But she's District 7! ~Hunger Games Fan Fiction~

A Fan Fiction of the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This story follows Lilith Chester and her struggles.

Chapter 1- The Forest Call

I like watching the Lumber-Jacks do their work. I go to the woods after school when im feeling particually depressed. Today was one of those days. When the school bell rang i walked to Fena's class, shes waiting out side her class room door talking to two boys, shes batting her long eyes lashes. I've seen her do this so many times, shes had more boyfriends than anyone ive ever known. Shes like Mother. Mother could have any man, i guess thats why she chose my father. Father is the Mayor of our District, he doesn't do much, Mayor is just an easier or for Communicator Between Districts and Head Figure, he just talks to the other Districts and the the Capitol, hes basically the voice of our District. 
I leave Fena to her ways. And i walk to the forest, i pass many people, everyone stares at me, they would wouldnt they. I stand out in crowds, most of the people in District 7 have light curly brown hair, male and female, i have waist length straight black hair. Not just black, my hair is shiny in a way, it reflects the light which makes it look shiny. Mother has black hair too, but hers doesn't shine like mine.
I find the Lumber-Jacks almost immediately they makes so much noise. I climb a Oak tree near them so i can watch with out being seen. In 7 there is a clear divided the men work as Lumber-Jacks, and the women stay at home looking after the small children and polishing the wood so that it can be made into furniture by the men. Girls dont go in the forest much, i do, i love it in the forest. Its calming.
As the tree falls i heard a call from the edge of the forest, "Lilith, Lilith, Code Rose!", its Father calling. I jump to the next branch from a neighboring tree, i dont want the Lumber-Jacks to see me. 5 or 6 trees later i get down and run the rest of the way. Father is the only one who knows my love for the forest. Then it hits me, what he said, Code Rose.

Chapter 2- The Reaping Day

Its been Two weeks since the faytle day of Code Rose, the day my Father died.My eyes are glued open. They have been all night. Today is the Reaping. Mother pulled the sheets off my head to see i was awake. She jumped back in alarm. "Lilith?" She asked me. I blinked in reply but i dont look at her im staring blankly at the photo on my night stand, the dusty, smashed, picture frame. It contains a photo of a tree, but its the memories it carries, the memories are why it sits pointlessly on my night stand. This day is one im never going to forget. "Lilith, come on its time to wake up." i can hear the depression in her voice, Father's death affected her too, i suppose it should affect her more than me. But she didnt see what happen to him. 
Mother finally gets me out of bed, she offers me a slice of bread and a bowl of luke-warm soup to dunk it in. I push it away, the Capitol have stolen my hunger, like they stole Father. Fena is already dresses she is wearing a once sun-yellow dress, now is more of a dull yellow. Its her first reaping but she wont be picked, her name is would only be in there once, if this was a normal reaping. Rannos has just woke up too, yet hes already wolfed down his and my breakfast. This is Rannos' last reaping, his name will he in the ball 7 times, Hes not as likely to be picked as the other boys in the district who have had to take pittence. As we listen to Rannos' wooden spoon scope the wooden bowl one last time i feel the room getting cooler, or is that just in my mind. "I think you should get ready now, Lilith" I nod for a reply, i havent said a word all morning, words will be exchanged latter thats when they are going to matter.
I walk to the small bedroom i share with Fena, Mother has laid out a pale grey dress for me. It must be new, ive never seen it before. "I'ts mine" i felt her presence before Mother spoke "I wore it at my first Reaping, you smaller than me so it should fit you. Pale grey. To match your eyes, our eyes.' its true i am the younger image of my mother yet im nothing like her on the inside. The dress is simple but elegant, it flows to my knees, a thin leather black belt to go around my waist. I brush my hair out, straight dark brown hair that falls in between my shoulders and my waist. Many of the people in my District have straight Brown hair, but myself and Mother are the only ones with cold grey eyes. Rannos looks like Father, Straight black hair and deep chocolate eyes. Fena is a mixture, she has mine and Mother's hair but Father's eyes. After Father was taken from us i couldnt look into Fena or Rannos' eyes, they reminded my of how the light left his eyes as he drank deep from the china bone cup. I loved Father. I may look like Mother, but on the inside im just like he was, when he was alive that is.
I hear the noise i've been dreading all day, the bell. Skit, the young peace-keeper from District 2, rings the bell in front of the Justice Building every time we all have to gather at the square. Me and Fena walk there hand in hand, Rannos and Mother walk with us. We walk down the dirt path that leads to our home, then we come to the open streets, i see lots of terrified young faces as they leave their wooden huts. Its a ten minuet walk to the square. in the middle i can see two groups, one made of males and the other of female, but all the teens have to go though to the peace-keepers first. 
I walk up to the desk and hold out my finger, they prick my finger to get the blood. The sensor bleeps indicating that i am Lilith Chester. I must look calm because the peacekeeper, Jephier, starts talking "Your looking calm Chester, well dont be calm it could be anyone who gets chosen so start getting worried." i hear him laughing as i walk away. Fena is already with the group of 12 year olds girls and Rannos is with 18 year old boys but his eyes meet mine across the crowds he gives me a reassuring nod, we both know whats happening. I stand in line with the 14 year old girls, all of them look tense and trow jealous looks at me, they think because im the mayors daughter i wont get pick, they have every right to think that.
Suddenly silence falls and we all turn our attention to the stage thats been built in front of the justice building. Sorren Fanes walks onto the stage. He looks as ridiculous as every. He is utterly bald but has had images carved into his pale blue skin, hes wearing a suit made of, netting? He walks to the microphone, "Welcome, workers of District 7! And Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour, here is a video given to you by the Capitol, enjoy it." he says all this in his stupid Capitol accent, but it lacks the sing-song-ness it normally has. A monitor turns on and a video plays, i pay no attention, i've seen it so many times. When it finishes he comes back to the mic "Ah good old Capitol.' He wipes a non-existent tear from his eye "Now for lets find out who shall be our tributes of District 7 for the 74th Hunger Games! Ladies first? Yes!" He walks to the bowl full of female names, it doesn't matter which little slip he picks they all hold the same fate. He picks one on the side of the bowl and comes back to the mic. He opens the slip and reads out clearly a single name. "Lilith Chester"

Chapter 3 - The Wooden Ring

I felt the gaze of thousand, millions maybe, staring at me. Not just District 7, all of them watching me later. I walk down the aisle between the group of males and the group of females. The peace-keepers accompany me and my 'walk of death', they push me sometimes. I walk onto the stage, Sorren Fanes extends his hand to me, its suppose to be encouraging but it isnt, i ignore his hand but walk over to his side. "Meet your female tribute for the 74th Hunger Games, Lilith Chester!" i dont smile at the ground, i leave my face expressionless staring at the Reaping Ball. Everyone of those slips bares the same name, my name. President Snow would have made sure they all do. 
President Snow. He found out that my Father was leading the Rebels, Snow poisoned my Father, in front of me. I remember that day too well. Father called me from the forest so we could have 'tea' with Snow. I should of known what was going to happen when my Father shouted Code Rose, We both knew that one day Snow would find out about him, and do what he does to all the other threats to his Presidencies, poison them. I have to keep a brave face and act unknowingly when Snow offered the Tea to Father, he took it with out resisting, if he resisted our whole family would be dead by now. I remember the image of Father's lifeless face hitting the floor along with his body after he took a sip of he tea. But murdering my father wasnt enough for Snow, Snow was leavingg the room with his puffy lips in a smirk when he had turned around his words are still so clear, "Oh and Miss Chester, look where you treed, we might be seeing each other soon, lets just say, you'll be playing a very ... fun ... game soon."
Back to the present. I had zoned out remembering my Father's death but i came back in time to hear another name being called by Sorren Fanes "Heron Oaking!". The boy tribute. Heron, is very tall, he has the light brown curly hair and the dark brown eyes of 7. He looks nervous, close to tears almost. "Our male tribute for District 7 Heron Oakling!" next thing i know, we are being forced into the Justice building and into separate rooms. Sim Rover came into the room. I was sitting in the window sill looking at the square most people are leaving, some say to say their condolences to mine and Heron's Families. me and Sim have been best friends since we were 6, he use to come to our house and give us meat, he use to go hunting with his father, and we'd buy the meat. Sim looks scared and sad as he walks in. "Alright Simmy?" i asked in a false chippy voice.
"No im not! How could they pick you! Your name was in their 4 times!" Sim says sitting down next to me, i can feel that hes tense. Hes angry at them for picking his best friends, its understandable, if Sim was picked i would have trown something like a chair at Sorren Fanes.
"No it wasnt, Simmy." i tell him in my fake happy voice, he looks at me in a confused way, hes never been that bright. I continue "Mine was the only name in there." He gasps and i laugh at him. He starts moving his mouth wanting to say something but no noise comes out. "Its Snow's way of warning my family." i dont need to say any more, Sim's family is part of the Rebles too, hes knows about my Father's murder.
"Its going to be alright." Sim says, hes never been good at reassuring me. "Your going to win this!" i make a noise that sounds like pfft. " You will! You have insane upper body strength, you throw knives, axes, hammers, you climb trees, you use a knife like no one ive ever seen before! You can do this!" Sim's efforts do make me feel better, and i start to feel like maybe i can win this. Sim puts his forehead resting on mine and he holds the back of my neck and stares into my cold grey eyes. "Your going to win, and when you do the Rebellion will being." He sits back into his place. 
"What do you think of Heron?" I ask, Heron tall but thin, hes plain, but smart and fast.
"'es nothing compared to you, when it comes to it, aim for his legs there his weakest point!" Sim tells me, Sim knows these things, he talks to everyone and everyone seems to like him, it helps that hes good looking for a District 7, he has the light brown hair and the brown eyes, but his features work well with his face to make him look very attractive. Sim is incredibly strong, if he was in the Hunger Games im sure he would win! A peace-keeper comes in a takes Sim away, and then a shock came.
President Snow walked through the door. The peace-keeper leaves and its just us. "here to poison me Snow?" if anyone else had said this to him they'd be dead in a second. 
"No, but im going to enjoy watching your slow gory death on my tv screen." Snow looks at me intensly trying to figure out if im scared. Im not, i keep my face emotionless. 
"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be off assassinating people?" I ask him coldly.
"Watch your tongue young Chester, remember i hold the over power in that arena." he leaves with out another word. I smash an ornament which hung onto of a glorious fire place. Then Mother, Rannos and Fena came in. They saw the mirror and Rannos raised his eyebrow.
"Already in the fighting spire Lilith?" He laughs and so do i. Then Fena runs forward on hugs me tight. 
"Be careful Lily, you have to come back safe and sound (Taylor Swift reference! WOOP)" I hug her back.
"You'd have trouble stopping me!"I tell her. She pulls away and Mother comes forward.She doesn't try to hug me.
"We believe in you, Lilith, and i know your Father will be looking down on your and protecting you." She starts crying and Fena hugs her, she too was crying. Rannos is still looking at the mirror.
"Why?" He said simply, but indicating to the mirror.
"Snow, he came, to rub my sure death in my face. But im not going to die im gonna win this!" i reply with strength in my voice. Rannos came and sat on the window sill, like Sim did. Mother stopped crying and push Fena away, she came to me and push a ring on my left hand, index finger, it is made of ebony wood and it totaly plain.
"Keep me safe. thats what the inscription says on the inside, your father gave it to me, on my reaping day." surely Mother doesn't mean that she was once reaped. "23 years ago, i was in the Hunger Games, and i won, obviously." she gives a shaky laugh, but none of us join in, we just stare at her. I was the first one to speak.
"How did you win?" i cant imagine Mother ever killing anyone! She gives another shaky laugh.
"I was nice. I made allies, i killed one person. There was a boy, Excel, he was from District 1, he was in love with me, i manipulated him to kill the other careers and then it was down to the final two, me and him, i made him a berries soup sorta thing, be wasnt good at reconising berries so i put in ivy berries, simple, he ate first and died in a 5 minuet span. We dont live in Victor's village because we have to live in the Mayor's House because you Father became the Mayor or District 7" we starred in shock at her, then Rannos broke the silence.
"Then how come your never a mentor?" it was a good question throughout my entire life shes never been a mentor, and i take it not in Rannos' life time either.
"When you were born Rannos, i asked Johanna Mason to be the mentor, before you were born we alternated every year, me and Johanna are good friends so she was fine with taking the role." Mother explained. "Lilith, there is no way you can win the way i did, but you are strong and brave like your Father, i believe in my heart you can win." This means so much too me, me and Mother have never had a strong connection like me and Father, but i feel so close to her, but then the peace-keepers come, Fena weeps harder and louder, Rannos has a cold expression, but Mother looks at me reassuringly.
My Mother is a Victor! 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading!

Reviews

[Abbie]

amazing story so far. you have put a lot into your characters, and I can tell. I love your description and the dialogue is good too! I hope that you continue this, because if you do, I wanna read more! keep writing!
Abbie