Family Fought
The 85th Hunger Games from District 12
A Hunger Games Fanfic
"As usual, ladies first." Effie Trinket says, per usual. Every reaping day, every year. Feeling my stomach clench into knots, I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath, praying and hoping it wouldn't be me. My name is in there quite a few times - not as many as Freeja Hellingdon, the head miner's daughter.
"Harper Kelton."
Heads turn as the name rings through my head and my entire world collapses.
I'm going to the arena.
My blood runs thin and cold, as I take a hasty step forward. Why? Why did this happen?
I shook myself awake, crying, shaking and my arms stung. Stupid nightmare, must have made me scratch myself in my sleep. A rather unusual habit and it wouldn't stop now, not today. My arms would be red raw by 2pm, very innapropriate for a reaping day.
I sat up and wiped by bleary eyes, seeing my twin brother, Hexon. This is our 3rd reaping, and it never gets any better. He was curled up, his dark brown hair in tufts, his pale skin being reflected by the slight sunlight we were getting through the cracked roof.
I pulled the blanket off myself and shook Hexon awake.
"Harper what are you doing?" Hexon yawned, "we should sleep more. It's reaping day, we're allowed!"
"I... I can't. Nightmare. These damned reaping days scar me, watching the innocent kids go away. Hexon, promise me we'll never do that. We'll never get chosen."
Hexon sighed and sat up, shaking his head.
"I can't promise that. It's the luck of the ball. We've signed up for the tesserae 3 times each, who knows what will happen?"
I shrugged, running my fingers through my dark, wavy hair. I stood up and decided to go downstairs, to see if mum was up. No doubt she would have chosen the best outfits we have, cooked a broth of vegetables and maybe even bought a loaf of bread from the Mellarks. Their son, Peeta isn't elligible for the reaping's yet, being only 7.
"Mum? You awake?" I call out from the stairs. She doesn't answer, but I catch a glimpse of her brown hair, tied up in a messy bun. The pot of vegetable broth is sat on the side, with 3 bowls stacked next to it waiting to be served. Skipping the last two steps, I sit down next to her at the table and hold her cold, dry hands. She's been washing the clothes, I bet.
"Mum, I promise you we'll be fine. This time tomorrow, we'll be sitting here having vegetable broth as per normal, before me and Hexon go to school."
Mum stared back at me and weakly smiled.
"Harper, never forget I will always love you. No matter what happens. You and Hexon are my life, ever since your father..." she choked on the words. Father had been caught stealing berries from under the fence into the woods. As far as I know, he's either an Avox or dead. I'm betting on the latter, since our Peacekeeper at the time was a brutal man and probably over exaggerated dad's crimes, or even finished him off himself.
"Come on, go get ready. Tell Hexon his clothes are down here."
I nod, wavering slightly. My dream reoccuring over and over. I'm being silly, I know it, but a small part of me says I'm not kidding myself.
"I heard." Hexon suddenly appears by my side and smiles , he looks at mum and skips the last step as I did, running to her side and hugging her.
I let them have their moment, and find my freshly washed dress. A baby blue dress, 3 white buttons and a small belt through the middle. I took the dress and rushed up to the bedroom, taking off my worn out pyjamas and slipping into the dress. I admired myself in the mirror, the way the dress folds over the belt, giving it a looser look.
"Mum wants to do your hair, Harp. Mine just needed a comb." I whip round to find Hexon standing in the doorway, holding his folded clothes with puffy eyes. I immediately rush over, take the folded clothes and plonk them on the bed, before throwing my arms around him and hugging my twin. My other half. I've always been close to Hexon, as if he's actually a part of me, that if I lost would kill me.
"I love you, Hexon. Never leave me." I choke out between sobs.
"I promise. Harper, listen I promise. You're my twin. Whatever I promise myself I automatically promise you."
I pull away, wipe my tear streaked face and plod down the stairs. Mum said she'd do my hair a different way today, a side fishtail braid.
I feel the strands of my hair being twisted and held in place by my mother's strong fingers. The hair slides slipping into place and finally ended with an elastic band at the end.
We eat in silence. Hearing the stage being set up and Peacekeepers rolling in to make sure we're all there on time unless otherwise noted. Mum's hands shake uncontrollably and in the end she has to go lie down for a few minutes.
"It must be about 1 now. In an hour all the District 12 kids will be filing into the places, we'll listen to Effie's posh Capitol accent, and then the dreaded names will be pulled out." Hexon says with a hint of frustration.
"Then that's that for another year. We'll be forced to watch the interviews and the training and then the arena shall be filled with blood and death." I add.
The dreaded siren rings just as mum walks out of the bedroom. She's let her hair down and got a blouse and skirt from the drawer. She looks like she did before dad was taken away.
Me and Hexon walk together, hand in hand and line up. We're soon at the front, signed in and standing in the specified categories.
Ba-boom. Effie Trinket taps the microphone. This year, she has a light purple wig. Capitol trends are very hard to keep up with.
"Happy Hunger Games!" her voice cheery as ever, "and, may the odds be ever in your favour!"
I wanted to roll my eyes. The odds are never in the tributes of District 12's favour, we're always ridiculed for being the weakest tributes.
"It's time to select one courageous man and woman to be the volunteers for District 12. As usual, ladies first."
I squeeze my eyes shut as my stomach knots. Feeling dizzy and sick, I open my eyes as the words ring through my ears.
And then the words hit me properly and mean something.
"Harper Kelton."
The name, my name, bounces around my head and I start clawing my arm. Hastily taking a step forward, my world spins. The Peacekeepers steady me and help me up to the stage. The dream was true. My dream was true. I'm a tribute. I have to go to the arena. My mind is screaming, terrified of the upcoming weeks.
"And now the boys."
I stare at the audience, catching Hexon's eye. He's wild with fright. His arms are trembling.
I hear the paper unfolding. And again, the words hit me like a brick.
"O-oh my. Hexon Kelton."
Staring at Hexon's brown eyes, wild with fear. He staggers to the Peacekeepers and is helped up to the stage.
"My my, very interesting. I'm guessing you are brother and sister, yes?" Effie asks.
"Twins." I mumble
"I'm sorry, speak up darling."
"Twins." Hexon repeats for me.
And the realisation hits me with a jolt.
By the end of the games, either me, Hexon or maybe both will be dead.