Annie's Story

Chapter six

I'm covered in the dark coat of the night. It must be around midnight now, and I'm still outside at the lake. Not crying anymore, there aren't anymore tears left. I'm shivering already for three hours, it's so cold out here... Only in a thin dress. The ground is cold and hard and which makes me lay a bit uncomfortable. No one came to the lake to help me, or support me. Not even my mother, she probably doesn't even know where I am. Maybe I should go home... Maybe Finnick CAN survive the Hunger Games, he's strong and knows how to use weapons. Slowly I push myself up. My legs feel painful after lying on the ground for four hours. Struggling I start to walk, I want to move faster but my feet aren't really helpful. My throat is dry and my stomach screams for food. My wavy brown hair looks like a mess now. 

I finally found my way home... When I try to open the door, I find out it's locked. With my hands I start slamming on the door. In a few second the door opens and I look into my mother's eyes. 'Where have you been?' She asks with a cold voice. 'I... I...' I stutter. 'You ran away because of that boy, isn't it?' I sigh and nod. 'He's... He's the only person who had ever been nice to me! He helped me! Even when I wanted to kill myself!' I shout. My mother grabs my arm and puts her hand over my mouth. Then she pulls me inside and closes the door with a slam. 'Never say that out loud! Never say that you're unhappy! If you do that, people will see you as a weakling. And my daughter Annie Cresta is NOT a weakling. So, at least pretend you're happy and I don't want to hear another word about that fishboy.' 

My heart is breaking. These words felt like a knife stabbed in my heart, by my own mother! How can she be so cruel? All the times she was nice to me, she just did it because she wanted me to be a good family represent. She wants me to win...

'Mom, do you want me to join the Games?' I ask her carefully. Her mouth goes open. 'Yes. And you will win. You will show everyone that Cresta isn't a weak name. Cresta stands for victory, for honer. Not for a poor girl who can't even hold her tears when a boy gets Reaped. He is probably proud right now, that he can be a tribute. You should have volunteered right away, you dumb fish.' 

My mouth goes right open and I release my arm. 'I'm not dumb!' I scream while I run towards my room. A tiny television stands there, which I needed to have to watch the Games. Shaking I grab the remote and put it on. There's only one channel, and it's not a big surprise what's on...

'Yes, what an extremely surprising Reaping today! Especially in the lovely district four, where a fourteen year old boy became a tribute! It's not normal that no one volunteers, so I think this is a really special occasion.' Says Ceasar Flickerman, who always gives comments and does the interviews. I see video's of the Reapings, everyone of all the districts look so strong. Not a single tear passes. Well, that's not true, the only tears that you see, are from a poor, weak girl from district four...

Me.