ʟᴏꜱᴛ || ғɪɴɴɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴅᴀɪʀ

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝔂 𝓞𝓯 𝓕𝓸𝓾𝓻

───── ⋆⋅ Lilac ⋅⋆ ─────

District Four. In my opinion, the best district. I had never traveled to any others, but based on what I had learned in school, Four takes the crown. With glistening blue seas, the sparkling sandy beaches. It can't get any better than this.

Even though it was the morning of the reaping, while I was supposed to be getting ready, I was taking a walk on the beach. Collecting all sorts of shells. I guess you could say they were sort of "my thing". 

I pick up a white shell with specks of amber on it. It was definitely a fighting conch, feeling the bumpy texture as I run my finger over it. I grin looking at it, it was one of my favorites. I was about to put it in my bag when I heard a voice behind me.

"Inspecting shells again?" The voices says teasingly.

I'm startled, but then I recognize the voice. "Of course I am, Austin." I respond, turning around with a warm smile.

Austin Cresta was sixteen like me, we had been best friends since we were twelve. I first noticed him at the reaping of the 64th Hunger Games. The escort had picked the male name and it read "Austin Cresta". I felt bad for him, knowing he probably wouldn't make it out alive. That was until his older brother Aiden volunteered for him. I can remember him clinging onto his brother like a lifeline, screaming for him to not go, and let him die instead. Aiden refused and still went into the games. Austin has always been solemn at random times since his brothers death, but he's still good company.

Austin walks toward me, now in front of me. "Pretty shell, what kind is that?"

"It's a fighting conch," I reply, my eyes still on the shell, rubbing my finger over the smooth bumps. "It's probably my favorite."

He grins, and notices my gaze is on the shell and not him. "Is that conch more important than me?" He says with a chuckle.

I look up at him, rolling my eyes. "Maybe it is." I say playfully.

He puts a hand to his heart in mock offense. "That offends me, Lil." He says sarcastically, using his special nickname for me. I see his gaze wander over to the empty beach. "Where is everyone?"

I follow his gaze to the silent beach, so quiet you can hear every sound there is to be heard. "They're probably getting ready for the reaping." I mumble.

His expression drops a little, his grin fading. "Oh right the reaping.." I can tell he's having a flashback of the 64th Hunger Games reaping. "I- uh, must have forgotten."

I quickly change my demeanor to more of a reassuring one. "It's fine, Austin." I say, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll all be fine. You, me, Annie, nothing's happening."

He smiles at this, gazing into my eyes. "Thank you, Lil."

I stare back at them, smiling warmly. "It's my pleasure."

Annie Cresta was Austin's little sister, her being twelve years old. They both lived in an average sized home with their mom, Elena Cresta. Their dad unfortunately passed away from a disease that had spread in Four not too long ago that had also taken the life of my own father. The rest of us were lucky to survive it.

I pull my hand back, grabbing back onto the strap of my bag, the shell still in my other hand. "We should be going now," I murmur. "The reaping's in two hours."

He looks down at his feet quickly before looking back up. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea." He says, likely dreading two hours from now. "Annie and dad will be wondering where I went. I'll see you there."

"You too." I reply, as we both say goodbye before leaving. 

I know how Austin felt about the reaping. He was scared. Scared he could get reaped again, scared a loved one might get reaped. But only time will tell.

I for one, doubt I'll get reaped. I mean, there's over 10,000 kids in Four. How would I get picked?

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

Word count: 695

This chapter was short, but I'm gonna try to make them longer from this point on!