Chapter One.
PART I: THE TRIBUTES.
The Reaping.
The early morning sea was calm and peaceful. Spraying from the cold morning sea is carried by the gentle breeze pastes my face and dampens my short hair. District 4 is Panem's fishing districts and its soul purpose of existence is to fish and harvest our large range of fish for the people of the Capitol. Thankfully, I have an undying love for the water and my biggest strength is swimming which is probably why I am aloud to work on the weekends on the fishing crew.
In the palm of my hand, the handle of my short bladed knife is gripped firmly by my fingers but I wasn't planning on capturing or gutting any helpless creatures, certainly not today of all days, but a strange sense of comfort fills me knowing I have a weapon of choice if the worst should happen.
Reaping day is the one day of the year that is dreaded by all twelve to eighteen-year-olds along with the families of these children as over the period of several hours, twenty-four families will say goodbye to their child or siblings, as over the space of several weeks, twenty-three will bury their children after they watch them die. Siblings will lose their play-mates and girlfriends/boyfriends will lose their other half's. You become eligible for the reaping the day you turn twelve. That year, your name is entered once into the pool of names. At thirteen, twice and so on and so on until you reach eighteen, the last year of eligibility when your name goes into the pool a total of seven times. That is true for every citizen in all twelve districts in the entire county of Panem.
However, the poorer districts such as 11 and 12 many young children who are starving or struggling can opt to add their name more times into the pool in exchange for tesserae,which involves a year supply of grain and oil for on person. Due to Michael's Victor statues, we do not need to opt for anything, we have more money than we need, so this year, at the age of sixteen, my name is entered six times.
Each of the twelve districts are required to reap one male and one female called tribute who will be taken to the Capitol, trained and interviewed before being placed into a vast outdoor arena that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland. In this arena is where these twenty-four tributes will be forced to fight to the death until only one if left alive. The Victor.
I wasn't far from the wooden docks of the harbour when a distant voice calls my name causing me to drag away my attention away from the outstretch of sea laced with mist, I turned my head towards the building of my district to see at the edge of the dock walkway was the Harbour Manager, Louis, waving frantically beckoning me to the shore.
A burst of air released from my lungs turning into condensation once passed my lips giving me the childish feel that I was a dragon before I slipped my knife back onto my leather pouch then concealing it in the pocket of my black trench coat. I pulled the cord at the front of the small engine revving it to life with a splatter before they evened out to push the wooden holder to the wooden docks.
"How come your up so early; don't you know what day it is?" Louis asks offering me a helping hand out of the boat.
Reaping day is the only day throughout Panem that everyone lays in and no one shows up for work. Time along with all life seems to stand still within the districts as very family tries to value what could be the last hours with their children.
I shrug lightly, "Couldn't sleep." I admit to him, it isn't unnatural for children to have poor night sleeps including nightmares before reaping, "What are you doing up?" I ask as we walk up the dock together. Louis has no children but a wife named Lucy, I suspect the reason they have no children due to fear of them getting reaped. He shrugs like I did before fixing his dirty blonde hair which is hidden beneath a dark blue, tattered woollen hair. He more leather boots to his knees with jeans and a long overcoat made from thin material as it is slightly humid despite the early hours.
He slaps my shoulder in a friendly manor, "Me neither, kiddo." he says as he leads me inside the wooden cabin at the edge of the harbour. This small space acted as a hangout for fishermen, alcohol is hidden beneath a section of the floorboards, this spare space is used as a staff room, at the beginning of the day the workers come in and dump their belongings before trailing off to the ships, then at the end of a hard day, drinks are on the house. I take a seat at one of the circular lunch tables watching Louis as he flicks the kettle on before preparing two cups then taking the seat opposite me.
My father died when I was six, an accident whilst fishing during a storm took him away from us, but luckily by then I was well known amongst the group and despite not being any help to them, I was still allow to go out on jobs if the weather was nice and calm. In fact, the men on-board the fishing crew nicknamed me Starfish, never really made sense to me either but people say that the reason for my pageboy haircut was due to the dominate male surroundings growing the age of fourteen, my mother remarried leaving me at the mercy of my elder brother Michael who is a Hunger Games victor from three years previous, so from the age of thirteen I have been living inside Victor's Village.
"Nervous?" Louis asks me as he slides a mug of steaming hot tea across the tented tabletop to me.
I scoff lightly squeezing the cup tightly, "Is the Earth round?" I ask him. Louis laughs nervously with me. Only Districts 1 and 2 tributes aren't nervous about the reaping's, most are volunteers and are trained before hand which technically is illegal but it does happen here in Four as well. Finnick Odair is a perfect example of a pre-trained tribute as he won his games at fourteen. Youngest Victor ever. Growing up in the third wealthiest district does have its perks, no poverty, good schooling and money making jobs which naturally makes important muscles which as our arms, back and legs healthier. Plus our tributes are usually Capitol favourites which gets us good sponsors which helps them last longer in the Games.
Lost in thought I looked up to see Louis looking at me through his emerald green eyes, I raised my half full cup of tea in a toasting gesture. "Happy Hunger Games!" I say in a gruff, low voice in an attempt to sound like Panem's President Snow.
"And may the odds be ever in your favour!" Louis says in an hilarious high-pitched, fake Capitol accent in a very well done impersonation to sound like District 4's escort Dieter Rollo. We fall into a pit of hysteric laughter before finishing our drinks in an abrupt silence before I give Louis a thankful smile before pushing out my chair from beneath me and standing up. Despite the reaping not being until two I am in need of a very good shower and to find something other than jeans and short sleeved shirts to wear as you are required to be formally dressed to the reaping.
"I will see you at the reaping." I say before stepping over to the door and taking the handle in my hand then turning back to look at Louis.
"Make sure you wear something pretty. And don't forget to come see your fishing family after." he says with a positive smile, I grin back.
Victor's Village is on the outskirts of District 4, on the opposite side of the harbour. The city center is silent as I plod through with my hands tucked inside my coat pockets. District 4 has a strange pride of remembering fallen and winning tributes. Two stone pyramids are placed at the back of the city center, one with plaques naming lost tributes and the year of their games. The other stone pyramid names the tributes who have become victors, including the year of their game date. So far there was only two female names on the victor pyramids: Mags Cohen – 13th Hunger Games and Annie Cresta – 70th Hunger Games. The pyramid also houses the names of two male Victors including my brother: Michael Hollern – 81st Hunger Games and Finnick Odair – 65th Hunger Games.
Our house in Victor's Village is the second house on the right, coincidently it is number four. Across from us Mags lives with her husband in number three and Finnick and Annie live in number two to our left. Sometimes I hear Annie scream at night, she begs for her life and asks for her district partner back in her sleep. That is what The Games do to you. They take everything you are and turn your sanity upside-down, all to prevent another uprising, to make us all remember we are completely at the mercy of the Capitol and if we step out of line, firebombs will wipe us and everyone we love away and plough us under the ground like they did District 13.
Michael is asleep still when I sneak in locking the door behind myself. I remove my boots before doing the same to my coat, I took the knife from the pocket of the coat before placing them by the front door. The stairs creak beneath my feet as I tiptoe up them and pass my brothers bedroom like a cat, trying my best not to disturb him. Michael's heavy snores fill the landing's atmosphere masking my movements. The snores are silenced by the closing of my thick wooden door. The room behind the door was large considering how little it contained. Opposite the door way pressed up the wall below the bay windows was my double bed, its bedsheets are neatly tucked in their correct positions, to the beds left next to my small en-suite bathroom was a desk that served no purpose expect holding my school bag and above it was a shelve which was decorated in family photos and my favourite books, to the right of my bed along the wall was a wardrobe, full length mirror and dressing table.
I throw my pocket knife onto my bed before pealing off my damp clothing and throwing them into the hamper inside the bathroom to stand naked waiting for the water being released from the shower head to turn warm. Once it had, I stood motionless under the water as the heat soothes and loosens my muscles. I run the flat palm my hands from the front of my hairline to the base of my skull flattening and draining all the excess water from my hair strands. I step out of the bathtub and wrap a towel around my body before adventuring back into my bedroom to pick out a dress for the reaping.
My damp hands wonder over the soft fabric which makes up the three dresses that hung neatly in my wardrobe. I remove the simplest dress from the unit which happens to be a dark blue garment and held it in front of my body to study my image in the dirty mirror beside it. The dress comes just below my knees with short sleeves that are laced with white lace for decoration around the neckline. I breath in deeply before releasing it gently as I place the dress onto my bed. As I comb through my hair, a knock erupts from the other side of my bedroom door interrupting my train of thought.
"Are you awake?" the gruff morning voice of Michael asks through the wooden doors.
I nod to myself before realising he cannot see me, "Yes." I call back quickly.
"Food is on the table downstairs, I'd hurry up before it gets cold." he informs me before his footsteps trail away from my door.
A growl echoes from my stomach making me aware of the underlying hunger I was feeling. The dress fitted like a glove luckily so I do not need to worry about alternatives, I fix the ribbon around the middle like a cheap belt and tie it up at the base of my back. With a fake crystal clip, I section off the right side of my hair pinning it backwards to reveal my pierced right ear and left my fringe to curl softly down the other side of my face. Flopping onto my belly and sliding like a penguin underneath my bed to dig out my flat black shoes before travelling downstairs where the smell of food is strong and inviting.
Across the table are various plates, some hold rashes of bacon and others hold pancakes. In the middle of the table is a metal bread holder keeping the toast standing up and a basket at the end cradles fresh fruit. Michael sits at the table motionless staring into the black mist of the cup of coffee he grips tightly in his hands, steam rises from the liquid inside gently skimming his face and the protective layer over his eyes without any reaction from him. Michael still has nightmares about The Games, like Annie I have heard him screamed for his life, endless nights I have cradled him like he is the child, being extra careful of the blade he keeps hidden beneath his pillow.
My footsteps echo through the silent kitchen startling Michael from his memorized state. His pale jade eyes shoot up to me as I enter further into the room, he smiles gently but the smile doesn't reach his eyes as he lifts the cup of hot liquid to his lips, "You look pretty." he muffles the comment flatteringly into the cup.
Heat rushes to my face as I smile weakly, "Thank you." I say walking over to the table and taking the seat opposite my brother and took to the task of loading my plate up with bacon rashes, pancakes, several freshly baked rolls and a apple, but awkwardly my eyes were far bigger than my stomach when I filled my plate as I only ended up pulling apart the roll into small chunks and eating it slowly. Michael's eyes burn holes into my forehead as I eat trying to avoid his gaze until I cannot pretend that I am not noticing his glare.
My eyes dart upwards to meet his before he has the chance to turn away. "What are you staring at?" I ask.
Michael's eyes flicker from mine covering every section of my upper body before meeting my eyes again, "Is that Maria's dress?" he asks in a whisper. A solid lump forms in my throat as I turn away to look down at my plate of food before I nod. From the upper section of my eyes I watch all of the colour from Michael's face drain and his features drop every single emotion until he is expressionless. He take a deep breath before turning away from me compeletly to get up and leave the kitchen.
I must have been sat there for hours as I force myself to swallow the now tasteless food, maybe I should go change? No. My stomach doesn't allow me to eat anymore after I had finished my bread roll and rashes of bacon so instead I clean away mine and Michael's plate before putting away the unused food.
At half twelve, the sound of the doorbell brings Michael out of hiding, he carries a bag which I have no idea what it contains, Michael along with the other District 4 Victor's are gathered up by Peacekeepers to be escorted to the Justice Building which is in front of the square to have a meeting with the Mayor. Before he leaves, Michael makes the effort to hug me as if I am a diseased and ill person. I guess it is so he doesn't get attached but after the reaping, I am to live alone here until The Hunger Games finish and a Victor is blessed upon us.
"I love you." I mumble.
He smiles faintly before kissing the top of my head, "I will see you in several weeks." he says before trailing down the steps. I stand in the doorway as he along with Finnick and Annie wait for the Peacekeepers to collect Mags from her home. Annie catches sight of me and smiles with incredible happiness at me from the street between the houses. Finnick, who has his hand tightly in hers, turns to smile at me as well, which eyes that say 'good luck'. I give them a friendly nod before turning and walking back to enter the house.
At one o'clock, I leave the house and head to the square for sign in. Attendance is mandatory unless you are on death's door, other than that being the sibling of a Victor does not grant you any sort of immunity. Only death grants you immunity from The Games. Even then officials will come around to check if that is the case, but really, what is the difference?
I line up in the female queue instructed for my age group of sixteen. My head wanders to the bright banners decorated with the Panem symbol are hung from the shop windows and camera crews perched like buzzard on rooftops, only to add extra effect as the reaping are brilliant opportunity for the Capitol to keep tabs on the population as well.
Four girls from the front desk, a voice behind me snatches my attention from the male Peacekeeper in charge of sign in. I turned my head to see that the second girl behind me was Leila Turner who I would consider my best friend but really in a society where every year could be the time she or I am reaped to die, what is truly the point in keeping attachments. Leila wears a beautiful coral pink knee-length dress, her bright strawberry hair is pinned back from her face to reveal her unusually pretty features. She smiles a surprisingly happy smile at me before asking the girl in front of her – and behind me – if she could go in front. The girl give an uneasy nod missed with a shrug and allows Leila to cut in front of me.
Thankfully Leila doesn't say anything, I am too close to the front for talk and we will only be silenced by the guards if we speak. The Peacekeeper beckons me forward before asking of my name and then my index finger so he can take blood then he lets me go. Quick and simple.
All the twelve to eighteen year olds are bottle necked into roped areas marked off by age, the oldest in the front and the youngest at the back so I, at sixteen are partly in the middle. Family members are lined up around the perimeter holding tightly onto one another's hands. I am sure my mother in there somewhere holding onto her new partners hand as their children are herded like cattle into the areas. I know for a fact it is their first child's reaping today. One of those cards has Willow String written on them but sourly I don't care, I wouldn't volunteer to save her neck.
"How many times is your name in the pool?" Leila asks in a whisper.
I focus my attention on the Justice Building as a temporary stage is set in front of it and two large monitor placed beside it with two camera placed in front of the stage to project the personnel on-stage across the screens so the people at the back can see. The stage holds six wooden chairs, a small podium and two glass bowls; one for the boys and one for the girls. Despite the overcrowded number of paper slips inside, six of them have Anastasia Hollern written on them in careful Capitol handwriting.
"Six." I tell Leila who stare has not broken from me for the passed thirty seconds. "You?"
Leila shrugs, completely unfazed, "Same." her gaze removes from mine but a short while later she snags on my arm making me hiss, "I'll tell you what though, I wouldn't mind being reaped if that was mentoring me." she then reaches down to pinch my face in her hand and angle my face to stare in the path of Finnick Odair sitting amongst the other Victors, Dieter Rollo – District 4's escort and Mayor Osbourne.
A flicker of anger pelts through my at her comment but I suck it up and keep it hidden as the town clock strikes two, the mayor steps forward to the podium, his image now spread across the overly large screens as he begins to read the same stupid cards he does every year. He tells the history of Panem. The country that rose up out of the ashes of a place that was once called North America. He lists the diseases, droughts, the storms, the fires and the brutal wars. Finally, the result was Panem, a shining Capitol ringed by thirteen districts which brought peace to the citizens. What a bullshit story, but as our yearly reminder that the Dark Days must never be repeated, it gave us the Hunger Games.
The rules surrounding the Hunger Games are simple: fight or die. The idea of the games are to show how little we would stand of surviving another rebellion.
"It is both a time for remembrance and a time for thanks." the mayor says in a accented tone, as the then reads out the list of passed District 4's victors. So Michael, Mags, Finnick and Annie all give a nod to the audience, Annie clamps onto Finnick's arm as the audience claps with pride. Mayor Osbourne then introduces Dieter Rollo who takes the podium with pride.
Dieter Rollo is an very strange creature, bright and bubble with bright blood red hair which is cut short but spiked up with whatever length he has. Dieter's face is powdered ghostly white with gold eye-liner and thick red eye shadow coating his lids. His clothes are made from fine materials, his long blazer is made from what looks like red velvet with his gold shirt made from silk and his trousers leather. He smiles revealing a set of unnaturally white teeth.
"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!" he says into the microphone. Dieter then goes on a bit about how he is honoured to be here but I have zoned out. Six out of two thousands girls. I grip Leila's hand beside meand she doesn't shake me off, instead, she grips my hand back giving me a reassuring squeeze.
It's time for the drawing. Dieter swoops down from the podium to the glass bowl with the male's names, he reaches in, digs his hand deep into the papers before selecting one at random. The crowd draws in a collective breath. The entire square silences completely giving you the ability to hear a pin drop. Dieter Rollo crosses back over to the podium, smooths down the slip of paper and reads the name out clearly.
"Garrett Larkin!" he calls out loudly into the microphone.
A cry of pure pain screeches from around the outside, the entire area of boy's head turn to stare at the individual before they part allowing the boy to exit the quarantined section. Garrett suddenly becomes familiar, he is tall and stocky with golden skin and sun bleached hair that falls in waves across his forehead. Garrett is escorted by Peacekeeper's to the side stage so he could climb the stairs onto the stage to be greeted by Dieter Rollo. Garrett remains emotionless as Dieter asks for volunteers but no one steps forward so Dieter continues on with the reaping.
"And now for the ladies!" Dieter says cheerily swooping over to the glass bowl filled with the female's names. Like he did with the male's bowl. Dieter reaches in and digs his hand deep into the paper slips before again selecting one at random. I feel nauseous as I so desperately hoping that it isn't me, that it isn't mine, it isn't mine... my hand tights around Leila's to the point of pain. Dieter Rollo crosses over to the podium, smooths down the slip of paper and reads the female's name out. And it's me.
"Anastasia Hollern!" Dieter Rollo calls with such gusto it is almost insulting,
My first reaction is pure disbelief. Six out of two thousands girls. I must have heard it wrong. But when Leila grips my arms squeezing my hand tighter, I knew I hadn't. It was my name. The female tribute is me. Annie Cresta lets out a cry.
"I volunteer!" a distant and strained voice yells from the crowd.
I turn around to glance at the blank faces of the girls stood around me. Known of them had yelled. I don't need to push through the crowd as they have already parted like the Red Sea allowing me a straight path to the stage. The Peacekeeper's meet me at the edge of the crowd and they escort me the four steps need to reach the right side stage steps.
"No! Anastasia! I volunteer!" the voice calls again but from the stage I cannot see the owner, therefore I agree the voice is coming from my own mind. My brother is half stood with Finnick gripping his arm tightly as I take my place beside Dieter. The mayor swoops in hushing my brother silent as he then begins to read the long and boring Treaty of Treason as he does every year at this point after the tributes are chosen – it is required – but I am not listening to a single word.
Why Garrett Larkin? I think, not that it matters in the slightest who he is. Garrett Larkin and I are not friends. We are certainly not neighbours and we have never, ever spoken. Truthfully, I am wondering how the hell am I going to kill him? Triple the size and double the strength, he is a sure Victor between me and him no question asked, maybe he will trip and break his ankle, slowly leading to his death. What vile thoughts but what else am I to think.
He does not know me and I do not know him.
Mayor Osbourne finishes the Treaty of Treason and then motions for Garrett and myself to shake hands. We do so making sure to give each other painful squeezes to watch the others face faultier. During the process I make sure to stare deeply into his eyes, they flicker uncomfortable before releasing my hand – with the satisfactory feeling I have some how manage to over come him, we turn to face the crowd as the anthem of Panem plays.
Oh well, I think calmly, there will be twenty-two others. Odds are someone else will kill him for me.
During the final section of the anthem, Dieter Rollo lays a gentle hand on mine and Garrett's back bring us in closer to the podium, he then steps forward to the microphone once more. "Ladies and gentlemen. Your tributes from District 4: Garrett Larkin and Anastasia Hollern." he says.
However, the odds have not been in my favour so far. So the odds of Garrett Larkin and I coming face-to-face, are incredibly high. What then?
