Chapter Two: Home (Before the Reaping)
As I walk in through the door, I stagger backwards a half-step as the body of Tarella rams into. She then looks up at me with wide eyes, full of admiration and fear. "I'm afraid for you; I had a nightmare that it was you that got picked." Her gray eyes started to mist over as she thought about it, "I don't want it to be you, who'll take care of me as well as you."
Hiding the fear I felt myself, I put all the confidence I could muster and replied, "It was just a dream, you've got nothing to worry about. Besides, I would be able to survive. I have muscles, brains, and cautiousness."
Reassured; she wiped her eyes, gave me a hug, and walked away with something else occupying her thoughts. Then Timothy and William came up to me, they were always together. William said "Dinner's waiting for you in the kitchen. I hope you're right that you ain't chosen, we can't cook and care for us like you can."
I turned to Timothy, who nodded slightly to show that he knew we were going to talk later tonight. He was to take my place if I did go to the Hunger Games, and if I didn't come back. He was about as good at subduing mother on one of her drunken rages as I was, and was already looking to get a job at the lumber yard. "I wouldn't worry about it Will, as he said; even if he was reaped, he would survive."
"Well, I'm famished, what is the food," I asked. I was eager to change the subject, and my hunger was the perfect reason.
"You're favorite, steak that I got at the market with some fresh bread from the bakery. The bread was complimentary from my best friend," Timothy answered.
"Excellent, how's dad? Was he already fed?"
Will answered this time, "Yeah, I did it!" He was excited to tell how he was helpful.
I nodded and congratulated him for helping, then went to the kitchen and sat at the table so I could eat the food sitting there.
After finishing the food, my siblings and I sat on the couch for a while as I read from their favorite book, The Hobbit. I read from where we left off with Bilbo playing the game of riddles with the creature Gollum, up to the part where he and dwarves were introduced Beorn and staying with him for a bit.
After closing the book for the night, I tucked in Tarella and William. I stopped by our parents room to find them in their usual state. Mother was out cold from the empty bottle at her bed side, dad was sleeping peacefully on the bed next to her's.
I then went to the room Timothy and I share. As I stepped in, Tim was prepared for bed and was sitting on the edge so we could look at each other as we talked. I got ready for bed then sat on the edge of my bed.
"I have a bad feeling about tomorrow, Savexell. I know you think it'll be alright but I'm afraid for you. We need you, especially Tarella."
"To be honest, I'm afraid to. I haven't slept for the past week, and I doubt tonight will be different. Just remember, if I do get chosen, I will have a chance to survive."
"But I don't have what it takes to take care of our family, unlike you. I really hope you aren't reaped, you are the best of us."
"I hope so too, now let's get to sleep. Tomorrow is a big day after all." I then lied down, and pulled the covers over me and listened to the sounds of the night outside the window on the far wall of our room.
I don't know when I finally fell asleep, but I knew it was late, and that Timothy had fallen asleep long before me.
