Notes: This chapter isn't as fantastic as the others (not that the others were fantastic). It's also not as long, sorry about that! The story will be picking up after the next (two?) chapter(s). Enjoy and ignore any errors!
Warning: Language
Summary: Katniss mentions a Game from when she was young where a female Tribute drops her token on the ground before the gong sounded. That was Camellia Galvan, a young girl from District Seven, whose life was normal. Until everything changed. This is her story.
Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Reminder: Please review!
That night I had a strange dream. I'm lost in a forest, but it's not home. Instead of the pines and the oaks, I'm surrounded by trees I've never seen before. When I touch the bark, instead of being rough beneath my fingers, it feels silky. I get the sense to run and thrashing my way through the trees, jumping and tripping over the roots breaking through the dirt. Something is catching up to me. I can hear its footsteps getting closer and closer with each step. My shirt gets caught on a low branch and I am forced to stop and try to free myself. Every second ticking away is a second closer to death. I can't get it unhooked. It's getting closer. I can feel the heat from its body and I'm beginning to panic. I scream out for help but no one is around. No one can hear me. I'm doomed. I am about to—
"Camellia, wake up!" I hear to my left. I'm still in a daze and I can feel the breath of the unseen monster on my neck.
"Cam!" I hear again and the voice pulls me completely from my dream. I open my eyes and see I'm back in my bedroom.
"Are you alright now?" Holly asks in a soft voice. I turn and see her kneeling beside my bed as I force myself to breathe normally. I wonder if I cried out in my sleep; if I called for help like in my dream.
I nod. Even though the dream, or nightmare, was terrifying and I can't shake the feeling of the monster being near, I am alright because I'm home.
Holly struggles to stand and makes her way back to her cot. Caroline's small voice rises from the corner. As she slides into bed Holly tells her everything is okay and to go back to sleep.
I don't know what time it is. I glance out the window and don't see any indication that the sun will be rising soon. I lay still for a long while before I fall back asleep. I have no more dreams and when I wake up to the morning siren, I can't remember why my dream was so tarrying anymore. There is nothing scary about the forest.
At least that's what I think until I'm on my way to school. Grover has gone ahead to meet his friends, so I'm alone with Caroline.
"You were talking in your sleep last night," she tells me a little while away from the house.
"Oh was I?" I ask with a smile. I didn't think she would remember it since she sounded half asleep at the time. In fact, Holly didn't even seem to remember it this morning. At least she didn't act like she remembered it. And if she did, I'm grateful she didn't mention it in front of mom and dad.
"Why?" She asks.
I try to remind myself that Caroline is only nine and that she doesn't need to hear about my nightmares. Yet I find myself telling her everything I can remember. She listens silently the entire time and soon we're at the school.
"That's silly. You don't go into the woods anyway." She says.
Technically she's right. I still have roughly nine months before I have to go into the forest everyday and even then, I'll always be with someone.
"When did you get so smart?" I ask with a smile as I lead her to her classroom with a promise to pick her up after school.
I make my way to my own classroom and am one of the last to arrive. Even Tara is on time. I slide into my seat and prepare for another day of learning. Nothing of interest happens today and after school I walk with Grover and Caroline home. Holly somehow is behind on laundry and Grover has more homework than usual so we do nothing outside together. I do homework at the table while Holly is hurrying around, answering the door and giving people their sheets and clothes. I get dinner ready for her because she still has a pile left. The room smells like soap and stew when mom and dad get home, looking more tired than usual and covered head to toe in dirt. No one thanks me for dinner and I wasn't expecting one. We have to eat and it doesn't matter who makes it as long as it's on the table.
Dinner is quiet, as is the rest of the night. Dad doesn't help Grover with his homework. Today has been the complete opposite of yesterday. It's like we're a different family. Maybe the week is catching up on us, I don't know. I wish we could have a day like yesterday every day.
I have no nightmares tonight, which I was assuming would happen. The morning siren rings at sunrise and the next few days pass with nothing happening. Mom, dad and Holly all continue working. Tara keeps her family well fed. Cherry is still apprenticing at her family's shop. And I continue bringing home good grades that do nothing to feed us, or get us money, or goods for trading.