BOOM! The sound of the cannon startles the sixteen year old awake, he looks around in panic, his eyes stop on his thirteen year old District partner. She laid on the sand with her mouth hanging open and her eyes tightly shut. "Anna?" He panics grabbing his District partner's hand, her head rolls to the side as he leans down to check for a hear beat. Nothing. He falls back on the burning hot sand and lets out an angry growl, his arms ached from nasty blisters and burnt skin. This long without water, there was no surprise she died, yet it hit him hard.
A sharp hit against his back sends him flying, groaning, he rolls over onto his back and looks at his attacker, the giant, bear sized, scorpions. He slowly gets up and tries to run but his legs hurt like hell, falling down he lets out a painful scream. He never thought he would die in the Hunger Games, he especially never thought he would die by an attack from a scorpion. He squeezes his eyes closed, waiting for the painful jabs but instead, a voice rings out. "Congratulations Foster Ford, you are the 147th Annual Hunger Games Victor!" He lets out a yelp hearing the loud voice from above.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Foster jolts out his sleep hearing his daughter's cheerful voice, he sits up and looks around before letting his eyes rest on the four year old. His facial features instantly soften seeing his daughter covered in flour and wearing a over-sized apron. "Freesia," he starts but is quickly interrupted, "C'mon! Hurry!" Freesia says wrapping her small hands around his fingers. He lets her pull him from his big bed, and drag him into the messy kitchen.
"I made you breakfast!" Freesia says with joy, Foster smiles and looks at the messy pancakes and scrambled eggs, with bacon hazardously thrown on top. "I helped," he looks over to the doorway to see his best friend, Reggie. He chuckles and sits down at the table, "You two are going to spoil me." He says gesturing for them to sit with him. Freesia giggles and sits down next to him, she leans over and picks a blackberry off of his plate and leans back. "Reggie, if I would've known you were here I would've gotten up." Foster says looking across the table at the younger woman. Reggie shrugs, "She wanted to make you breakfast, so I helped." She says with a smile. Foster glances out the window to see the peacekeepers setting up for Reaping, "Nervous?" Reggie asks noticing the fading of Foster's smile.
"Nah," Foster shakes his head, he didn't want to ruin the moment with his nervousness. "Freesia, why don't you go see what Lilith is doing." Foster suggests looking down at Freesia. "Ok!" Freesia grins and gets up, quickly leaving the room. "Reggie," Foster starts, but Reggie raises her hand. "You don't have to ask, I'll do it." Reggie knew exactly what he was going to ask, she has taken care of Freesia many times during Foster's trips to the Capital.
Foster and Reggie go back many years, they met when they were only twelve, both were nervous about Reaping and accidentally knocked over a table together, they suffered punishment together and oddly became friends. While Foster was in the Hunger Games, Reggie used up most of her money, just to send him a gallon of water. That gallon of water possibly saved his life. When Foster got back, he wanted nothing more that to go harvest some wheat and have his life go back to normal. It never did, he finally met his wife when he was forty, they had Freesia together, but not even a year later, she died from being wrongfully prosecuted.
"Lisa hasn't been heard from in weeks," he blinks confused, "What?" He asks looking at Reggie. "Lisa's parents have reported not being able to find her." Reggie rephrased herself hoping he'd understand better. "I think she's dead." Reggie murmurs. Lisa is a recent Victor who tries to keep to herself, Foster remembers mentoring her, he had a great feeling about her. Lisa is in her twenties now but at eighteen, she was and still is, very intelligent for her age. It was no surprise to him that she got many sponsors, but it also a surprise when she came out without killing anyone. "She could just being going through a hard time." Foster suggests, he figures she'll pop up at the reaping anyway.
Foster sat beside an empty seat while he watched the District people gather together, it has been a good thirty minutes, Lisa could be running late for all they know. The mayor stepped on stage, looking very upset as he neared the microphone. "People of District 9, I have very upsetting news I must announce." The small man announces, Foster swallowed hard knowing very well what this was to be about. "Lisa Potts has been found dead in a tub of water. I would like to have a moment of silence for her family and friends."
As requested, the whole District went silent.
It took several minutes before the Escort would come onto the stage, Meringue, in her bright yellow and orange dress walks across the stage. "Isn't that just sad." She says in a odd tone, she smiles brightly and throws her off-colored hair over her shoulder. "Now," she clears her throat as she plunges her hand into the reaping bowl. "Foster Ford." She says with too much excitement. Foster stands up and moves to stand beside her, inside, all he could feel was fear.
Train Ride
Foster sat with Meringue at the table, together they ate apple pie. Meringue was talking about how much of a honor it was to meet him, he was flattered. Saying goodbye to Freesia and Reggie was hard, Freesia didn't understand that there was a chance he couldn't come back to her. He didn't want to explain the Hunger Games to her until she was old enough to fully understand, even though she didn't understand, there was no way he or Reggie, were going to let her watch the Games just for her to understand.
"It's unfortunate for Lisa, she would've been interesting to see in the games once more." Meringue's comment causes Foster to give her an odd look. "She was President Rossi's favorite after all." She says in a slight daze. "What do you mean?" Foster asks as he sets his fork down on the table, Meringue shrugs, "I over heard President Rossi say, he hoped for her to be reaped." She says, slowly after her face falls and she quickly stands up. "I'm going to my room, we should be in the Capital very soon. So, I suggest you prepare." Meringue says and leaves the room.
Foster stared at the door in confusion, who knew the President had taken a liking to Lisa, thought he found it odd since Lisa didn't kill anyone. He had figured out of everyone, President Rossi, would be the one to take a liking to a Victor who did the most brutal kills.