hope in our eyes || 37th hunger games ✔️

Lily Summers

Lily

I remember we used to play together, inside the beautiful ocean, as we lived our moments of childhood before going to the Games. We always did, but the further we went inside, the quicker we discovered the darkness within. I was barely nine years old when my twin brother was drowned and killed by a shark. I still remember that day; it was too painful to forget. It was the same day my parents decided to shut down my whole existence and treat me as a slave, rather than their daughter. Every day for me was a nightmare, as I struggled to finish my chores and tried to be invisible at school. It was hard having to face the ocean every day since my brother's death, but it was even harder to face my parents and their brutal abuse. I used to take tesserae to provide for my older sister and my younger brother, they deserve to live more than I do. My sister has a whole life of motherhood ahead, and someday, my brother will have a family and they'll forget all about me, and the world won't even acknowledge my existence.

"Hey Lil, you ready?" My sister Lavina says as she sits next to me on my bed. I'm not ready, I'll never be. Today's reaping day. Two children from District 4 will be sacrificed for the Capitol's entertainment.

"Happy Hunger Games," I answer back, imitating the Capitol's shrilly accent. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" I finish while smiling weakly. I try to look strong while my sister is around, but truly, I'm terrified.

I have nightmares whenever I fall asleep, and in every one of them I end up dying and pleading for my life. I try not to let Peter worry, he's barely 4 years old and I hope he doesn't know about the Games until his first reaping.

I walk down the stairs in my blue dress, then prepare breakfast and wait for my parents to arrive.

"Girl, where's the stove?" I shudder as I hear my mother yell from the stairs. Suddenly, there's a crash, and Lavina kneels there, trying to gather up the smashed vase on the kitchen floor.

"You useless girl! Pathetic excuse for a daughter!" My mother yells as she walks towards Lavina, a belt in her hand.

"No, mother it was me. I dropped it, not her. Please." I plead with her as I try to ensure my pregnant sister's safety. She can't harm the baby. I brace myself for the blow, but surprisingly it never comes.

"I can't do it today since its reaping day, but you will get it once you come home." She answers harshly as she returns upstairs. I sigh in relief as I start to gather up the smashed pieces of vase with my sister.

Someone knocks loudly on the door a few minutes after my sister leaves to get ready, and I approach quickly to open it.

"What are you wearing?" Ian asks while looking at me with bewilderment. Leave it to my best friend to behave like a jerk when he realizes I'm actually a girl.

"It is a dress." I answer, annoyed. I know I don't wear them much, but he doesn't have to be that surprised.

"Looks nice. How's your sister?" He asks.

Priorities first, I see. He's had a huge crush on my sister ever since we were really young, but I was never jealous. I couldn't care any less.

"Upstairs. She's getting ready for her moment of glory and fortune to come." I answer as I imitate District 4's Capitol escort.

"Good luck, Lil. Hope you make it." He says back, then leaves shortly to catch up with his family.

I wait patiently as my sister gets ready for the reaping and we walk together to the square. There are a bunch of peacekeepers guarding the entrance as they verify our names and authorize us inside. I stand in the section of 14 year old girls and glance towards the boy's section and Ian gave me thumbs ups. I wave back while my hands start shaking. I'm so nervous, I forget to pay attention to the mayor's speech and am broken out of my thoughts by the Capitol escort's voice.

"Welcome, welcome, as we celebrate the Thirty-seventh Hunger Games!" Sydney's voice is heard across the square. There is a faint applause as the people look around, disgusted.

"And now, it's the moment we've all been waiting for, as we greet our past victors, all of them examples of the outcome of the Games!" She screams. I cover my eyes and try to block out her voice.

"Colin Rosen, Ella Marshall, and Mags Henderson!" She screeches. There is a bigger applause and the square explodes with cheers when Mags, the victor of the 11th Hunger Games, is announced.

"As usual, ladies first!" Sydney bellows. She searches through the bowl containing the girl's names. I close my eyes and place my hands in my pockets as I try not to freak out.

"The female tribute from District 4 is..."

The square is silent now, everyone is already curious to know who will be sacrificed and who will pay for the outcome of the rebellion.

"Lavina Summers!"

My eyes fling open and I stand there, too shocked to move, too shocked to even speak, as my sister is led to the stage by peacekeepers. I have to go. It has to be me. She needs to live. For her child. She's only 18. I have to save her. I'm the only one who'd want to take her place.

"I volunteer!" The words stumble out of my mouth before I can even stop them. Ian stares at me as I mouth, "Take care of them, please." He promises me he will and somehow I know he'll keep that promise.

"Wonderful! A volunteer, that's the spirit!" Sydney squeaks. I take a deep breath while ignoring my sister's screams and pleads to let her go. I climb up the stairs and position myself next to Sydney.

"Hello, dear, what's your name?" She asks excitedly.

"Lily Summers." I answer back as I meet my sister's eyes and nod in reassurance.

"What made you volunteer?" She asks while placing the microphone below my mouth.

"Why, for the fame and glory, of course!" I answer as I remember what I told Ian this morning. There is a huge cheer from the rich section of District 4, and I roll my eyes in disappointment.

"Wonderful! And now, its time for the gentlemen." Sydney replies as she fixes her green wig and takes out a slip from the other reaping bowl.

"The male tribute from District 4 is..."

Samual Eden.

No. He's Ian friend. I don't know him well, but he's been kind to us, specially after my brother died. He used to bring us food every day, and we managed to live fine for a year with that. Him and Ian are the only boys that know I exist until now. Brunett. Blue eyes. Medium height. He makes his way to the stage and nods politely to me. I nod back as my eyes turn sad. The mayor reads the Treaty of Treason, and we shake hands.

"Be strong, Lil. Don't let them change you." He whispers as he shakes my hand. These are the last words I hear before I'm dragged into the Justice Building by two peacekeepers.