In a world that kills children for fun, Cicely is forced to participate in the 72nd Hunger Games, where she learns that while life ends with death, love does not.
[OC x ? ]
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It was nearly midnight when all members of the Bel-Phoebe household were finally fast asleep.
With the Wedding and Reaping coming up so soon, it seemed like all of them were trying to desperately hold onto the moments of all of them together, denying the possibility of it being temporary. Even Cecily's recently widowed uncle and his son came over to spend some family-time and ... not feel so lonely, she guessed.
Maybe that's why they ignored the fact that Cecily could very well be picked as the districts female tribute on the upcoming day or that Ginger would soon move out, live a better life and likely forget the whole family and their mundane troubles. It seemed like, subconsciously, all of them had decided to act like they didn't live in this messed up world.
They were all foolish for lying to themselves, Cecily thought, herself included. But she also knew that living life while being actively aware of all of these factors could not be bearable ... in any way.
Nevertheless, she proceeded to sneak out of the the house to meet up with her three friends, like every year on the night before the Reaping. Not to say goodbye, not to cling and cry or plan an escape route (even tho there had been times when they had done all those things) , but to just ... be together. To not be alone. To hope. It has become a tradition that was simply necessary for every single one of them.
But, living in District 11 also meant that you could not leave the house after 10 pm, under no circumstances whatsoever.
Thankfully one of Cecily's (not so many) abilities was her quite demeanor, allowing her to sneak out of the bed that she was sharing with her sisters and down the hall without being noticed. Like every year.
Well, at least until she reached the door.
" Where do you think you're going?", a deep voice harshly whispered.
Cece turned around and was met with her cousins face two inches from hers.
"Bah, Harlin! Your breath could kill a nightingale from 6 feet apart!", she complained, proceeding to walk out of the door, her cousin Harlin close behind her.
Even without turning around she could feel his dark eyes narrowing.
"I'm serious Cecily, it's the night before the Reaping and the Peacekeepers know that teenagers tend to meet up and throw parties. I thought you were smarter than this."
Her pace quickened.
"Do I seriously need to remind you of what happened the day before my last reaping?"
