the great war • hunger games fanfic

exile - taylor swift & bon iver

Fourteen year old Lacy always hated her birthday, July 5. Her birthday fell a day after the Reaping. The day of the Reaping was always a gloomy day in the Districts. It could have been the prettiest and sunniest day of the year, but it would always feel like a horror movie. It also started what people in District 10 called the Haunted Season. Running from the 4th of July until the end of August, the Haunted Season spanned the course of the Hunger Games.

Lacy always felt as if an outside force was ruining her life. Although she was usually celebrated on her birthday, the celebrations never felt as genuine as they did for her mother's June birthday. And, Lacy herself often felt a horrible guilt for celebrating her life just after 24 innocent lives were sentenced to their deaths. The young girl tried to shake the guilt bubbling up in her stomach as she got up from her bed. She had things to do, and wallowing in pity wasn't one of those. Lacy went on to wake up her younger sister, Bridget. It was Bridget's second year in the Reaping. Her younger siblings were still safe, for now.

"Bri, bri." She whispered as she hunched over her sister's sleeping form. Lacy made sure she didn't also wake Betty up. "Come on, Bri. Wake up."

"What?" Bridget asked groggily as she stirred from her deep sleep.

"Come on, follow me. I have something I want to show you." Lacy said, backing up to let Bridget get up. Lacy rushed to get some shoes on and a light cardigan to throw over her nightgown. She patiently waited by the door for her younger sister to follow her actions.

"Ok, I'm ready." Bridget said, quietly walking to her older sister. Lacy took Bridget's hand in hers and opened her bedroom door as quietly as she could. The sisters peaked outside, and saw the sun rising through the kitchen window. Trying to walk fast and quietly, the older girl made her way to the kitchen, grabbing a small black bag.

Then, the two girls made their way outside to the newly dawned day. Lacy kept shushing her sister as they ran to a meadow behind their house. There was a small patch of woods besides a creek a few miles behind the Marlo house.

The creek eventually led to a small lake where there grandmother would take them. Eventually, as Barb grew older, Marjorie stood up, taking her kids on field trips to the little lake. They'd go during any occasion whether it was hot summer days or cold autumn evening. Marjorie would always go past where her kids' feet could touch. And Cherry would always complain the whole way there, while Bridget complained about the walk back. Bridget loved the lake, always attached to the water. She'd complain the whole way back, up the stairs, and during dinner that day.

Lacy smiled at her sister as she led her to their childhood lake. Lacy plops down on the dirt, taking her shoes off as she dips her feet into the cool lake water. Bridget walks around the forest for a little, before settling down next to Lacy, resting her head on Lacy's stable shoulders.

"I found some berries growing on some bushes, Lacy." Bridget whispered to her sister. Even though they were alone, they didn't want to risk alerting any Peacekeepers.

"Show me!!" Lacy exclaimed, getting up with her sister and ruffling her hair. She wasn't surprised Bridget was able to find something new, she was always an outdoorsy girl. The younger girl beamed at the affection, brightening up.

Lacy grinned at her sister's reaction, and led her to the small bush of white berries. Bridget knelt down, immediately picking a few to show her sister. "I've never seen berries like these. White and small." She said, grinning.

Bridget goes to pop one in her mouth, to see if it's sweet. When, out of nowhere, Lacy snatches it. As the berry is shifted, it's squeezed and a weird thick golden liquid coats the girl's fingers.

"Lacy!" Bridget cries out, confused by her sister's actions

"It's Silkberry. If you ingest it, it can paralyze you and just by touching it, you can get horrible rashes." Lacy warns, causing Bridget to immediately throw the bunch in her hands away. "If you ever get a rash, drink some warm milk or rub cherries over it."