Fair Fight

Chapter 2

I push the door open to my house and wipe my sand covered sandals on the door mat. If I tramped sand into the house, no one would be pleased with me.  A voice calls out to me from the kitchen, "Hurry up lil sis or I'm gonna eat all your lunch!" I can't help but smile, even though my insides are churning, thinking aboit later on.

I enter our sunny kitchen which overlooks the beach and settle in a chair across from my brother, Finnick.  I know Finnick is trying  to make me laugh because he knows I am dreading the reaping. My first year.

He is the only one who can cheer me up. We are the only two who live in our massive house in the Victor's Village. My brother won the Hunger Games 9 years ago, when he was just 14. The same year that everything changed.

flashback

It was a stormy night. The waves crashed against the rocks and the strong winds blew whirlwinds of sand into the air. I saw my parents get on their waterproof gear and head out the door. They were going out in the storm. They never came back.

Finnick has looked after me ever since that fateful night and our neighbours Mags, Finnick's mentor, and Annie Cresta, my brother's girlfriend, pop in every day to check in on us. Even though Finnick is 23, he's known to be a bit forgetful sometimes. One time, he left the stove on and the house nearly went on fire. Mags and Annie always keep us right, because I'm mot very good in the kitchen. It doesn't help whenever you have never grown up with a mother by your side to help you in many ways. Especially when we have to result in eating meals over at someone else's house, because someone hasn't gone out to the shops.  That someone being my supposedly sensible brother. Although I can't be too hard on him. He has after all survived the Hunger Games and has lost his parents too. Dad always took Finn oit with him fishing. He misses it even now, nearly 10 years later.

I take a bit out of my fish pie and let it slide down my throat. Usually Finnick's fish pies are very good,  but it tastes like cardboard, my mouth is that dry. "Look at the time," he says, looking at the clock,  "I'd better go to the Justice Building. Capitol orders." My eyes tear up and my lip quivers.  This could be the last time I am in this house with my brother. He seems to pick up on this and he pulls me into a hug. "Be brave lil sis," he whispers,"I'll see you soon."