My eyes widen, not in fear but in elation. We haven't been able to go outside the fence for months. Just the sound of it bring peace to my mind. I can't do anything like him or my mother but just being out in nature is enough for me. I've missed the smell of the pine needles, the sound of leaves and twigs crunching under my father's loud footsteps. The gentle breeze under the canopy of green leaves, the light peeking through the bits of holes in the tree tops and the shadows that fall onto your arms and face as the day passes. The beautiful reds, oranges and golds and purples that illuminate the sky at sunrise and at sunset.
I roll over to my stomach and sit up. "When did you wanna go? It's going to be at least five more hours before the sunrises. Now, or in an hour or two?"
He stands up to stretch, "I would love to hunt, but we need to get ready and gather some food. Leave a note a vague one, because they'll get upset over us leaving, and we need scout an exit to get back because the fence will be charged. It will take a minimum of an hour."
I get up go to my room and change. I put on a pair of loose fitting jeans that aren't too lose, just comfortable, a long-sleeved shirt grey in color, a thin jacket over it, and my worn hunting boots. These days are warm but the nights are still cold enough for a light jacket to be worn. Even though it is nearing summer.
Down in the kitchen Aidan is writing a note to be placed on the table. It states that we couldn't sleep and decided to go and watch the sunrise; it also says we'll be home shortly after the sun rises, in about an hour at most.
He has a bag hung over his shoulder and his hunting gear on. A simple pair of pants, and a long-sleeved shirt, and his boots. I walk over to him and check the contents of the bag. A few fruits, a loaf of bread, dried beef, and some water. It is good enough for breakfast.
We head out to the meadow, and run the length of the fence, checking for holes in the gate or trees that can be climbed. With no visible holes we find a tree that can be climbed. An old maple tree that has to have branches at least twenty-five feet up. Just enough to safely get over the fence. There isn't much of a cushion for the drop though, which is a bad sign. We could get hurt, but it will have to do.
We enter the woods through the fence where we found the tree. Both silently agreeing on going to the lake with the cement house we walk through the woods as though we were one. He grabs a bow and a quiver of arrows from a hollow in a log and I watch the back seeing if we are noticed. It takes half an hour to get to the lake, the one where our mother taught us to swim, where she officially taught our father too, and the lake we spent most our lazy days at.
With the windows knocked out of the panes it is easy to climb up onto the concrete roof of the hut. Aidan stays on the ground looking for rabbit burrows or birds in nests. I guess he really did want to hunt as he said. I watch him as I always do. Both him and my mother gain this different personality when they hunt. My mother seems almost whole, as if she was born hunting in the woods, but my brother it's something different entirely. I don't know how to explain it. It is as though he can sense the path the animals will take and he is good at tracking. It's scary sometimes. He doesn't like to kill, but he does like the rush the hunting brings, and he has killed before. He has brought down some big game with just a single arrow straight through the eye, after which he feels so bad he hardly wants to move.
After getting a few rabbits, all of which he catches but does not kill, instead he lets them run away free, and scaring away some birds to find their eggs only to leave them untouched he settles himself down next to me.
We snack on the fruit and a strip of the beef each and wait for the sun to rise. When it does, it is the most beautiful sight I've seen in months. The purple in the long stretch over the sky, the pinks and oranges that blend together as the light from the sun starts to shine, and the red on and through the tree tops. It is one of those sight you can't explain but rather have to see for yourself. "Happy Birthday, Bri." Aidan whispers. He is laying down on his side, and has his eyes closed. He looks so at peace I don't want to bother him.
"Thank you Aidan. I wish our parents were here. It would be more wonderful." I say stifling a yawn. Being awake for thirty-six hours is really hard. I can see why Aidan is laying down. He's half-asleep.
After a few minutes of fighting sleep we get up and walk back to the fence. He puts up his bow and arrows and we walk to the fence. We hold a small conversation of nothing, just something to keep us awake and when we are about to touch the fence we stop. Realizing where we are. We take a few steps back but we don't hear the buzz of electricity, but we wait a while longer.
"I can't believe I forgot about the tree." Aidan whispers as we wait. It is unlike him, but to his defense he is half-asleep and was speaking with me.
After about five minutes of waiting there is no buzz of electricity and we risk entering the meadow. Nothing happens. And we walk back to the house. Inside our mother is in the rocking chair at the fireplace and our father in the kitchen.
They both have red eyes meaning they didn't get much sleep either. They jump and run to us when they hear the door close. Embrace us in a group hug and ask where we were. After a lecture of leaving the house in the middle of the night they allow us to sleep for a few hours. There is nothing planned for today, considering it is my birthday I choose what we do. I decide to sleep.
When I wake up I have a cake waiting for me and a stew. We sit next to the fireplace and watch the ashes move in the breeze from the open window. Suddenly, the television turns on and we hear the anthem and see the Capitol seal. When the music fades Aulus Pratt is seen on the screen. I personally haven't seen him much on the television, so it is a shock to see how tall he is compared to the young man standing next to him.
"Citizens of Panem," he begins, "I trust you enjoyed the break from work that you were given for this past week. We in the Capitol have decided to make a national holiday for today. A year from today we will deploy a Capitol employee to each thirteen districts. At the district there will be a ceremony. One that the older generations are very familiar with."
I turn to my mother, she is looking solemn and will not turn to me. I divert my attention back to the screen. "In reverence to my election and to remind the districts of the Capitol's hold over them we will be reinitiating the Hunger Games. To those who do not know, although I'm sure you've learned by now, the Hunger Games were started to remind the rebels of the first rebellion that they cannot damage the Capitol or dent its control over the Districts."
My mother cries out, my father is patted her shoulder and crying silently himself, I am completely baffled, I cannot seem to process what he says, and my brother is looking into the distance. As if he is formulating something.
"The last session of Hunger Games had one tribute from each gender from the ages of 12 to 18 from every known district. These games were annual, and an anniversary Games was determined by the first council after the rebellion. To uphold to the last session these Games will offer the two tributes between the same ages from all thirteen districts.
"In honor of the first Hunger Games since the second rebellion we will hold a few more rules. Each Games will be allowed two victors. The victors will have to be from the same district if only one district tribute survives then they are the sole victor for the year. Each year until the age of 18 the two victors will have to compete again, until they are defeated. This first year will have special qualifications. Each district will offer up either the descendants of past victors or the descendants of the major rebellion figures. The mentors for this year's games will be the previous victors or rebellion leaders, whoever is alive. If neither is alive then the Capitol will offer up mentors from our Peacekeeper's sanction."
If I wasn't baffled enough before the president started to speak again I definitely was when he talked about next year's Games. When he finished the information sank in and it is as though I just got shot. My heart feels like it has stopped and the blood has drained from my face. Aidan and I will be forced to be in the arena.
A/N: Thank you all that have been reading! I really enjoy knowing that you do.
I would love reviews, comments, and feedback.