Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games.
Alina Matthews (D6)
"Whaaa!"
"Lina, Lily is playing with her food!"
"Lina, Aster is doing her homework that she should've done last night!"
"Lina, Jessie is drawing on her arm!"
"Whaaa!"
Sigh, just another normal day in the Matthews' house. The breakfast table was a mess, and nobody was even close to ready to go to this Reaping. I didn't have a good night sleep, and I had worked late at the factory yesterday, so all of Will's screaming was giving me a headache. You would think at four he would stop screaming so much.
As I checked Will, I said with authority, "Lily, eat, we don't get enough food as it is. Aster, do your homework later and we'll discuss the importance of not waiting till the last minute to do your homework later. Jessie, doodle on paper, not your arm. Now, Will honey, what's the matter?"
"Lina, can Juju come in?"
"That's what you were crying about?" Will gave me a little nod and a hopeful smile. His blue eyes, that Kevin also had, were brimming with tears from his crying. He looked so much like Kevin it hurt.
"Oh, alright. Jessie, can you let Juju in?" Juju was our recently adopted cat. I tried to keep him outside, but Will loved him so much, he stayed inside a lot. At least he was a good mouser. I didn't even have to feed him.
Juju came streaking in like a black comet, and right onto Will's lap. As Jessie sat down, and the table seemed at relative peace, I brought up the subject I had been dreading.
"Okay, everyone listen up. We need to talk about this Reaping."
"But Lina," Aster says, "why. Jessie only has one entry, and you only have six. Neither of you are going in."
"Let's hope so, but if I go in, and the Peacekeepers realize you four don't have a guardian, then you'll be taken to the orphanage."
"What's an orphanage," Will asks while stroking Juju.
"It's the place kids go who don't have parents," Jessie answers.
"But we don't have parents," Lily says sadly.
"No, we have Lina," Jessie says. "She does a good job, too." Jessie looks at me, silently cheering me on.
"Thanks." It was hard raising four kids by myself. Mom had died giving birth to Will. The doctors had tried in vain to get her to have an abortion, because they knew her body wouldn't support another child. She told me during her pregnancy that she would support her baby, and she would give him life. Dad also wanted the abortion; Mom was the only person he ever cared about. That's probably why he killed himself days after her death.
Kevin, who would've been 16 then, and I, who was 13, started raising our sisters and newborn brother. He worked in the factory and I quit school so I could work around the house. In his spare time, Kevin would sneak out and hunt. Before he joined the rebellion, he and Hector taught me some about weapons. They wanted me to know how to defend myself.
Hector was Kevin's best friend. They were always together. I dated Hector some when I was 15, but we ended it right after he joined the rebellion. Kissing him was like kissing my brother.
Kevin and Hector were so proud to be a part of the rebellion. They loved the idea of kicking Capital butt. They were such hotheads. They died two years ago in a hovercraft crash. The whole family took it hard. Lily and Aster cried for days. Jessie became a zombie for weeks. Will doesn't really even remember Kevin. As for me, I'm the head of the family, and I've had to be strong for everyone.
"If I get chosen for the Reaping, tell everyone that I never got along with my Dad, and he went home. You have to stay together."
"You're not going anywhere though," Aster said, "and neither is Jessie."
"Right," I say nervously, "let's get ready for this reaping now."
After two hours of getting everyone looking presentable, which included arguing about what they would where, hair fighting, giving Will a bath, and somehow getting myself ready, we went to the town square. I told Aster and Lily to stay with Will. I ordered them to find a man a keep next to him, so he would look like their father. It wasn't the best plan, but it was something.
I dropped Jessie off at the twelve year old section, and she started mooning over her crush with her friends. He was the District boy genius, David Moody. I was constantly hearing how cute he was, with his bright red hair, and his baby blue eyes. He was Jessie's age, but had graduated four years ago, and was currently working on inventive stuff that I would never understand in my factory. I saw him occasionally, and he was always in some project and ordering around people three times his age.
I went over to the 17 year old section. I didn't really have any friends anymore. I was way too busy for them, and most of my old friends still went to school, so we just kind of drifted apart.
Mayor Malfoy came up to the stage and started his speech. He was a Capital picked and recently elected. He was very creepy, with black eyes in narrow slits. He had very milky and slick looking skin, and had a powered wig on his head. He recited a speech on the rebellion and how everything was our fault, his voice filled with venom like a snake.
A massive guy in black came up then and said threateningly that he would be escorting the lucky tributes to the Capital. I got the feeling anyone that went with this guy would be dragged across the border instead of escorted.
Theo, the escort, reached into a giant glass bowl. My name was in there six times because I took out tessure for everyone in the family. I wouldn't let Jessie take out any. But, surely I wouldn't be picked. Luck had never been on my side, so surely it'd give me a break and Jessie and I wouldn't be called.
"Alina Matthews," Theo called. Figures. Fate couldn't be satisfied by taking my mother, father, and brother. It wanted me to die too. Now who would take care of my family?
I made my way up slowly to the stage, holding my head up high, and telling myself not to let my lip tremble. I glanced at Jessie on the way. Her friends were holding her back, as she was trying to claw her way to me, tears streaming down her face.
Theo gripped my hand hard when we shook hands. I paid him no mind. I see Aster and Lily crying and huddling over Will. I look away so I won't scream and run to them.
"David Moody," Theo calls. Oh no, poor Jessie. David walks to the stage. He's very pale, and his freckles on his face are just about the only color left on his face. He looks me sadly in the eye as we shake hands.
"There you have it, rebels," Theo laughs. "You're tributes for the first Hunger Games." The sudden urge to kill him flashes through my mind. Doesn't he know how much pain we've faced?
At the Justice Building, David and I are put in a large room so we can say good-bye to our families. An older, middle aged couple come in and starts crying over David. He's an only child, and his mother doesn't look like she can have any more kids. Hmmm.
As I watch them my sisters and brother rush in and tackle me. Lily and Aster are still sobbing, and Jessie is crying silent tears. Will gives me a pitiful look.
"Lina, what's going on?"
"I'm going to go play a game with the other tributes," I struggle to keep a brave face.
"Ooo, can I play," he asks delightedly.
"No, honey," I say. "This isn't something I ever want you in. You can stay here with Jessie, Aster, and Lily."
"When are you coming back," he asks. My sisters cry even harder.
"Soon," I whisper. I have to come back.
"Okay!"
I continue to hug my family till the Peacekeepers give a five minute warning. I tell Lily and Aster to be good, and to take Will out. Will gives me another hug, and they leave.
"Jessie," I say with authority, "you're in charge now. I don't want you to quit school, but you have to concentrate on keeping the family together."
"But," she says.
"Listen," I whisper, "do what I say, and keep the fact that you don't have parents a secret. And be as nice as you can to David's parents."
"I don't want you to go," she sobs.
"Shh," I give her a final hug. "I love you, and don't let Will forget me."
"I love you, too," she says, and the Peacekeepers lead her away.
I look over at David, who is alone now. I know that I have to be as nice to him as possible, and maybe, just maybe, his parents will adopt my family. Maybe, his parents will pity my family if I pity their son.
"Do you want to be allies, David?"
Question of the Chapter: I need more arena ideas! So submit them. Once I have five good ones, you'll be able to vote for the arena you want to see.
Also, D7 people please tell me what you're character would think of the other. I know Linton's creator has already told me, but what does Laural's creator say?
