Before you begin reading I want to inform you guys about my other fanfiction, Let the 76th Hunger Games Begin. It is a fanfic about the Hunger Games (duh!) but it is filled with tons of shocks and twists. You'll always wonder what will happen next. That's a promise.
Cedar's POV -
Katniss Everdeen. Peeta Mellark. Gale Hawthorne. The three names circle in my head. These people might, just might, be able to save our lives. After a few moments for this news to sink in, I decide to trust them completely. I mean what have I got to lose?
Lilly is giving me a look. The look asks, "Should we tell Dawn?" I shake my head in disapproval. Lilly finally says, "We should tell some tributes about this."
"You're right but only a couple."
"Who should we pick?"
"I don't know. We should choose during training. So we can see who need to know."
She smiles and nods in reply as Dawn returns with Juliet's drink. "So, what did I miss?" He asks us.
"Nothing much, just some strategies and plans."
Dawn answers, "I'm not stupid. I know how to eavesdrop. So I want you two to make good decisions when you choose. So go up to your floor and get some rest." Dawn pushes us toward the glass elevator and presses a button inside. 4. Dawn smiles and we shoot up at lightning speed. "I think I just might kill him." Lilly whispers.
"I know I will."
I laugh and walk Lilly to her room. Her room is painted light blue and with a pastel green line through the middle of the wall. A queen size bed is inside the wall. A curtain is on a rail so she can sleep in peace. The bathroom is severely high tech. Automated showers, combs, windows, toilets, sinks, and even toothbrush cover every inch of the bathroom. Lilly climbs into her bed and motions for me to sit with her. "Ced," she says in a concerned tone, "what if one of us… dies?"
"Honestly, the odds are against us. We just have to hide out until Katniss, Peeta, and Gale rescue us."
She lays her hand on my leg and says, "I trust you."
I smile and hug her. Tears run down my face but I suck it up. I stand up and walk to the door.
Lilly's POV
"Ced, Don't leave."I say.
"I have to go to bed. You heard Dawn. "
"Well, can you stay until I fall asleep at least?
He pauses for a few moments and answers, "Fine."
I smile and lay down. Cedar sits on my bed humming my favorite song. It is the lovely melody from the 74th Games. I was only 8 years old when that poor 12 year old, Rue, was killed. Katniss sung this song Cedar is humming now. I curl up in a ball and doze off. The last thing I hear before I fall asleep completely is Cedar whisper, "I won't let you down, Lil, I promise." Then everything goes black.
I wake up to the sunlight peeking into my room through the window. I block the light with my arm and I fall out of the bed. I walk over to a small table that has a note laying on it. It reads, "Dear Lilly, I laid out an outfit for you to wear to training. It's next to the shower. ~ Melody." I set the note back on the table and walk to my technical bathroom. I remove my clothing and step into the shower.
The shower alone must have over 500 buttons. I press the on button and wet my hair. I press a second button that says, "Lavender scent." Instantly, the shower fills with the sweet scent of lavenders. I wash out my hair and step out of the shower. I slip the outfit Melody laid out on and walk over to the mirror. I am wearing a light blue tank top and denim shorts. I pull my hair up into a side ponytail with small curls. I smile at my reflection and exit my bedroom. Across the hallway, there is door marked District 4 Male. I knock on the door and Cedar's voice answers, "Come in!"
I open the door and walk over to Cedar. He is in his costume as well. Only instead of denim shorts he is wearing cargo pants with a dark blue shirt. "Lilly?"
"Huh?"
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah. You?
"Yeah, then let's go."
I smile and hold his hand as we ride the elevator down to the training floor. As we step out, an avox pins a number on our back. She points in the direction of a capitol woman talking to a few other tributes. As we walk over a second avox grabs my arm and pulls me into a small room before any one notices. She flips on a light and quickly writes something on paper.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you!" It reads.
"It's ok. I just want to know why I am in here." I reply.
She writes, "I know how you can escape the arena."
I freeze and she continues, "Katniss Everdeen wrote you a letter. I was captured from District Thirteen but I know what the rebels are planning. You need to trust me."
"I trust you. Oh what is your name?"
"Azuela. Back to this. She will bust you out when it is the final 8. Become allies with your friends and help them survive. I recommend only three others. Good luck. You have to go now." I
She turns her head around and smiles. I smile back and nod before exiting the room. Outside are two peacekeepers. "What are you doing in there?"They ask me cruelly. When I don't answer, they bust open the door and Azuela back against a wall, panting and crying. They lift their whips and they land on Azuela's back, face, and arms repeatedly. I cry because I know this is a repeat of what happened to Blaze.
Cedar's POV-
I swear Lilly is a person who is here one minutes and slips away in an instant. She has missed the instructions for training and is missing. I look around the room again. Still no sign of Lilly.
"Who are you looking for?" a perky voice behind me asks.
I turn around and see a girl with light brown hair and big brown eyes. "My sister," I answer.
She gives me look like she just figured it out. She sees my expression and smiles. "I'm Genevieve, but you can call me Genie. I'm from District 7" She shakes my hand.
"I'm Cedar. District 4."
"Ooh, you're a career."
"Actually no, I'm just… Cedar."
A voice interrupts us. "Ced, who are you talking to?" It is Lilly.
"He's talking to me. I'm Genie."
"Lilly," I say, "where did you go?"
"If I tell you we will have to explain the 'thing' to her."
"You mean…," I begin
"Yep."
"WILL SOMEBODY TELLME WHAT'S GOING ON?!!" Genie yelled.
I nod at Lilly and say, "Go ahead Lilly."
"Ok," She starts saying as she moves closer, "During the chariot rides, a girl from the audience threw a mockingjay pin at us. Inside was a message telling us she was going to bust us out of the arena. Then like one second ago, an avox who was captured from District 13. She told me that she planned to bust us out during the final 8. As I was leaving, peacekeepers found us and, well, she's dead."
Cedar hugs me and I lay my head on his shoulder. Tears run down my face again. Genie rubs my back and soothingly says, "It's ok. Think about it. She risked her life to save yours and others. She was a hero." I smile and hug Genie too.
"So," I say wiping away the tears, "let's go train." We all nod our head and walk over to the bow and arrow section first. We each take a bow and load it. I bring it up to my face and aim it carefully. I pull the string and release sending the arrow deep into the dummy's chest. I smile and laugh. "Wow," Cedar says, "you're a natural."
"Thanks!" I reload and repeat the procedure again only instead sending the arrow into through into the throat and the dummy into the wall. I set the bow down before I draw the attention of the other tributes. I stand back and watch Genie and Cedar try. Cedar is terrible. He misses his dummy entirely and hits my dummy. However, Genie is decent at it. Cedar and Genie practice some more before we move on to spears. Cedar is awesome at it he hits the dummy's chest every time. Genie and I give up in the first five minutes. The next station is survival skills. The instructor explains how to pitch a tent, identify poisonous berries, and how to make a campfire. After the presentation, we are all called to the cafeteria for lunch. Food from ever district is available. We run to District 4 foods. Crab legs, shrimp, and salmon are laid out along the table. I taste some food from other districts including District 5's steak, District 11's vegetable salads, and District 1's fancy desserts. The foods burst with flavor in my mouth. I stuff in as much food as I can. Then dessert comes out and I wonder how the Capitol citizens can eat so much and stay so tiny. "So," Cedar begins, "did anyone else catch your eye?"
"That boy from 1 seems good with a sword." Genie says pointing to a tall boy at the next table.
"I thought we agreed no careers?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. He refused to have anything to do with the careers."
"I noticed someone, too." Cedar announces, "That boy from 9. He is our age, funny, and awesome with tons of weapons."
I look over at him and smile. He has light brown hair and brown eyes. He has huge biceps and is huge. "You think he would ally with us?"
"Why wouldn't he. He would probably agree just to talk to you." His eyes widen and he says, "I probably shouldn't have said that."
"What?!"
"Well, all the boy tributes think you're… hot."
I laugh and giggle. I look at Cedar who is giving me a look. "You were serious?" He nods slowly. We look over at the boy from 9. He is smiling at me and waving. I wave back and turn around to face Cedar. "Ok, fine, you're right, but Genie hasn't taken her eye off you since you two met. See where I getting with this?"
Genie blushes and when Cedar turns his head, I wink at her. She smiles at me and I finish eating.
The next few days, Cedar, Genie, and I train with nearly every weapon. Each one of us has discovered our skills. Mine is archery, knives, and running, Genie's is climbing, ax, and dagger, and Cedar's is spear, sword, and snares. It was the last day of training, and because we had covered everything we spent the day forming alliances. After a long discussion, we decided on 2 more people: the boy from 9 (Red) and the girl from 11 (Sage). All that is left to do is convince them to join us. I walk over to Red and say, "Hi, I'm Lilly."
He smiles and says, "I'm Red."
"A little bird whispered in my ear that you want to be my ally. Is that true?"
He laughs and replies, "Yea, it's true."
"Well, there are some requirements like you have to know about… it."
"What?"
I pull him over in a corner and tell him about the note and he stands frozen."Really?"
I nod and motion for him to come meet Cedar and Genie. "Red, these are the other allies, my brother, Cedar, and my friend, Genie. This is Red." They shake hands and smile. Genie leaves and goes to the knife station to talk to Sage and Cedar goes to the bathroom. I am alone with Red. He looks me in the eyes and says, "Did Cedar tell you what I think about you?" I nod.
"Well then," He says leaning in closer, "Let me prove it." He touches his lips against mine and I pull away. "Red, I'm sorry. I just can't move that fast not after what happened to… him."
Cedar returns and looks at us wide eyed and shocked, "Did you just kiss her?"
Cedar's POV
I am about to go kill Red. How could he kiss my sister?! I run over and slap him and he punches me in response. Before I know it, I am fighting with a tribute to Protect Lilly. Lilly is trying to break up the fight but Red punches her face and she goes unconscious. My eyes turn shades from the pale blue to pitch black. My anger has reached its limit and I tackle Red. I punch his face repeatedly and peacekeepers break us up. "DON'T COME NEAR MY SISTER OR I'LL KILL YOU!!" I scream. Peacekeepers stick sleeping venom into my back and I doze off.
……………………………………………………………..
When I wake up, the first thing I see is the TV announcing the scores. I slept through private training!! Lilly sits next to me and says, "Thank You, and I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"You always sacrifice yourself to save me and I'm worried you'll take it too far and wind up dead."
"Lilly, I won't di-"
"Cedar! Scores!"
I gaze at the screen and watch the scores on the screen. Lilly scored an 8, most likely with her archery. Genie scored a 6, probably with her dagger skills. I turn my eyes away from the screen to avoid Red's score. "Oh my god." Lilly muttered. Red had scored a thirteen.
