Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games.


Rue

Mom knocks on the door. I don't want anyone to go inside. I just wanna be alone. Please! "Rue, open the door, please?" She asks. I stay silent for a few minutes, thinking if I should let her in or not. "Rue?" She says once more. I sigh, "Come in." She comes inside and sits on the bed, stroking my bed, "Rue, don't worry about Dave." I cry even more. Mom notices and sits closer to me, "Don't worry, little bird, you're strong." "I'm not. I'm weak. I'm just a kid, mom. Don't expect me to act like an adult." I say.

She sighs, "I expect bigger things, Rue. Like winning these games." I look up at her, "How can I, mom? Look at me! I'm just crying over here like what every girl would do and you're telling me that you expect me to win these games?" I can tell she's shocked at my outburst. I put my head back into my pillow, "I'm sorry." I said, my voice muffled. She strokes my back again, "It's okay, little bird." We stay in this place for half an hour until mom says she has to go. I'm left alone in my room until I heard another knock. The person opens the door and sits on my bed.

"Rue, I'm sorry." The person says. "Dave, it's fine. It was my fault." I replied to him, "But, why do you want to protect me? I'm going to die in the arena anyway..." He sighs, "Remember that time where you were dehydrated because you didn't have water?" Is that why he's here? Just because of dehydration from what happened years ago.


I run to the woods crying my eyes out. Finn got amd at me because I spilled juice on his shirt and embarrassed him. When he got home, he was red with anger. He shouted at me and I just ran away. It was late afternoon and I can see the sun setting from afar. I sit on a rock and keep crying. I don't want people to see me weak but they might have already have since I was running here crying my eyes out. Hours have passed and I feel dehydrated already. I don't care. I'm going to die here. No one loves me. They all hate me. I have no friends. My life is horrible. It's around 7 pm right now and I hear footsteps. I stand up in alarm. What if it's a peacekeeper? I start running again and I hear the footsteps following me. I have no energy and I decide it's useless.

I fall on the ground, scraping my knee along with it. I turn around and face the person following me. He stops in his tracks, "What are you doing here? It's 7 pm!" he shouts. I can't quite see his face. The voice sounds familiar. I'm not really good at recalling voices especially if they're far away. "Why do you care? I'm going to die here anyway." I say hoarsely from the lack of food and water, "No one loves me anyway." "Rue..." He says. I finally recognize the voice, "Dave..."

"Rue, what happened?" He asks. I tell him about Finn getting mad and me coming here. "You need a drink." He says after I tell him what happened. I was getting pretty thirsty. And he probably noticed it because I had a hoarse voice. He sighs, "Let's go." He grabs my arm but I jerk it away, "I'm not going. I'm staying here." He sighs, "I'll be back."

And with that he's gone. I wait patiently for him but the thirst is killing me. After what seemed like an hour (although it may be 15 minutes), I begin to close my eyes. I don't need water, who cares? I heard footsteps as my world turns into complete darkness.


"Just because of that?" I shouted. He seems startled by this, "Look, it's not just that. There's other reasons why but-" "I can handle things myself, Dave! I was not that stupid little 9 year old you saw in the woods that night. I'm more mature now!" I shout. He sighs, "Even though you won't accept the fact that I'm trying to help you, I'll still do it." he says before leaving the room. I suddenly start to feel sleepy. I close my eyes and drift away into another world.


I run away from the mutts as fast as I can. These mutts look like the wolf mutts from mom and dads' games. I get on top of the Cornucopia and one leaps and gets on top of it as well. I am losing my breath and the wolf has a smirk on his face, "Giving up, Rue?" "Never." I say. It lunges at me and I manage to get out of its way. It growls, "Pretty good for a thirteen year old." I load my bow and it smirks, "You can't kill me." "And why not?" I ask, ready to shoot. Suddenly it transforms into a human figure. I was shocked. Who was it turning into? It can't fool me. I'm strong and I can win this. I gasp as I see who it transformed into. The person smirks, "Missed me, Rue?" "YOU'RE NOT DAVE!" I shout.

It's eyes suddenly had sympathy. It comes closer and holds my shoulders, "It is me, Rue. Believe me."

No.

I try not to fall for it but it does seem like Dave. I look at it in the eyes againand it smiles, "Dave?" He smiles and I start to believe it is him. Rue, stop this! He's not Dave! He's a mutt! He pulls me into a hug and I feel the warmth of Dave in it. We stay in that position until I feel a sharp pain across my back. I pull away from the hug and I find myself bleeding.

I have been fooled.

He has another smirk on his face and takes out a knife then stabs it into my heart. I take my last breath of air and collapse on the ground.


I wake up and find myself screaming. Dad comes in the room and hugs me, "Rue, it's fine. You're okay." I cry on his chest and mom comes in the room as well, "Dave. K-k-killed me." I stutter. Mom strokes my back, "Honey, he didn't. It was just a bad dream." "Th-th-the m-mutt." I stutter once more. Mom looks at dad very concerned, "Come on, Rue. Let's just have dinner." dad says to me.

We go into the dining room and I see Dave already sitting down. I try to control my anger. It was just a dream, I remind myself. I sit next to my mom and start eating. Mom gestures me to eat the lamb stew, "It's good, try it." I took a sip of the soup and a bite on the lamb and it was better than the food I tasted at home. But I still miss home.

Mom, dad and Effie were casually talking while Dave and I were just sitting there, eating our food silently. A door opened and we were all startled to see Haymitch.

"Surprised, everybody?" He says, casually. Haymitch sorta used to be a drunk, but mom and dad forced him to stop drinking alcohol and try to stay sober. Surprisingly, it worked. "Haymitch!" I exclaimed. He smiles, "Hi there, Rue." I return back the smile and continue eating. Haymitch takes a seat next to Effie and he starts eating as well, "What are you doing here, Haymitch?" Dad asks, surprised that he's here.

"I wanted to see your daughter before she went into the games." He says. I gulp down my drink and almost choke on it as he says that. He notices and says, "Sorry, sweetheart." I roll my eyes on that nickname. He uses that nickname on mom as well. "Who's your other tribute?" He asks. Dave shots his head back up, "I'm Dave." He says. Haymitch nods and continues eating. Dave sighs and continues as well. I excuse myself from dinner and go back tomy room. I turn on the TV and watch the recaps of the reaping.

District 1 has 2 volunteers this year. Not really surprising, they are a career district after all. The girl volunteer has golden yellow hair with big, blue eyes, and the boy has ashy blonde hair with green eyes. I remember their name are Shine and Rain. Ridiculous names. From District 2, a girl with dark brown hair with blue eyes, and the guy had same features as the girl. Their names are Deanne and Mason and the girl was a volunteer.

I practically ignored the other districts until District 8 came. I was shocked when I saw a girl with fiery, red hair with big brown eyes. I remember her name is Andrea. If I could make her my ally, I could. I bet District 12 was the highlight of all the reapings since there were or are 2 volunteers.

I turned off the TV and heard Dave talk, "Seems like they picked a favorite already." I raised an eyebrow at him, "What are you talking about?" He comes inside and sits on my bed, "I bet Haymitch will try to talk to the Capitol citizens and get you sponsors." I faced him, "Maybe there will be some for you." He shakes his head an looks down, "I'll see you tomorrow, Rue." He stands up and walks to the door, "Dave?" I ask. He turns around and does a simple, "Hmm?" "I'm sorry. About earlier." I say.

He smiles, "Don't sweat it." And then he goes to his room. It's quite early to be asleep but I feel exhausted about the events of today. I change into simple pajamas and lay on my bed. I shut my eyes and drift to sleep.


I slowly wake up from my dreamless sleep and go to the bathroom. I look at the buttons on the shower. How can someone know what this is? I thought to myself. I turn on what seems to be the warm water and take a quick shower. I change into a purple V-neck shirt, denim jeans and some flats. I go outside and eat breakfast; pancakes and some hot chocolate. I didn't want to fill up my stomach because of the tribute parade. The train suddenly became dim, "We're in a tunnel." Mom reassures us. For a few minutes, we were eating in dim light. The light reappears when we were done. I looked out the window and saw the Capitol before my eyes.

It was amazing.

"Now, smile and make them like you." Dad says to us. We arrive on our stop and I see many citizens with very odd colors of hair and different colored skin. It made me want to puke. We finally stopped and the doors open, revealing us to the Capitol. How do they stand looking at themselves in the mirror? It makes me sick.

But here I am in the Capitol at last.


Hope you liked this. I couldn't upload yesterday because of procrastination, e.g. Tumblr, Tumblr, Tumblr. :D

ehehe, sorry. :P