~A/N~ To summarise, work experience was kind of fun and I want to create my own magazine now
Enjoy the chapter!
Leila xxLuke (14):
"Cheer up, bug," your older brother smiled, but you could see the pain in his eyes. "At least we don't have school and work today.""I'd rather go to the factory than the reaping." Tears sprung to your eyes and you clung tightly to Luke's hand. He squeezed it reassuringly, trying to hide his own pain for your sake.
"I know, but think about how many people there are in District 8. Your name is in there three times, you'll be ok."
"Y/N! I've made your dress," your mother said as she entered the tiny bedroom you shared with Luke. As Jack and Ben were older, they had already left home but would definitely be present for the reaping. Attendance was compulsory, after all, and they had to be there in case either you or Luke were chosen to compete in the annual Hunger Games.
And though District 8 was huge, full of terrified children with similar chances of being picked, you had learned not to trust the odds.
"Thank you," you said quietly, not meeting Liz's eye. The dress was simple, crystal white cotton with a sweetheart neckline and flowing skirt that fell just to your knees, but the material must have cost more than it was worth; even though Liz was a renowned seamstress in your District, she didn't earn enough to support the family without the help of yours and Luke's factory shifts, which you worked after school each day.
The square was already packed by the time you arrived, tearfully parting from Luke and your parents to stand with the other girls at the reaping. The chances of your name being picked were slim, but you were still worried - especially about Luke. His name was in the bowl 25 times in order to feed the family extra, and although there were many starving boys that had entered themselves multiple times, the odds weren't in your brother's favour.
But you didn't have time to worry, as your representative from the Capitol strutted onto the stage. His name was John Feldman, and he looked surprisingly normal for someone from the Capitol. In another world, he could've been a kind man rather than one ready to condemn two children to death.
He skipped through his speech quickly. Unease rippled through the crowd as he thrust his hand into a glass bowl full of girls' names, and picked out a tiny slip.
The tension was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.
"Y/N Hemmings!"
You couldn't register the words that came out of John Feldman's mouth. Not you, it couldn't be you...
"I volunteer!"
No. Not Luke, your amazing older brother who would always protect you, even if he couldn't take your place.
But it was too late for both of you.
***
According to your mentor, Alex Gaskarth, training wasn't just about learning to kill, or even to survive. A very important part of your sessions was to make friends, because friends meant allies.You clung to Luke during training, but he stuck to Alex's advice. Together you determinedly walked towards a nervous looking boy with olive skin and dark hair, one of the District 12 tributes at the knot tying station.
"Come on Y/N, let's see who can tie this the fastest," Luke chuckled as you both grabbed coils of rope. The other boy was studying you carefully, so you took the first move to introduce yourself.
"I'm Y/N. This is Luke. We're from District 8."
"I'm Calum, District 12," he relaxed slightly, happily joining in conversation with you that lasted the best part of an hour. In fact, he was so friendly and jokey that you were upset knowing he would probably die. Of course, you and Luke would die too...
You shook the thought from your head and followed Luke to the archery station. Already a tanned, smiling boy from District 9 was trying to show his trembling friend from District 3 how to knock an arrow.
"What's up, I'm Ashton," the first boy nodded.
"I'm Michael."
"We're Luke and Y/N," your brother introduced the two of you, and Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Siblings?"
Luke nodded. "I volunteered to protect her."
"That was noble of you. Good luck out there."
"Thanks."
***
The gong sounded and you instantly sprinted into the woods behind you, as Luke had instructed. He would go to the cornucopia and raid it for supplies.It was risky, letting him go to the bloodbath. You sat and waited, knees knocking and teeth chattering, until he returned with three people on his tail.
"Run!" you screamed, but he grabbed your arm.
"Don't worry, Y/N, we're allies. Everything will be fine."
You looked up into the scared faces of Ashton, Calum and Michael and tried not to imagine them stabbing you in the back.
***
When the end came, it wasn't one of the boys.A girl from District 1 clawing through the trees, a spear thrown with deadly accuracy into your stomach. It was an injury that no Capitol medicine could heal, and your death was quick.
But still, Luke sobbed at your side, clinging onto your hand as the life left your eyes. The other boys guarded him, throwing knives and shooting arrows at the District 1 girl until she too, was another casualty of the games.
And when they turned back to you, only a shell was left, the shell of a loving girl and caring sister.
Luke had sacrificed so much to save you, but in the end you couldn't be saved.
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5sos One Shots
FanfictionThe imagination is an amazing place, and here it comes alive. This is a book of 5sos shorts, imagines, BSMs, BGMs and preferences so you can lose yourself in your own imagination. I take requests, so comment or message me and I'll write it!