Holy crap! I got my first review! :D Thank you AwesomePanda24! And thank you Poster. :D
This chapter is brought to you by the letter K, as in Kentucky Fried Chicken. Which has soothed my hunger.
"Here's some advice. Stay alive"-Haymitch, Hunger Games.
I almost fell backward.
Feli!? I tried taking him hunting once. I shot at game. He started crying, running toward the fallen deer, and telling me that he could run it home to Bella so she could fix it.
Sweet, sweet little Feli who cried with me without even knowing the reason. Feli who washed Papa's shaving glass because he hated the layer of dust and black powder that collected onto it. Feli who braided Bella's hair everyday before school. Feli who tried to make everyone feel better. Feli who could barely hold a knife. Feli who hid each and every Games since the day he was born!
He was one piece of paper in millons!
He wouldn't last a day in the arena! Oh no..I couldn't let this happen! I wouldn't let my family lose someone else. Life wouldn't knock me down this time!
I run, run as fast as I can into the stage, just before Feli could make it. The guards grabbed me roughly around the forearms, I squrim and thrash around as I scream out two words, "I volunteer! I volunteer in his place! I volunteer as tribute!"
Everything is silent. Then Feliks speaks, "Um, kid, like, you can't do that. You have to..erm.." He looks toward Arthur, then at the mayor as if they could tell him what do say next. The guards put me down, and Feli runs toward me embracing me tightly around my waist.
He sobs into my neck, and I feel like crying with him. I hug him back. Feliks coughs into his hands, again and looks down at us, "Well, kiddo, what's your name?"
"Lovino," I say angrily, "Lovino Vargas."
He pretends not to notice my anger and beams, "Well Lovino, come on up." I look over at Che'n with a pitiful look, and she peels Feli off me. She looks like she's about to cry too, but she knows to be strong for my fratello. I make my way on stage. Suddenly, they all start clapping.
Everyone in the audience has started clapping. Not because I'm leaving to go fight in a bloodbath. It's because they know that I'm just like my father. They know that I'm determined to win.
The clapping starts to die down, and Feliks reaches into the other glass bowl and unfolds the paper.
"Antonio Fernandez Carriedo!"
It's a familiar name, but as soon as Antonio is on stage my body freezes up. I remember him, or at least his face.
It was months after Papa's death, and we were slowly starving to death. Bella couldn't work. It was illegal for women to, and though she could easily find a job at the Hob, she was scared of getting found out. I was looking around for food. Anything! A tin can, a broken bottle, needles! I was desperate. Our ribs were showing and Feli was getting very sick. We really needed food. I was starting to black out, and made my way to a backyard in upper District 12.
Bread.
I smelt bread. I must've been in the back of a bakery. I urge myself to the dumpster.
It was empty.
That's it. I gave into the sadness, the frustration, the hunger, and just lay down infront of the house.
It wouldn't have been such a bad place to die, it was raining which hid my crys, and I was surrounded by cool mud. Which was a break from the Summer heat.
'Fine, this isn't such a bad place,' I think to myself, 'But, if this isn't my time, someone show me. I don't want to leave them alone.'
The door opened to a boy about my age, carrying burned bread. There was a purple bruise on his face. He had the prettiest eyes though. He walks to the pig pen, and looked at me.
He throws the bread down in my direction. At first, I thought he was just being a jerk and teasing me by throwing perfectly good burned bread away. But, it only took 3 seconds to register that he wanted me to take it.
I grabbed the loaf and put it into my jacket. It was warm and smelt so good, but I told myself not to wafe it down. I ran as fast as I could, it seemed that the rocks and roots i was tripping over before didn't exist. I made it to my house and happily placed it on the table.
Bella looked teary-eyes, "Oh, Lovino you didn't steal it did you?"
I shake my head. She grabs a hold of me.
We gorged ourselves on bread, and grass salad. Days later, Bella handed me a cookbook and told me to find ingredients for a recipe.
She wanted me to go into the woods.
Alone.
With a bow.
Of course, Papa taught me how to use a bow, but I wasn't very good.
Then, I saw a sunflower growing inside the iron fence. It was bright and happy, and reminded me so much of Papa and Feli. It willed me into the woods, and I came home with two rabbits.
Antonio was just being kind, but I know I owe him. I hate owing people. He looks at me and smiles.
Fucking smiles at me, like he knows I remember him. I bit into my cheek again. It still hasn't healed from my encounter with Ch'en, and blood starts seeping into my mouth.
"Ladies and, like Gentlemen, here are our two brave District 12 tributes! Like, totally wish them luck in the days to come. For they, like, could bring glory to District 12!"
Could?
No, I would.
Even if it meant killing the only person to show me kindness. Odds are, we won't face each other in the arena and he'll be killed by some other tribute from some other District.
But, the odds haven't been very dependable as of late.
Feliks holds both of our wrists in the air. I look at Antonio, he looks like a deer caught in headlights.
Then, the Phoenix anthem begins.
'Rising from the ashes of a greater unknown,
a beautiful bird made of a beautiful fire,
flies over the Earth and cleanses it with glory,
This is the country of Phoenix.'
I run my tongue across the interior of my mouth and swallow the copper flavored liquid.
After the music stops, we're taken into custody. We don't get handcuffed, but are rounded up like cattle and put into the richest looking prison cells I've ever seen. They're plush, lavish, and I couldn't afford it not matter how much I hunt and sell at the Hob.
This will be the last time we'll be in our District 'till the Games begin, and our families are here to say goodbye.
I'm trying hard not chew at my cheek again. Feli and Bella walk in.
"Fratello! Why?!"
"Feli, please don't cry anymore, I hate it when you cry." He lays his head on my shoulder, I look up at Bella.
"Che'n will bring by my half of the game, don't worry she won't cheat you. But, you'll have to find a job at the Hob to pay her. Hunting isn't easy." I say to her.
Bella's lips part to argue, but she hushes it and nods reluctantly.
I hold her hand, "Whatever you see on that screen doesn't matter, I'll make it. I love you both." Feli's arms wrap around me and Bella joins us. We stay like this until they have to leave.
Suddenly, I feel like a baby needing to be with his mother. I bit back a cry for them to stay, I want to tell the guards I've changed my mind and that they can find a new tribute.
But, it's too late to back out now.
Then, the door opens again. This time it reveals Che'n and her little brother Kiku.
"Lovino, Kiku wants to give you something.' Her voice is shaking, she looks down at the little boy.
He makes his way up to me with a gold object in little hand. I rub his head and he places it in my hand.
A mocking jay pin. I smile at him, "I'll wear it with pride, thank you."
He gives me a wide-toothed grin and runs out the door.
Che'n turns toward me once he's out of ear-shot, "They just want a big show, Lovey...Oh God! Why did you do this!?" She hugs onto me.
"Che'n.."
"Why?!"
"Because, If Feli dies, I won't have a reason to live," I look at her.
"Find a bow, you're great with a bow..." She says, she buries her face in my hair.
"I will."
"You're smarter, stronger, and faster than all those other dumb tribute combined!"
I know she's just feeding my ego, I smile and rub her back.
Her time is up in a matter of minutes.
The guards come on take her away but not before she yells, "Wait Lovino! I-"
She's cut off by the door slamming. What did she want to say? I shake the thought. I could drive myself crazy thinking about what she was trying to say.
I was going to shoved into an arena, with stronger, bigger, and trained warriors.
I didn't care.
I would win.
Let the Games begin!