District Six

Jenny Holland

"Jenny hurry! We have to go!" Jenny heard in her ear. She looked her partner in crime, Asher Moreland in the eye with terror. The two had been living off the streets since their parents were murdered, and had turned into petty thieves. They never stole much, just whatever they needed to get by, but it beat actually working. That was, until half an hour earlier.

"Come on Jenny, just run in there, grab as many supplies as you can, and get out. We'll need them. Our silverware won't last another week, and with all the ruckus with the Reapings, a small little burglary won't bring up any attention," Asher convinced her.

Jenny looked at the small shop on the corner. District Six was a busy city. Most corners like these were bustling, yet there wasn't a person to be seen. She looked at Asher and nodded, giving the signal that she was about to go in. She snuck through the back door of the shop before searching for the supplies they needed.

A small jingle from the front door rang, making Jenny freeze in her tracks. She was still hidden because she was in the back storeroom, but it was unnerving to know there was someone else there.

"Good evening sir, how can I help you today?" The shop owner said. Jenny mentally counted that there were two people, not just one. She began to gather the supplies.

"My name is Julien Luxe, I'm a junior detective for the District. My partner told me I had a supply shipment here?" The other man, Julien, identified himself.

A detective? Jenny started to panic. She looked around the storeroom to find what she needed before the owner joined her. She saw a box and was terrified of what was in it.

"A detective? Yeah, I was told one of you would come by, although I didn't expect someone so young. Why are you in this part of town, if you don't mind me asking?" The owner questioned.

Jenny looked in the box, trying her hardest to keep her lunch in. It was a gun. Jenny hated guns. A gun was what took her parents' life.

"Me and my partner are searching for a girl who's been robbing stores around this area for years. We're trying to catch her tonight, just in case she tries to use the Reapings as a way to escape tomorrow. Here's a picture, have you seen her?" The detective asked. Jenny froze. It had to be her.

She grabbed some knives and spoons and put them in a crate, vowing to get out as soon as possible.

"I haven't, but I'll let you know if I do. Let me get those supplies for you," the shopkeeper said. Jenny ran back to the gun. She didn't want to use it, but she was stuck in a corner. She saw the startled face of the shopkeeper and knew she messed up. She silently begged him to stay silent, but she knew when he opened his mouth to scream that she was caught. She did the only thing she knew how.

Jenny didn't even hear the bang. She saw the life leave his eyes, the shot must have been fatal, but she didn't hear the bang. She saw the blood on his chest stream out at a fast rate. She whispered a silent apology before sprinting out the back door to Asher.

"Hurry up Jenny!" Asher yelled once more. The two took off through the alleys, knowing full well the detective was behind them. Asher let out a cry of pain. Jenny turned to look at him. He had been tased.

"Run Jenny! Go!" Asher commanded. Jenny saw not one, but two detectives chasing her down the alley.

"I'll take care of this one, you get the girl!" The older detective yelled. The younger nodded then took off sprinting towards Jenny.

Jenny ran for what seemed like forever. Living on the streets hadn't made her lazy, but it seemed that at every turn she made, the detective was right there.

'He has to be getting tired,' She thought. She definitely was. She turned another corner and swore she could see stars. Turning around, the detective was still on her tail. She took another turn through an alley, and fell flat on her face, blacked out.

Julien Luxe

Julien was tired. No, that was an understatement, Julien was downright exhausted. He chased that damn girl through every nook and cranny in District Six, just for her to black out and, as if that wasn't enough, he had to carry her back to the station too. He looked at the girl, she couldn't have been more than 16 years old, and felt sorry for her.

"I know that look mate, and don't think that. She killed a man. The only reason she's here right now and not on the way to the Capital prisons is because the Reapings are tomorrow," Julien's partner, Quentin, explained.

"Let me go talk to the Peacekeepers," Julien said, determined. Quentin smirked at Julien's comment, but didn't say anything.

Julien found the first Peacekeeper in the hallway before he began his questioning. "What's going to happen to the girl?"

"Ms. Holland will attend the Reapings as normal," The Peacekeeper answered flippantly.

"And if she gets reaped?"

"If Ms. Holland gets reaped or volunteers then she is no longer a prisoner of District Six, and therefore, is free of all punishment if she survives the arena."

Julien didn't let his anger show, but he was ticked. She killed a man and she could just be let off? "Will anyone tell her that she can be free if she volunteers?"

The Peacekeeper smiled, "No one will tell her, but don't be surprised if her name comes out of the bowl. We in the Capital like to have fun with our prisoners."

Julien's heart sank. She was sure to die in the arena, of that he had no doubt, but it was still wrong of the Capital to just sentence her. If he had waited a day, she could've had a normal sentencing like other criminals.

"Julien," Quentin yelled from the holding room, "Come here, the boy's up."

Julien looked at the boy they caught along with Jenny. He was small, smaller than Jenny, with brown hair and chocolate eyes.

"Can I be let out now?" He asked.

Julien scoffed, "Why would we let you out?"

"Because I gave you the tip! You wouldn't have her if I didn't tell you where we'd be tonight!" The boy, who Julien remembered was named Asher, said.

Julien felt conflicted. On one hand he wanted to be happy that they caught Jenny, but on the other, he felt bad for her. Her best friend sold her out and she was going to have to compete, and most likely die, in the games.

Quentin must've read his thoughts through his face, because he sent Julien home for the night.

Jenny Holland

Reaping Day

Jenny awoke to the bright light of the city square.

"Jenny, can you hear me?" A voice asked her. Jenny nodded. "Good. You're going to go to the Reapings, but right after, guards are going to come collect you and you'll be sentenced to Capital prisons for many years worth of thefts and the murder of one Jonathan Hopkins."

Jenny, who realized she must be fighting the effects of some knockout drug wearing off, just simply nodded. She closed her eyes and then she was among the crowd.

"Good morning, District Six," Clint Harrison announced in his usual, stoic voice, "I hope you are all ready for the reapings for the 88th annual Hunger Games, but first, a message from the Capital."

Jenny began to think, after realizing she could think, about how she could get out of her predicament. At first, she thought she could run, but with how many peacekeepers crowded the district, she knew she couldn't make it out of the center. She threw the idea of volunteering around, but realized how foolish it was soon after. If she was to die, she'd rather it not be for someone's amusement.

"Well, without further ado, ladies first," Clint said, a small amount of excitement creeping into his voice. His hand reached in the bowl, and said what Jenny wanted to hear the least.

"Jenny Holland."

She climbed the steps calmly, knowing she might never return back again. She waved in the crowd, but noticed the older detective that captured her was smiling. She lost the mask of a happy tribute right then, but the show went on.

"Darius King," Clint called out, then two words that Jenny would never thought she would hear, were said.

"I volunteer!"

What surprised her more was the mouth that said the words. It was the mouth of the detective that chased her through the alleys the night before.

"What's your name son?" Clint asked the detective, who Jenny didn't even think was old enough to go to the games.

"Julien Luxe," He responded.

Julien

"What the hell were you thinking, Julien!" Quentin yelled at him.

"I couldn't just let her go Quentin! It was rigged! She deserves a fighting chance!" Julien defended.

"So what? You'd throw your life away for hers? You had a future Julien!"

"So should she."

"You know you both can't survive the arena right? Did it occur to you that her justice costs your life?"

"I considered it."

"Then why are you throwing yourself away for her? You could've fought for justice!"

"I am fighting for justice Quentin. You just aren't seeing it."

"What I'm seeing is you being an absolute idiot. Don't throw yourself away to save her. She's a street rat. You're the most promising detective aspect in the district," Quentin said, put out, "Listen, I can't change what you've done, but please, come back Julien. The district can't lose you."

"If she dies, I'll come home," Julien said, unconvincingly. Quentin looked like he'd say something else, but decided against it. Quentin handed Julien a badge, before the peacekeepers took him away. Julien looked toward the train, and wondered if he had made the right choice.