Phoenix (A Hunger Games Fanfiction)

Chapter One

DISCLAIMER: The Hunger Games Trilogy and majority of the characters in this story belong to Suzanne Collins. NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED.

What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. – Katniss Everdeen, Mockingjay

Chapter 1:

“Dani?” I turned over in my bed to face the doorway. Peeking past the door was a small blonde boy.

“Cinna?” I sat up and patted the area on the bed next to me. “C’mere.” My 12 year old brother slowly closed the door behind him and took a seat next to me, leaning his head on my shoulder.

“I can’t sleep.” He said quietly.

I wrapped my arms around his tiny shoulders, “I know. Me either.”

He dropped his voice to a whisper, “Mom’s screaming in her sleep again.” I leaned my head against the wall behind me. In the silence of the night I could faintly hear my mother’s screams emitting from the downstairs living room. She’s been screaming in her sleep since the announcement made from the Capitol a week ago. “I know. It’s okay,” I rubbed his arm reassuringly, “She’s just scared.”

“I’m scared too.”

I hesitated before replying, “I am too.”

A week ago, President Ninguis’ inauguration was broadcasted across the country on live television. The young woman was elected a couple months after President Paylor died of old age. My parents Katniss and Peeta Mellark, my brother Cinna, our neighbor Haymitch Abernathy, Greasy Sae’s granddaughter Evanna, who comes over occasionally to do some cooking and light housework, and myself were all seated in the living room to watch the ceremony. The event started off normally; the crowd was in high spirits and the nation’s anthem was played. But then President Roseus Ninguis was brought up on stage and took her place in front of the podium.

“Citizens of Panem, I am honored to have been selected as your new leader.” She had said after a warm welcome. “Panem is a strong and independent country, and although we are divided into districts, we are all one. Your previous president, Ms. Paylor, has done a spectacular job at keeping this country in order and as your current president, I will help work hard to do the same, and even harder to make it better. But how does a country run orderly when there are people walking around freely who are capable of going against the law?” This unexpected statement had brought everyone in the room to confusion.

“You see, that was what kept Paylor from being a good leader; from allowing the country from being at its highest potential. She did not punish those who went against the laws that the country was first built on, nor did she even bother to adapt those laws. And now as your new and official leader, that is exactly what I will do. I will restore Panem to its former glory.” The big screen behind the podium displaying a larger version of the President giving her speech for the audience too far from the stage to see had gone blank before an image of a gray, circular seal appeared. And immediately after that, a different type of music began playing throughout the square and through the speakers of our television.

“Shit.” I had spun around to look at Haymitch, who had his fingers at his mouth and was staring intently at the screen with a troubled look.

“Dad? – “ When I turned to ask my dad what was going on, he was already heading out of the living room, hands clenched into fists. I then had looked to my mom for help, but her attention was elsewhere.

“Haymitch.” She whispered urgently.

“Shhh.” He waved a hand at her, his attention still on the TV.

“Dani – “

“I don’t know.” I had answered my brother’s unasked question and looked back at the TV. And in that moment something clicked in my mind. I’ve only ever heard the old capitol anthem and seen the old seal a couple times in my life at school when we learned about the history of Panem. Anything from the Dark times was banned with the exception of educational use.

But at that moment it was being played and shown in front of the entire country.

“In two weeks,” the President had started speaking again above the music, “a Capitol official will be sent to each District and there a reaping of two people, one girl and one boy, between the ages of 12 and 18, will be selected to participate in Panem’s 76th annual Hunger Games.” Everyone in the room drew in a collective breath. As if sensing our discomfort all the way at the Capitol, President Nix flashed a sickly smile at the camera. “Hopefully this event would eliminate the remaining and soon to be rebels and therefore lead to an orderly and peaceful future for the country.”

Then the music finally came to an end and Ninguis smiled again, “Thank you, once again, for this opportunity. I look forward to leading you for as long as I can.” She nodded and exited the stage. Then the television screen had gone blank and the room went silent.