The Hunger Games; a fan fiction
Chapter 1"Lucky! Wake up! You've slept in for ages! On tour day!" That's my little brother, Robin. Well, one of the five. Robin, at thirteen, is three years younger than me, and the third out of seven siblings. He suffers from one chronic illness after another. I'm the only girl. Lucky is my nickname. I don't particularly like it. I prefer to be called my actual name, Lark-Rose, or even better, just Lark. I open my eyes and sit up, grinning at my brother. I suppose that's one thing that's lucky about me, I have a loving family. More than I can say for others in District 12. He knows I don't like being called Lucky, that's why he does it. It's become less of an irritation and more of a joke.
"Robin! How very rude of you to awaken me!" I give Robin a hug, ruffle his fluffy, light brown hair, and he goes downstairs whilst I dress. I pull on a dress that was once sky blue, and run after him. My family is one of the better off ones in our district, as we're carpenters. My other brothers are Ash, Martin, Swift (noticing a theme?), and Cedar, as well as baby Rowan. Ash is fourteen, Martin is eleven, Swift is ten, Cedar is eight and Rowan is eighteen months old. At sixteen, I'm the oldest. It's tour day, post 74th Hunger Games. This year, my name will be in forty times. When I was twelve, I had six siblings, so I entered my name eight times. Even then, I knew that was a lot, but I'm willing to do it for my family. Another thing that I do for my family is hunt. I admire Katniss Everdeen greatly – her skill with a bow and arrow is phenomenal! I'm just about competent, but I did teach myself. I noticed the way that she and Gale went out hunting, and I started to copy them. I don't sell my meat though – my family needs to eat. Ash has started coming with me lately. He actually worked up the courage to go to Katniss – we don't know where Gale lives – and ask her to teach him how to set some snares! She did show him, so we use those in the woods. We get a good deal of rabbits. Sometimes, if we're really desperate, I'll climb into the trees and search for birds' nests, and take the eggs. I'm very light, so I can climb well. Exceedingly well, in fact. I think that, when I was twelve, I was just as good as Rue. I really liked her in the Hunger Games, and I was distraught when she died. I try not to think of her as a character, but I still do. She is – was – one of my favourite tributes. I find it sickening, the way I start to think of them like that. Obviously, though, I've gained a little weight since I was twelve, although not enough to be extremely strong. I'm able to weave a fairly solid, if a bit leaky, roof from slender branches, so that would count for something. It can support the weight of an underfed adult. In the games, it could save my life.
My mother has made us some dark brown bread, smeared very lightly with goat's cheese! Goat's cheese! A true delicacy! What did she have to sell for it? I decide not to ask and eat as fast as I can. I want to be at the train station before the train arrives for the tour, and I need to get there early so that I can maybe see Katniss and Peeta. Before I rush outside, I thank my mother and pull on some boots, as well as a thick coat. It's winter, and extremely cold. My fingers are blue by the time I make it halfway. I blow on them ferociously and rub my hands together. I should have brought matches. Maybe there will be some sticks at the station. I'm nearly at the station when I notice the hovercraft. It lands about a hundred metres away from me, right outside the justice building. This is an unusual event, even on tour day! I can see the Capitol seal on it. Perhaps someone important's on board! Whoever it is will have made the laborious journey for a reason. I run over, very much intrigued. The mayor's there too! I can see the occupants walking out. I can see two peacekeepers, followed by an old man. I realise that this must be President Snow. I stop running and just walk. I have no idea what to do. Should I change direction? Should I keep my course? I'm about twenty metres away by now, and still walking. I change direction slightly, to avoid the mayor and the President. I'm shocked at his presence. I wonder whatever could have brought him here! Then the mayor calls me and I am automatically walking over, obedient to his instruction. "Lark, isn't it? President Snow, this is Lark-Rose Rivers, I believe." I nod to confirm, curtseying, and he continues. "Unfortunately I have somewhere that I really must be. Please bring President Snow to the Victor's Village." The mayor looks very awkward. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes at the moment, delegating the task of guiding the President to a teenage girl of no real rank.
I look at President Snow. I can see he is assessing me. But my face is a mask of blankness. "Please lead the way," he tells me. Now I am perplexed. If I walk in front of the President of Panem, that could imply that I think myself superior, if I walk next to him then I could be his equal. But if I walk behind him, then I cannot lead him. He sees the look on my face and reads it correctly. "Go ahead," he says.
"This way!" I say, recovered from my shock and confusion, and begin to steadily walk to the Victors' Village. The President follows me briskly, in between the towering peacekeepers. Eventually, we fall into step. This is so awkward, I think. Eventually, he says something.
"Do you know Miss Everdeen or Mr Mellark at all, Miss Rivers?"
"A little bit, Sir. My mother and Katniss's father are cousins."
"What do you think of them both?"
"I don't see either of them much, but I think Peeta is very strong, and Katniss's skill with a bow is incredible!" I start talking about her technique and her accuracy, and he looks at me. Wrong move.
We carry on walking for a bit. As we come round a corner, we can see the mines in the distance.
"Do either of your parents work there?"
"No, Sir. My father is a carpenter, and my mother cares for my siblings."
"How many of them are there?"
"I have six younger brothers."
He looks surprised. "And do you look after them as well?"
"Yes, Sir. I help my father with some of his work. So does my oldest brother."
"You say you admire Miss Everdeen's skill with a bow. Are you an archer yourself?"
I realise that I revealed too much in my praise of Katniss. "I can shoot a little bit."
"What is it that you shoot, then?"
"I don't, usually."
"I see."
Stalemate on that one. For the rest of the walk, I try to give nothing away. If I must, I speak in riddles. I love words, and the way you can twist them, creating loopholes, and alternate meanings. They're truly a wonder, absolutely fantastic, and it means that I can, if I wish, be very cryptic. As we finally arrive at the Victors' Village, he says "I think you are a very intelligent girl, Miss Rivers. Too clever to remain in the districts. Would you be interested in going to the Capitol for, say, a week in the Summer? Then to the wilds? You could be among the first to see the new arena."
I instantly realise what he means, and am terrified. "Thank you, Sir, but I must respectfully decline."
He chuckles. "Please show me to Miss Everdeen's residence. You can wait outside, if they do not invite you in."
I show him to Katniss's doorstep, and stand outside. I don't want to be in the same building as him. He saw the fear in my eyes. I know he did. And I am terrified.