A/N: Woohoo, another fanfic! This is a LOT different than what I've done in the past, but I hopr you all like it. As always, reviews are much appreciated.
The song lyrics ain't mine. They're from the Barbie movie The Princess and the Pauper. Yeah, I found it while I was going through my old stuff the other day and watched it for the heck of it. The lyrics seemed to fit here. Hey, at least it isn't Justin Beiber.
~MJ272
I slowly wake up on the couch that I call a bed. My family can't afford beds, so I've been sleeping on our one small couch all my life. I curl up into it, wishing it would devour me.
Today, I could be taken away from my family. I could be taken to the Capitol for the rest of my life.
President Snow is looking for a new wife. So far, the last two have died from "natural causes." I'm not sure if I believe those lies.
Snow has demanded that all unmarried woman aged 18-30 shall be called up to the square today. The most beautiful woman of that group will be travel to the Capitol, with all the other beautiful women of the other Districts.
My name is Rizwana Marquette. I live in District 7. I am 22 years old. And I am beautiful.
It was not my choice to be beautiful. I was born that way. Born with my ice blue eyes, fair skin, and long, mahogany colored hair. If I had my choice, I would be hideous. Then maybe I wouldn't get looked at so much.
I slide farther into the couch when I hear my older sister Kelsey walk into our house. Kelsey is lucky. She married a man named Paris Mason a year ago, so she's not up for the calling. She would have been at great risk. Kelsey looks like me, except she inherited our father's warm brown eyes. I got my mother's eyes, but we both have our father's wonderful, mahogany hair.
I feel a light hand on my shoulder. "Riz, I know you're up. You have to go. What would you rather face, certain death, or a possible trip to the Capitol. You and I both know he'll end up picking some higher District airhead," Kelsey says.
I unwillingly turn my face up towards my sister. She is looking at expectantly. She knows I can't argue with her logic. So far, Snow's wives have been from 4 and 1. Never from something like District 7. And it's not for certain that I'm going to go…
And like that, Kelsey has cheered me up in a way hardly anyone else can. The chances are so slim of me being chosen to marry Snow, I shouldn't have to worry about it.
"I better get up anyway for work," I mumble, pulling on my boots that are always at the foot of my couch.
"No work today," Kelsey mumbles. "They called it off last night, but you must have already been asleep."
I grit my teeth. No work means no pay for the day. And we need the pay. I come from one of the poorest families in the District. My mother and father have had to break their backs chopping trees for their whole lives. As soon as Kelsey and I turned eight, we were put to work too. We both had to take out 4 tesserae ever year we were eligible. I think it's a miracle neither of us were ever chosen for the Hunger Games.
When we didn't have tesserae anymore, we began to worry a little. We barely managed, than Kelsey married Paris. He has more money than we do, but losing the salary Kelsey was giving us… We couldn't have survived. Thankfully, Kelsey was able to split her salary half and half, so with three and a half salaries and three mouths to feed, we've survived.
But now Kelsey is pregnant. She can't work, and once the baby comes she's going to have to stop giving us half her salary. None of us try to think about that too much.
I get up, and get dressed. I pull on the only dress in the house, a white thing with a flowing skirt that reaches just above the knees. I cross the living room, where our guitar lays. This guitar would probably make us rich, but Mother refuses to sell it. It's been in her family since before the Dark Days, and she has stubbornly kept it and taught Kelsey and I to play. Secretly, I'm glad she's kept it. I'm only ever truly happy when I play the guitar.
I pick up the guitar and strum the strings a few times. Kelsey sits next to me. Her belly is just starting to grow. I switch the song to District Seven's lullaby. The baby will know it when it is born, and the song helps keep me sane. It reminds me of happier times.
And you're always free to begin again
And you're always free to believe
When you find the place that you're heart belongs
You'll never leave
You and I will always be
Celebrating life together
I know I have found a friend forevermore
Love is like a melody
One that I will always treasure
Courage is the key that opens every door
For you're always free to begin again
And you're always free to believe
When you live your dreams you'll find destiny
Is written in your heart
For you're always free to begin again
And you're always free to believe
When you live your dream you'll find destiny
Is written in your heart
As I sing the last note, I look up at the clock. It says 10:20.
"You better go, Riz," Kelsey whispers. "They pick at 10:30."
I give my sister a hug, and tell her not to worry. But inside, I feel like I'm in the reaping again.
When I head to the square, I see young women shifting about nervously. Like the reaping, they have us shepherded into age categories. The eighteen year olds look the most frightened. Barely adults and faced with the prospect of becoming the wife of a 53 year old man.
Promptly at 10:30, people in richly dressed clothing come to inspect us. Occasionally they ask for a name and write it down on a piece of paper.
All too quickly, one of the people reaches me. He looks over my five foot nine frame, then does a double take when his eyes land on my face. Slowly, he begins to circle my body. I stand very still, praying that he'll go away.
"What's your name, my dear," a voice asks me. It has come from the man.
"Rizwana Marquette," I say, almost choked with fear. The man nods and then turns away.
I close my eyes for the rest of this ordeal. I don't even open them when one of the people stands at the steps of the Justice Building, notifying us of who won.
"And the lucky winner of District 7, the one who will have the great honor of a possible marriage to Snow, is the beautiful Rizwana Marquette!"
My eyes fly open in a shock, and all the color drains out of my "beautiful" face.
A/N: OK, I want to say a big thank you to KelsNicole92! Without her help, Rizwana would have never have left the random depths of my brain. Haha, I love this character already! Please review, did you guys like this new angle I'm taking?
Oh and in case you can't tell, KelsNicole92 is Kelsey! I love her character. Seriously, go check out Kels. It'll be your best decision all week, I can guarantee it.
~MJ272