Ambivalent [JackalxReaders]

Honour [Hunger!Games!AU]

Your eyes flutter open slowly, the last remnants of sleep washing away like the tides in District 4. It takes you a few moments to focus on your surroundings, the harsh glare of the morning sun seeping through the wooden blinds on the window and hindering your vision. The pale blue walls of your room are bare, just like the surfaces of the cupboards and tables that own. Everything's neat and tidy, something that many take for granted. The quiet tick of the hands on the clock that hangs on the far wall create a dreadful rhythm, each second bringing you closer to the moment you'll have to make your decision.

Pushing the stiff covers aside, you gingerly step onto the wooden floorboards, trying to be as quiet as possible as to not disturb your family. The cupboard door opens with a small creak, causing small particles of dust to float into the golden beams of light that litter the room. Your eyes stare blankly at the soft yellow and white fabric that hangs from a worn metal hook. Your hand hand reaches out to caress it, a sad smile crossing your face at the familiar touch. Grasping the material, you slide it off the hook and place it on your bed. Removing your nightclothes, you pick up the dress and shimmer it down over your head before adjusting it so it sits correctly.

The small daisies that adorn the garment remind you of happier times.

You brush your hair, letting it fall around you face in waves.

Satisfied with your appearance, you traverse the dark floorboard towards the door before grasping the brass handle and opening it, leading you to where your family is gathered around the dining table.

"Good morning," you speak quietly, taking a seat at the large table. The mood is dark and melancholic, perfectly normal considering the events will take place today. Your father's stare is blank as he ingests his breakfast, as though he's looking, but not seeing. His hair is parted to the side and combed back, his clothes ironed and a tie positioned around his his thick neck. Although he'd usually be going to work in The Nut at this time, which is a series of mining networks located in the large mountain in the centre of District Two, this day requires him to stay and watch as his remaining children could be basically sentenced to death.

Your two younger siblings, the twins, sit opposite you, greedily gobbling down their own meals. Their clothes, too, are ironed and their hair's been styled. This will be there first year, and although theres a one in a thousand chance their name will be the one called out, that they will have to be sacrificed to the Capitol's brutal death matches, you still worry for them, and you know they do too. Last night wasn't the first you've heard them crying through the thin walls, though it could be the last. The day of the Reaping's always been a depressing day; even if it wasn't someone you knew who was called, which wasn't likely, it was an unchangeable fact that some unfortunate family would be going home with one less member.

It just so happened that last year, it was yours.

Your older brother was only a week off eighteen, the age that finally meant you were safe from the games, when his name was called in the Reaping. It isn't uncommon for people to volunteer in your district, in fact it's even encouraged, no matter how old or skilled you are. It was just bad luck that on that day, there were none. In school they tell you a bunch of crap about how it brings your family honour if you die in the games, they train you to become stronger.

To become killers.

Honour is irrelevant when you're a corpse in a box, being shipped home to your grieving family. This'll be your last Reaping, and you're determined not to end up as just another casualty.

The walk to the town square isn't quiet by any means; mothers cling onto their children as they make their way towards the location of the Reaping, tears streaming down their faces, and gross sobs emitting from their throats. You turn your head slightly and see that your sister too has a few tears trailing down her rosy cheeks. You stop walking and crouch down, wiping the moisture off with the pads of your thumbs. The moisture feels strange while being soaked up by your skin, foreign, even.

"Hey, hey. It'll be okay. It's your first time, you won't get chosen," you speak. Your tone is warm, radiating with the desire to help her, ease the burden. She nods, sniffing a few times before grabbing your hand and pulling you back up. Taking your brother's hand in your other, you continue your journey.

After lining up and getting your fingers pricked, you watch as your siblings are chaperoned to their correct sections before heading towards your own. You see a few people from the school and you observe their expressions, not survived at what you find. Most of them are eager, excited even, for the Reaping to begin. You sneer, perhaps if they knew the pain the Games could cause, it'd be a different story.

You're standing for another half an hour before your District's escort appears on the stage. They blab on about the honour to be found in the games before they play a short clip explaining the Uprising and the origins of the Games. The moment of truth arrises, and you take three deep breaths to calm yourself down.

"Ladies first," his unusually high-pitched voice announces, no doubt a side effect of some ridiculous surgery performed in the Capitol. His long, thin fingers that are adorned with a ridiculous amount of jewellery dip into the large glass bowl and swirl around dramatically for a few seconds before grasping onto a singular piece of paper. Drawing it out, he unfolds it slowly and looks at it for a few seconds before bringing the microphone to his lips.

"The female tribute that will represent District Two is. . ." he pauses, trying to create an element of suspense. Your eyes focus on the piece of paper and you brace yourself for what is about to happen.

"Ro-"

"I volunteer."

You made your brother a promise before he was forced into the games; a promise that no matter what, you wouldn't let yourself become another sacrifice, another casualty for the amusement of the Capitol.

And that's why you're going to win.

Notes:

*The start of a small series written by Savage. Make sure to give feedback so I know what you think!

*Get ready for feels with the next update.

*Feel free to leave us suggestions or requests; keep in mind this doesn't guarantee we'll do them :)