Clementine Dutchess (THG)

Chap. 1

     "Welcome! To the 77th Hunger Games!" President Coin says with a big smile plastered on her face. "Since the uprising, we have decided that the Districts stop suffering, and that the kids of the Capitol go into the Games themselves and see what the District kids felt." People around me shift uncomfortably and anxious. "Now, let's begin. Ladies first."

     President Coin moves over to the glass bowl with the Capitol kids names. Her hand hovers over it before choosing a slip of paper. She walks back over to the mic and holds the paper in front of the mic so everyone can hear her open it. She opens her mouth to say the name. "Clementine Dutchess."

     People instantly look at me. I swallow hard. No. It can't be me. "Clementine Dutchess." President Coin repeats more sternly. I make my way to the stage, my heart pounding and my breath shaky. I glance over at my twin brother who looks back at me worried. I reach the stairs of the stage and slowly climb up them. I can feel everyone's eyes--even the cameras--on me. I hold back tears as I reach President Coin.

     She smiles slightly. "And now, for the boys." She walks over to the other glass bowl and hovers her hand over it as if to be thinking about which paper to pick. She picks one and makes her way back over to me and the mic. She opens the slip of paper and reads the name. "Robert Dutc-hess."

     My heart drops. I hear my mom cry out and tears instantly run down my cheeks. My brother makes his way up to the stage, my eyes following him the entire time. "Go on. Shake hands," Coin says once he reaches us. We turn to each other and shake hands.

     Coin gently places her hands on our backs and leads us into the new Justice Building. We are lead into separate rooms. My thumb traces the velvet designs on the couch I sit on. It's the only thing that can keep my mind off the current situation. Feeling the fabric makes me calm. I turn my attention to the door when it opens.

     "Sweetie," my mom says and gives me a tight hug. I hug her back just as tight. I take in the smell of her peach perfume that she wears and the smell of her rose shampoo that in her black hair which only makes me cry knowing that this could be the last time I ever see her again. She pulls out of the hug and puts her hands on my shoulders. "Listen to me, no matter what you do, no matter what happens, stay with your brother. Do you understand me?"

     I nod not able to speak because of how much I'm crying. She pulls back into a hug. "It's going to be okay." I can hear the cry in her voice. "Your going to fine. The last 23 days they were reaping kids and most of them didn't look harmful at all."

     "Your times up," Johanna Mason--the Victor from the 71st Hunger Games--says when she opens the door.

     "I'll see you soon, okay?" My mom asks tears welling up in her eyes. I nod and give her one last hug before she leaves. Johanna stays and looks at me for a minute. "You know, I could just be your mentor. This is just the first year of a new Hunger Games with you guys. You never know."

     She closes the door and leaves me alone again. Is it good that she might be my mentor? Or is that bad? Or both?

     The door opens again and my dad comes in and just like Mom, gives me a long hug. "I'm so sorry this happened," he whispers. "It's not your fault, Dad," I say, "it's the President's." He shuses me. "They could be listening." There's silence. "Promise me that you and your brother won't turn on each other." "I promise," I say quietly.

     We stay there in the hug until it's time for him to leave. Johanna tells me to stay here while she go sees who my mentor is. I sit on the purple velvet couch and rub my finger over it, trying to calm myself down. I tuck a strand of blonde hair behind my ear and let out a shaky sigh. I'm not ready for this. I never was. I'd never think I'd get picked. Especially my brother. They've been picking two kids ages twelve through eighteen for twenty three days. Today's the twenty fourth. 24 kids. Only one comes out alive. I wince at the thought of possibly having to kill my brother.

     Johanna came back and smiles slightly. "Looks like I'm your mentor." I perk up. "Really?" I ask. At least I'll have someone I like so far. "Yup. We'll have some fun together." She smiles slyly. What does she mean by "fun"?  Should I be scared? What if-- "Come on kid. Let's go get your brother and get on to finding your stylists," Johanna says, interuppting my thoughts. I follow her out of the room and down the hall. She opens the door and I see Robert sitting on the couch. "Robert!" I exclaim happily. He looks up and runs towards me, engulfing me in a hug. It's a while before we pull apart. "Let's get going you two."

     We follow Johanna out of the building and to another one where everyone is getting prepped for the Tributes Parade. "Wait here," she tells me and walks off with Robert to go find where he's going to be at. I look around at everyone getting hosed down, getting their hair ripped off with tape, or getting a small haircut. Johanna comes back a while later and says, "now let's go find yours." We don't walk long before two people wave us over. You've got to be kidding me. "What's wrong?" Johanna asks noticing I'm not moving. "You scared? They won't bite--"

     "They're my aunt and uncle," I whisper.

         
                           ***
Whatcha guys think?

I think this is the most I've ever written in my entire life before...it was worth it tho.

This story may have slow updates since I'm also working on my other Hunger Games stories.

Don't forget to vote, comment, and share!

See you in the next chapter!

~voowitchdoo