Chapter 1

~District 10, Oxin Varland~

The rays of the sun.

If there was one constant in life, at least the life that Oxin Varland knew, it was those rays. Bearing down on him as he carried the burlap sack of generic feed towards the pig trough, they never stopped.

Sweat lined his brow as it dripped down his olive complexion and onto his ratty, greyed shirt below. His whole body ached from the many hours he'd already worked for the day, but that was to be expected. Carry the food, feed the pigs, go back for a rake, shovel up pig shit. Then do the same for the cows and the turkeys. Day in, day out. All while roasting underneath the intense rays of the sun.

He trudged along, wishing he'd taken the extra ration for water, though that would mean putting his name into the Reaping again. All he had to do was get by for one more year and then he could live out the rest of his miserable existence in a boring routine.

At 18 years old, he was the oldest he could be to still be picked. It was a blessing thus far that he'd avoided being chosen. Who in their right mind would want to go be another piece of livestock in the ultimate slaughter?

But with the games coming up, he knew it was best to lay low and avoid taking more than he needed to.

He arrived at the giant open wooden trough and put the sack down next to him. The pigs, hearing the motion began to grunt and slowly waddle over towards him.

"That's right, time to eat so you can get nice and fat." He said to no one in particular as they made their way over.

He took out a small pocket knife, engraved with the letters G.V. and slit open the bag. He picked it up and with a grunt of his own, he tipped the bag so the feed would begin to pour in. The pigs began to walk up and sniff it, taking small bites.

"Impatient as always I see." He shook his head as he walked over to the nearby hose and brought it over, turning it on and counting to seven in his head as it mixed with the dry feed to create the slop the animals were so accustomed to. He immediately shut off the water once he hit seven and took a nearby plank of wood, stirring around the rather putrid smelling mesh of food until it was sufficiently soggy.

Perfect for pigs, rather disgusting for humans.

Not that he'd take a bite even if he was desperate. Any citizen of District 10 found to have stolen Capitol provided feed was to pay. And payment was far steeper than anyone dared.

Once he saw the Pigs were eating, it was time to move on to manure.

As he turned to head for the pitchfork, he nearly jumped out of his skin as someone had appeared. Luckily, it was someone familiar so the momentary scare passed.

"Don't scare me like that Jessup." Oxin swore.

"Don't be so easy to scare." Jessup cackled. He was younger than Oxin by a few years, a farmhand hired by his father to help with the work around here. Given the rural nature of their location finding someone in the area to do the work was difficult for anyone who was forced to work in these conditions. Especially with the newly established Capitol Cattle Farm closer to town that was pulling many of the available workers for a large scale production.

Oxin's family was one of the few independent farms in the District. Right and left the others were being bought out, and with the increased taxations, it wasn't really a shock.

So it was lucky, all things considered, that Jessup was free to help with the work.

"Did you help out with the hay baling?" Oxin said pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping his brow.

"Yeah, was just coming over to see if you needed help with the pigs. Oh, and you forgot your water again." He rolled his eyes handing him a bottle.

Oxin was rather forgetful and would find himself leaving things in places they shouldn't be. Then unable to find them when he needed. He didn't have the sharpest mind, like a cloud fogging up his memory. He didn't really understand it. How could everyone else have it so together around him?

He took the bottle.

"Thanks. Wanna grab a pitchfork with me?" He asked after taking a sip. It was best not to use too much water. The Capitol made it very clear that water was primarily for livestock and that anyone not livestock needed to ration it.

With control of the waterways trickling down from District 4, everything was monitored and highly regulated. If you finished your daily ration of water but hadn't saved any for a bath to wipe off the scent of sweat and manure, you were quite literally shit out of luck.

That is unless you wanted to add another name to the Reaping to get more.

And it was never worth it.

Jessup wrinkled his nose and pursed his lips. "Didn't we just do this yesterday?"

Oxin rolled his eyes. "Yes Jessup, it has to be done every day. Just because pigs crap one day doesn't mean they just stop the next."

"I knew I should have gone to work at the Slaughterhouse." Jessup grumbled.

Oxin tensed up at this, balling his fists. The Slaughterhouse was the name the locals had for the Capitol Cattle Farm. Rumors about conditions there were...sketchy at best.

"You know that place treats workers worse than pig shit. Don't even joke about that." Oxin said letting his fists unfurl before putting the bottle in his back pocket. "Come on. Stop grumbling."

Jessup shrugged and walked over to the nearby shed with him. The two went about the rest of their day, going through the motions of the chores. A little banter here and there.

And eventually the suns rays began to dip lower, towards the horizon. As colors began to blanket the sky in brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange, the dinner bell sounded.

Oxin had just finished the last of his water and was grateful when the bell rang out. He knew the intensity of the heat had run him down and the momentary reprieve from his work was welcome.

"I should probably get home then." Jessup said.

"I'm sure Ma made enough for you if you want to stay." Oxin shrugged. Ma, his grandmother, never hated making more food than needed...which in recent times had become a bit of a problem. The supplies she needed were getting harder and harder to come by. Ironic given that one would think the district would be well off based on their output the last couple of years.

"Maybe just for a bit. Would be nice to say bye to her." Jessup said.

It was settled then. The walk to the house was roughly half a mile and across the narrow tributary that trickled onto the property. Mostly dirt roads, it's not like anyone around here could afford anything else.

He was actually shocked his father could scrounge enough funds together to hire Jessup...

The house was chipped and in desperate need of repair on the outside. A once magnificent cottage complete with a porch was a hollow shell of what it had been. Oxin's family had been a long line of famers which his father had inherited just after his parents died in the rebellion. It was one reason they'd been able to survive when the other farms in the area either died out in the aftermath, or had sold to the Capitol when the Slaughterhouse was constructed.

But now.

"Dinner's getting cold." Ma called out, her frail almost skeletal figure protruded out the front door waving at Oxin. "Oh good Jessup's here to. Come in dearies."

Ma was honestly a cruel nickname in hindsight. One might find it endearing, but after Oxin's mother had passed, Ma, her mother, had come to stay to help out. Over time, she'd become part of the house itself and essentially had replaced the role of his late mother.

Maybe this was the only way she felt connected to her daughter. Maybe she stayed because of Oxin. Whatever the case, she'd never asked for a penny and as long as she helped out around the house, that was one less person his father had to employ.

Plus her smile brightened up an otherwise faded house.

The two boys walked into the mansion, the floor creaking and crackling under their footsteps. It was a wonder the whole thing hadn't collapsed in upon itself. They passed by a few faded pictures and chipped fixtures. A small layer of dust lined the furniture.

They arrived in the dining table soon after.

Oxin felt his body tense up as he saw his father sitting at the other end of the table.

The two weren't exactly chummy. If not for Ma, they probably wouldn't be in the same room at all. Things had been tense between the two since the incident.

He took a small sigh before sitting. It looked like some sort of watery broth served with a couple slices of ham on the side and a couple leaves of lettuce was dinner tonight.

Honestly, all things considered, this was a larger meal than they normally had. Was there some occasion?

"Jessup. Oxin." His father said barely looking up at either before taking a bite of his ham.

"Mr. Varland, hope you are doing well, did a lot of work today." Jessup said before sitting down. "Thanks Ma!" He waved at her as she joined them.

"Oh yes? Were you boys working hard today?" Ma said with a weary smile. The years waning on her clearly.

"Yes, got all of the tasks done and then some." Oxin responded taking a small sip of the broth. It had a hint of chicken stock in it. Okay something was up. "Is something good or important happening?" He asked now thoroughly confused.

"Today is special." Ma nodded. "Your father is in negotiations with the Cattle Farm to sell this farm. If it goes through, we'll be set for years to come."

Oxin dropped his spoon without meaning to. Surprise riddled his face. Sell the farm?! To the Capitol?!

"Oh shit." Jessup said and looked at them. "Guess I'll have to find work elsewhere."

"Oh dear, yes probably. Until then you are welcome to work here until everything happens it's not like it's final-"

"If it's not final, why would we sell this place?" Oxin looked up ignoring the others and directly glaring at his father. "This is where your family has lived for generations! You married mom out in the barn and-"

"That's enough." The voice was low, but with purpose. "Your Ma made this meal special for us to celebrate. Let's eat and enjoy."

Oxin stood up glowering at him. "Tell me why."

"...Why?" His father set down the fork and looked up, his dark chocolate eyes resting above two very deep bags on his upper cheek. The man looked exhausted. "With the Cattle Farm outputting more than any individual farm can around here, the Capitol is fully funding the expansion and project. That means that even if I fight it, they're going to run us into the ground in a matter of a year or two. Might as well get some of their coin before we get swallowed up."

"You're the only thing standing between them and total control of the district! You, the Mastersons, and the Catticks up the road."

"The Catticks sold two days ago."

Oxin felt his hair stand on end. They what? For years the three farms had brought enough for this side of the district to live without having to take extra rations while still being able to stay afloat.

"What?"

"And another thing." His father looked up folding his hands under his chin as he leaned forward. "The Mastersons have already been planning for retirement for some time. Ever since little Evie..."

Evie Masterson. Only 13 when she was Reaped two years ago. She was the heiress to the farm and was set to continue operations. However she was ill prepared for the harshness of the Hunger Games and hadn't lasted more than a day in the arena.

"Shit." Oxin said as he gripped the edge of the table. "Shit...shit shit shit!" He grunted and then shoved the chair aside. "Why the fuck does the Capitol get to take this from us? We've done nothing wrong but be upstanding citizens. If they control the rest of the farmlands here you know that means-"

"They'll control District 10 entirely. Yes I'm aware." He said as he unfolded his hands and leaned back. "That's how Panem works nowadays. We can either die out trying to live on an ideal or we can take a good deal and start anew. The money will last long enough until you are ready to-"

"To what? Be a peacekeeper? Go work at the Slaughterhouse? Be controlled just like everyone else?" Oxin scowled. He couldn't remember the last time his temper had flared up this bad. "What would mom think of this?"

"Oxin Varland!" Ma shouted. She looked appalled. "How dare you speak to your father this way."

"Boy's temper is just running hot." His father shrugged. "It'll pass."

"Oh it'll pass will it?" Oxin scoffed and then laughed. "That's rich coming from the man who just stands around letting the world pass him by."

"Better than being a dreamer with an unrealistic view." He looked up. His eyes looked like they were beginning to reflect Oxin's anger. "And for the record, you have no idea what your mom would want."

"She wouldn't want you to be a coward." Oxin leaned forward hands gripping the table as he stared his father down. "That's what you are."

"It seems." Oxin's father said pursing his lips. "You don't have enough respect for her memory to me. Nor do you have any respect for me. At the end of the day, you live under my roof, and if I think taking this deal is the best option for this family then I'm going to take it."

"Is that how you live with yourself?" Oxin's eyes narrowed. "Is that how you justified not fighting after Baylor-"

"You shut your mouth." His father glared up at him. Good, Oxin had finally struck a chord.

"I..uhh...should leave." Jessup said and took his slice of ham. "Ma, thanks for the meal, I'll be back tomorrow." He headed for the door giving them a wave before leaving.

Once the door shut, Oxin continued.

"You'd like that wouldn't you? You're literally about to make a deal with the same people who let Baylor go into that arena and bleed to death."

Baylor had been his older brother by a few years. He'd been reaped when Oxin was young and killed just like anyone else. The grief had been too much for his mother who had died of a broken heart some months after. The whole thing had driven a wedge between him and his father, who had done nothing to comfort her in the time she'd needed him.

And then after she left, his father had just put him to work and put him off.

"You don't think I understand that?" His father folded his arms. "At least, this way, we aren't left penniless and homeless."

"If you had a spine you'd fight back." Oxin shook his head. "You're right. I have no respect left for you if you do this." He said as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Sorry Ma." He said looking at her. "I've lost my appetite."

He then turned and left the room, ignoring his growling stomach. He'd probably sneak in some food at some point from the pantry. He was pretty sure he had a small tin of crackers somewhere. He couldn't be in the same room as that man anymore.

The very thought that the one thing keeping him going, the upkeep of the home his mother and brother had loved and had been a family in, just being sold and left by the shell of a man that had once been his father made him more furious than he could imagine.

Fuck the Capitol. Fuck the rest of the farmers who had caved rather than push through the hard times. Oxin grabbed his cloak and then headed out the door. When he wanted to blow off some steam, he knew the exact place to do it.

Anywhere that wasn't there.

#

The stars had just come out in the night sky reflecting in the small canal on the edge of the farm. There was a small grassy hill that Oxen liked to sit on when he wanted to get away from the problems he didn't want to face and just watch as the stars lit up the skies above.

He lay back as a cool breeze rustled the grass below and looked up seeing all of the constellations. This was something he and Baylor had done for years before the Reaping, talking about the stars, and wondering what was beyond the small world they lived on.

Were there other places out there? Places outside the Capitol's reach? Where people were free and not subject to harsh taxes and dreary living conditions?

These were things they'd used to talk to each other about.

"Oxy. One day, I want to leave this farm and find another place to rebuild. Start new somewhere, you know?"

Those words were some of the last his brother had said all those years ago lying on this hill looking up. He was a dreamer, much like him. He envisioned a world in which they were thriving like they had decades ago, where he could put his own stake in the ground, make a name for himself.

But instead all he'd become was another nameless star in the sky. A blip in the history of Panem that would be lost to obscurity.

And it was the fucking Capitol that was to blame.

They came, they took, and then came and took some more. Chipping away at people's happiness and lives for years. Peacekeepers enforcing and taking however they pleased.

Oxin felt a tear run down his cheek as he thought just how hopeless this all felt. It wasn't like he could stop his father from giving up one of the last stands this District had over those tyrants. And after they sold, where would they go? Live near the city? Forget they ever had a farm and a family name to uphold the farm?

It felt unfair. He was sure his mother and brother would not approve.

But that was his father now, a coward. A shell of what he had been at one point. A sell out. And it had been that way since his mother and brother had passed. It was like his father had shut down, closing himself off from being the man he once was. The one that had taken him on fishing trips and had taught him how to be a farmhand and who had avidly opposed the Capitol's influence for years with their local community. Where was that man?

Was Oxin just supposed to give up as well?

He let out a small shuddered sob as he looked up, the chill of the night drying the tear as he watched the stars twinkle above.

Would he be able to see the stars Baylor had so loved if they had to move closer to the Inner District?

He lay there awhile, trying to let off steam before a sound began to emit in the distance.

A low drone that slowly grew more tenor and louder.

He blinked and sat up, his hands brushing in the soft earth and grass beneath.

What in the-

A glow on the horizon. Not one from the rays of the sun, but instead a more localized glow. A large plume of smoke billowed from the glow. He couldn't quite tell where it was coming from but given the expanse and what he now recognized to be an alarm, it started to dawn on him what was going on.

He felt a dread begin to run down his body.

Somewhere in District 10, a fire had broken out.

And a fire in the wrong place, could spell disaster for all of the farmlands in the area.

Fuck.

He scrambled to his feet and without thinking ran back towards the house to grab the keys to the truck.

Wherever the fire was, they were going to need all the help they could get.

A/N: I'm going to try to crank out a few more chapters this week, might not be as fast as the first two, but while the ideas are fresh and the set up of the world is in my head I want to get it down as quick as I can. I do plan to set up a little bit in the next chapter or two just to establish the other perspectives I want to include in order to get a full picture of what it is I want to accomplish with this is. I'm also very glad to be inspired to write this right now. With the movie coming up in November I'm excited and definitely in the "Hunger Games" mood. I hope you all are enjoying so far and are engaged with the story so far. Please leave feedback or reviews if you have anything or if you want to say something you like or don't like 3 Would love to hear from those reading this :)