Through the Eyes. (The Hunger Games fanfiction)

Chapter 1

The knife whisks from my hand as I throw it at the target, of course, making its mark in the targets bull's eye. My best friend, Tayla, claps widely beside me.

"Ok, now let me have a turn." Tayla insists.

I hand her the knives and she throws them, each missing the target.

"Crap. I wish I had your skills Ariston." She laughs. I smile.

"Ariston!" Someone yells behind me. I turn and see the head trainer coming my way.

"Yes sir?" I ask.

"Can I speak to you in private?" He asks me. I nod slowly and follow him into the judging room, which is a small room, with a round table surrounded by cushioned chairs.

"Please, sit." He instructs. I nod and take a seat in the first chair I come to.

"Ariston, I've noticed that you have an unlikely skill, with many of the weapons that you have handled. You have mastered almost all of them."

"Where are you going with this?"

"I need you to volunteer tomorrow at the reaping ceremony. All of our older kids, who are less skilled, aren't willing and kind hearted as you are. We need someone strong in heart and muscle to represent us."

"Sir, no disrespect or anything but I'm too young to be selected to volunteer. You have to be eighteen but I'm only-"

"Yes yes I know. Your sixteen. But Ariston, you have more talent than any of our eighteen year old girls. Combined!" He says.

I shrug and look out the window, at the other eighteen year olds. How can someone so small be stronger than that many people. I have a small body, but apparently strength.

"What is everyone going to think?" I ask.

"They won't know about it. Tomorrow, when a name is called you will be the one to volunteer. Of course, no real eighteen year old girl will be selected, so no one will interrupt you. People may hate you, but the Capitol will love you."

"And what if I win? And I come back and still all hate me?" I ask, now concerned.

"So be it. You'll have money!" He smiles and chuckles.

"Right..." I say, insecure.

"Thank you for understanding miss Mallow. You are dismissed." He says.

"Oh! And one more thing," He says, standing. He points out the window, at a group of eighteen year old boys. "The one in the gray there, he's volunteering with you. Get to know him a little bit. It could do you some well." He says swiftly, pushes me out the door, and closes it behind me before I can say anything else.

I sigh and see the boy in the gray look at me and grin. He walks towards me and looks down, being a few inches taller than me.

"So I hear your volunteering in place of Karena?" He says.

"No." I answer quickly. "I'm not replacing anyone."

"Yes you are. Karena was supposed to volunteer for us, but she broke her leg and they had to get someone else." He says. His blonde hair just reaches his eyebrows, and his hazel eyes are shining.

"Well that's great for her." I say with a smile and walk out of the doors, slamming them closed behind me.

I head up behind the building, where it leads to the hillside, and find my special spot. It's just a simple clearing, with grass and a few trees. I lay there every day, thinking. Today, I can't help but think about the weeks to come. If I do volunteer tomorrow, will the people
of the districts honor me, or will they hate me? I think back to what the boy said, about me replacing Karena. The instructor didn't tell me that part. Who should I believe?
*******
The next day, I stand in the middle of the girls my age and wait for our escort, Trachea Ellon, to come on stage. After a few minutes, she slowly makes her way to the stage, her heals stomping loudly against the pavement.