Peaceful Forever [Book 1]

Chapter 1

[Amily's POV]

The smell of salt filled my nose as I sat staring out at the waves on the coast of District 4. Life had been nothing but horrible, but days like this make it easy to forget. Although, it's kind of hard to forget being an orphan; or being bullied so badly you had to drop out of the academy.

You remember being 7 like it was yesterday. You came home from pre-academy (where District 4 sends 6-11 year olds who want to train for the games) to find peacekeepers at your door alongside your best friend's father, Mr. Cresta.

"What's going on Mr. Cresta?" You ask in the politest tone you could. Your mother always taught you to be polite to adults because they were in charge.

"Amily... there was an accident on your parent's boat."

You remember the sinking feeling all too well. Both of your parents, gone in an instant. Mr. Cresta was gracious enough to let you move in with his family so you didn't have to go to the orphanage, but you never quite felt like you fit in. You owed the Cresta's everything and they never wanted anything in return. It was a weird dynamic. You would repay them one day.

"Ams come on!" yelled Devon, Annie's younger brother. It had been 11 years since you moved in with the Cresta's and Devon had grown from an annoying but adorable 4 year old to an annoying and no longer adorable 15 year old. He reminded you a lot of the boys you had known at the academy but at least Devon wasn't cruel. He was just... misguided.

"I'm coming"

Running up the sandy dunes I catch up with Annie and Devon. They're both now taller than me with Devon at 5'6" (and still growing), Annie at 5'8", and me at a measly 5'2". Unfortunately, I did not inherit their tall genes when I was adopted.

"Did you have fun today Ams?" Annie asked as she grabbed the brunette's hand in hers.

"Today was a good day Annie."

"I'm glad!" Annie beams. "Race you back to the house!"

You wondered why Annie was always so happy but that thought was quickly replaced with competitiveness as you sprinted up the hill in front of you towards the Cresta's home. You realize maybe it's because the Cresta's don't have a long family history of mental illness like yours does...

Stepping into the foyer of the large house never felt familiar. The family had moved from their small seaside cottage in the north part of the district to the mayor's house at the district center when Mr. Cresta was elected 8 years ago. Moving was easier in some ways because it meant you didn't have to walk past your childhood home after the pre-academy every day but it also meant the only people you knew were the ones you were living with.

"Shoes off you three!" Exclaimed Mrs. Cresta from the dining room. She had just finished setting the table for dinner. The three of us quickly yanked our shoes off and sat down at the dinner table. Mr. Cresta joined the rest of the family shortly after for the hot meal.

Mr. Cresta, or Paul as called by his wife, was someone who you found quite challenging to read. He has always had this charitable persona and even went as far as taking you in when you were orphaned, but you couldn't help but wonder if there were ulterior motives behind his actions. Adopting you sure had made him the popular mayoral candidate when he commenced his bid for the position a year and a bit after you moved in with his family, yet you couldn't help but have a distrust for him, or anyone in power for that matter.

After finishing your plate, you excused yourself from the table and headed upstairs to get ready for bed. After you slipped into your soft black pjs, Annie entered your shared bedroom in her matching soft pink pjs. There were enough rooms in this house for you and Annie to have your own rooms but you both demanded that you share a room like you did in your old cottage.

"Can you believe tomorrow is our last reaping?" She asked excitedly.

"I guess," you responded. "Do you know if the academy has produced any volunteers this year?"

District 4 was very hit or miss with volunteers. Some years the academy produced bloodthirsty 18 year olds who were eager to volunteer and some years nobody's hand shot up.

"I'm not sure," replied Annie. "Devon didn't mention any to me. He said one of the guys in the year above him might volunteer but he's not sure they're going to let him since he's only 16."

Annie had stopped going to the pre-academy with you when you both were 11. You stopped because of the bullying and she stopped because you stopped and also because she hated the 40 min walk from the mayor's house. Devon, on the other hand, still made the trek to and from the academy every day and kept up his training. It was only a matter of years before he volunteered.

With neither of you wanting to think too much about your "brother's" eagerness for the games, or the reaping tomorrow, you switched off the lights and settled into bed, hoping that tomorrow would pass quickly. 

-

AN: Ok so super short first chapter but we will be seeing Finnick in chapter 2!