Chapter 2
30 years after the rebellion.
Ashleigh's POV
It was just like a normal day in the forest outside of district 12. My mother and I were hunting together like we usually do. We had just caught our second squirrel and had another full afternoon of hunting left. I like watching my mother hunt with her bow; she seems calmest when she is out in the forest with it. I've noticed that over the years sometimes after a day of hunting she doesn't scream in her sleep, I think it helps take away the nightmares. Ever since I can remember my mum has been having nightmares, about the games, about the rebellion and about her younger sister's death. I hear her screaming once or twice a week now, not as much as she used to when I was younger.
"Hey mum when is Auntie Annie coming today with Finnick?" Normally mum and I don't talk much when we are hunting it scares away the animals, but this week used to be the week of the reapings. So mum always starts worrying about nothing and if I don't distract she thinks too much about the games and Prim.
"They will get here later this afternoon" Mum answers not stoping or looking at me.
"Ok umm how long are they staying for?"
"A week."
"Are they staying at our house or your old house?"
"Where they always stay, at our house. Now please stop talking your scaring away all the animals."
"Sorry mum." Mum stops walking and turns back to me.
"I'm sorry Ash I know you're only trying to help and I appreciate it but we need to make sure we have enough food for everyone tonight." Mum and I continue to hunt for the rest of the afternoon. We manage to catch another 3 squirrels and a turkey.
"Do you want to try and catch some fish?" My mother asks. I give her a look that says you have got to be kidding me. I may be able to use a bow ok but not as good as my mum. I'm better at using knives for throwing. I can use them for close combat, not that I've had that much practice. Fishing though is just not one of my talents. If I had to fish to save my life, well I would be dead. Last time I tried fishing I repeatedly got snagged on rocks. I ended up losing to many hooks so mum 'suggested' that I try using a net. I ended up getting tangled in the net and fell into the lake so my dad had to jump into save me. All the fish got scared away so we left the lake with nothing and my pride gone. My mum just laughed. "Ok you can head home and I will see if I can catch some more fish; because I don't think what we have for tonight is enough."
"Sure you don't want me to stay and well keep you company?"
"Yeah I'm sure, I know how much you despise fishing and I would rather you not scare them away again." She says laughing again.
…
When I get home I can hear people talking in side.
"Hey Auntie Annie. Hey Finnick." I say when I walk into the lounge room. Annie isn't my actual auntie but just a really close friend of my mum and dads. Finnick is her son and they are both visiting from district four. Finnick is now 30 years old, he was born a couple of months after the rebellion. My little brother Isaac was sitting next to Annie.
"Hey Ash how are you?"
"I'm good, how have you been Annie?"
"Fine thank you."
"Where's dad?"
"Making cookies." Isaac says excitedly. I stand there awkwardly not sure what else to say. I'm not the most social person. My dad and brother are the social ones; they have no problem talking to people. My mother and I however don't. There's a knock at the front door.
"I'll get it." I say and exit the room. I open the door to find a little boy standing there.
"Hello ma'am I have a message from the capitol." The little boy hands me a piece of paper.
"Thank you." I say as the little boy runs off towards Haymitch's house. I silently wish him good luck. He's not going to have much luck giving Haymitch the letter. Unless he is sober today (which is very unlikely) he won't be answering the door. I close the door and look at the letter.
Dear district 12 residents. I would like to inform you that there will be mandatory viewing at 8:30 tonight. From president Paylor.