Chapter 1 Deep in The Meadow
I open my eyes and take in my surroundings. Cleo is quietly snoring next to me; I lie on my back under the old willow in the Meadow of District 12. Everything is so beautiful, it reminds me of some old song lyrics. "If I lay here, If I just lay here, would lie with me and just forget the world." When I sing the lyrics, all the Mockingjays in the willow fall silent, just as they do for mother and her father before her. My singing also causes Cleo to rise. "Finnick, Where are we?" Cleo says dazedly
"The Meadow." I say, "We fell asleep watching clouds." "Oh," Cleo says with a smile. "Let's get back to that." We fall back into the grass, staring into the blue looking for shapes in the clouds. "I see a squirrel with a nut in his paws." Cleo says. "Look at that one it's a tree." I say.
"Okay, Look at that it's an elephant pushing a stroller." Cleo says. "How is that even possible?" I say, laughing. "Who cares?" Cleo replies. "Ooh, ooh, Look at that one it's a wolf chasing a deer." I say.
"Yeah, wouldn't that be nice." Cleo says being the hunter that she is. "What'd we get this morning?" I ask. Cleo opens the game bag. "A squirrel, two rabbits, a turkey and a couple catfish." "That's pretty good." I say, "Yeah, Well I'd better go get ready for the reaping." Cleo says standing. "Yeah, I'm going to go to the bakery." I say. "See you there Finnick." Cleo says jogging down the hill. "Hawthorne!" I shout after her. Cleo stops and turns around. "Wear something pretty." I say with a smile. "Try to look handsome, Mellark!" Cleo retorts. I smile and take off down the other side of the hill toward my family's bakery, game bag over shoulder. I arrive at the old rundown Mellark family bakery. I walk inside to find my mother and older sister, Prim behind the counter helping customers. I wave before going into the kitchen to help to help my father and younger sister Johanna. "Finnick!" Johanna says "Hanna." I say. Johanna (or Hanna for short) is five years old, and she like my mother and I, is an amazing singer. "Finnick, I need you to ice those cupcakes right there." My father says. "What are they for?" I ask. "They're for Cecelia Richards' 10th birthday." my father answers. I decide to put some flowers and butterflies on them. When I finish frosting the cupcakes it is time to close up. We all walk home and get ready for the reaping. My outfit isn't anything exciting, just a nice grey t-shirt, khaki shorts and some checkerboard sneakers. I walk out into the living room to find my family sitting on the couch. "Sit down Finnick," My mother says. "We have something we want to give you, in case you get reaped." I sit down and my father reaches into his pocket. He produces his old locket. "Here, I want you to have this." he says. I hold the locket in my hand, it looks like my mother's mockingjay pin and when I open it, I find pictures of my family as well as pictures of my friends. "Thanks, dad." I say. We all walk to the District Square, where everyone in the district is waiting for the reaping to begin. We stand by Cleo's family. "Good Morning Mellarks." Cleo's father says. "Good Morning Gale, Johanna." My parents say. "Where's Cleo?" I ask. "She's right up there by Autumn and Winter." Cleo's mom Johanna says. I walk up to my friends. "Hi guys." I say. My friends turn around. Winter and Autumn are also friends of mine. They are twin brother and sister; They both have the Seam looks brown hair green eyes and olive skin. They are both in fancy clothes, which is possible because their mom is a Victor of the Hunger Games. She won when she was 18 and at the time she was pregnant with Autumn and Winter.
Cleo looks absolutely amazing in her reaping outfit. Her blue dress really brings out the blue in her grey eyes and her brown hair is combed beautifully. "Whoa, Cleo you look awesome!" I say. "You don't look too bad yourself, Finnick." Cleo says. We turn towards the stage to see Haymitch Abernathy the mentor for this years tributes, walking up to the stage. Haymitch is an older guy in his early 70's, he's got salt and pepper hair and green eyes, his skin is weathered from age, and Next to step on the stage is our Capitol escort, Rainy Sunsets. A stupid name for a stupid personality, She wears a blue and yellow dress and her hair is dyed blue with streaks of yellow in it as well, Absolutely ridiculous, in my opinion. The last person onstage is Mayor Collins. The Reaping begins with a speech from Mayor Collins. "As you all may or may not know, This year is the 100th Hunger Games, and a Quell Year." A screen comes down in front the stage. An image of the Capitol seal appears on the screen and is quickly replaced with an image of President Jacqueline Frost. "Hello Districts, as your Mayor should have just explained it is the 100th Hunger Games and also the Centennial of the Hunger Games." A small boy in a powder blue suit holds up a box with a 100 on it. President Frost opens it. "On the 100th Anniversary of the Hunger Games, to remind the districts that in rebellion the country grows weaker, Each tribute will be injected with a slow-acting poison that will weaken them to the point of death, unless they can find one of the antidotes hidden in the arena." She closes the box. "Happy Hunger Games and May the Odds be ever in your favor." Then the Capitol seal appears again and fades to black. "Well let's begin." Rainy says. She digs around in the big glass ball with the girls names in it "The female tribute is Cleo Hawthorne." No! Not Cleo. I grab her arm. I hear her parents crying behind me. "Cleo, No, You can't!" I say. "Finnick, I have to." She pulls away. She reaches the stage. Rainy asks for volunteers, No one speaks up.
"Now for the male tribute." Rainy pulls a name out of the male ball. "Finnick Mellark." The odds are not in my favor today. Cleo and I are both going into the arena,one or both of us could die. But, I should've seen it coming. I hear my mother crying behind me. Hanna runs up to me and gives me a hug. "Finnick, don't die." I am holding back tears now. I walk up to the stage. Cleo and I shake hands as instructed. The wind picks up blowing Rainy's hair as she reads the Treaty of Treason and then Mockingjay's Surrender. I feel my fist tighten. The way she reads sounds like she's mocking me.
What happens next is so fast. I hear a sound I would know anywhere, the soft pluck of an arrow being released from a bow. Next I see it the black arrow coming right at me. Then with a gust of wind the arrow changes direction and is now going straight towards Cleo. Instinct and adrenaline kicks in, I rock back on my heels and lurch forward. My hands catch Cleo's shoulders. I close my eyes and I hear a loud crash. When I open my eyes Cleo and I lay in the glass of the male reaping ball. The District is going absolutely crazy, families run from the square, Peacekeepers shout orders to no prevail.
Curiousity gets the best of me and I pick a handful of the papers. "Finnick Mellark, Finnick Mellark, Finnick Mellark." I read. I should've known every paper in the bowl had our names on them. Two hands clamp down on my shoulders picking me up carrying me to a hovercraft. The Peacekeeper throws me in and another comes in with Cleo in his hands. The hovercraft lifts off leaving District 12 , the only home I've ever known.