A/N: Hey guys this is my first ever Hunger Games fanfic so I hope you enjoy it. Please review as I would love to know what you think. I will hopefully update the story as soon as I have written another couple of chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, however all the characters in this first chapter are of my own creation.
Chapter 1 – Not Her
"And this is one of my favourite moves" Ebony said, twisting the stick around and knocking the twig out of my hand, sending it flying across the yard. She was showing me some of the fighting moves she had learnt from her Father. We couldn't use swords, of course not; no one has weapons like that. Besides, if anyone did they would be severely punished by the Peacekeepers. Instead, we used strong sticks that we'd found at the edge of the forest. There was an unlimited supply of branches around here, what with all the trees. Our district, District 7, is responsible for supplying the whole of Panem with lumber and paper. If it weren't for us, our precious Capitol would not have their fancy wooden tables the Gamemakers sit around to plot the next gruesome Hunger Games. I grimaced at the thought.
"Ok, Ok, I surrender" I said, holding up my empty hands. Ebony smiled triumphantly, and then checked her watch.
"It's almost 10:20. You should probably head home and get ready. The Reaping starts at 11" She explained.
"Ugh! The Reaping" I complained. "It'll be just my luck that I get picked this year"
"You'll have less of a chance of being picked than I do"
"You're kidding, right? Your Father is a victor, meaning you're rich, meaning you don't have to get tesserae, meaning your name is entered in the regular amount of times"
Ebony's Father had won the 14th games almost 20 years ago when he was 18.
"No, my Father is a victor, meaning I will be picked because it'll be more entertaining when I get killed"
That actually made sense. A couple of years ago a victor's son had been reaped and the Capitol had probably purposely made the avalanche that had crushed him to death, or that's what everyone assumed.
"I guess we'll see when we're there" I said, trying to make Ebony feel better. It was no use. Her face had fallen when she'd spoken about it and now there was no cheering her up. She'd probably feel better once it was all over and someone else had been picked. We'd be laughing at the idea tonight at the celebratory feast.
"I'll see you there" said Ebony. "And Avery, good luck"
"Good luck" I wished before picking my bag off the floor and beginning my descent home.
I got home within 10 minutes. It didn't take long to get from Victor's Village to my house a few metres from the lush forest. I'd passed the Justice Building and Town Square on my way. They had been specially prepared for the Reaping and people had already begun to arrive out of fear of being late.
"Avery! You should have been home half an hour ago!" my Mother scolded as I walked into the living room. She was helping my older brother Barnett with his tie. He was 20 yet he still had trouble doing it up properly.
"Go upstairs and take a quick bath. You smell of sweat. What have you been doing?" Mother questioned. I pulled my bag off my shoulder and set it on the nearest chair.
"I was practising with Ebony. She was teaching me some moves that she'd learnt off her Father" I explained.
"Swordplay? Nice!" Barnett exclaimed. My Mother shot him a stern look.
"Go! I've laid out an outfit on your bed, ready for you" She ordered, pointing at the staircase. I did as I was told, there was no arguing with Mother, and was clean of grime in no time. I dressed in a brown, knee length skirt and simple white blouse, and then fastened my shoes on my feet. My outfit was an old one of my sister's. Sawyer was now 19 and had outgrown a lot of her clothes which had been passed on to me. I wasn't a big fan of hand-me-downs but didn't complain as nobody could afford new materials. I raced downstairs and found my Mother and siblings waiting. Sawyer quickly pulled a comb through my hair and then put it up in a simple ponytail. We were then ushered out the door by Mother. We got to the Square with 10 minutes to spare. I took my place with the rest of the 15 year olds and waited for the Reaping to begin. Mayor Lightwood stepped up to the microphone at exactly 11. He reviewed the history of the games and read out the names of past victors from District 7. We've had 2 in total. There's Orrick Farah, Ebony's Father, and Bryony Meadows. Bryony won the 27th Hunger Games when she was only 13. Mayor Lightwood welcomed onstage Sigourney Silverlings, District 7's escort. She's a woman from the Capitol who personally oversees the tribute's trip to the Capitol. She was dressed in a purple dress that came in at her waist and went out in all directions. Her short, layered hair was a deep shade of blood red and her makeup was over exaggerated.
"Welcome everyone, to the 34th Annual Hunger Games!" She cried. "Let's get straight down to business" She walked to the left of the stage to a giant glass orb and reached in. She retrieved a small, folded piece of paper. My legs trembled as she strutted back to the microphone and unfolded the slip.
"District 7's girl tribute is..." Sigourney read. Not me, not me, not me I thought. "...Ebony Farah!" My jaw dropped and my knees buckled as my best friend's name was called. I managed to stop myself falling before I hit the ground. Not her, not her, not her! Anyone but her! I saw Ebony step out from the crowd and make her way to the stage. She was right! And now she was going to be killed in the games, all because she was a victor's daughter. I couldn't let that happen. Before I had registered what was going on, I pushed my way through the teens and called out "I volunteer as tribute!" Everyone looked at me, including Ebony. Her facial expression said "What are you doing?" I walked past her and took my place onstage.
"Oh goody!" exclaimed Sigourney, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "A volunteer! And what is your name?" I opened my mouth but nothing came out.
"Ooo...We have a shy one! Come on sweetheart, tell us your name!" Sigourney encouraged.
"Er...A...Avery Atwood" I managed.
"Ah! Avery! Well done for volunteering! Don't worry! You won't be up here on your own for long!" Sigourney released me and strutted over to the orb on the right. Again, she pulled a slip of paper out and returned to the mic.
"And District 7's boy tribute is Ashton Anders!" Ashton's 17 and I'd seen him around school. I searched for him in the crowd of boys. His face was a picture of shock as he made his way through. His shaggy blonde hair blew in the wind when he stepped onstage. Sigourney motioned for us to shake hands. Ashton gripped my hand weakly, still in shock. Mayor Lightwood then came back and thanked everyone for coming. I got one last look at the packed Square before I was pushed into the Justice Building by a group of Peacekeepers.