Authors Note:
So basically this is a big thank you to everyone who read this story! It really does mean a lot to me, I had always written stories before but never really put them out to share with others. The feedback I got for this story and the one before it was absolutely amazing to me. I AM planning on writing the third and final book for this series once I finish another book I've just started. I would LOVE it if you read it too, it has the same themes as A Dangerous Game and Capital Bound do. Here's a little excerpt from the first chapter, which I've already posted:
"Morning Den." He smiles at me. My names not really Den, no, that's just my nickname. My real name is Denver, Denver Rowsell. An eighteen year old girl who lives in the Seam, who hates the Capital, and is a regular in the Hob. I let go of my brother and go over and check our food supply. Low. Of course it is, it always is, but I don't mind. We get what we can, we have what we have. I slice a piece of bread off of the half loaf of stale bread that we have out and chew it slowly. I can just get some soup from Greasy Sae when I go to the Hob once Kline leaves for work, which should be soon. I go and sit across from him; he's already in his work clothes; his pick axe and hardhat wait by the door.
"I was going to see if I can get some more firewood today." I casually inform him.
"Good, we'll run out soon. Only get enough for this week though, we need food too." Kline sounds like he's forty years old, not twenty one, when he says things like this. I can barely remember the fun-loving brother I grew up with. Who always ran outside, forgetting to brush his black hair, and go off and pull pranks or play with his friends. No, he's grown up a lot in the past few years.
"I know, you should be off now, you'll be late."
Kline nods and pushes his chair back. I shove the rest of my bread in my mouth and go and grab his coat for him. It's our fathers, but Kline uses it now for walks to the mines. I hand it to him as he finishes lacing up his leather work boots. They're covered in a layer of coal dust, like everything else is. He puts on his hardhat and I wait patiently to hand him his pickaxe. It's heavy in my hands, but Kline carries it with ease. I hand it to him as he steps out the door. I follow him out and stand on the rickety thing we call our porch. Our whole house is in bad shape, but it has a foundation and keeps the roof above our heads, so it works. I give Kline a quick hug.
"Be careful." I warn him, mining is extremely dangerous; any day could be his last.
"I always am." He grins down at me and pats my back, then starts to make his way down the road towards the mines at the south end of the Seam. I glance over to the house a few houses down from ours on the other side of the road. I see Gale Hawthorne give his little sister Posy a hug goodbye; he stands up and ruffles her pale red hair. I smile at the sight of them, which I see every morning.
Gale steps off his porch and begins his way to the mines; I raise my hand slightly to him in greeting as he passes my house.
"Morning" I call out to him. He turns his head and gives me a slight nod and mimics the gesture I gave him.
"Good morning." He answers without stopping.
And that's the only interaction I've had with Gale Hawthorne every single day for the past six years.
So again a big big thank you to everyone who read this story and especially to my reviewers who I love. I have to have been caught at least six times at school checking on my iPod to see if you've reviewed yet or not. Hopefully I'll hear from you all again in reviews on the third book. And if you have any suggestions for it or have something you would like to see feel free to PM me and voice them, maybe I'll put them in ;)
Mocking Verse