The 70th Hunger Games

Chapter Six

The next morning I wake early to find that Finnick has snuck out already. I pull on a pretty green top that matches my eyes and black pants before heading out to breakfast. In the living room I spot a figure sitting curled up in a ball on the window ledge. I walk over and realise to my surprise it's not Finnick but Chris, watching the sun rise. I sit down opposite.

There are no bird singing like at home. Just the sound of buzzing streets, despite the early hour. Without even turning his head he says, "Strange isn't it. Not to hear the birds and the other wildlife that comes with it. Not to smell the salty sea air or the stench of fish on every item of clothing you have. I miss that," he sighs.

"Well I can't say the quiet allows me to sleep in more, but I guess after living my whole life there I've become accustomed to it, and sleeping without it has become impossible, even when there's no chance of sleep with it either," I smile.

"Can't sleep?" he asks.

"No. Doubt we're not the only ones. They all have homes too," I say guiltily. They all have homes that they want to return to. And I want to win. In order for me to do so they have to die. Even the twelve-year-old who, up until now, I haven't allowed myself to think about. She didn't have a Grandfather who died for her, who basically throw himself in front of the bullet for her. Not a sister who could volunteer. I even have the advantage of my mentors being families and my District mate being my best friend. It may not seem like luck but it is. Because they'll all be doing their best to save me because they love me. And I can hold on to that. She can't.

"It's true, but theirs aren't half so relaxed," he sighs.

"Relaxed?" I laugh. Relaxed is not a word I'd use to describe my district. Beautiful yes, relatively closely knitted yes, but relaxed no. If you think District 4 is relaxed then your clearly forgetting the all the peacekeepers, and the hunger and the pain theses past uprisings have bought.

"Yes. Annie you may not believe it but we have one of the most relaxed Districts of all. Okay so we have to fish, to earn a living and keep them alive, but they give us weekends where we can sail to our hearts content. Trust me, life in four is a million times easier."

"How would you know?"

"Because I've talked to them," he says, looking at me for the first time. "I know I shouldn't have. Tributes should leave other tributes alone, unless they're going to team up with the Careers, but I couldn't help it. Curiosity got the better of me. Do you know how hard they have it? Honestly the stories I've heard. Whippings in eleven, shooting in three, accidents mineing in twelve. It's awful. They starve, they die, they fall ill, they're punished. They turn to crime to survive. And their children rarely return. That's if they're not career districts like 1, 2 and 4. Seriously Annie, if you weren't my district partner I might actually consider protecting one of them instead, just because I feel sorry for them."

"Why did you find out?" I ask, stunned by his speech.

"Because I wanted to know the world I was going to be leaving. More than just the sunny skies of home but the truth and reality of life for others. Promise me that when you win you'll feel empathy towards them."

"Don't give up on yourself. You may think that I'm going to win, but if I die I want you to win. For Dekklan, for your dad, for Finnick, and for me. You have to win. Promise me that," I say huffily. He shouldn't be excepting defeat already.

"I promise to do what I know you would have though right. Got it?"

I roll my eyes but I'm satisfied. Then I grab some snacks from the table and begin munching. "Beginning your morning binge already are you?" Chris smirks.