Hunger Games: Not a Pawn in their Games

Chapter 2 of my Hunger Games story, hope you enjoy it :)

Reviews

Skoilr: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, well, I hope I don't disappoint, just to let you know, it might be a little slow starting, but I promise it will pick up, definitely when we get to the Games themselves.
Smiles1998: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, here you go.
C.B. Weasley: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins.

Ariel

The thirty-nine year old woman sighed sadly as she finished washing the dishes. The cramped, dilapidated three roomed house in which she lived with her son was silent. She reflected sadly on her son.

'Kai, has he come back from the woods yet?' She thought forlornly. 'It's like this every year, a week before Reaping day he disappears into the woods and doesn't come back until its time.'

The woman was Ariel Raithebone, Kai's mother and only known living family member. She had no idea if Kai's father was still alive, Kai had been the result of a one night stand with a Peacekeeper; shortly after discovering she was pregnant Ariel found the man had left the District and she hadn't heard from him since. She had been shocked when Kai was born and grew up. Like so many now deceased members of their downtrodden family, after their fall from grace, she was born in the Seam and her appearance reflected that. Kai was the first family member in three generations to display the characteristic hair and eye colour of the Raithebone family. Yet he didn't even know that was why he looked so different, that was why people regarded him as a freak; he just didn't fit in, it saddened Ariel; it also worried her, her son could end up a real target of the oppressive Capitol.

Every day she faced that fear, that soon the Capitol would take notice and her son's life would be in danger. But then, her son's life was in danger anyway; today was always the worst day for her, the day she feared losing her son forever. She heard the front door open and turned in relief to face Kai who had just stepped in. She smiled, noting how much her son had grown over the years; he was now at least an inch taller than her and his hunting had given him a stronger build than the average Seam dweller.

"Kai." She approached him; worried.

He smiled lightly; he was used to this by now. "Mom, it's fine; nothing went wrong. Here, take a look."

He handed his bag over; she took it over to the table and examined its contents. She smiled when she saw what he had managed to gather.

She nodded and turned back to him. "Do you really think this is enough?"

Kai nodded. "Yes; I stayed out to get everything, got extra too…just in case."

Ariel sighed; Kai knew all about her worries; but did his best to appear cheerful, so as not to worry her further; but she saw through his act. She knew he was hurting, he couldn't understand why he looked…different, why he never fit in.

However he did seem happy now and she soon found out why.

"If what I've brought back isn't enough…and you need more supplies; here, this should cover it."

He then placed a small pouch on the table; Ariel checked it and gasped, inside was money, more than she'd ever had in the house. She looked up at her son and he noticed her expression; he shook his head.

"It's not what you think mom, it was payment…I, I hunted down and killed the cougar that's been menacing near the fence; took its pelt to the Head Peacekeeper here. He paid me for it."

Ariel gaped at him. "You hunted a cougar, as if you aren't at enough risk already."

Kai sighed. "I know mom, look I'm fine; it wasn't that dangerous…"

Ariel couldn't believe how dismissive her son was being to the almost constant danger. But before she could begin trying to explain Kai looked at the clock.

"It's getting close, I should go get ready."

Ariel saw he was right, the Reaping was at two o'clock, it was now quarter to one, given the distance they lived from the town square they needed to leave at half past one. Kai hurried off to get cleaned up while Ariel prepared herself. She prayed, as she was sure every mother did on Reaping day; that her child would not get picked. The trouble was, with ten names in the pool; her son had a good chance of being picked, not as many as others true, but still a good chance.

Finally, as she waited, Kai emerged, clad in his Reaping clothes. They were new, almost an extravagance given their income, but he had outgrown his former Reaping clothes, so it had been necessary. Ariel frowned as Kai fixed his shirt, looking in the cracked, stained mirror. Her eyes were on the tangled mash of his hair; silver like the Raithebone's of old; due to their inability to afford a trip to the barber, or even the proper tools to do it themselves, his hair had grown into a mane and become tangled and noted. Desperate to at least do something about it she stepped forwards; Kai gave a short start of surprise as she began attacking his hair with a wet comb. After a brief struggled Kai pulled away from her attempt to tame his hair.

"It's hopeless mom, you know it is." He told her; shaking his head.

Ariel sighed and put the comb down. "I know, I just thought…I hoped…"

Her son smiled and hugged her. "Don't worry about it…" Then, in a lower voice. "No matter what happens, I promise, everything will be alright."

Ariel wished that was true, but she wasn't so sure. But for her son's sake she returned the embrace and whispered. "I know Kai, I know."

They parted and Ariel looked carefully at her son, as she did every year, knowing it might be the last time she saw him; she noted that his lilac eyes held a hint of amethyst colour too; definitive of the Raithebone family. She wondered if her son inheriting the old genes was a sign and if so, of what, doom, or hope.

Finally it was time; they left the house and joined the other families, heading to the square for the Reaping. Everybody was required to attend, no exceptions except for those who were bedridden. Everybody looked lost Ariel noted; the children's faces held fear, or were simply blank, too far gone to feel fear. A few people said hello to her, but nobody paid her son any thought or word; it was like he was invisible. It was sad, but better than the alternative she supposed; if they weren't ignoring her son, they were bullying him. The worst was the Seam boy up ahead; taller than most; the only one not looking fearful, but frowning. Dylan Cosmos, he seemed to take special pleasure on bullying Kai, but despite this, Ariel only felt pity for him. It wasn't just due to Kai's appearance Dylan bullied him. It was jealousy too; Kai and Ariel had a close relationship, while Dylan's parents focused more on their younger children, giving him very little attention, if any. Kai pitied him too, after finding that out, but it didn't make the bullying any easier to deal with. They soon joined the people from the merchant side; Kai finally had someone talking to him, his only friend, Clay Langland. Ariel smiled; relieved that at least the butcher boy wasn't judgemental of her son in any way. They finally reached the town square, Ariel whispered goodbye to Kai and waited with the other parents, wondering fearfully if this was the year, she would be going home without her son.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.