The Diamond Among The Coals - DreamNotFound

The Reaping

Forewarnings for full story:

SUGGESTIVE THEMES
VIOLENCE
MINOR CHARACTER DEATHS

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Everything was peaceful in the life at District 12. Well, somewhat. It was one of the poorest districts out of all the ones in Panem. It was either you fought for your life or gave it up to someone else. That was just the cruel way things worked in District twelve. In some way, it was just survival of the fittest there.

George had never cared about it. He was satisfied where he leaved, despite how horrible the conditions could get. He managed all his life, so there was nothing to stop him now. He lived a somewhat peaceful life with his family. His father worked in the mines, but George got used to that as the time progressed. As dreadful as it was, his memories were passing along with the time too. You win some, you lose some.

All George knew about his father was that he was the one providing the money. They most definitely were not the most richest people in the district, but they managed to collect up enough to provide a loaf of bread on the table every other day.

It was no healthy diet, but that was simply another thing that George had adjusted to in the twenty-four years of his life on this merciless Earth. The feeling of starvation was rather common in him now. If anything, it was common in the district, too. George often heard news floating around in the Districts air of yet another death due to starvation. That's what they got for being the poorest district, George supposed.

Though despite that the district still had it's highlights. Not many though; just a few. It was enough to satisfy him. District 12 did have some generous people, even if some of them didn't act it. They were all just people looking to survive after all. Not everyone was going to be as generous at the others.

One of the biggest beauties of the entire district though was how absolutely and utterly colorless the place seemed. Normally that'd be a down side, but it wasn't like George could see any of it's colors properly, so he managed to find everything positive he could.

George got up and out of bed at the sound of his mother calling out to him. A normal occurrence now.

"Mum! Ten more minutes, please!"

He heard his mom let out a puff of air. "No, sweetie. You have to get ready and bathe yourself."

"Have you even boiled the water yet so it'd at least be warm?"

George's mom hesitated for a quick moment. "Oh, ah, no. I have not."

"Thought so." The brunette sighed as he sat up and rubbed his head. A dull ache rung through it, but he just willed himself to get over it as he slid his legs off his bed. He even just barely caught the quick sorry his mother had said to him.

George grabbed the pile of clothes he had laid out a night prior and changed out of his pajamas. After that was completed he walked into the kitchen, meeting his mom there and giving her a gentle smile before reaching into the cupboards.

He looked through them for quite a bit but ultimately was unsuccessful in finding what he needed. "Mum, we're almost out of herbs."

The woman turned to him and forced a smile onto her face. "That's okay! Here, take the remains of the money."

"I can't do that to you."

"Yes, you can. Now take these and go buy some more herbs. You're really skilled at using them and I'd much prefer you continue to study them."

George pressed his lips in a firm line, "I don't study them."

She rolled her eyes and shoved the coins into George's hand, "Just go already. You're fine, trust me."