Thirteen-year-old Octavia Meyer, a warrior from District 2, is unexpectedly reaped for the Hunger Games. During the Games, she meets Kai Sanders, a sixteen-year-old from District 4, and gradually falls for him despite the deadly stakes. However, for...
The rhythmic clang of hammers echoes from the district forge, a familiar melody in the symphony of District 2. I weave between burly figures twice my size, dodging sparks and sweat as I make my way home from The Training Academy after a long day of training. My muscles ache pleasantly, a reminder of the progress I'm making with my sword. Although we are one of the richest districts, there are still some homeless people who live on the streets. My family isn't Capitol rich, but we also aren't dirt poor. I have two ten-year-old siblings named Lilith and Vulcan. They are twins, but they also argue a lot. I also have a seventeen-year-old brother named Rowan. Since my dad died when I was very young, my mom raises the four of us on her own while juggling two jobs. As I take in the buzz of activity while walking back to my home, I notice something different. Usually, the clanging of hammers is music to my ears. Today, though, the clang of the hammers feels hollow. And I know why. Tomorrow is reaping day.
I wake to my younger siblings arguing.
"Mom!" Lilith yells. "Vulcan stole my shoe!"
"It's mine!" Vulcan argues.
I drag my exhausted, sore body out of bed and sneak my way down the stairs, grabbing Lilith's shoe from Vulcan's hand.
"Hey!" he yells. "That's mine!"
"No, it's not," I tell him calmly, placing Lilith's shoe back in her hand.
"Yes, it is!" Vulcan replies angrily, trying to pin me to the ground.
I'm taller and stronger than him, so I successfully pin his body to the nearest wall. Rowan comes down the stairs, yawning. His hair is untidy and sticking out in odd places, and like all of us, he's still wearing his sleepclothes. My older brother takes in the scene. Me, pinning our younger brother against a wall, Lilith putting on her shoe.
"What happened here?" he asks through another yawn.
"He stole my shoe and Octavia got it back for me," Lilith informs him casually.
"Oh."
Our mother bustles into the room.
"Breakfast is ready," she tells us.
"I've still got to change," I call while running back upstairs. Rowan says something similar and follows me.
Pulling open the doors of my fairly large closet, I rummage through it before finding the perfect dress. I don't wear dresses much, just for special occasions. But since my mother insists that I wear one for the Reaping, I do. Partly because I think it makes me look less fierce, which would be an advantage in the games, and partly because I don't want to argue with my mom. She's already busy enough with caring for Lilith and Vulcan, and working.
The dress I pull from my closet is simple and falls just below my knees. The short, slightly ruffly, sleeves give it more of a girlish look, making me look more innocent and not like a trained killer. I run my hairbrush through my wavy hair and curl the front strands a bit. Although I'm not much of a dress person, I'm definitely not a makeup person. So, I just put a hint of lip gloss on and call it a day. Grabbing a matching pair of flats, I join the rest of my family for breakfast.
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"Well, well, well," Rowan comments, wiggling his eyebrows, "you look nice. Now tell me, which boy are you trying to impress? Is it Apollo? Or Gaius? Or-"
My mother cuts him off, "Your sister isn't trying to impress a boy, right Octavia?"
I nod rapidly.
"Wait, so it's a girl?" Rowan asks.
Vulcan giggles and a blush begins to creep onto my cheeks. I look down, stuffing a forkful of scrambled eggs into my mouth. I don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Heck, I don't even have a crush! Most of the boys my age in District 2 are bloodthirsty and want to learn to kill people. And I'd rather not be one of their victims. They also think that romance is overrated.
We eat in silence.
After breakfast, I help my mother clear the dishes before taking Lilith to her room so she can get ready for The Reaping. I help Lilith get into a dress similar to mine, except it's puffier and has sequins. Then, I braid her hair up into a crown, leaving the front strands down to frame her face. It doesn't take long, and my younger sister is ready by 9. Vulcan and Rowan are waiting for us in the living room. Rowan looks handsome in a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and matching dress pants. My younger brother, however, has already gotten his dress shirt rumpled from running around. My mother rushes in, a worried expression on her face.
"We're going to be late!" she cries, hurrying out the door and dragging Vulcan along with her.
The reaping is at 10, and walking from our house to The Square takes five minutes. Lilith, Rowan, and I look at each other in confusion before following her. Many families are early and they chat in The Square. Rowan and I sign in before going off to our respective sections. The thirteen-year-old area is toward the front of The Square.
"Tavia!" my best friend Artemis calls.
I look up to see her wearing a short pink dress, stilettos, and a bit of makeup. She's also hanging off the arm of an extremely hot guy who looks about seventeen. I always joke that she acts more like a District 1 girl than one from District 2. Why? Because she has already had multiple boyfriends this year, wears makeup a lot-which not many District 2 girls do, and she's only thirteen.
"Hey, Missy, how are you?" I inquire, walking up to her.
"So, Tavia, this," she begins, gesturing to the guy beside her, "is my boyfriend, Julian. Julian, my best friend, Octavia."
I offer my hand in greeting, and Julian takes it, shaking it firmly. By looking at the two of them, I just know Julian and Missy won't be together for long. Julian looks like the type of person to become a victor. Missy, on the other hand, is the girliest girly girl I have ever met. Before I can finish my thoughts, Missy grabs my shoulder and pulls me to a corner as she starts gushing about every topic she can possibly think of. I nod along, trying to pay attention to what my best friend is saying as thoughts of getting reaped run through my head.
"Are you even listening?" Missy interrupts my thoughts, waving her hand in front of my face.
"No, sorry," I tell her apologetically, "I've been thinking of The Reaping. Could you tell me sometime else?"
"Of course, Tavia!"
"Thanks. This is why you're my best friend," I respond, throwing my arms around her.
"You're not going to get reaped," she says to me reassuringly.
"Yes," I repeat, "I'm not going to get reaped."
Missy and I spend the next twenty minutes talking about anything and everything we can think of.
As the remaining potential tributes file into the square, Missy and I make our way to the 13 year old section. District 2's escort, Arachne Jesper, steps onto the stage at 10 o'clock sharp in a puffy neon blue dress and matching heels.
"Welcome, welcome!" she sings into the microphone excitedly. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
After the 'very special film from the Capitol,' Arachne announces, "Now, it's time to select one young man and woman for the honor of representing District 2 in the 76th Hunger Games. Ladies first!"
She scurries over to the reaping bowl with the names of the females and chooses a slip of paper from the middle of the bowl. Unfolding the slip, she reads the name.
"Octavia Meyer!"
As I slowly make my way to the platform, I can only think of three words. I jinxed myself.
Thanks for reading the first chapter of my new story! Please give me feedback, comment, and vote! As for the pictures, the one at the very top is Octavia, our main* character. The second one is her dress. Thanks again!
*Octavia is one of the two main characters. You will find out who the other character is in Chapter 2.
