'I don't wanna die, I sometimes wish i'd never been born at all' -Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
He's the Capitol's Golden boy, she's the famous child of a Victor...
-Finnick Odair X female oc
-pre Hunger Games -> Mockingjay part 2
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It's the little things in life that makes Lyra smile.
Receiving a small, personal gift randomly from someone you care about without any reason or occasion.
Sitting on the beach as the sun creates a golden glow on her skin, a warm feeling growing in her chest, birds singing to each other as the cacophony of sound fills her ears like her very own, personal melodic choir.
Lying in bed as rays of gold light up her previously dark room telling her she doesn't have to fall into yet another nightmare that's just lurking in the back of her mind, waiting to be released.
However, today was an exception. Because today was the dreaded Reaping Day.
As the rising sun shines into the dark room through a gap in the curtains, Lyra pulls the covers back up over her face hoping if she squeezes her eyes closed tight enough then the day would pass by without having to be lived.
All the furniture in Lyra's room was white from the bed frame to the wardrobe. The floor was wood but had a light grey rug over it so she didn't have to walk on the freezing wooden floor fist thing in the morning. She had some jewellery hung up on stands, some of her sisters' artwork framed, some fishhooks she made with her brother and father hung on a pin board and one of Cole's baby toys he'd given to her as a gift was now sat on her dressing table. It was a peacock teddy that Cole had given to her for a birthday.
Lyra couldn't shake the nausea that had settled in her stomach since the moment her head had hit her pillow. She couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety and disgust, someone she loves would be reaped. Of course, the risk is high every year but this year was different. This year Amber would definitely be Reaped.
Amber is eighteen, this is the last year that she will be eligible for the Games. That means she will be reaped today because there is no chance that the firstborn of a past Victor favourite won't be reaped. Snow wouldn't possibly allow it. The only way she would be safe is if someone volunteers, but it's not likely that anyone would dare take Amber Holland's place.
Lyra heard a knock on her door before it creaked open slowly. The eleven year old looked up confused, it's too early to be getting ready so who is at her door?
"Hey, can I come in?" Lyra couldn't see who it was through her half closed eyes but she immediately recognised the voice as her sister.
"Yeah, 'course," she replied with zero hesitation.
Moments later, Lyra felt the her small double bed shift as it dipped slightly at the extra weight. Amber pulled the cover up just under her chin and sighed looking at her sister.
"Talk to me Ambs," Lyra whispers to Amber in the dark room.
"I shouldn't tell you," she whispers back.
"You can tell me anything."
"You're too mature. You're eleven, go play with shells or something," Amber replies with a sad smile.
That was reality in the Districts. Children grew up too fast, matured too quickly. Either by being forced to kill other children or even something as simple as having to work at the age of ten, or having to train to kill and fight at young ages, or survive off of scrapings of food that could barely feed one and having to share it between ten. And meanwhile everyone in the Capitol have so much food that they throw out leftovers.
"I'm scared," the older girl whispers.
Amber hated having to admit to her baby sister that she's afraid. Afraid to die, to leave her family behind, to kill other children who are just as scared as she is, to become another piece in President Coriolanus Snow's game.
"That's okay," Lyra whispers back, her hand clutching her blanket close to her chest.
Amber scoffs as a tear runs down her face, the sun catches her cheek making it apparent to Lyra who wipes it away gently, "I'm the oldest, i'm not supposed to be scared, I'm supposed to stay strong. I'm supposed to stay. Here. With you, my family, looking after you guys."
Lyra stops her before she can go any further. "Stop, stop with the 'supposed to be'. Everyone gets scared sometimes. That's okay. That's normal. You have every right to feel like that."
"I love you," Amber looks down at her little sister, memorising everything about her soft features.
"I love you too," Lyra looks up at her role model.
"I hate this," she mumbles after a moment. "He ruins everything. He has us killed in a 'game', he steals our loved ones, he steals our childhoods! It's not fair, everything is his to take."
"I know," Lyra nods in understanding.
The sisters don't say anything else, the air around them clear with understanding. They just lay beside each other, like they used to when Lyra was little, until Amber fell asleep with her head on her younger sisters shoulder and Lyra soon found sleep again too, deciding to relish in the serenity of it and miss her morning run.
When they wake again, it's Jared knocking on the door and calling from the other side, "wake up and get dressed girls."
Amber kisses her sisters head before leaving to bathe and change.
Caspian got the bathroom next as they were the ones in the Reaping, they were the ones who had to look most presentable.
The thirteen year old boy came out with his messy hair brushed and was wearing a white button shirt with a beige jumper over the top, just the collar of the dress shirt showing. He had his black formal pants on too and shiny black shoes.
Amber was wearing one of their mums old dresses. A mint green dress. The top half was patterned with beads of different shades of green and they gradually minimised as you got further down the dress as the bottom half was plain green. She wore a white cardigan with it and white wedge heels. Her hair was tied up into a fancy bun on her head with small flower clips on the edges.
When she came out, she was nervously fumbling with her fingers so Lyra asked her to do her hair to give her something else to think about.
She ended up tying it back into plaits, her shorter hairs sticking out of them and framing her face. She wore some simple pale blue jeans and a nice white top.
Their father had brushed his hair and thrown on some jeans, a white dress shirt, and his leather jacket. He'd also dressed Cole into some jeans and button shirt after combing his hair.
The family of five walk out of the house together, Jared in front with Amber and Cole, Lyra behind with Caspian.
"Cas?" Lyra asked as they walked.
"Yeah?" he replied softly.
"She's gonna be picked isn't she?" Lyra knew the answer but she needed confirmation.
"Yeah, yeah she is, Red," he answered honestly as he wrapped an arm round his little sisters shoulder. "Hey, we love you okay?"
"Love you too," she smiles weakly back.
Once they arrive at the square where the Reaping will take place, Amber and Caspian leave to get their finger pricks done before moving to stand in their age section.
Lyra watched carefully, knowing she'd have to do the same thing next year. The thought made her sick to her stomach but she pushed the feeling down for the sake of looking out for her siblings.
Lyra, Jared and Cole stayed back where the under twelves and over eighteens stood.
The sound of heels echoed through Lyra's head clear as day despite the owner standing far from the girl.
