A/N: Hey everyone, this is my first Hunger Games fanfic, so please be a little gentle. Please keep reading, it does get better! I will do my best to update at least once a week, but can't make any guarenttee's once school starts back up. This has been updated to include the first chapter as well. Please read and review!
The first chapter is dedicated to the Giggling Gummy Bear for favoriting this story!
As always I do not own any of the Hunger Games characters, places, or themes, but I do own the OC's I came up with :)
Prologue- The Final Games
I sit in the room waiting for the announcement that the entire country of Panem has been eagerly anticipating. President Paylor takes the stage and stands at the podium as the cheers die down. Once the crowd of Capitol residents and scattered District residents clams down she begins to speak.
"I know that there are many speculations as to what my decision has been about the Victor vote of a Final Hunger Games," the crowd is so silent I could hear a pin drop, "I have decided to uphold the vote." My moment of confusion seemed to last forever. I could not believe what I just heard. After a few seconds of holding up her hands, Paylor begins to speak again and I listen intently making sure I didn't hear wrong.
"There are few things that I have insisted on changing in regards to the rules. There will be no random reaping of children. Instead the war tribunal will hand select the various young relatives of guilty criminals, and even a few that have been found guilty themselves." At this the crowd on the screen cheered loudly and I felt the color drain from my face.
"The names will be read in one months' time. Immediately after which the tributes will be allowed to ask any of the surviving Victors to be their mentor. All surviving Victors will be required to become a mentor, whether they voted for or against. Those Victors that were in favor shall have the added punishment of mentoring two tributes, since they especially wished to see these children die. These Games will represent the closing of an oppressed time in Panem's history." Again the crowd erupts into cheers, "but it will also serve as a final reminder to all that the Tributes, both past and present, have been unjustly punished for acts committed long ago."
There was only scattered applause at this final statement. Obviously not many shared her sentiments about the roles the remaining Victor's played or how the Games should be viewed. Before I hear another word I rush to the adjoining bathroom to my cell. I can feel the bile rising from the pit of my stomach and shortly I taste an acidic version of my awful breakfast. I know that there is no hope for me. I will be in these Final Games. I can only hope that I can prove to the entire country that I am just as much a victim as they. I need to get my story out there. I want all of Panem to know that not even the most prestige of persons in the Capitol were able to get away from the coils of my grandfather, President Snow.
Chapter 1-The Arrival
I stare at the ceiling of what is now my prison cell, twirling my blond hair around my index finger. The ankle bracelet tracker beeps steadily filling the room with sound other than my breathing. My days are long and uneventful since my trial. Once the rebels took over the Capitol I knew my life would turn upside down. I knew my grandfather would be killed and I would be too. I just didn't expect to be sitting around waiting to go into a final arena. I had no chance to defend myself during my trial. Those that were questioned claimed that I was eagerly following in my grandfather's footsteps. They didn't know the exact frequency to which I was forced by gun point, or the occasional injection of Trackerjacker venom, to accomplish my tasks. I hated them for being cheated and thrown to the dogs, just because I legally shared a last name with a cruel tyrant.
"Are you ready Ms. Snow?" a man asks. I hate that name. I didn't even hear the guard enter my former bedroom. I sit up and grab the small duffle bag he hands to me.
"Let's get this shit over with," I say, making my way down the hall and to the hovercraft. There are only a few still left that are operational for the rebels to use. I buckle the straps as the hovercraft lifts into the air. Within a few minutes I close my eyes and think of what it is I'm going to say to try and convince the Victors in District 12 to help me. In a few hours we land in what is still the rubble that is left from the bombing nearly seven months ago. I'm lowered by the ladder and feel my body relax once the force that kept me frozen releases.
"You have one month Ms. Snow," one of Paylor's personal guards shouts from the hovercraft. I look over to the two large women with guns that have been sent along with me. I roll my eyes and start to walk in the direction of the only structure within a mile.
'That must be the Victor's Village for 12, I say to myself. The two women are desperately trying to keep up with my long strides. I'm not very tall, but I have learned to walk with a purpose quickly, so that I could get away from my grandfather without raising too much suspicion.
As I walk over to the white cookie cutter houses I can't help but feel a half smile spread on my lips. 'Why are you smiling Aine', I reprimand myself, 'you're just here to ask for help. Nothing more than that, not yet anyway'. Staying alive is my only goal; I must show my innocence to all of Panem. But I can't help the slight warm and comfortable feeling the sight of the houses brings me, and what I know is waiting inside.
"Hi there," I hear a young man's voice before I see him, "What brings you to District 12?" He sounds a little cautious as he brings his sight up from the small garden patch he was immersed in. I look directly into his blue eyes and immediately recognize him as Peeta Mellark. My mind starts to swim with unpleasant memories.
"I'm here to talk to Haymitch," I say hesitantly. 'Damn it', I curse. I was originally leaning toward asking Katniss Everdeen to help me, but I say his name first.
Peeta looks at me quizzically seeing the two women finally catch up and one grab my arm forcefully.
"Watch it will you," I shout. He lowers his head and snaps it right back up once he caught sight of my ankle bracelet.
"You must be Snow's granddaughter then right?" he asks, "We were told that you might show up." With that he turned around and gestured for me to follow. I pull my arm out of the tight hold and rub my bicep as I follow.
"He's in there," Peeta points to the middle of three lit up houses. I make my way to the porch and knock on the door. No answer.
"Just go right on in, he's probably passed out," Peeta meets me at the door and opens it walking past me. I look around trying to find the source of the pungent smell that creeps into my nostrils. Peeta continues into the house, calling out to Haymitch in case he may be awake.
"What do you want?" I hear a grumble from the kitchen, which is located in the back of the house.
"She's here, she wants to talk to you," I then hear a door shut and Peeta is gone. I make my way into the kitchen and find one of the men that had sealed my fate.
"Haymitch… Abernathy?" I know that it's him, but ask anyway, my breath catching in my throat.
"I repeat. What do you want?" he squints at me. I set my bag down and take a seat in front of him. I've acquired the bad habit of making every home in Panem my home, something that my grandfather taught me.
"I'm sure you know what it is I've come to ask Haymitch," I stare right back at him. I can see the same grey eyes as mine glaring right back.
"I want a mentor," I say flatly. I'm trying my best to keep on a neutral mask, but I can tell that my eyes are betraying me. I'm scared to death of going into this arena, and yet excited to be where I am at this very moment. After a few minutes of silence, Haymitch starts to laugh.
"Out of the other Victors you want my help?" he shakes his head, "Sweetheart, there is nothing-" I hold up a single bottle and he shuts up immediately.
"You were saying?" I pass the bottle over to him, "How shall we start? As I'm sure you know, those that have been picked as tributes have been allowed to take advantage of training before the Reaping. My guess is that the bloodbath would just be pathetic in the eyes of the Districts if we didn't." Haymitch opened the bottle and took a big swig of the clear liquid.
"Hold your horses there girly-"
"My name is Aine. I'm 25 years old, older than both of your previous Victors, so don't call me girly," I correct him. 'You're defiance is showing' I hear my grandfather' voice in my head and I cringe.
"Well excuse me…Aine," he mocks. We stare at one another, until finally a light cough brings me back to the task at hand. The Girl on Fire, the Mockingjay, is standing right behind Haymitch, her fist full holding two dead rabbits.
"Katniss Everdeen," I nod in her direction.
"Here Haymitch," she places the rabbits in front of him on the table, her eyes never leaving mine. Again I am greeted with similar eyes to my own.
"Are you two related," I blurt out, not thinking. The two give a quick exchange and burst out into laughter. My cheeks redden just slightly at my own stupid question. 'Of course they aren't related, why were you hoping that?' I just blame my raising anxiety on my lapse.
"No, we're just both from the Seam. An area that used to be a part of the District," Haymitch finally answered. Katniss then took a seat at the table to my left.
"You've come for advice haven't you?" she asks. I'm finally able to detect the hint of loathing in her stare.
"I want a mentor. I only have a few skills that I was able to successfully hide from my grandfather that may be useful," I don't know why I spilled that information so quickly. Both Katniss and Haymitch give me a questioning glance, and then exchange another look. The three of them must have their own language by now, especially since they are just part of the handful of people that are back in District 12.
"You look older than most tributes," she tells me, "Are you one of the tributes that were found guilty of your own crimes?" I know that she's just trying to rub this well-known information in, like salt into an open wound, by her tone.
"I'm 25," my patience is already wearing thin from the scrutiny and I can feel the anxiety rising even more in my chest.
"What exactly do you expect us to be able to do for you?" Haymitch takes another swig of the liquor I gave him.
"Help me stay alive," I say, "I'm innocent-"
"Innocent my ass," Haymitch scoffs to himself, rolling his eyes. I stare at him and look back to Katniss. Neither of them believes me. 'Why would they? Look whose name I share and all the half-truths about me brought to light.'
"I am innocent. I was wrongfully accused of those charges by the War Tribunal. I will prove it to you if I must, but right now I need to know if you- either of you- will be a mentor for me," The silence fills the room and yet again my ankle bracelet becomes the only noise.
"Look I don't want to be here just as much as you don't want me here, but I am desperate. I only have one month," I finally choke out. I'm sure my heartbeat is betraying me with how loud it has become in the small silent room.
"I'll consider it," Haymitch finally says. I feel my breath finally relax out of my body, "But on one condition. You get me more of this." He holds up the alcohol.
"What can you do?" Katniss now asks, ignoring him altogether, "You mentioned that you had hidden skills? What do you mean?"
"I learned a few things without my grandfather's permission or knowledge," I explain, "I was able to convince some of the Peacekeepers that worked in the mansion to teach me some basic combat moves."
"Well you should be just fine then," Haymitch stood up and headed out to the living room, "Go back to your beautiful cell, sweetheart. There's nothing more any of us can do for you in a single month." I get up from my spot and follow him, Katniss trailing behind.
"Please," I cry, "You have to mentor two tributes anyway." He keeps walking up the staircase. The anxiety keeps building. I didn't expect my emotions to be this difficult for me and resisted the urge to scream at him.
"I have information that you might want to know." This gets his attention. He turns toward me, bottle still in hand.
"What on earth could you know?" he eyes me suspiciously.
"Get me out of that arena alive and I'll tell you." I counter. There's no hesitation in my voice.
"You're bluffing." He turns back away and heads up the stairs. I look back toward Katniss. She's looking me straight in the eye.
"I'll talk to him. I'll try to help prepare you, but I'm not going to be your mentor." With that she followed Haymitch upstairs. I heard the knocking and muffled dialogue and few shouts even. About 20 minutes later Katniss makes her way back down.
"There is a guest bedroom at the end of the hall where you can stay. You're guards can stay down here in the living room." She tells me, "You and I will start some of that additional training in the morning."
I don't know what it was that made Katniss agree to help, but I'm grateful that she did. I head up the stairs and hear a faint snoring come from behind what must be Haymitch's room. I have very little with me so I don't bother to unpack. I strip down to my underclothes and slip into the bed. I lay for a few hours before finally drifting off to sleep.