Survivor

Prologue

The sound of her brother calling out her name echoed in Heather's ears as she ran out of their house. She didn't stop running though. Not when she bumped into other people. Not when she got out of the merchant section and into the Hob. Not when she saw the Peacemakers looking at her, and they usually scared her. No, the pain was stronger than her fear. Eventually, the ache she felt in her heart got the best of her as she collapsed on her knees.

Heather knew that her knees were probably bleeding, but she didn't care. No, the heartache was much more stronger than the throbbing she felt in her patellas.

Tears start to stream down her face.

He was gone

He was gone, and it was all their fault

Slowly, Heather started to hiccup as she sobbed for Rust. Her best friend. Her partner in crime. The only person who truly understood her. Now, he was gone. Murdered in cold blood. When he was reaped for the 65th Hunger Games, it was no secret that he wouldn't make out alive. He was only twelve. Nonetheless, the reality of this didn't hit Heather until she watched the life in his eyes go out when the Career from District 2 stabbed him.

So she cried. She cried as the bittersweet memories that they had shared came flashing through her head. She cried as she recalled all their mischievous adventures together. She cried until her eyes couldn't produce any more tears.

After the tears dried, she vowed to herself. Vowed to never forget Rust. People might remember him as the little boy from District 12 who stood no chance against the Careers, but Heather would remember him as Rust. Rust, the boy with the dark hair and gray eyes. Rust, the boy who struggled to pronounce big words. Rust, always sweet and truthful.

Heather started to look back on the day where they met. The boys from the merchant section were making fun of his clothes. They were ragged and big on him. His family couldn't afford to buy him new garments so they gave him his older brother's clothes. When Rust stood up for himself, the other boys start to beat him up. Fortunately, Heather saw what happened and threatened to tell their mothers if they didn't get lost.

Scared, the boys ran out of the scene. Heather then took Rust's hand and lead them to her house so she could have her father bandage his wounds. Sadly, he wasn't at home, but that was okay because Heather already knew how to bind wounds as she saw her father do it over a million times. She told Rust to sit, and when he told her that she doesn't have to do this, she gave a look that made him immediately sit on the stool.

"Thank you," he said after she was done.

"You're welcome," Heather grinned at him. "Just a question, where were your friends?"

"I-I don't have any," he looked down, ashamed.

"Me neither," she told him. "Do you wanna be friends then?"

Rust's face was full of shock at what Heather had revealed. He doubted that she wanted to be friends with him, just like other kids. She, unlike him, was from the merchant section. She looked well-fed and pretty in her sky blue dress which matched the colour of her eyes. However, when he looked into her warm eyes, all his hesitation disappeared.

"Okay," he smiled at her which the young girl eagerly returned.

Later then, Aeson found her. He was breathing heavily, indicating that he was running after her. His eyes soon began to fill with disquietude and worry as they laid upon his sister. Her blue eyes, normally bright and full of life, were dull. Although Aeson was aware of the fact that Heather had the right to feel that way, his concern for her didn't stop. It only grew when he noticed her bleeding knees.

He picked her up and sat them together under a tree. In his lap, Heather was still, unmoving. For a while, silence engulfed them. People passing by them stared, but neither brother and sister cared. It was really weird. Usually, Aeson and Heather were loud, highly energetic and enthusiastic.

Suddenly, Heather's grief turned into anger. Her fists clenched. She hated the Capitol. Hated that District 2 boy. Hated the whole Career pack. Hated Rust's three older brothers who did nothing as they stood by, watching their little brother being reaped for a bloodthirsty game.

"I hate them," she muttered. Aeson turned towards her. The first thing he wanted to do was scold her. He knew that she was referring to the Capitol. His mind urged to lecture on the consequences of what she had said. The punishment the Peacemakers would bestow on her if they had heard her. His heart though reminded him of the pain that Heather was going through. So he held onto her tightly and kissed her strawberry blond hair.

"Aeson?"

He hummed.

"If, if you were to be reaped. Will you try to come back to me?" Heather asked him. Innocent baby blue eyes looking into his.

Aeson froze. He wasn't expecting this question from her.

"Of course, I will," he chuckled, trying to smooth the tension between them.

"But you don't know how to fight or any survival skills," she cried out, tears once again dominating her angelic face.

"Hey, hey, hey," Aeson softened his voice. "Did you forget that I would get three days to train before I get into the arena?"

"No, I know," Heather hiccuped. "But those Careers are so strong, how would you defeat them? Eventually, you're gonna have to face them."

Aeson sighed, thinking of a proper response. Finally, he thought of a perfect idea.

"Then I'll train," he smiled at her. "We'll train for the games just like those Careers."

"How?" Heather inquired.

"We'll watch the way they fight in the games and we try to imitate them," he explained. "We can even go out into the forest and learn how to hunt, how to camp."

With every word that Aeson had said, hope started to rise in Heather's eyes. It wasn't unusual for the duo to go out into the forest. It was illegal, but no one would suspect them. Sure they were the pranksters of the District, but they were trustworthy in the eyes of the people as they help their father with patients. Normally, they only went there for a nature walk and to swim.

"Aeson, will you promise not to leave me?" Heather looked at him with optimistic eyes.

Aeson wasn't shocked at her request. He understood her concern. Right now, his name was in the reaping bowl five times. Their father was the only healer in the District and so he was surrounded by sick people. The risk of him catching a disease continues to increase every year. Their mother, well, she died five days after giving birth to Heather.

He smiled sadly at his sister. "I can't promise that I will always be with you, Heather," cue the pout. "However, I promise you that I will always be here."

He placed his hand on her chest, where her heart was pounding steadily. Heather's lips started to curl up as she hugged her brother tightly.

Aseon began to sing the ending lyrics of the lullaby their mother used to sing to him as they laid on the shade of the oak tree.

I don't need to stand next to you
You always had me along the way
Just think of me and I'll be here
And know that I've always loved you