The Hunger Games - Through the Fire and Flames - Book 1

Chapter 2

For my family the week passed on ever so slowly. My mother and father were on edge more than ever and it drove me insane. They pulled both me and my brother out of school for the last three days to throw in some extra hours of practice which I didn't mind but my brother sure did. His mind was on his girlfriend who had been sick for the past three weeks and had been bedridden. He wanted to be with her during her time of sickness but because our parents said the practice was mandatory he had no choice.

My parent's told my brother that he needed the extra time regardless because he still hadn't been able to master his archery. After an hour of frustration and outbursts my father pushed him into spearing which he turned out to be a natural at. I honestly didn't understand why they didn't start him out on that. He was strong, agile and could turn a stone into a lethal weapon by throwing it at speeds up to 85 mph, he had a throwers arm. I know this only because I was once accidentally on the receiving end of one of those small rocks. It hit my arm and went straight through and out the other end. Surprisingly it missed all my bones and major arteries so only a few stitches were needed.

At the end of the day I my mind kept wandering and I ended up thinking about the Games. My mother says that they always want a good game and that always gets me thinking more deeply in the meaning. I could only think of one way to insure a good game and I didn't like it. Luckily because of my mother and fathers duo victory they would be the mentors for the next tributes of District 12. If my brother and I were picked then my mother and father would be our mentors. If they were our mentors that would ensure hefty amounts of sponsors because of the Capitol citizens loved the star-crossed lovers and they adored their children. If we had sponsors we would most likely make it to the end meaning a battle against the son and daughter of the District 12 champions.

The day of my and my brothers birthday came quicker than imagined and was the same as every year. We had a massive dinner with many dishes. Like my mother I loved the lamb stew with dried plums, it had an amazing taste with a bit of a kick in it, especially when my my mother added her secret ingrediant which was a special brand of spirits that she had been introduced to during her time at the Capitol.

My brother like the groosling and my dads goat cheese bread. After dinner we finished with a small cake that my father made himself it was in the shape of my mothers Mockingjay pin and tasted really sweet, but thats how we like them. We ate until our stomachs threatened to burst and then finished with a bit of survival trivia. Like always I tied with my mother but won with the tie breaker question.

That night I settled into bed between my mother and father. I slept for the first three hours but woke up from a night terror, screaming my head off. I had dreamt that my brother and I were reaped into the Games. My father and mother did their best to comfort me from my sobs and then we laid there talking about how after the reaping the four of us were going to have a huge dinner of all our favorite dishes. Halfway through the next hour my mother fell asleep and then soon after my father rejoined his dreams as well.

I was too nervous for the days events that I didn't sleep one bit. Instead I got up and went into my mothers private library and started to read a new book my mother had brought home. This too was also about survival but on a whole new set of terms. It talked about the different ways of killing and creating weapons. The most interesting part of the book was its bonus book that came with it. It was about how to create the perfect spot to ensure survival amongst the wildest creatures. One of the chapters told about digging a hole and practically living in it which I thought was time consuming and energy inefficiant.

As I turned to the last page and read it I realized the sun was rising and knew it was time to be getting up. In just 5 short hours everyone between the ages of 12 and 18 would be lining up in the square where they would call up the two tributes for District 12.

I headed out of the library to go and get a bite to eat and surprisingly found my father, mother and brother sitting at the table staring at nothing inperticular. I joined them. They were like this every year the morning of the Reaping since my brother turned 12. Now it was my turn to join them. None of us knew exactly what was going to happen today in that square but the four of us had a pretty good idea.

For the first time in my twelve years of life I couldn't eat. I was no longer hungry. I sat in my spot at the table beside my family for the longest time not even bothering to get dressed until my mother had to pull me into my bedroom. Still I felt parylzed. I was too disraught to move, from the combination of my night terror and the events that were about to unfold. My mother helped me into my dress and fix my hair. After I was ready I resumed my zombified state until it was time to go.

My mother, father, brother and I made the long walk to the square. Gale joined us half way with his 12 year old daughter Lia. This was my best friend. Lia was the only child of Gale. Gale became widowed when his wife died giving birth. From that day on Gale did everything he could to protect his daughter but today his protection only went so far. If Lia was chosen his protection would be useless, after all this days events were out of his control. Lia's company brought some much needed life back into me and we skipped together along the tracks that led to the square.

As we came into view of the lights that towered over the buildings that wrapped around the square she looked at me. "Are you afraid?" Lia asked me.

That was a good question. I was unsure of how I really felt. It had to be a mixture of shock, fright, nerves and about 15 other emotions that I never knew I had let alone what they were. Slowly but surely I nodded my head up and down a few times.

"I'm scared too." She replied. "But you don't have to worry its only our first year. All the kids at school said that you never get chosen your first year."

I stopped in my tracks and looked at her. Did she really just say that? And after the many times I told her about my aunt being picked. How many of those children were really alive when the unthinkable happened? They were told the exact same thing my mother told her sister the year she got picked. It wasn't a fact but a hope since it wasn't impossible to be chosen your first year. Maybe she didn't comprehend that though because my mother and father were the champions of that year. That was all anyone ever heard anyways. Especially since the story got several twisted in its facts.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, first year." I replied in a emotionless tone.

The rest of our walk was more silence then anything. The only sounds that were made were when the gravel crunched under our feet and the occasionaly shuffle as Lia tripped over her feet. Apart from that it was pretty quiet. 15 minutes later we broke into the square that was set up for the Reaping. We stopped at the edge of the square and looked around. Just like every year it had the stage where the names were called from. The table where we were to sign up and the two seperate lines of boys and girls who stood rigidly waiting for it to begin.

I watched as my brother walked forward to sign in. I didn't want to go by myself so I grabbed Lia's arm and towed her with me over to the table. I signed up and then waited for Lia before we headed over to our line. We would be near the back since the lines and rows were by ages. The youngest in the back because we were less likely to be chosen and the oldest in the front. Always the same every year.

I don't know how long we stood there in our spots because the moment I got into my spot I checked completely out and just spaced. I didn't even notice when a woman with bright green hair joined the stage. But when her sickly voice spoke I jumped. I looked around and saw everyone looking like they had just witnessed a death. In reality who ever was chosen today might aswell be dead since there were rarely ever champions from District 12. The last champions were my very own mom and dad.

"Welcome all to the 91st Annual Hunger Games." The green haired woman spoke.

Those were the only words I heard her speak until she announced it was time to choose the girl and boy tribute. Unlike my father and mother we didn't have to put our names in for extra food since they were twice as rich than any normal Victors. That gave me a little bit of hope that my brother and I wouldn't be chosen because there were thousands of other names in amongst ours. Then I automatically think about my aunt Prim and her one entry going against her.

"The tribute for the girls will be-" I took a deep breath as Lia took my hand into hers and held it tight. "Lia Hawthorne."

Slowly and stiffly I turned my head to look at Lia. Her face was drowned in terror as two peacekeepers came and began towing her away towards the stage. Everything happened in slow motion, or atleast it did for me. I looked over towards my parents and found Gale being comforted by my mother and then I looked to Lia who was screaming for her father. Once she was up on the stage the green haired lady looked around before she spoke again.

"Are there any volunteers to step up and take her place?" The green haired lady spoke.

I gulped nervously as I watched Lia, my best friend. The only thing Gale had left. I knew everything about her and knew with her lack of skills -which were none at all that I knew of- would get her killed in mere seconds. I turned my head hoping that someone would volunteer but no one would. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"I volunteer" I spoke. I held my head up high as I walked forward to the stage and stood beside my best friend.

"And who are you dear?" the woman asked me.

I looked up at the crazy looking woman "My name is Aloe Mellark."

The peace keepers sent Lia back to her spot in the safety of the crowd and the ceremony continued on. The woman walked over to the bowl that held the boys names and quickly plucked a piece of folded paper out. I watched slowly as she broke the seal and looked at the name. She then walked back to the microphone.

"The tribute for the boys of District 12 will be-" The lady paused as she had to look back down at the strip of paper. "-River Mellark."

I heard the crowd gasp as I was certain they made the connection and realized he was my brother. I searched for him amongst the crowd near the front where I knew he'd be and found him as he slowly made his walk up to the stage to stand beside me. Without hesitation he took my hand into his and squeezed it.

"Wonderful!" The green haired lady spoke. "This game should be the best. The son and daughter of our last District 12 champions competing against each other. This is marvolous!"

This lady was making me want to vomit. She spoke of our Reaping as if it was something to be happy about. I wanted to slap her as if she was going into hysterics but there was no way a slap to the face could cure ignorance. As well attacking a Capitol Official would result in a automatic execution. I took a deep breath as I looked at my brother who was just staring at me. Our families greatest fears had come true. My brother and I were going into the games.