AN: Hey everyone. Sorry I have not been able to update in a while. My life has been so busy that it's not even funny. I've had dance competitions and church retreats back to back and I only get to write these in my free time. Give me a break this is my first fan fiction ever. I personally don't like this chapter as much as my next chapter (which is almost done) but I hope you enjoy anyway.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or Finnick or Annie (but wouldn't it be so cool if I did).
Chapter 2:
I didn't realize how cold it was until I was walking back to my house. I don't know if it was from being away from Finnicks' arms or reality setting back in. Another chill runs through my body as the thought of reaping day re-enters my brain. The Hunger Games. The madness all starts again. The fear rushing through your vains. The pounding of blood against your ears. The sighs of relief from some while others cry loudly over lost loved ones. The melancholy looks on the new tributes faces as the slowly make their way to the stage. Then they are just gone, never be heard from again. People always lose their children to the games. Whether it's from a silent or a bloody death or if they win, they are never the same again. I've seen people before the games as nice as can be and go in ready to kill anything and everything in sight. I've seen the bravest of the brave go in scared of their own shadows. Last and the worst of all I've seen the most head strong people end up with it not screwed on right. I guess you never really know someone till there life's on the line. Till they are forced to make a decision no sane person would freely make.
I'm now on my front porch with my hand resting on the knob when I realize that I can't enter through the front door. I'll wake everyone up and if my parents find out where I've been all night then I would be in huge trouble. On a day like this, getting in trouble is the last thing you want to do. I take my hand off the cold knob and back away from the shack we call a house, looking at it in full view. It wasn't so bad compared to what we could be. I've seen the poor people of District 4 with their raged clothes, fresh sores all over their bodies and bones piping out of their skin. I feel bad for them I really do, but I don't know what to do to help them. I give them food if I can but my family always disapproves. I tell them to swap points of view. I mean if we were in that position I would want people giving us food. That comment usually shuts them up. I look around the outside of my house to make sure no one's looking and walk towards the back. I hop over our wood fence that separates the backyard from the road and head straight for the back door. I press my hand on the door and take a slow, deep breath as I push the door open. It protests with a sharp squeak and I cringe at the sound but I hear no footsteps sprinting towards the door so I assume it didn't wake anyone up and duck inside quickly. I remove my shoes by the door and tip toe to my room where I flop down on my bed. I must have dozed off because the next thing I know my name is pounding against my eardrums. I sit straight up and run out of bed but stop myself at my door and get a coherent thought through my head. What time is it? I turn back and look at my bed with a sigh of relief when the clock reads nine. Three more hours until the reaping. I relax a little knowing that I will not be late and calmly, or as calmly as someone could on reaping day, walk to the kitchen.
I'm greeted by three good mornings and my breakfast on the kitchen table. I feel a rush of happiness when I see these three faces that I love most but it only lasts a moment as I notice the nice clothes Adam's dressed in that just reminds me of the upcoming Reaping day. Now I really don't think I can eat given the circumstances, so I just pick at my toast in silence with the rest of my family. Eventually it becomes unbearable so I excuse myself from the table and head back to my room. Immediately after closing my door though I hear two quick knocks. I run to my door and find myself facing Adam.
"Hey can I talk to you?" I nod and open my door more so he can walk in all the way. "Annie..." he begins unsure on how to bring up the subject on his mind. I walk over to the bed and wait for him to continue. "This is your first year in the reaping and I wanted you to know that no matter what happens, no matter who is picked, I want you to remain strong. I don't know what will happen today but please don't break down crying. It will just make mom and dad more worried about you. If you must cry come back in here and cry in your room, okay?" He streams out looking me straight in the eyes.
"But what if you are chosen?" I ask with a shaky voice. I don't think I will be able to live if he gets picked. He is the one who decided to take the tesserae to ensure my safety.
He sits down next to me making my bed squeak in protest. "Then you will be able to say goodbye to me at the Justice Building and know that I'm strong and will try as hard as I can to make it out of the area alive". As he finishes tears well up in my eyes as he paints the picture in my head. I could see my brother's name being called and looking over at him with tears in my eyes. His face would be full of determination but his eyes would give him away but I would be the only one able to detect it. He would climb on stage and stand next to Pearl with his head held high. He would shake hands with his district partner and would be escorted off stage. I stopped there because I could barely handle the thought of saying my last goodbyes to him and fell into a hug. He strokes my hair and allows me to soak his shirt with tears. After a long silence Adam whispers something about the reaping and leaves the room. I stare at his spot for a moment before finally getting up and walking over to the closet to change into a dress that could be equivalent to my funeral gown.