The 150th Hunger Games

Sky Harbour's POV

District 4

As quietly as I can, I tiptoe down my wooden flight of stairs trying not to awake my sleeping family. The floor feels cold against my bare feet as I make my way towards the door in nothing but a thin t-shirt and some shorts.

My dark blonde hair tickles the back of my neck as it sways in time with my movements. Length wise, my hair isn't short but it isn't down to my bum either. Just somewhere in the middle of my back.

Adrenaline pulses through me as I reach the door and twist it open. I've done this before, many times, but never on the day of the reaping! Mom would kill me if she found out what I was doing, but luckily for her, she wont.. Unless I'm caught. However sneaking out to go to the beach is like second nature for me now, and not once have I been caught.

I suppose that I can thank the peacekeepers for that though, our security isn't exactly the best here in district four. As soon as I leave my warm household, I'm greeted by the orange sunset illuminating my house and many others.

However I'm not distracted for long, soon I'm breaking into a run towards the beach and smiling as I hear the calming sound of the waves lapping against the shore. I've grown up with the taste of salt on my lips, and the waves tickling my ankles, and the sudden iciness the water brings when you first dive in early in the morning so for me, this is like home.

I run past the waves, sometimes the water catching my ankles but I carry on until I reach the pier. The pier isn't huge, it's actually fairly small, but perfect for diving off.

I pay no attention to the pain in my feet brought by the wooden splintered pier but carry on running towards the end before taking a last breath and plummeting into the icy depths. I soon re-surface to the sound of clapping.

'That was a good dive Sky, but really? The day of the reaping?'

I glare at my best friend Jay who is stood on the dry sand holding a towel. Stubbornly, I march out of the water towards him and snatch it out of his hands and begin drying my hair.

'So tell me, if you find it so stupid of me to come here today. Then why are you here?' I demand raising an eyebrow.

'Well you see, my best friend is incredibly stupid and because I know her so well, I knew she's come here. So I brought her a towel.. Which she hasn't thanked me for'

I whacked him hard across the shoulder causing him to chuckle and put his hands up in surrender.

'Sorry, sorry! But you don't have any more time for swimming because you need to get ready. The reaping starts at-'

'Nine, I know. I've been to them since I was twelve and I'm now seventeen. I think I've got used to the times now' I mutter staring out at the water still holding the towel. I feel Jay staring at me but I shrug it off and just hand him back the towel.

'Thanks' he replies and in silence, we both walk alongside each other back to our houses which are only two doors down from the other's.

'Sorry if I upset you Sky, by talking about the reaping.. And making you remember your sister' he mutters. Instantly I wince as he mentions her. But I have to face the facts, she's gone. Her name was Marina Annabeth Harbour, and she was my sister. She had everything, a loving boyfriend, great looks, loved by everyone and known for her kindness. It was my first reaping, and she had promised me that I wouldn't be going into the arena, and I trusted her. But then my name was called, and she volunteered to save my life.

She made it down to the last five on her own but then, she was killed by mutts. At twelve years old I had to watch my sister die from thousands of giant snakes squeezing the life out her and hear her last words of 'I will now truly see the Sky'. They have always stuck with me, and the image of her lying motionless has unfortunately stuck in my head too. Even now I will occasionally wake drenched in sweat hearing the boom of the cannon over and OVER. Even the little things, like someone mentioning what the arena could hold this year brings back memories I desperately want to forget.

'Its fine, I'm just nervous you know. This is River's first reaping' I mutter trying to change the subject.

Guessing that I was drawing a close to that conversation, Jay nodded and replied 'Yeah, same for Fin'.

Fin is Jay's younger brother and funnily enough, him and River are very close. Almost like Jay and I.

Without another word added to the conversation we walked in complete silence listening to the distance sound of the waves and the birds chirping on such a dismal day. Once I reached my house we stopped.

'See you at the reaping Sky Harbour' Jay smirked.

'Indeed Jay Sailboat' I smiled as he turned to walk away.

*before the reapings*

I envelope River's moist hand with my own and give her a reassuring squeeze. As much as I need to reassure River, I desperately need someone to be reassuring me right now. We approach the queues of people waiting to have their blood tested and scanned in silence.

I'm not worried about this at all, because for me the pain is numb due to the fact that my brain is swarmed with pictures of my dying sister from almost six years ago, distracting me from reality.

'Sky' River whispers in terror clutching my hand and fighting back the tears as she stands rooted to the spot.

'Hey there, you don't need to worry. It only hurts a little, then it's gone. Simple as that. Ok?' I whisper into her ear and stroke her golden blonde hair reassuringly. I feel her give a slight nod so I pull away. 'I'll see you afterwards ok' I smile and gently kiss her forehead, giving her some directions on where to stand and then I'm alone once more.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, desperately trying to forget all the endless possibilities as I stand in the line waiting for my finger to be pricked. 'Next' calls a feminine robotic voice, gesturing for me to give her my hand.

I barely feel the stinging sensation before I'm heading over to my seventeen year old section to wait with some people that I have seen around school a few times. I never really had friends before Jay, I had a group of people that I hung out with but we weren't friends. We were just.. Friendly with each other I guess.

I'm distracted by a strong Capitol accent booming through the speakers hidden on either side of the stage.

'Hello district four!' A woman in her early twenties beams clapping her hands together. She is wearing the odd Capitol fashion, with baby blue laced gloves and a matching blue dress which points out from the hips in a tutu design. She is wearing sickly yellow tights with black high heels curling in some form of waves. Wierdo.

'Im sure you all know exactly what I'm about to say next, so.. Roll the video!' She chirps putting a hand on her hip and another trying to adjust her wig which is slightly tilting.

The only time I watched the video was when it was my first reapings, and at that point I didn't know where to stand, where to look, so I just watched it in hope that I was doing the right thing.

'Ok, well who enjoyed that!' Our escort, who I think is called Martina, chuckles, a few shouts of agreement but not many follow.

'Ok, well as you all expect me to tell you that the ladies will be first, we'll start with the gentlemen!'

Does she think that this makes us happy?! This is stressing me out even more!! I wanted to get this over with after all!!

'Caspian Portshore'

A boy of age fifteen makes his was towards the stage in a hurry. I'm not sure what he's feeling right now, but it looks like he wanted to volunteer when he was older.

Soon Martina is making her way over to our, the girls, bowl. As she calls the name I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding in but then I'm struck with fear because the name isn't mine but.

It's River's.

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I will try and update regularly :)