Blaine Abernathy: A Canary Caged

Author's Note: So…I was rereading my Blaine Abernathy series and realizing how my writing was from then versus now. I started the series when I was a senior in High school and finished when I was in Community college. After nearly three years of writing this story, in what I thought adulting in a dystopian world would be like. Now I want to rewrite it and make some changes. Major changes. I realized I made so many mistakes in the information in the books. So one of the most significant changes is that Blaine will be the 69th victor. 70th was Annie Cresta and 71st was Johanna Mason . Blaine will have a role in the Profit Circle than a singer.

Summary: Blaine is the daughter of Haymitch Abernathy and the 69th Hunger Game victor. Can she help Katniss and Peeta as their mentor during the Games, or will she and Haymitch be the only district twelve's victors?

Prologue

I was running for my life in the mountains, trying to get away from the last tribute. I was heavily wounded, bleeding badly from the side, for the girl from District One struck me with a machete. The blood was already coagulated yet seeped simultaneously, leaving a blood trail on the snow. The adrenalin was running through my veins, which partially numbed the pain. Yet it wasn't enough.

I had to keep running. The girl from District One…Lapis, I think her name was. She has a strong vendetta against me as I killed her Career Partner, Leo Stone from District 2. However, how I killed him was not honorable or quick. Shaking my head to avoid my previous kill, I continue to run.

I find it ironic how close this situation was to my father. He won the second Quarter Quells by killing a girl from District One while wounded. It would be hilarious if the Gamemakers added a force field so I could use it. Let this tribute throw her machete at me, be lucky to dodge, and wait for it to backfire. Nope, not for this generation! Instead of being in a field of dreams, where everything was peaceful and harmless except deadly. No, Lapis and I are the last survivors in this wasteland of winter mountains, and worst, lost in a blizzard.

The storm was a good and bad thing. One, it covered my track, but two, I couldn't see what was in front of me. Not even ten feet. As the snow swirled around, masking the mountain and the edge. I had one hand on the side of the mountain just to feel my way through this storm.

Shivering, I stopped to find a cave. Perfect, a place to find shelter. I took the opportunity and quickly went inside to huddle up. I walked further in, away from the entrance before slouching down, practically collapsing. After catching my breath, I adjusted myself against the cave's wall and began to rub my hands together along the gloves. The gloves were stained red, yet the material prevented blood from seeping. I have to thank Haymitch for sending me these gloves.

After a moment to catch my bearings, I removed my backpack and checked on the supplies I had left. I had at least a day's worth of food, frozen water, a sleeping bag, and finally, an awl. I lost my dagger when killing Leo and the duel with Lapis. I took several deep breaths before crying out as the adrenaline faded away. Cursing under my breath, I removed the cloak, adjusting the belt and maneuvering the layers of clothing to check my condition.

On the left side of my hip, a nasty gash. A deep slice cut. Not deep enough that I would bleed out to death. But deep stitches would be needed if I had this wound back in District Twelve. Along with medicine. If the weather doesn't kill me, the infection will.

I took several deep breaths, trying to remember the condition Lapis was in. If I recall correctly, her left arm was broken or sprained, her nose busted, and she had a black eye. Imagine if her black eye was her downfall, that in this blizzard should blind her to fall to her death. How hopeful wouldn't it be. I could have already won, but the wind drowned the cannon, and Templesmith's announced I won. Except that is all but a delusion.

"C'mon Blaine…. almost there," I muttered to myself. "If dad can do it, so can you."

I shivered again and thought of my dad. "Oh, you owe me a drink… dad."

I could bet Haymitch is grunting at this. If I win, I don't plan on being an alcoholic. Hell no, I'm only sixteen. But I plan on at least having a drink before wallowing my misery away with some sort of hobby. Maybe I could do cooking and eat my sorrows until I'm fat. That's one way to avoid attention.

Avoid attention and interest, I thought as my mind dwindled to Finnick Odair.

Shaking my head, I started treating my wound, cleaning up the blood, and finding a way to bandage it. I took the awe and did my best to rip up the lining inside the fur cloak. I muster up all my strength to rip the bottom edge to get the length. Once I got to enough of the lining, I started wrapping the fabric around my hips to cover the wound. I bit my lip, trying to make the makeshift tourniquet tight to stop any bleeding.

Afterward, I adjusted my clothes and held the cloak. Only to stop to examine the inner collar. There was a label on it. A small white rectangle with golden embroidery of the initial C.P. My Sponsor. Or at least the only Sponsor who got me this cloak that has saved my life the last few days. The outer part of the cloak was fur mixed between whites and grays that blended with the surroundings. As for the inside, some insulation provided more warmth with the fur. Either C.P. is the Sponsor or the designer. Either Way, the person is a godsend. Yes, Haymitch had a part in sending the cloak, but it must have cost a fortune.

I put the cloak back on, securing it to my body until spotting the bloodstains. Blood.

"Michael," I whispered, then sobbed softly.

Michael Smyrnium. He is…was my district partner and my best friend. Michael was fourteen; he would have been fifteen next month. He was a boy from the Seams. Someone who saw me as Blaine, not a victor's daughter. We both got reaped, and we promised to stick together until there was no choice but to separate. He was stubborn, but when we reached the final eight, he wanted to separate. Except that result led him into a trap, being killed by a guy from District five. After Michael's death, I avenged him.

Four…I have killed four tributes, I thought.

I shuddered again before having a coughing fit—a copper taste in my mouth. I look at my gloved hand to find bloody phlegm.

Damn it. I need a doctor quickly, I thought.

I debated on going out back into the storm. Do I hunt for Lapis, or do I wait for her out? Time was of the essence, for I didn't think I could last another three days. No doubt the Gamemakers are trying to finish the game. Two tributes left.

"Fuck it," I muttered.

So, packing my supplies, an awl in hand, I head off into the snowstorm. However, little did I know that Lapis was waiting for me at the entrance. She was tall and pretty, with dark blue eyes, and her caramel hair went everywhere in the wind—a machete in her hand coated in frozen icicles of blood.

"Well, well, well, the badger finally comes out of her burrow." She said loudly over the wind. "The storm wasn't good enough to cover your blood trail."

"At least I'm not stupid to stand in the cold, bitch." I couldn't help it.

This girl has been hunting me down for three days. Also, my insults lead her to have a hilarious reaction. Well, to me, it was funny. That I laughed while looking at our surroundings. There was a ledge off the cliff ten feet away. If I could just push her off it?

Ten feet away, I thought.

"How ironic." I chuckled, adjusting my stance.

This got her attention. "What?"

"How ironic," I repeated. "Is it me, or is history repeating itself." Our audience is laughing at this, but the girl didn't get it. I sighed. "Pity, coming from a Career. Oh well, let me give you a history lesson before one of us dies. Okay, sweetie. On the fiftieth Hunger Games, the number of tributes doubled. The remaining two tributes were from District One and District Twelve…. My mentor Haymitch Abernathy was crowned the victor."

Her eyes widened in realizing what I was saying. She smirked a moment later, getting her stance with her machete. "Well, won't this be interesting? To kill a victor's daughter would be an honor. "

I smirked, pulling out the thin sleeping bag and holding on tight to it. "And to add a career to my list."

We stood still in the blizzard, waiting for a moment and giving a dramatic pause to intensify for the audience. One minute later, Lapis charged out. I ran towards her flinging the sleeping bag in her face as the winds tangled her in it. She screamed, trying to get out of the nylon material that she had overlooked. She turned around to head towards the ledge. Taking that chance, I lunged at her and stabbed her right in the neck with the awl. A gargled scream was heard before I pushed her over the ledge and let her fall to her death. She fell about thirty feet onto solid rock. My footing slipped that I nearly fell off the ledge as well. But I caught myself. Leaning forward, I stared over the ridge and saw Lapis lying dead on the ground, limbs at different angles.

In less than a minute, the final cannon goes off.

Afterward, the storm became so mellow that it was snowing calmly.

I collapsed onto my knees breathing erratically in the realization of what happened. I did it… I actually did it! I survived the Hunger Games just like my father. I felt so giddy that I tossed my backpack, lay on the snow, and started making snow angels.

I had been waiting to hear my favorite voice since entering the arena!

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victor of the sixty-ninth Hunger Games, Blaine Abernathy! I give you - the tribute of District Twelve!" Claudius Templesmith exclaimed in pure joy.

"You can say that again," I partially laughed and sobbed all at the same time.

A hovercraft materialized overhead as it dropped a ladder. I stood up, clutching my side, and placed myself on the ladder. The electrical current froze me in place and brought me up. As I was being pulled up, I stared at Lapis once more. All the giddiness and excitement vanished.

The tiredness consumed me. All the emotions I had turned into dread as I stared at Lapis, the Girl from District One, lying dead. I knew what I had become, a murderer, but I did what I had to do to stay alive. Five. I have killed five tributes. No, not tributes. I have killed five children. All were teens, just like me.

The current turned off when I was brought into the hovercraft, and I nearly collapsed. I braced the ladder, trying to find some stability. The peacemakers approached me but did not touch me. They only spoke in a soft tone, ordering me to follow them. They guided me to the infirmary. The nurse came over and gestured for me to be in a medical bed.

I complied, removed the cloak, and stared at the metal ceiling. The nurse came over, gently petting my tangled hair while the doctor gave me the sedative.

"Congratulations, my dear," She murmured. "Now count to ten backward."

"Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . . se-ven…six. ... fi . . . .``Then everything went black as a lone tear fell.

As I enter the second part of the Hunger Games.

I know my future will not be a clean slate.

The one made by the tyrant.

A game of regret and secrets.

What do you guys think of the changes in the prologue? There are going to be a lot of changes. This will not be a three-part series, and this will be one book. I appreciate all the support and those who return to read Blaine's story. I know I have another incomplete Hunger Games series, but my muse is not with me. This rewrite may inspire me but until then.

Thanks for reading, and please leave a review.