Chapter 3

Ben and I lived a simple live and I loved the view from our little house /hovel the sun, the sea was breath taking, the sand got in my toes and in to parts of my body I hated, we washed in a waterfall place that was near us out own oasis, it was heated by the sun and fresh water, it was really clean, over the last year, I had tried to keep abreast of news of the victors, Ben was still getting scared about his up coming first reaping , this time I could not say he would not get reaped, I felt horrible, we never mixed within the same circles as the victors family I never saw them in our district or the beach we went every day, but it was big and we were orphans, they don't care about us unless we are going in the games. I still sang Ben songs, I still ran to songs from my world, I looked healthy and strong and sexy as hell but I never showed it, I always tried to dull my appeal down since the victors chat I was scared about someone murdering Ben getting me to comply to anything to just let him live.

As the 70th games were coming up I was nervous it was my last one as I was nearly 18 and ben was 12 it was scaring me fear eating me up inside, I did a lot of exercise and karate and showing Ben as well, I started to dress Ben up nice pants and a shirt his hair windswept and looking handsome. I never kept information from Ben as lack of could get him hurt, as finnick hard once said secrets are currency,

ben and I had a lot of that of secrets. The night before the 70th reaping he spoke about if he was chosen then he wanted to meet his father, I agreed it was only right he had that opportunity, I slept fretful that night tossing and turning in the night ben came into my bed and cuddle up to me I kissed his head and hummed a lullaby slight tears ran down my face the idea of losing my little boy made me a little insane, so I laid In the bed cuddling my son, we awoke and changed in to our best clothes and then finished all our food it was something we did every reaping, the breakfast was wonderful and a nice walk, finally it was time to go to the reaping.

They took our blood and then we went into the bays for our age group making sure to leave ben last minute, some of the other 12 year olds looked to me I sort of remember one or two as friends of ben form the orphanage. It started had to listen to the slop of the capital twat, saw mags and finnick there and some others, could not name even if I could there information was not relative, mags and finnick were the usual mentors, as that was all the capital wanted, the other victors able to became wallflowers.

Now the blue woman started to draw the names

" Sky Masters"

I had been called I started making my way to the stage I was shocked wasn't Annie met to be the victor of this little game, but as I start to walk up the stairs I realised I am the oc of course I would be called.

I could not understand how I got to the stage it was a blank I then started to look for Ben he was looking shocked and upset, I just was a little numb, I could do this I knew this story I could do it,

" next the boys" said the blue woman

She went to the bowl and pull out a name

" Ben Lane Abernathy Masters"

" noo" I screamed my face full of horror as my son came to the stage I grab him and cuddle him reassuring him I would try to protect him, he was scared but did not cry. Everything was a blur and I was suddenly in a room, without my son,

I saw a chair and just rocked in it my tears running down my face, no one visited me and I was soon on the train, I saw mags and finnick, but I started to look for Ben getting really scared finally the doors opened and Ben came in the first thing he said shocked the whole group,

"mum , mum I don't want to go" and fell in my arms as I sat on the floor rocking him tears running down his face, I just whispered comforting words to him, until he fell to sleep from the shock, I stroked his hair as I struggled to get up, I think finnick helped me get to a room I laid him on the bed and laid next to him cuddling him. I think finnick left I never cared I only had eyes for Ben.

An hour later Ben woke up I smiled at him and helped him get up, he went to the toilet and came back,

"mum I'm scared they called me by haymitch name to they know"

" I know honey we will get through this you're the son of two victors you can win this" he looked at me and gave a watery smile.

" I'll do it for you mum"

"that you will son that you will" as I cuddly him my shock had turned to anger, and I knew I could play the game, but could I win. There was a knock at the door mags open the door and wanted to tell us about dinner and to get ready, I nodded and told ben, he started to go in to the showers and I went to the room mags showed me and had a shower and then got into a dress of white and slippers and went to get ben who was changed into a pair of pants and a shirt his hair wet but brush to the side.

"ready darling" he nodded taking my hand we went out to the dining room to face the music.