To die, or not to die. That is the question - Hungergames Fanfiction

Chapter two

I ran back to the forest. I didn't really care about finishing my shift. I just wanted to get the anger out.

I swung

I

and again

hate

and again

the Capitol!

I hated what they were putting my brother through. I hated what they were putting my sister through. I hated what they were putting my family through. I hated them. I hated Panem and I hated the world. I hated the fact that there was nothing I could do if my brother was reaped. I could only stand by and watch. The remaining three hours I swung away, hoping to get my anger out. 

"Shift is over! Next shift for team F3 is at six P.M. today-"

I threw my axe down and stormed to the payment administration office.

"Name."

"Peony Ella Daren"

"Team."

"F3."

"Finger."

As soon as my finger left the paper, I stormed out, not noticing everyone jumping out of my way. I ran al the way home and slammed the door closed. We had a mirror in the house and I stared at my reflection. I gripped my hair in anger and desperation.
"Why, why, why?"
My ten year old self stared back at me with big eyes like a crazy person and with hands trying to rip out her hair.

"'Ny?"

I turned around, wiping away my frustrated face.

"Hi Mari!"

I got out of bed a lot later than usual. It was reaping day. Mom put me in a bath and put some nice clothes on my bed. Bay and Marigold were already up and dressed. As mom fastened the buttons on my back, I clenched my teeth.

We gathered in the town square, waiting for the reaping to be over. It was the first time I'd been waiting to be reaped. I thought I'd have at least two more years before I'd have to feel my stomach twisting and turning, hoping it wouldn't be me. I thought I'd have at least five years, having to be nervous for two. But that day was today, and I'd have to deal with it. My name was in there six times, for tesserae. Bay's was in there once. 

I turned to him and rested my hands on his shoulders. 

"Whatever happens today, I love you."

Then I pulled him into a hug.

"I love you too, Peony."

I held on to him for as long as I could, until we had to split up. Boys on one side, girls on the other. Glaring at the bowl I thought; 'Don't you ever let Marigold be picked, okay?' and to the other bowl I thought; 'Keep Bay safe.'

Destiny took the stage. She was wearing orange heels that were so bright they looked like the sun. Her dress was a mixture of yellow and orange glitter, making her look crazy. Her hair was a birds nest on her head with a ton of spray in it and her face, well, the makeup was way overdone. 

"First we will watch this beautiful movie about the origins of the Hunger Games!"

I'd never seen the movie before, but I wasn't interested. I looked around for Bay and by the end of the movie, I'd found him. His eyes were on the screen, watching intently. Sighing, I turned back to the screen for the last twenty seconds.

Destiny came on stage again, clapping and shedding a fake tear.

"Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!"

I just rolled my eyes at the woman. 

"Well, ladies first!"

She walked over to the bowl making my stomach knot itself again. Destiny put her hand in the bowl while I closed my eyes. Everyone seemed to hold their breath. With my fists balled up by my side, I anxiously waited.

"Peony Daren!"

My fists unclenched and my eyes shot open. No. I must have misheard. How could my name be picked out of the hundreds in the bowl? But no one walked up. I looked over at Bay who had a tear rolling down his cheek. I hadn't misheard. I forced my legs to move, one step at a time up to the stage.

"And now, for the boys."

The words barely registered in my mind. I looked at Bay, then thought of Marigold. I hoped for her sake she wouldn't remember much of me to save her the heartache. My parents flooded my mind.

Someone coughed. I looked up and saw Destiny and the other tribute staring at me.

"Oh, sorry. I-" was all I managed to get out of my throat.

No one laughed except for Destiny.

"Oh, child! You better pay more attention in the arena! Wouldn't want you killed right away, do we?"

She hadn't even trained me yet, and I already hated her.

"Tributes, shake hands."

We did. I looked the other tribute in the eye and saw him being on the verge of tears.

"This years tributes!"

Everyone started to applaud, as they must. I wished they hadn't, though.

Destiny turned us to the doors behind us and gave us a little push. I looked over my shoulder and saw her waving at the crowd and blowing kisses. Pathetic.

I was put in a room with a couch and two chairs. I picked up a pillow and held it to my stomach.

My parents burst in, my dad holding Marigold in his arms and my mom holding Bay's hand.

"Peony!" my mother was crushing me in a hug immediately.

"I'm so sorry, mom!"

I felt another pair of arms around me, Bay.

We all sat in a heap on the floor, with me in the middle.

"Bay?"

I felt a faint nod some where in my back.

"Don't take on tesserae. Ever."

"I won't."

"And try to become a little better with the axe. You'll make more that way and you'll have an advantage over the other tributes should you ever get chosen."

We stayed in our puddle of human people and sadness until the peacekeepers came. They started picking my dad of my shoulders. Marigold started crying.

"No! No, I'm not ready!"

I flew my dad in his arms and nearly crushed him.

"It's time to go."

I gave Bay and my mom another bone crushing hug and picked up Marigold, starting to panic.

"Now."

"No, no. Just a little more time."

They started taking Marigold out of my arms.

Go to sleep my little sister

I tried to hold on to her, crying.

Go to sleep my little sister

"Please!"

Marigold was wrestled out of my arms.

Your brother's gone away and your sister's here to stay

The door was shut in my face. I leaned my head against it. Tears rolled over my face as I realized I was alone. I wiped at my face.

Didn't leave nobody but my sister