Author's Note-So you made it past the first chapter, don't worry, it gets better from here.
Disclaimer-All characters in this book belong to Rick Riordan, John Flanagan, or Suzanne Collins. Some are mine, though, and there might be a few extra characters from other books as well
I lie in bed. Streaks of sunlight are only just beginning to break through the horizon. I had been awake for an hour. Pulled from a deep sleep by the nightmares that always haunt me on a day like this. A day like the Reaping.
Finally, as the sun gets ever higher, I get out of the bed. Even though I had woken early, I could already hear the commotion as my mother threw breakfast together for us. She always tries to make a special breakfast before the Reaping, it could be the last one we have together. But I'd made it this far, and this is the last Reaping before I turn old enough. Then I'd be able to have a more comfortable life with Annabeth. We could do all the things we promised to do.
"Good morning," my Mother greets me, "breakfast is ready, and I laid an outfit out for you."
"I can get my own clothes," I grumbled. My Mom simply raised her eyebrow.
"Tell that to the other people of District 4," she replied sarcastically. I had nothing against that, so I just sighed and left the room.
Breakfast was a little different. Luxuries we usually couldn't afford like eggs and even milk were on our plate. Even though we came from a richer part of the district, we still couldn't afford many things.
"Breakfast is great Mom," I say through bites.
"Well I'm glad you like it," she smiles, "better hurry though if you want to catch Annabeth before she leaves."
That suddenly reminds me that we're supposed to meet by the dock today. I quickly get dressed in the outfit my Mom got me and hurried on my way.
Since Annabeth lived in the same part of the village as me, it's only a three-minute walk to her house. When I do get to her house, I already hear the clattering of dishes being washed. I walk up to the house and knock on the door. I'm taken by surprise when it's answered by her dad. We started on bad terms, but he had warmed up to me over the past few months.
"Good morning Percy, I bet you're looking for Annabeth," he greets me cheerfully, "she's already headed down to the docks, maybe you can catch her."
"Thank you, Mr. Chase," I reply as I run for the docks.
Since the docks are in a poorer part of the village, it takes a lot longer to get there. Fifteen minutes later I can see the Ocean and the docks the lead to it. At the end of the closest dock is my girlfriend, waiting for me.
"Took you long enough," she greets me coldly.
I laugh, there was a time when I'd taken offense to that but realized it was just Annabeth being Annabeth.
"Well good morning to you too," I reply sarcastically, "today is a big big big big day." She seems to ignore the sarcasm in my voice.
"Eh, it's one more year," she says coolly, "how many times are you in?"
"Twelve," I answer, "you?"
"Twenty," she shrugs, "gotta take care of the sibling somehow I guess." I smile. Annabeth would never admit it, but she would do everything for her younger brothers. Probably even volunteer for them if she could.
"We'll be fine Annabeth," I reassure her, not that she needed it.
"Do I look worried to you," she asks?
"No."
"Good, then stop bugging me."
"When was the last time you picked up a weapon."
"Last night," she refuses to look at me.
"To cut the onions," I reply straightly. She doesn't answer.
"Come on Annabeth, I've been working on my sword skills since the day I was born," I chastise her.
"Well I don't want to be a career like you, Percy," she snaps. I'm taken aback by her sudden attack.
"I don't either," I assured her, "but I also want to be prepared."
"I'm prepared."
"Of course you are."
"Was that sarcasm?"
"No," I reply a little too quickly.
She just rolls her eyes, "see you at the Reaping Percy," and she walks away.
I sit alone at the docks for a few minutes, staring at all the fishes swimming in no particular order. It only felt like a few minutes, but it must've been an hour because next thing I know, the bells for the Reaping go off.
The knot in my stomach tightens even more, it's the very thing that I dread every day of the year. But it's only one more time, one more day and I'm finally free of this curse.
I force myself into a walk towards the City Hall, where two people will be handed their death sentence. I prayed to whoever could hear me that it wasn't Annabeth. Even if I was Reaped, Annabeth was my number one priority.
I get to the City Hall twenty minutes later, the line is already backed up quite a bit when I get there. I go through the usual process, blood the line up with your age group. I search for Annabeth through the crowd, but can't find her. Finally, I see her, but Ava Lynn is already making her way to the front of the stage.
"WELCOME WELCOME," she bellows through the mic, "Happy Hunger Games, and...may the odds be EVER in your favor. She says in that ridiculous Capitol accent.
"Now, before we begin," here we go, "we have a special presentation brought to you all the way from the Capitol." How generous of them.
It's the usual video. I try not to look, but I can still hear the Anthem playing, the sound of President Snow's voice, boasting about the 'kindness' and 'generosity' of the Capitol. Do people in the Capitol actually buy this stuff?
The video finally ends and Ava walks up to the stage, "right, well as usual, ladies first." She makes the slow painful walk to the fishbowl full of ladies names, with Annabeth's name. She rummages through the bowl for what feels like hours and finally picks up a card. She makes her next slow painful walk towards the microphone.
"Lily White." I let out a sigh of relief, I feel bad for the girl, but it wasn't Annabeth. I crept a smile towards Annabeth, but she was focused on the stage.
"Now for the boys," and once again she starts that slow painful walk. I'll spare you guys the extra description and just get right to it.
"Bobby Chase," I breathe another sigh of relief, then I realize in horror who had just been chosen, it was Annabeth's brother. I looked at Annabeth, who could do nothing about it, and I didn't hesitate.
"I volunteer as tribute," I call out through the crowd. I walk up to the stage before Annabeth can protest.
"It seems we have a volunteer," Ava announces a bit taken aback, "and what is your name sir?"
"Percy Jackson" I answer, she seems confused.
"And he was?"
"My girlfriend's brother," I answer.
"Well then," she recovers herself, "let's give a hand for this lovely volunteer."
There was no clapping, not for something as noble as this. I had just given myself a death sentence, for someone, I only knew because of their sister. It started with Annabeth, then the rest of our age group, then her parents, then the other parents. Next thing I knew, everyone had the three fingers raised, a sign of utmost respect for someone. For someone who is probably going to die.
They direct Lily and me into separate rooms, they don't bother to lock it, I can't go anywhere. A couple of minutes pass and Annabeth walks into the room.
"You're an idiot," she says through her tears, "why did you do it, WHY?!"
"Because I wasn't going to watch, when I knew I could do something," I answered calmly. I had to be strong, we both knew the gravity of the situation
"You can still win this Percy," she assures me, "there's no one in District 4 that's better with a sword than you, use it."
"I know Annabeth," I smile, "I won't go down without a fight"
"You better," she demands, "or I'll kill you." I simply raise my eyebrow.
"Times up," the Peacekeeper barges in. He forces Annabeth out of the room. Then my Mom comes in, and I'm too ashamed to look at her.
"Percy," she smiles, a smile that could make any day better, even today.
"Percy I am so proud of you. You're putting your life at risk for your girlfriend. You're going to make a fine husband when you bet back," she says it confidently, but I can see the worry in her eyes.
"Don't worry Mom," I hug her, "I'll do everything in my power to get back to you." I didn't want to make a promise I couldn't keep, so I still left a little room for doubt.
"I'm sure you will Percy," she replies, "I'm sure you will." Then she leaves the room with the Peacekeeper, and I'm alone once more.