Hello, readers! :) I got the idea to write this story while reading "The Selection" by Kiera Cass (awesome book btw, you should read it!) and at the same time reading Mockingjay (for the third time). It hit me that there had to be some kind of pageant entertainment in the Capitol (I mean, come on they basically eat, breathe and drink fashion there). So, while brainstorming different ideas I came up with this. I would really appreciate it if you guys would comment, so I know to continue with the story! I have Chapter 2 all ready to go, I'm just waiting to see if people are interested in it!
Thank you soooo much for reading! 3 xx. -Nicki
"Attention, citizens of Panem."
That's the way the message started. That message that all the citizens of the country watched just before dinner time in their town squares, homes and businesses. I was walking out of the apothecary shop at the time.
At first everyone thought it was simply another announcement about District 12's winners from the Hunger Games; that they were visiting us or something like that (as if we actually care). But then, they announced that there was to be another sort of hunger games.
It's inventor, Salvatore J'Adore named it, "Who is the fairest of them all?" After all, only the prettiest of the girls in Panem will even be considered. So, I guess that leaves most of us out. Certainly a girl from District 1, 2 or 4 will win.
President Snow's only grandchild, his daughter's son, Daivat is fast approaching his twenty-first birthday. The President wants him to find a wife in this next year. To torture our districts a little more—specifically the female population—we are forced to send all the girls aged seventeen to twenty (who are not married or engaged) to the square tomorrow. It's not a normal reaping. It's different.
First they'll check everyone in. Anyone that isn't married or engaged and isn't present will be arrested and publicly humiliated. Then, they go down the lines and check for makeup. It isn't allowed. You are only allowed to brush and do your hair how you want; no face-changing allowed. So, that eliminates most of Districts 1, 2 and 4 too actually.
The people that check are the top stylists from the capitol. There's a rumor that one of them is Katniss's stylist, Cinna (however that's very unlikely considering he's with her on her tour.) They're looking for natural beauty that they can work with. They'll pick everyone worthy in each district and gather the select girls into the Justice Buildings. Then they'll narrow it down to three per district. Then one per district. No one knows how they're narrowing those three down though. Then the twelve stylists will bicker over which girls they want. Once the stylists have their girls it begins. It sounds like those beauty pageants I've heard of. Apparently they happen all the time in the Capitol.
I think it's safe to say that almost no one here is going to get picked. District 7 supplies wood. We mostly all have callused hands, muscular bodies and cuts from pine needles and branches that never seem to heal.
As I walk into my family's cabin I notice those bruises, scratches and scars on my arms. They're more like badges, representing what I've done to help my family survive.
I myself have been lucky enough to be in my last year of school. I don't work as much as some of the other girls because my dad is the leader of a logging squad. He brings in enough money to keep me, my mother, older brother, Colin and younger sister, Amelie fed. Though, Colin helps a lot. And I do my part; working at the apothecary shop and helping the local healers.
I work as a healer's assistant most of the time, so my hands aren't as calloused as the rest. They are worn from tending to wounds with harsh antibiotics and botanicals for three years. I also take my brother's place in keeping logs on our fire most of the time, since he's out chopping with my father for our wood and the lumber that they ship off to the Capitol. My hands are stained with the herbs I mix. My skin is dry and cracked. It's not like we can afford lotions and medicines to treat our broken down bodies.
"What if they pick Ara?" My twelve year old sister, Amelie asks as we eat dinner.
I tense and stop poking my squirrel meat with a fork. The already awkward silence gets ten times more tense. My father clears his throat and says, "Let's just hope your sister isn't as pretty as everyone says."
I almost laugh. "So now all the girls want to make themselves as ugly as possible." I say sarcastically.
My mother says, "Well it's not like Daivat is ugly…"
My brother growls, "No, but he'll treat his wife like any other piece of property that belongs to him. It's sickening. He and his grandfather are both cruel and sadistic. I'd wish that marriage upon no girl…"
The rest of the dinner is spent exchanging nervous glances with one another. I help mother clean up and then she joins Amelie and I in our tiny cubby of a room. Ame lays her head on mother's lap while I look in the mirror, as if it can help me see the future.
"Do you think they'll pick me? Honestly?" I ask. Everyone has always called me beautiful. That's the problem. People always say I have the biggest eyes they've ever seen—the darkest of blue, too just like mother. She also says I have a flawless complexion and naturally pink-tinted cheeks, like she did when she was my age. Though, I just see them as chubby. My dad always takes credit for passing on his lovely light almond-colored, wavy locks of hair. My sister always remarks on my petite figure—being only five foot two give or take. She says she'll never lose her baby fat like I did. I'm sure she will someday, though.
My mother stares long and hard at me for a long time. She studies me, looking at myself in the partially broken glass mirror.
"Do you want to truth?" she asks softly.
Upon meeting her eyes I see she has a tear trailing down her naturally pink cheek. I nod silently and she says, "Yes."
It is the truth. I know I'll be considered. But surely the mayor's daughter, Diamante is the prettiest girl in District 7… right? Right.
"I don't know what I'd do… I—I don't want to leave you." I feel the sting of tears and hold back. I'm not one for crying. Seeing my mother and sister cry are probably the only things that could possibly make me break down. But now isn't the time for that. I can't make them upset. It will only add to the anxiety.
"Let's not talk about it," she says quietly. I nod in agreement and join them on the bed. Kae makes me sing her a lullaby and soon she's fast asleep in my mother's arms. We lay her down and tuck her into bed.
Before my mother leaves to go to bed she stops to kiss me goodnight and hugs me tightly. "Remember, Ara that no matter what happens… we'll always be with you." She stuffs something into my hand and kisses my forehead sweetly before leaving.
As I lay back in bed and prop my head against the pillow I open my fist. In my hand is my grandmother's gold necklace-the one molded into the shape of a newly bloomed rose. It hangs from a nearly invisible, shimmering golden chain and looks magnificent in the moonlight. Mother said she would give it to me when the time was right, since she always kept it safely locked away for fear of someone stealing it. One time, she said it was only right that I have it, since my name means rose in her ancestors' ancient language.
Clutching it tightly in my hand, I pray to whatever entity might be listening that it doesn't get taken away from me tomorrow. I'll need a piece of grandmother with me, to keep me strong.
I just need to stop thinking it.
And I thought the reaping for hunger games was nerve-wrecking. But people in the twelve districts are actually rooting for one of their girls to win. Winning means funds provided to their district by the Capitol. That means less people starving and more people living longer lives.
I know my district would definitely sacrifice a girl like me just to get the food they so desperately need. They wouldn't give it a second thought.
And don't get me wrong, like my mother said, Daivat isn't ugly at all. Dark blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a body to rival that of District 1's Career Tributes? He's no mutant. However, being his wife… isn't such a lovely prospect. He's cocky, arrogant and manipulative like his grandfather (at least from what I've seen and heard). He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants—including a wife.