Authors Note: I do not own any of these characters except Maggie and her family (Well except Mag haha). But anyways enjoy(:
Technically, I was dead. My heart had stopped. But my brain hadn't. the cannon had shot. The hovercraft came to take me away. My picture would appear at the end of the night, followed by the other dead tributes, then the anthem. I was 'dead' for approximately 3 minutes. The doctors screamed as I sat up. I guess I was screaming when I 'arouse from the dead'.
Nobody knows my name. Or how I defied the capitol. Nobody knows I exists. With respect to a few family members and close friends. Oh and the Capitol. You also cant forget our Head Peacekeeper. Let me take you to where my story beings, instead of just flipping to the ending. But not really the ending.
It's the day of the reaping. The streets are empty. Everyone is in their houses. No boats at sea. This is the worst day / weeks of the entire year. Each district would offer a tribute of One Boy and One Girl between the ages of 12-18 to participate in the annual Hunger Games. Yadda-yadda we had all heard this before. I crept slowly out of my house, trying not to wake my sisters, Abigal and Aryelle, and my mother. Father is already gone.
I slip on my boots as I walk out the door. I slowly walk around the house, and through the hole in the gate surrounding District 4. Strangely this part of the fence is never on. I pass through the hole with no straggle, and follow the footsteps of my father. When I reach him he is standing next to my best friend, Finnick Odair, who is one sexy mamajama. Finnick was the victor of the 65 Hunger Games at the age of 14, making him the youngest victor of all time. Every girl in the Capitol, heck maybe every girl in all of Panem, wants him. The girls in District 4 are very jealous, I even get jealous of myself at times. Finnick is not wearing a tee-shirt,
"We thought you would never show, Maggie" says my father.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." I replied. "Finnick, put I shirt on" I add as I smile, a smile that everyone says could knock any guy to their knees, My Winning Smile.
Finnick decided to strike a pose. " Do I, intimate you?" he said with his smile.
I smiled back at him " Only if I was a 15 year old girl in town."
" Touche" is all he said.
"You two need to stop flirting and help me. I want to get these katniss roots for the dinner tonight,"
For the next hour and a half me, my father, and Finnick was picking berries, katniss roots, and splashing each other with the warm water of the lake. I could stay in this moment forever.
My father looked at his watch, and said " Its 3:00. We should all go home and get ready for today. Especially you, Finnick."
We both groaned in union. But since Finnick has already been through the Games, he doesn't have to face the Reaping. But he has to mentor one of the tributes.
As we walked back to my slightly shabby house, more nice than another other of the houses in my part of District 4, we walk in silence carrying our findings of the day. When we get back Finnick helps us organize our findings on our table, then escapes the watchful eyes of my mother, who just got done with Abigals hair and is starting on Aryelles. Before he goes to far, I follow him out the door.
"Umm goodbye, Finnick." I say. Of course he turned.
"See you later, before I have to leave with the tributes to the Capitol. Ill miss you" he drags out the you seeming to add extra U's onto the word. He gives me a hug and leaves me to face my mother. I walk in silently.
"May the odds be ever in your favor!" he says the accent a Capitol official would use.
"Look at you! You look a big mess! Being in those woods. You look like a tree! " my mother yells when I get into the house. She sends me straight to the tub, were I run warm water from the faucet. I take a quick bath and when I return my mother gives me a once over/
"Much better, Maggie." she gives approvingly. I let her braid my hair into a fishtail braid, that slings over my left shoulder. My dirty blonde hair gets tied with a ribbon. I then put on my newest outfit that is especially for the reaping today. It was a red knee length sleeveless dress. I adored it. When I was done getting ready I looked in the mirror my grandmother had given us. I felt to dressed up for such a horrid day.
We all took a deep breath, with the thought that we would return. Even if were called, a Career would defiantly take our place.
There I was, standing with a bunch of girls my age. All 15. They were staring at Finnick up on the stage. Next to him sat Mag, my grandmother and Finnicks mentor. That was how we met. I was also named after my grandmother. Finnick waved to me and a ton of girls almost fainted, thinking it was to them 'til they saw me standing there. I gave a wave and a smile in return. The girls' looked at me with envy.
You could tell the moment the reaping had officially started. The entire crowd got silent with out even a warning. My eyes moved from the gaze of Finnicks, to the two large glass bowls, filled to the top with a slip of paper. Somewhere my name is in there 4 times. I am one of the lucky kids that don't have to take out tesserae , because my grandmother is a victor. Even though we are one of the wealthiest Districts, poverty still reins here.
The Anthem starts. Followed by how the Hunger Games came to be, and the fall of District 13. To keep the other Districts in line.
"Ladies first!" says Maryina Addintone, the announcer that always comes here. Every time I watch the re-plays of the reaping, every person has the Capitols strange look. And strange voice. Its hard not to laugh at the accent.
Maryina Addintones voice carried through the silent crowd. Everyone watched in anticipation.
"Lyliana Gamers!" she said. I heard a loud whimper from the group of girls that composes the 17 year olds. I watched as Lyliana walked up to the stage, her face already red with tears. In this instance I caught a glimmer of something shiny in her hands. I felt bad for her.
As she stepped up there, a smile ceased her lips. Maryina was about to draw for the boy tribute when Lyliana yelled in rage, and horror. She lifted what seemed to be a knife above her heart. I could hear the crowds anticipation again. The horror in there faces.
"I AM NOT APART OF YOUR GAMES!" she yelled as the knife retched into the spot of her heart, spilling blood everywhere. This is live TV. It cannot be cut out. But it will in the re-plays. The tribute has died.
Stunned faces everywhere. Will there be no girl tribute of District 4? What will the Capitol think? Another uprising? Will we be exterminated because of act of a simple mind…..
"Well that was very tragic. But in the circumstances that this tragedy was never planned for, we have agreed to just choose another tribute for the girls." Maryinas Capitols' voice floated into the air, while interrupting my thoughts. Just choose another tribute? That's preposterous!
"Now" Maryinas voice broke the silence that was so silent, you could hear your neighbors', neighbors' heart beating. Maryina dug her hand into the glass bowl with the girls' names in it. She pulled out a slip of paper.
" Magina Ludwig!" The name hung in the air. A victors granddaughter. A victors best friend. And now possibly a dead tribute. The guards caught me off guard as the grabbed me, and make sure I have no weapons on me. I was drug up the stage. In the silence I heard Finnick give a huge gasp, and see my grandmothers old body faint. She would have fallen out of the chair, but Finnick was quick thinking and grabbed her before she could. The realization had o hit everyone. It then sunk in. the gasps could be heard. My entire family wept. I waited for a Career to volunteer, but after 2 minutes of silence asking for a volunteer, nothing happened. I composed my face. I wanted to look strong.
"Now for the boys!" Maryina said, not realizing what I obviously meant to everyone. Her hand grabbed out a paper. She opened it and then said in a loud executive tone. "Hayne Garpetti!"
This boy. I knew who he was. And he was now in his last year of the Games drawing. And 18 year old. This boy was my older sisters boyfriend. They dated in secrecy, only me knowing. He was my worst enemy….
And now with the worried look in Finnicks eyes, I realized something.
I was in the Hunger Games, to fight for the Capitols entertainment.
I was going to die.