Last chapter, we got to know a little bit more about the main characters of this story. Klaus is the type of guy from District 2 who is extremely rich, especially since his father won the Hunger Games once and has spent all his fortune on getting his children trained since they were very little to participate on their own and win The Hunger Games. Hayley is a poor girl from District 12, with no money for anything else other than some food, no parents but at least she has a job even if she's only 16, so she can take care of her brother, Jake and sister, Lucy. Different lives and different objectives. Now it is time to see what the future holds for them as the annual selection of the tributes has come. In this chapter, we will learn more about some troubles in Klaus' family and get to know Elijah and his own life. Please review when you finish reading. I love this story myself and enjoy it!
District 12: Hayley Marshall
The Day of Chosen Fate
Lucy had been talking all morning about how she wanted to come with us. The problem was that only parents were allowed. And the way our mother hadn't been there for me for the past 4 years, I knew for sure that she wasn't going to be at the reaping this day. "Let me find you something to wear." I whispered to Jake and got him in a room where I could find him some good clothes. I had some clothes of our late father's that remained. Our mom kept them for some reason, never wanting to give them away. Jake was playing with his fingers, a bit nervous of what was going to happen to us this day. Our fates would be decided by the people sent by the Capitol. My brother could be in danger after the reaping and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. I thought about our last tribute, Katniss Everdeen, how she managed to find the courage and volunteer for her little sister when she got picked. She was there in the crowd and she was watching. She made a huge sacrifice for her little sister and took a huge risk of never seeing her family again. I couldn't do the same thing for Jake even if I wanted to. He was a boy and I couldn't volunteer for a male tribute, always a female tribute. My eyes watered a little as I pulled out the suit my father used to wear and sowed it so it would fit Jake.
He sat down on the bed, watching me as a sowed and cut gently and swiftly. Lucy was in her room, most likely making a tantrum that she couldn't be there with us. It wasn't like she was allowed. She was a minor and she was only allowed if she had adult supervision and we pretty much had none of that. "Do you think it could happen? Me getting picked?" Jake asked and I shook my head. "No, it's not going to happen to you. I promise that you're not going to be in those games." I finished the suit and made him try it on. It fit him perfectly. At last, I found an old dress for myself. It looked more like a white nightgown but I didn't mind. It was perfect for this occasion. I let my hair fall over my shoulders in splendid brown curls. I have always been admired for them, for some reason. That is one of the reasons why I had begun to love them being shown. There was some noise outside. A helicopter! I knew what this sound meant. I heard it for 4 years already with my heart beating fast and chills running down my spine. "They're here." Jake whispered, thinking the same things I was thinking. I nodded. "Yes, they're here." "Hayley!" Lucy came inside with tears running down her face and hugging me tightly. It was as if I was going to die or something. I hugged her back nonetheless as Jake rolled his eyes and turned his hands into fists. He really needed to give her a break.
"I am scared." Lucy wept and I kissed her head. "Nothing is going to happen to me, I can promise you that. "What do you think is going to happen to us if you get chosen?" Lucy asked me and I didn't know how I should be answering her. "You just need to have hope and faith that it won't ever happen." I whispered to her and kissed her head again. "And I want you to come back home too." Lucy whispered and pulled Jake into a hug. It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. Jake pulled her off of him and headed to the door. "Let's get this over with." he mumbled under his breath and I followed him outside, waving goodbye to Lucy who was staring at us depart. For someone as young as Jake, only in his first year of selection, he was pretty brave.
District 2: Niklaus Mikaelson
The Day of Chosen Fate
"Nik!" Rebekah called out and ran into the yard. I saw her looking at me with a smile on her face. I was facing 10 dummies and in less than five seconds, I slayed them all with my sword. I had completed my task for today after all. "Come inside, Nik! I have some clothes laid out for you for the reaping." I nodded and climbed up the stairs, and washed my hands as Rebekah watched me, curiously. "What's the matter with you? You looked excited last night that you will volunteer." "I wish I wouldn't have to. I hate myself for acting out so brave and courageous all the time." "Well, that's what makes you the best, Nik and you are going to win The Hunger Games. I just know you will." "And what if I don't? What's going to happen then? I am just supposed to leave you here with…" I refrained from saying anything rude about my father and even Rebekah put a finger to her lips. She knew what would happen if I said a word.
"Father really appreciates you, you know? He's proud of you." I could see it in her eyes that she was lying. "Do whatever the hell you want, sister. But just don't lie to me. He was never proud of me and he never will be." "How can you say that? You are his son. Of course he is proud of you." I stopped washing myself and I remembered that day, that day I first cried and the last day I ever cried. I remembered what my mother had told me before she left for District 1 with my brothers whom I haven't seen in a long time, Elijah and Kol. What she had told me changed my perspective of things. I couldn't bear to look in Mikael's eyes that day.
"Son, I have sinned a lot in my life but I never once failed in raising any of my children the right way. I will miss you, Niklaus. You will always be my son." "Why do you have to go, Mother? Can't you talk things through with Father?" I asked her and she just shook her head, smiling down with tears in her eyes. "I wish it could be that simple. He is very cruel and vindictive. But he wasn't always this way. Yes, he always had pride in himself and he always showed off his wealth and fortune after he won The Hunger Games but he was kind to me and that is how he got me to marry him and have his children. After we got married, I've been treated horribly, especially when I was pregnant with you, my son. I wanted to be loved. I wanted to have a man who loved me and…I did. Cheating was forbidden but I did it anyways. I gave myself to the man I truly loved all along, and who loved me back just as much." I looked shocked. "Who is this man, Mother? Why haven't you told me before?" Esther just started crying all over again and kissed my hands. "It's what I am trying to tell you. I am telling you something that you can't tell anyone else, especially not Mikael. You tell no one, understood? Not Mikael, not Rebekah, no one!" I nodded, eager to know. "You are not the son of Mikael, Niklaus. You are the son of the man I loved, but died after I gave birth to you. Your father never knew about this affair and you must not tell him ever about this, my son!"
My eyes watered a little as I remembered that. My own mother had lied to me for years. All this time, I had believed Mikael to be my real father when he really wasn't. Once my mother left, I kept that secret to myself all this time and still acted like I still saw Mikael as a father. I have always disliked him as a child but I thought that he was still my father and I should love and appreciate him for that, but as soon as I found out that he wasn't my biological father, I grew only rage and anger for him and for the way he treated my mother and I had no idea. "Nik, are you okay?" Rebekah was asking me. I turned around and saw her standing there, looking firm and tall, whispering, "You know that Father does not permit you to cry." I shook my head and tears continued to stream down my cheeks. Rebekah pulled me into a hug. "Maybe there is a little emotional boy inside of you after all. You just never show it, keeping it under that hardcore mask of yours." she whispered to me and I nodded. I realized just how much I missed my brothers and my mother, but because of Mikael, I had to act like they were the enemies now. "I agreed to do this for the family, Rebekah and I swore to myself that I would avenge the tributes that were killed from District 2. I will do that. The tributes from District 12 this year better hope they stay out of my sight. Father told me to do something and I accept to do it."
Rebekah sighed as she held me. "Why would you listen to Father? You know he's talking rubbish." "He is. But I just saved myself from a year of beating." Rebekah knew that I was right. "Take care of yourself, brother. You know that you must. You must win The Hunger Games. I can't bear the thought of losing you." "And I can't bear the thought of having to see you alone here with him. I will be back; I promise and in the meantime, try to stay out of trouble, little sister so that he won't have any reason to hurt you." "Okay, I will. Now, get dressed." "You won't get picked, Rebekah. You don't have to worry about that." Rebekah wiped away some tears which also left her eyes. "How do you know that?" "I just do. You won't get picked." Rebekah sighed and nodded to me, still pointing at the suit that she had laid out for me. "Father wants you to wear this. He wore this when he himself volunteered to be the District 2nd tribute of The Hunger Games." I growled when I thought that now I would be forced to wear anything that once belonged to Mikael. I hated his guts and hated his pride. But for once in my life, I did agree with him. For the loss of Clove and Cato in the 74th annual Hunger Games, things had to change and I had to be the one to avenge the best tributes that there have been in those games. It was my duty to turn my hatred to the tributes from District 12, whoever they would be. I looked at the suit Rebekah had laid out for me and without hesitating this time, I put it on with pride.
District 1: Elijah Mikaelson
The Day of Chosen Fate
I was watching what could have been the greatest day in District 1st's history. Kol was watching it along with me that morning. It was the recording of the 74th Hunger Games. "I cannot believe that they actually shot Marvel." Kol mumbled as he watched the scene. "It was that girl, the fan favorite, Katniss Everdeen." I didn't usually like saying the girl's name. She wasn't my taste. She had defeated our fellow comrades and I just couldn't respect her for that. "What happened to the kind and noble Elijah I used to know?" Kol joked as he watched me. "I can't be that person when it comes to this girl. This year, I am going to make this district proud of me." "What if you don't get picked?" Kol asked with a smug look on his face. "I am going to volunteer." "No, come on! You know that's a sap thing to do here. Most of the people from Districts 1 and 2 actually want to participate. It depends on luck. If you chose to stand up and take someone else's place as the tribute, don't expect this District to support you after. Here, its' all about luck. When it comes to the poorer districts like 10, 11 and 12, volunteering is considered something rare and noble for someone to volunteer and save someone else's life. They're such pathetic cowards…unlike us!" The video had ended and I closed the hologram.
Our mother walked inside with fresh clothes. "Get going and be safe." Esther told me and I nodded as she smiled. "You are brave my son and this is your last year to participate. Don't volunteer." "It's the chance of a lifetime to be part of these games, Mother. I am 18 and this is my last chance." "I know. You have that ambition and strength in you that your father had when he won the games." Esther said, smiling as she combed my hair. I sighed and rubbed my eyes as Kol smirked at me. "I will do what I must do, Mother." "Good. Now before you leave, come into the kitchen. You have good meals prepared for both of you to give you strength for this." Esther told us and we both nodded as she stepped out of the room. Kol commented on my suit. "Hey, not bad! Looking good, grandpa!" I just rolled my eyes and put on a good tie.
We ate breakfast in silence. Kol was not the least bit concerned that he was going to get picked. He had been training since forever on Father's money. Then again, so have I. We were both prepared but Kol was only 16. He had 2 more years to choose to participate besides this one. Even though he would still have 2 more chances of getting picked or choosing to take the chance and volunteer himself, he wouldn't mind if he were picked this year but I would never forgive him for taking the chance of a lifetime from me. "I wonder if Nik is going to participate this year. You all know Father will most likely make him." Kol said as he chewed the meat covered with rich sauce. I looked over at Mother and I saw how she was starting to tremble. I knew that she missed her other children so badly. We hadn't seen them for a couple years. "Please, eat your meal, Kol and stop talking about your brother." Esther said. "Why? We barely talk about Nik or Rebekah. I just want to know how they're doing, that's all. Just because you cut yourself from their lives, that doesn't mean that we have to as well." Kol said to Mother and I saw fury on her face. I was angry as well. "Kol, shut up!" I commanded him and he rolled his eyes and finished eating.
Our mother was going to come with us, but she told me that she would be caught up in some problems and would join us later. I grabbed Kol and we headed outside as we heard the sound that spread throughout all districts. It was like we were in the army. The sound represented nothing more but death. I looked over my shoulder and I saw 3 girls leave the same house. I knew whose house that was. The girl I used to date and loved, Katherine Pierce. Her dress was beautiful and her brown and long hair brought out her shinning green eyes as they caught mine and she quickly looked away. She found an excuse one month ago to break up with me because she didn't want her family to be associated to the Mikaelsons but I knew that was not true. There was something that she was hiding. There was something she was scared of and she wasn't telling me, and Katherine was not the person to be afraid of something. She was fierce, tough, beautiful and strong. She wouldn't let anything stand in her way when she wanted something. She had two other sisters. Her twin sister, who was Elena. She was younger than Katherine by 10 minutes, but they were both 17 and Katherine's older sister who was 18, Tatia. Tatia was not as pretty as her twin sisters, even though she had almost the same face features.
"I will catch up to you in a minute, Kol. Go right ahead!" I told him and turned towards the girls. I saw Kol catching Elena's eyes and winking at her. Kol didn't mind to flirt with girls who were older than him and Elena was one year older than him. Elena was blushing. Katherine and Elena were almost inseparable and only I could tell the difference between the two. It was all about the expression on each other's faces. Elena looked more childish than Katherine. Now, everyone knew that Katherine always curls her hair and so Elena lets hers straight so people could tell who is who. "Katerina." I whispered. It was how I loved to call her. It sounded more soothing than Katherine and I loved to make her feel soothed. "Elijah, it's been a long time." Katherine said politely. "I really need to talk to you." "There is no time for that. Everyone must be at the reaping in 10 minutes." Katherine whispered. Elijah grabbed her arm before she could walk away. "Why did you do it…last month? What's the real reason?" I insisted and Katherine immediately pulled her hand away. "Let's go, girls." she told Elena and Tatia.
Tatia gave me a huge smile as she walked past me. She had always tried to get my attention, but Katherine was the one for me and not her older sister. "Elijah!" I heard Kol call out to me and I turned around and saw him standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, and he was smirking. "Citizens of District 1, make your way to the selection at once!" We heard someone yell out. Katherine, Elena and Tatia walked away as I went back to Kol. "Why do you think she broke up with you?" Kol asked. "I don't know." "Did you two have a fight?" "A difference of opinion about the 74th Games female tribute of District 1, Glimmer." "What happened?" "Katerina wanted to be just like her. She wanted to act tough like she did, go out in those games and kill. I didn't agree with the way she was bloodthirsty to kill people. We got over it. But it's not it. I know it's not."
District 12: Hayley Marshall
The Reaping
Jack and I headed to the selection. I was holding his hand and I felt his body tremble. I didn't know if it was either from the cold or because he was nervous. "You don't have to be afraid. I will always protect you, Jake." I whispered to him and he shook his head. "I am not afraid!" "Good." I knew that he liked to act tough and responsible. It made me think about how this would have been our dad, had he still been alive. I think of him every time I walk towards the reaping. I wished I could have someone close to me. A parent, anyone besides Jake, who needed someone just as much as I needed someone.
We finally arrived. The place that haunted me for months. The place where the people from the Capitol gathered around all the young men and women from the district between the ages of 12 and 18. This was the 5th time that I was forced to be here. I took Jake's shoulders with my hands and made him looked at me as I got down on my knees to look at him straight in the eyes. "This is it. This is where they are going to take a little bit of blood from you, alright? They will just prick your finger and that's all. Then, you have to follow the rest of the kids your own age." I told Jake. "You mean that you won't be with me?" Jake asked and I shook my head, kissing his cheek. "No. Here is where we part until after the selection. We are divided by gender. The boys are on the right and the girls are on the left." I informed him and he nodded. "Go ahead." I whispered to him and he went where he was supposed to. I watched as those people from the Capitol, all dressed in white, pricked his finger and got a little blood as DNA and proof that he had attended the selection. This is how they kept track of everyone, to make sure that everyone attended. Anyone who didn't would be punished with death.
My finger was pulled and I wasn't even looking at the woman who pricked my own finger for blood DNA. I was looking at my little brother the whole time there. He tried not to look nervous even though he was a little bit nervous. After everyone's finger had been pricked for blood, they arranged us just like I said, in two different places. Girls on the left and boys on the right. It was how it was now. Before the 75th games rebellion, it didn't used to matter that much. I thought of what a brave woman Katniss Everdeen had been but after the rebellion, she and her family lived in hiding along with the boy she loved, Peeta. The Capitol had never heard of her since the failed attempt to take down the Capitol. I wish they had succeeded for all of us. We would have all lived a whole different life. My brother and my sister wouldn't starve if things were different. There was a "tap tap" that could be heard from the stage right in front of us and I snapped out of my thoughts as I saw the woman standing there, looking down at us. It was Effie. The woman from the Capitol who represented District 12 and after she had chosen the competitors, she would be in charge of guiding them until they reached the Capitol which would take a day at the very least to get there, from what I've heard. Effie didn't look as happy as she used to be ever since she picked out Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark from us to be the tributes. She had grown fond of them and in my opinion, I didn't think she appreciated the games as much as she used to. "Welcome!" she exclaimed and she forced a smile at all of us.
"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor!" Effie declared and then quickly said "We have a special film brought to you all the way from the Capitol, just for you." she declared and the film started as President Snow narrated it and explained all about the rebellion before The Hunger Games started. I had watched this film so many times that I had grown tired of it. But at the end of it, they showed something new. The woman I most admired. Katniss Everdeen and how she fought in The Hunger Games and then against the Capitol. I growled a little as I heard how badly she was spoken of. She was a hero and I hoped that wherever she was hiding, she was safe and happy with Peeta. "A symbol of our generosity and our forgiveness." President Snow ended the film and Effie clapped quickly. "I love this film!" I was beginning to think that she was told what to say to the people every time. It angered me how the people from the Capitol could talk about generosity and forgiveness when it came to the victor of each year's games. They were killing innocent people!
"Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman in honor of representing District 12 in the 77th annual Hunger Games!" Effie declared with a fake smile to the people. I breathed in deeply and put my hand to my neck and thought about my father, something I always did during the selection. "As always, ladies first." Effie said in more of a whisper. I looked over to the boys' side and saw Jake standing there, tall and firm. I liked my little brother. He was so brave and I loved him with all my heart. I turned back to Effie who was approaching the girls' bowl and started searching inside for a piece of paper. "Father, please guide me. Tell me what I should do. Tell me to be strong. I ask you to be here for me, even if you haven't been as you were alive, be here for me from the dead in the most difficult period of my life. Be there for Jake and Lucy, your son and daughter as well." This is what I thought to myself whenever I thought about my father, whenever I was here. I asked him to protect me and Jake and Lucy from the other side. Effie finally picked out a piece of paper, showed it to the cameras and then returned to her place at the microphone. She opened the piece of paper.
My breath got caught inside and I couldn't exhale at that moment. The name! I needed to know the name on that piece of paper so I could exhale. "Hmm." Effie said through the microphone and I already knew that she was doing the suspense thing for the show. This was on film as well, so might as well act like we were really eager to know who's name was written on that paper. "Hayley Marshall!" Effie exclaimed and my breathing hitched. My mouth was slightly open in shock. What? Had she just said my name? What was my name? Why was I having trouble remembering my name? "Where are you, my dear?" Effie finally asked and everyone turned and looked towards me. Then, I remembered. It was me. I was Hayley Marshall. "Come up here!" Effie finally called out when she spotted me. I breathed in deeply and looked at the ground. It was me. I had to do this. Slowly, I walked out of the group of people so the soldiers of the Capitol with their white helmets could grab a hold of me and lead me to the stage. I could hear a scream in the back. "NOOOO!" It was Jake. I knew it was Jake. I looked back and I saw that he was trying to get to me but the guards wouldn't let him. "Stand aside, boy!" they exclaimed and pushed him back. "Jake!" I called out to him and whispered, "I'm sorry." He just shook his head and wiped away his tears as he stepped back into the group.
I finally managed to get on the stage and Effie grabbed a hold my arm, taking me to her left. "There you go, my dear." She saw the way I looked down to my feet, still wasn't able to process what was going on. "And now, for the boys!" Effie said this time and I gasped, thinking that Jake might as well be one of the candidates in that bowl. What if Effie were to pick him? What would I do? What would happen to Lucy? There was no one to care for her. She was only 10 years old but even Jake was only 12. Tears formed in my eyes as I finally realized that I was going to the Capitol as District 12th female tribute. Effie picked a piece of paper out of that bowl and looked at me. "That was your little brother?" she asked in a whisper and not at the microphone as she was supposed to. I nodded with tears in my eyes. "Yes." She looked down with sadness and went back to the microphone and spoke up. "The male tribute from District 12 is…" She opened up the piece of paper, read the name, looked at me and smiled and it looked like there was relief on her face. "Joshua Rosza!" she called out the name and I sighed as I realized that it was not my brother. A boy my age, who looked like he would be scared of a fly, opened his mouth in shock but was quickly pushed onto the stage by the Capitol's men. "Shake hands now!" Effie commanded and I turned to the boy named Joshua and shook his head slowly, as he was still looking in shock. Effie started clapping as the other people in the crowd showed us the rebellion sign, three fingers pointed up. They looked sorry for me. I had no idea what I should say to them. "Very well! We now have our two tributes from District 12, Hayley Marshall and Joshua Rosza! Happy Hunger Games…and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
They opened the door to my room. I saw who was standing there. Jake and Lucy. Lucy had ran immediately into my arms, crying and hugging me. I hugged her back and whispered to Jake, "Why did you bring her here?" Jake frowned. "She's supposed to be here. Family members. We are the only family members you have." "Please don't go." Lucy whimpered and I cried into her neck. "It's okay." I whispered and wiped my tears away. I had to be strong for her. Jake was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. "You promised you would never leave us!" "I won't ever leave you!" I contradicted. "Come back to us." Lucy whispered, still crying. "I promise I will try." I told her and tried to smile, kissing her cheek. "You need to be strong, Luce, just like I told you. You can do this. You can survive on your own with Jake until I come back. This isn't something permanent. I will come back." I told her and prayed to God that I would keep my promise. I didn't know what I was going to do but I was going to survive. I looked over at Jake who looked at me with tears in his eyes and I knew what he was thinking. I let go of Lucy after kissing her forehead and moved to Jake and hugged him too. "You are the man in the family now, Jake. You must take care of Lucy. She is your responsibility now. I have money saved up for you too. I put it in the cookie jar above the cupboard. Use it to buy food each day that I'm gone, alright?" "When will you be back? You promised, Hayley." Jake said through tears as I kept him close to me. "I will be back. That is a promise that I am going to make to you right now. You cannot survive this life without me. I am going to be there for you. I won't leave you like Mom did. I won't ever do that." "Goodbye." Jake whispered and at that moment, the white guards came inside and pulled Jake and Lucy out of the room. "It's time to go." I covered my mouth with my hand, thinking about what I was going to do.
A/N: Well, that's it for the second chapter. I hope I have given you a lot more information about the Mikaelson family because at the moment, they are much more interesting than the Marshall family. In the next chapter, we will see the reaping of Districts 1 and 2. Thank you for reading and I hope that you are going to leave me reviews after this chapter because I am dying to know what you think about the story. And most importantly, what do you think about Klaus and his secret that his mother told him? You will notice throughout the fanfiction that Klaus has two sides, two personalities. Sometimes, he can be the charming, arrogant and sexy womanizer type of guy and the other time, he can be like Rebekah put it "a little boy". He only acts kind to the people that he cares about, just so you know. Don't expect to see this soft side of Klaus more often, because it won't be like that. Review and let me know! I love you all and thank you!