Shoal Creek
"I'm taking the boat out!" I yell before leaving the house.
"Alright honey," my mom yells. I try to dart out the door, but my older sister, Leena, catches me before I get the chance.
"How about you try to catch some fish while you're out there, we could use some."
I can't stop the frustrated sigh from escaping, and she gives me a look that could kill.
"Listen Shoal, we need food, think about your family.
Sometimes when Leena's temper flares her red hair gives me the impression that her head is on fire. It's a scary vision, so I avoid confronting her, but I scowl before walking out the door just so she knows that I'm not happy.
"You make me fish because you don't want to!" I yell when I'm in safe distance to run, but close enough so that she can hear me.
I really wanted to take the boat out today, and spend some time sailing, not throwing nets into the water just to handle a bunch of slimy fish. I do care about my family, but when is there time to care about myself? Apparently that doesn't exist.
I find my way to the dock and untie the rope that's holding the boat to land. Screw it, I'm not fishing I'll just tell Leena I couldn't catch anything. You only live once, and I want to enjoy this day to the fullest especially because tomorrow is the day they draw the names for the Hunger Games.
That's why I sailed out here, so I could spend some time alone with the ocean. I don't understand how other districts can live without the water. I wonder what they're 'oceans' are.
The ocean has always had a way of making me feel more alive, but then again that's probably because I was born here. Despite the majority of the population though I've never really enjoyed swimming. Don't get me wrong, I'm a strong swimmer, but there's something about the water that makes me feel as though it'll swallow me up at any second. When my body sinks into the water I am at its mercy, and I hate feeling that way.
I return once the sun sinks low, and Leena is infuriated when I have no fish in tow. She's not an idiot, and doesn't buy my story about not being able to catch any.
"You didn't catch any fish? Shoal you're one of the best fishers I know, there's not way you didn't catch anything! And with that attitude you had earlier I know that you completely blew off what I said!"
I stand there in silence while Leena yells and lectures at me. After living with her for seventeen years I've learned it's best to just let her rant and not interrupt her.
"I just think you're acting like this isn't a big deal. Dad isn't here, and hasn't been for the past two years, you're the oldest male so step up and take his place. You aren't thirteen years old, you're seventeen, start acting your age!"
Like many others my dad was one of those who lost their lives to the rebellion. After he was caught giving information to the rebels, he was executed as a traitor along with many others. Now my sister thinks that I need to step up and be the so-called 'man of the house'. I think she's a bit of a hypocrite. As the oldest shouldn't she be stepping up? Sometimes she seems to be some kind of dictator bossing everybody around while she pretends she's working the hardest. I know it's not fair for me to say this, but I'm angry with her.
My younger brother comes running into the room his hands cupped over his ears as he yells, "Stop it!" over and over again.
"Marshal, hush," I say.
"Why can't you guys just get along? I don't want to hear fighting anymore!"
My sister gives me a look that says, "We aren't done with this," and grabs my brother's hand and leads him out of the room.
Mikaela "Mika" Northman
As an ex-Capitol citizen, I can't help thinking that my name may 'accidentally' be drawn tomorrow.
No I was not one of those Capitol citizens who walked around dyeing my hair, and skin or plastering layer after layer of make-up on my face. My parents moved me there when they were hired for government work.
The only problem is that my parent's were not on the Capitol's side, they were actually secretly helping the rebellion in the Intelligence Corps. It's pretty obvious where they are now.
After the rebellion ended I was sent back here to District 4, I am now living with my brother, who I was never that close with, and his wife. I can't complain, I know it could be worse.
My fishing line suddenly hits a snag and I easily bring up the fish. It's smaller in size than what I'd like, and I intend to release it, but the hook is too deep inside its throat for me to safely to remove it without killing the fish.
Not wanting to waste a perfectly good fish, I rip the hook from its mouth and begin cutting into it with my knife. I haven't eaten since breakfast and the fish tastes wonderful.
I reset my line in the water, and wash my hands into the ocean. I dry my hands on my pants when I hear my sister-in-law yelling that it's time for dinner.
I gather up my catch and make my way to the house. These fish will be good for both selling and eating. I take my muddy boots off at the door and walk inside.
My brother is at the table sitting in front of his empty plate. His facial expression is empty and I feel like a stranger when I go to sit next to him. My brother works for the Capitol here in District 4. I'm always careful what I say and how I act because I'm not sure if his loyalties would lie with the Capitol or me.
You can say I feel torn between the two, my best friend, Mira, also has parents who are Capitol extremists. I think my brother blames our parents for their own deaths, and that they deserved it. Secretly, I disagree.
"Afternoon," I say, and he breaks from his trance and acknowledges me with a nod.
My sister-in-law serves seafood, and we eat in familiar awkwardness as we do every night, making small, but insignificant conversation. There are secrets weighing each of us down, but nobody wants to get rid of theirs first.
Shoal Creek
I'm up early the next day for school, and when I arrive the hallways are silent. The reapings are weighing down everybody; I however would rather try to enjoy the day instead of thinking about what's going to happen later.
"Hey Shoal," the voice makes me drop my books, and I turn around to see Philla also known as one of my best friends, and the person who has been preoccupying my thoughts as of late.
"Oh my, I am so sorry, Shoal."
She reaches down to help me pick up my books and I take them from her. I'm embarrassed by my actions, but she just giggles at me. I stand there and stare at her ocean eyes and she smiles at me. I am entranced.
"Hey, what's going on?" And our moment is broken. Danny has been my best friend for a long time, but this whole Philla thing has broken us apart.
It's really stupid to be all googly eyed over a girl, and strain the friendship I have with Danny, but Philla has us wrapped around her finger, and I couldn't pull away.
"I was going to ask if you guys wanted to walk to the reapings together?"
"Of course I'll walk with you," I blurt out, "and Danny too," I decide to throw that last bit in.
Danny throws me a dirty look that I barely catch.
"Alright guys I'll see you afterwards then?"
Danny and I nod in unison, perhaps seeming too excited.
When I arrive back at the house Leena is already dressed and is fixing her hair for the reapings. Her perfectionism annoys me and I go to my room to change into dressier clothes. I decide to pick out a white shirt and a tie, and I stare at myself in the mirror as I attempt to knot it perfectly.
It reminds me of my father who taught me how to tie my first tie; in fact my reflection reminds me of my father too because of how similar we were with our light brown hair, green eyes, and stupid freckles.
Today Leena and I will be going to the reapings. Marshal is too young and this is a blessing today, but will be a curse in a few years when he is forced to withstand the reapings for his entire teenage years.
I hear a knock on my door and my sister peaks her head in.
"Walk with me?" Her voice is much sweeter and friendly than it was yesterday, but I already promised Philla I'd walk with her and I'm not giving that up.
"Sorry Leena, I already told someone I would walk with them."
"Shoal, don't you want to walk with Mom and I? Marshal is coming as well, it'll be good time to bond especially if we…"
"No Leena, we are not going to the Capitol today. We can't," I say trying to convince myself more than Leena.
"If you say so brother," she comes over and fixes the tie I have just been messing with for the past few minutes, and it looks perfect. "I'll see you there maybe."
I meet Philla and unfortunately Danny who is already there, and walk over to the Justice Building. A stage has been made and an escort who introduces herself as Vesta welcomes us all before handing it over to the Mayor as he reads over the 'Treaty of Treason'.
A movie is shown on the screen, there are pictures of the rebellion and District 13 lying in shambles. It depresses me, and I start scanning the crowd for Leena, wondering how she is taking it all.
Mikaela "Mika" Northman
The escort, Vesta, who looks too much like a giant lemon, approaches the male bowl to pull the first tribute name.
Mira stands next to me still and silent. I want to lean over to her and ask her what her Capitol-supporting parents think of this. What if Mira was picked? Would they stand by and say this is what she deserved?
In a high frilly voice Vesta yells the name "Shoal Creek", and a young man from the 17 year-old section carefully walks to the stage. I try to gauge his reaction, but he just looks unsettled, and I watch him glance around in the crowd looking for somebody. I'm pretty sure I have seen him at the docks before, but that could've been anyone.
"And now for the ladies!" Vesta's abnormally high heels make her look like she is waddling to the bowl. It's quite humorous actually, and Mira looks at me as she opens the slip. I give her a reassuring nod.
"And the District 4 tribute is…" I clench my fists. "Mikaela Northman."
I knew it.
"Mika…" Mira whispers to me.
"I'll be okay, Mira."
I approach the stage with as much cool as I can muster. I will not let this faze me because I have spent months preparing for this moment. However, all I want to do is run back to my brother's house, and to the beach where I can catch all the fish I want.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome," Vesta claps her hands and pushes us near one another. "Now be a good spirit and shake hands."
Shoal holds his hand out and I grip it tightly, he flinches for a second, but then grips back.
He must be a fighter.
After they haul us off Mira comes to say good-bye, and I can't keep my question from her any longer.
"What do your parent's think of this? They can't possibly think this is right?"
"Mika, they don't want to start anything. They figure it's better to stay on good terms with the Capitol."
"It's not going to protect them! Or you for that matter. What if you were reaped Mira? Would they say that it's justified, would they sit back and not fight it?"
Mira turns away from me. "I don't know Mika. I would be afraid to ask."
I drop my head into my hands and Mira puts her hand on my shoulder.
"You can survive Mika, you're strong."
"And I'm sure all the other tributes are also strong."
"You're clever, and frankly sometimes you're a bit intimidating."
I can't help but laugh and I give her a quick hug before the Peacekeeper kicks her out.
My brother and sister-and-law come in next, and my brother crouches down next to where I'm sitting and places something in my hand.
"It was Dad's," he whispers. I open my hand and see a piece of fishing net. I can't believe my brother kept this when all along I thought he didn't care. I don't know what to say, and he nods slowly to me and I understand.
He wants me to fight to win.
Shoal Creek
I'm feeling guilty for not walking with my family to the reapings. In a way I feel as though I am most deserving of this for how selfish I've been. Sure I decided to walk with my best friend, but it was for all the wrong reasons.
Leena comes storming through the doors and hugs me, the tears are streaming, and I'm stunned because the last time she cried was when our father passed.
"I'm sorry," are the only words I can say.
"No, Shoal I'm sorry for being so bossy and demanding. I just wanted to help the family, that's all."
My little brother runs over and hugs me as well, and then my mother. I become terribly saddened that I have to leave this. My family has been wonderful towards me, but I never appreciated them like I should have been.
I made you something," Leena pulls out a small woven bracelet made out of different shades of blue and green.
"It's really corny, she laughs, but I made the shades to match all of our eye colors, dad's is on there too. That way you don't forget us."
"I could never forget. Thank you Leena."
"Stay strong brother, as you always have been."
I nod to her, and my mother wraps her arms around me and kisses the top of my head. "I love you."
"I love you too, Mom."
"I don't know what I'll do while you're gone," Leena said, "I hate fishing."
This makes me laugh and I say my final good-byes to them.
Danny comes in next and immediately both of us are apologizing at the same time.
"No Danny, it's my fault. I think she likes you anyways. You can have her."
"No man, we let this tear through our friendship. It wasn't worth it, especially now that you're off to fight to the death and I get to stay here. I couldn't do that to you."
"Thanks Danny, but you know I would approve."
Philla is the last to come in and she runs up to me and immediately begins to kiss me.
"Don't go," she begs. "You can't leave." She buries her head into my chest. It's exactly what I had wanted, but now it just feels hallow and empty. Philla had liked me all along, but now I had to leave. I couldn't let myself get attached now.