emerald!" The crowd around Emerald parted. She walked onstage slowly, her knees trembling. As she walked, she observed the faces of the people she knew. Natalay wore a smirk, as if to say, "Mwa-ha-ha. You'll never be with him now." Her mother was shocked and pale-faced, like she might keel over any moment. Frankly, Emerald felt like keeling over just about now as well.
"Come on, dear." Emerald shook Katryana's outstretched hand. "Our male tribute is..." She reached down into the bowl. "Hesse Rillo!" At the sound of Hesse's name, there was much more dismay. Girls gasped as he courageously walked on stage, as if he was going to accept an award. They were unaware that he was willing to sacrifice himself to the Capitol. Maybe he could protect her, for she would never make it on her own. "Shake hands, you two." Katryana urged. They did as told. "Ladies and gentlemen, the District Seven victors!"
...
AN: Was that too short? I really can't tell. Anyways, how was it? R&R!
-olliegatfms-