I sat on the dew filled grass and stared at the stars in the sky.
I remember when my father would take me here to watch them. He said they are our guide, he said to follow them if we get lost, so that is what I do now, follow the stars.
I closed my eyes and smelled the sweet aroma of the pine trees around me. My stomach growled and I tried to quiet it. Their was no food at the house of which I could eat. Well there wad some my mother had put away for tonight, that was needed for tonight. My portion of the food this morning I chose to set aside for Daniel. He was always so thin and tiny, and he needed food more than I. We would have starved to death this last year had it not been for Lee Hanson.
I sigh as I think of Lee. His soft, dark hair and his warm brown eyes that always seemed to draw me in. He was mine, all mine, or at least for the time being. We have not made our relationship known yet, he was the son of the Mayor and I was the poor girl that lived in a shack.
It didn't matter I was the daughter of Obidiah Wren. Their precious Victor of the 48th Hunger Games, no none of that mattered, not anymore. I remember a time when I didn't go without food, when I lived in a warm, nice house, but that all changed the day father died. The Peacekeepers kicked us out two days after he died. Since then none of my heritage has mattered.
I sighed when the sun just barely peaked over the horizon and turned to go back home. I smile at the trees and start walking home. This small clump of trees was my oasis inside this hell hole of a District.
There was an eerie silence as I walked home. Today was reaping day, you might as well sleep in and enjoy the peace while you have it. I push open the door and instantly hear Daniel breathing in little puffs. My "house" was nothing much. it was a two room tiny shack that the roof constantly leaked. We bathed and washed in the smaller room and slept, cooked, lived in the other room.
I walk over to where Danny and my mother are curled up with another for warmth. I lean down and kiss his forehead. He was my happiness in this dark, dark place. I take two steps toward the door and trip over a ball of fur. I catch myself, but the thing I tripped over is howling. I grab it and try to silence it.
"Shut up!" I hiss in its ear.
I clamp my hand over the puppy's mouth until it is silent. I sigh and let her go. It was a miracle mom didn't wake up. I frown at the puppy. It wasn't even a proper dog. Some wild dog had managed to squeeze through the fence that surrounds our lovely prison and decided to have puppies right behind our house. If it wasn't for Danny I probably wouldn't have kept the thing.
I sigh and look around, "Where's your brother?" I ask, not expecting an answer.
I walk into our wash room and see my little Draco curled up in a ball. I smile and pick him up. He was my little baby. If anyone would ask I would say he was Danny's, but technically he was mine. His sister, Belle was a menace, but Draco was perfect. He was all different shades of brown, his ears were so dark the were almost black, and he had a tiny white spot on his chest.
He yawned and blinked a few times then licked my face. I smiled and heard a faint knock. I set Draco down and walked to the door to find Lee standing there. Before my lips can form his name, he embraces me in a hug.
"Lee, what is it?" I asked, he was acting strange.
He pulls back and studies my gave as if it will be the last time he will see it. "Elise, you know I love you, don't you?"He looks so desperate as if he is going to die right then and there.
I hug him, "You know I do."
He grabs my hand and looks me in the eye. "We have to leave, now. We can do it, survive in the wild, you could hunt and I . . . I could do something."
I look at him confused. "Lee what the heck is going on?"
He looks at my and sadness is flooding his gorgeous brown eyes, making him seem so pitiful. He hugs me and smells my hair. We stay like this for awhile until he breaks the silence, "I hate the Capitol." Rage was clear in is voice and I had never seen him this angry.
I pulled back and whisper, "Lee . . ."
He sighs and looks away. When he looks back he looks scared, "Elise, comeback for me." I look at him confused, then it hits me like a ton of rocks. "Lee . . ?" I ask going out in forbidden ground.
"This year it doesn't matter how many slips you have, there-" His voice cracks and I stand there silently, trying to process everything. Then he finishes, "They all say Elise Wren." I stay quiet and absorb this information that had been thrown at me. I am the duaghter of a Victor. The Capitol was getting bored so I am their entertainment. They are putting me in to spice things up. "Lee, swear to me you'll take care of Daniel and mom, swear it."
He looks at ne and grabs my hands, "I swear to you. I promise I'll take care of them." I hug him and breathe in. He smells like vanilla.
"Wait for me. I plan on coming back." I whisper in his ear.
He kisses me on the forehead, "Always, Elise, always." We stay like this for quite awhile until he has to go. I grab his hand as he turns to leave. "I love you." I barely whisper. He hugs me and kisses my head. "I know, I know." And with that he leaves.
I turn to go back to the house and get ready. I wake mother and Danny, after I see them eating I go get ready. I take a bath in warm water and put on a faded green color dress that comes a little past my knees. Lee gave it to me for my birthday. How he got it I will never know. I pull out some sandals and put them on. I brush my blond locks and put them up in intricate bun with a few curls down to frame my face.
I walk out to see Daniel in his best pants and a crisp white shirt. I smile and ruffle his hair. Daniel swats away my hand and frowns at me. He is only ten so I don't have to worry about him yet. I smile and walk outside and wait for mother to come outside. When we leave it is 11:30 and I'm still not ready for what's to come.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hunger GGames.I own Elise, Danny, their mom and Lee.
