Hiya. I know some people are still waiting are for the next chapter of my Twilight/Harry Potter cross-over, Before the Vampires, but in my period of writers block, I wrote this. It is all OC's. This is the 56th Hunger Games. The story of two unfortunant twins, who are pitted against each other in the Games. Obviously the title came from Taylor Swift's "Safe and Sound". Review and let me know if I should continue, and just let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: I, Phantomfur's Froststorm, do not own Susan Collin's The Hunger Games, or Taylor Swift's "Safe and Sound". I do how ever own all the characters in this story.
Safe & Sound
"This CAN'T be happening." I whimpered. "It can't be." My entire body shook as I held my best friend's hand. Kelsey Nipper stood loyally at my side, doing her very best to calm me down. But the tears streaked down my face faster than she could wipe them away. Sobs racked my entire body as my boyfriend ran in the room and hugged me, kissing my forehead. Tyler Boyd rubbed my back as Kelsey cradled one of my hands in both of hers. "It can't be."
"Honey…" Tyler began at the same time Kelsey said, "Rachie." I sobbed harder, my muffled moans turning into shrieks of agony, probably most of District 11 could hear. In the next room the shrieks echoed by the room's inhabitants. My family. "Honey…" Tyler began again. "It's okay. Ok so it's not, but it can't get any worse. I'm gonna take that back. You could die-iyiyiyi-I'm gonna shut up now." Tyler stuttered, trying to choose his words carefully. Not that it matters. My fate is already sealed. In an hour I will board a train, and leave for the arena. I have been selected for the 56th Hunger Games. In a few short weeks, I will be dead. How am I to survive? The weak, scrawny, fruit-picker from District 11, the agriculture district. I will be tossed in a ring with 23 other kids desperate for survival. One of them is my twin brother, Jacob.
Tyler and Kelsey held me. Karmin and Sean were doing the same in the next room for Jacob, and we all six wept. Because even if one of us returned home, the other wouldn't. Cruel fate pitted me against my own brother. This sucks.
"My talent?" I asked stupidly a few days later in training. The victor from district 11, Michael, sighed and rolled his eyes.
"What do you plan to do to survive, doll face?"
"My brother is an archer."
"Honey, I don't want to know about your brother. I want to know about YOUR talents." Michael sighed again, running his hands through his ginger hair. What was that old folk legend about Gingers? Oh yeah! They have no souls! I quietly chuckled to myself, as Michael rubbed his head in frustration.
"I can climb trees," I said more seriously. "And I was always the best at hiding."
Michael nodded. "Good."
"And daggers. I can throw knives to knock fruit out of the trees!"
"Now that's what I'm talking about, angel!" Michael said with true excitement. "Now let's get to work!"
The next few days flew by in a blur. Michael had me throwing knives better than I had been, and I had managed to make myself nearly invisible when I climbed trees. Unfortunately, with all my training, I hadn't had time to spend with my brother. So the day after we performed for the judges, we sat together, holding hands, waiting for our results.
"I remember tears streaming down your face, when I said 'I'll never let you go.' When all those shadows almost killed your light." Jacob sang to me quietly. I immediately recognized the lullaby our grandmother taught us before she died. "I remember you said, 'Don't leave me here alone.' But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight." The song had a haunting quality to it. Grandma called it "Safe and Sound." I sang the next lines quietly.
"Just close your eyes. The sun is going down. You'll be alright. No one can hurt you now. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound." Jake smiled at me and squeezed my hand. Then he started the next line.
"Tributes!" President Black called, and Jacob quit singing. "Here are the scores." Black began calling out names. Jacob was 6th for archery. No doubt. I was 18th for knife throwing and camouflage. I grimaced and bit my lip. 18th… out of 24. I nervously glanced at Jacob, who simply kissed my forehead. "Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound."
