Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of its characters, but this is my fan fiction.
A/N: I hope you guys like my story, it's from Foxface's POV during the Hunger Games. This is my first fanfic so please don't be too mean although I don't mind constructive criticism. Enjoy!
I wake up suddenly from the nightmare that plagues me around this time every year. I shake my head to get rid of the disturbing images that are running through my mind. Today is Reaping Day. I tally up the numbers in my head; at 15 my name is entered 14 times.
Oh well, it could be worse.
Some children already have their names in three or four times when they're only 12 years old. Not many children have to take tesserae in district 5. Relatively to the other districts we're not very poor but we still don't have very much money. There's always that street you can walk down where you will find families with children whose faces are gaunt and whose cheeks are hollow. It's sad, but everyone is accustomed to it and we have all experienced it to some degree.
I stand up and open the door to my room, and carefully avoid the creaking floorboards. I peer into the room adjacent to mine. Jovian smiles and jumps out of bed, not bothering to be quiet. "Callyn, you're up! I've been waiting for you for forever!" He groans out the last word, but then a grin reappears on his face. It's surprising at how he can still be happy on a day like today. "Well, then come on." I begin my act, and fake a smile of my own. "But, Shh!" I put my finger to my lips. "Don't want to wake mom and dad, do you?" He opens his mouth in shock, and then shakes his head vigorously.
Jovian runs over to me and I lift him up onto my shoulders. I walk down the stairs and drop him off and the bottom. He runs over to the kitchen and jumps up, trying to reach to cupboard where we store the grains we get from the tesserae. He can't quite reach so I bring some down for him. He goes and grabs a small metal pot and hands it to me. I take it and walk to the back of our house and fill the pot with water from our rain barrel. Just before I head back inside I notice a small plant growing near the side of the house. I pick the only ripe raspberry and push the door open with my shoulder.
We stand together and watch as the water-oatmeal mixture boils. When it's ready I take out a small chipped bowl and scoop some food in. I hand Jovian a spoon and he's about to dig in when I hold out my cupped hand. "Guess what I have." I say in a singsong voice. I open my hand to reveal one single berry and I drop it in his breakfast. We sit at the table and Jovian eats all around the berry, saving it for last. When there's only one bite left he takes the spoonful of oatmeal with the raspberry on top and crams it into his mouth. He chews happily and swallows.
I hear footsteps and I turn my head to see our parents walking down the stairs. The smile falls off my face as the situation changes. My mother speaks up "Have you two eaten yet?" I haven't but today I don't think I could stomach anything. "Yes, Mommy!" Jovian says. "Well then, I think it's time to get cleaned up and ready to go." He runs over to her and they head upstairs again, to bathe. I check the clock on the wall; it's 11:38. Everyone has to be at the square at 1:00 sharp. My father gestures to the stairs and says to me "I guess you should get ready too." I swallow whatever's rising in my throat and blink twice. My face is set with a grim look, no more smile as I walk up the stairs.
I guess playtime is over now.
My mother gets me a dress to wear after I've washed. I change into it and then she does my red hair into an elaborate bun that almost resembles a knot. By the time everyone is ready to leave it's 12:36. I kneel down and tie Jovian's little tie. "There, now you look like a proper gentleman." I purse my lips and make a silly face and he laughs at me. "Come on now, we don't want to be late." My mother ushers us out the door and closes it behind us.
When we get to the square there are already hundreds of people in the roped off areas. As per tradition my mother leans over and kisses Jovian and I on the forehead and says to each of us "Stay safe, and we'll see you in an hour." I check with the woman and then head to the roped off area for 15 year old girls. I stand beside a few girls from school but I don't bother trying to start a conversation, because everyone is too nervous.
Soon the ceremony starts with the Mayor who gives a small speech about the history of the Hunger Games and then he introduces our two victors and they come up onto the stage.
We actually have four victors. One of them is dead, and one of them is a raging alcoholic. So I guess these two are just our most presentable victors. They will be the mentors for whoever gets Reaped today. I can't remember their names, though the Mayor just introduced them a few minutes ago.
After the Mayor has finished his speech, the Capitol escort, Sertis Crescent, comes up. She contrasts against the dull, color-less cityscape. She has a bright orange dress, neon green high heels, purple dyed eyelashes and, to top it all off, royal blue curls piled on top of her head. She gives us a small speech about how the Hunger Games are good for our community and how they are necessary for us to survive as a nation. I stop listening soon after she says "Good day, citizens of District 5." in her silly Capitol accent.
The whole time that Sertis is talking, my mind is somewhere else. I can't help but think about what might happen if I, or someone I know is picked. I don't have many friends at school, but it would be a blow if any of them were chosen, although I could keep going. Jovian is only seven years old so he's far too young. And then another, terrifying thought runs through my head:
What if it's me?
The single phrase sends shivers down my spine. My name is only in 14 times, but compared to most of the other girls who don't have to take any tesserae, that's a lot. Suddenly, 14 seems like a huge number. I imagine going to the Hunger Games with my parents and Jovian having to watch me get killed.
I'm so caught up in worrying that soon Sertis' speech is over with the old cliché line: "And may the odds, be ever in your favor." Sertis clicks over to one side of the stage. "Girls first, then boys." She says with a big smile as if narrating the most fun and exciting event ever. Then she reaches into the bowl, and makes a big show of not choosing a slip off the top, walks back to the center of the stage. She leans over toward the microphone and reads the name on the paper. The moment feels somehow rushed, as if she's supposed to take longer for this momentous announcement, but it's several seconds before I realize that she has already read the name. That the name she has just spoken is my name, Callyn Felwood.