The Girl From District 4 ~ Hunger Games Fanfiction

Chapter 5

I finger my aquamarine necklace as I lie on my bed. I start to think about the Capitol. Obviously, I've never been there but judging from the video footage and Emerald, it must be a very fancy place. Not to mention rich. 

Then suddenly I'm not thinking of the Capitol, but the Hunger Games. Part of me is scared. I know that District 1 and 2 will have tributes who will be ruthless, bloodthristy and skilled. I picture the girl from my dream and I shudder slightly.

You can use weapons, I remind myself. You can get your own food and survive. Besides, they'll probably be your allies.

I'm interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Then it raps again impatiently.

"April? APRIL?" I can hear Emerald's tinkly Capitol accent.

"Coming," I call.

Emerald leads me through corridors into a dining room decorated with red. The table is arranged with lots of cutlery and instruments I've never seen before. I start to feel worried. I know how to use a knife and fork, but what is that instrument over there? It curved and has long spikes sticking out of it.

I sit down on a velvet red chair and gasp when I see the dishes.

Seven different types of soup, bread rolls and a seafood platter! Emerald and Flux both have wine in crystal glasses. Otto and I stick to sparkling water.

I've finished several bowls of soup when I hear Emerald say;

"Very nice first course," with an approving sniff.

First course? First course? Oh but of course, this is Capitol food and the food will just keep coming.

"I hope you're not too full Ariel," smiles Flux. "Because there will be six more courses."

The food keeps coming; exotic seafood, juicy meat, green salads, mashed potato, fruit, bread and cheese. Then there is eleven different types of ice cream, chocolate mousse, tarts, cakes, slices and meringues for dessert. I am almost stuffing my face, and so is Otto.

How can the people in the Capitol eat this much? Do they even need to eat this much? I mean, seriously? Just one of these courses could feed a family for two months. How is it fair that the Capitol has so much food, yet the Districts starve?

But I can see Otto isn't thinking about any of this. He's too happy greedily eating.

Flux and Emerald are engaged in conversation about some fashion or another.

Now I'm feeling full, I lean back and notice the two people who are serving us. I had been too busy before eating that I hadn't really looked at them. They are both dressed in red, a boy and a girl. The girl is the one who showed me to my room. Neither of them talk as they clear the others' plates.

I see Otto is also looking at them. He grins at the girl.

"What's your name?" he asks. Her eyes widen in panic.

The effect is unexpected. The girl drops the plate she was carrying and it smashes on the ground.

I push back my chair to help her pick up the glass pieces.

"APRIL!" screeches Emerald. I freeze.

"You and you, out!" she orders the people in red and they hurry out the door.

"Listen to me," Emerald commands. "That was unacceptable. You must never, EVER speak to an Avox."

Otto and I are blank. An Avox?

"Let me explain," says Flux. "An Avox is someone who-"

"They're evil, Flux!" exclaims Emerald. "Criminals! Murders! Traitors!"

Otto looks mystified. I don't blame him.

Flux continues, "They are somebody who has committed a crime and have had their tongue cut off. They cannot speak. You must never talk to them or even acknowledge they exist."

I realise my mouth is open so I shut it. It just seems wrong! But I guess if they really have done terrible things...

Emerald says, slightly miffed "I hope you never do anything like this again!"

Otto and I nod quickly.

"Emerald has a bit of a temper, hey?" Otto mutters to me. I smile a little and go "mmm" non-committedly.

Then Flux rises from the table and we walk into another compartment, one with a massive television screen that takes up the length of a whole wall.

"We're going to watch the Reapings!" Flux announces. I stiffen slightly. I'll get to see the people I will watch die, be killed by or kill in the Arena. Still, I'm excited.

I watch the Reapings, looking carefully at the tributes from 1 and 2. Muscly, skilled and very prepared, as I expected.

The rest of the districts are pretty ordinary. Most of them look scared. Only a few catch my eye. A fox-like girl from five. The crippled boy from 10. A small girl with dark skin from 11. Then I see the boy from 11.

He is big, massive! Just as muscly as the boy from 1. How is he so big?, I wonder. I thought District 11 was one of the poorest districts. Maybe...

But I stop thinking about the boy from 11 (Thresh, I think he's called) as I watch the Reaping for District 12.

A small girl with blonde hair (only twelve) has her name drawn from the glass bowl. Then suddenly, a girl in a blue dress screams her name.

"Prim! Prim!" she shrieks desperately. I feel her pain. It makes me think of Huck being reaped, and I know I would act the same way.

She is running up to the stage. Then she shoves the Peacekeepers.

"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" she yells. I feel my jaw drop. Never, in my lifetime have I seen a tribute from District 12 volunteer.

Flux looks surprised. I look at him, my eyebrows raised. He mouths "First time for everything, hey?"

I nod and turn my attention back to the screen. I watch as a handsome looking boy carries the wailing Prim off the stage.

"Well, bravo!" gushes the District 12 escort. She has pink hair, definitely a wig. "That's the spirit of the Games!"

I frown slightly. I don't think volunteering to die for your little sister is very entertaining, personally. But I suppose the escort is just happy to have her District do something interesting for a change.

"What's your name?" asks the escort.

"Katniss Everdeen," the dark-haired girl answers.

"I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we? Come on, everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!" trills the escort.

Nobody claps.

But then something odd happens. The people in the square touch the three middle fingers to their left hands to their lips and hold them out to the Katniss. I recognise that gesture. Years ago, at my grandfather's funeral, everyone did the same action.

My father whispered to me it was a symbol of thanks, admiration but also goodbye to somebody you love.

Then Haymitch comes staggering across the stage. He is infamous for being a drunk, yet Dad once told me he was very smart in his Hunger Games. He now 'mentors' the District 12 tributes, although I find it hard to believe he actually helps them.

Then the mentor reads out the boy's name (Peeta Mellark) and the Reapings are over.

Hope you enjoy this chapter! :-) Soon Ariel will be at the Capitol!

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