06

The Death of Me

A Hunger Games FanFic

By Sophia

CAST

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🌺 ISABELLA CROVETTI 🌺

as

🌺 LILLIE CURTS 🌺

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🌿 THOMAS BRODIE SANGSTER 🌿

as

🌿 LANCE GOODENS 🌿

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💫 ALEXANDER LUDWIG 💫

as

💫 CATO HADLEY 💫

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💕 LEVEN RAMBIN 💕

as

💕 GLIMMER BELCOURT 💕

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🎉 JACK QUAID 🎉

as

🎉 MARVEL SANFORD 🎉

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🍀 ISABELLE FUHRMAN 🍀

as

🍀 CLOVE KENTWELL 🍀

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🏹 JENIFER LAWRENCE 🏹

as

🏹 KATNISS EVERDEEN 🏹

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🍞 JOSH HUTCHERSON 🍞

as

🍞 PEETA MELLARK 🍞

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🌱 CAMERON CROVETTI 🌱

as

🌱 HUE CURTS 🌱

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🍃 NICHOLAS CROVETTI 🍃

as

🍃 HARRIS CURTS 🍃

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🪻ARIANA GREENBLATT🪻

as

🪻LAKELY VANDERS🪻

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🌻CANDICE KING🌻

as

🌻 MAYLEE POTTINGS 🌻

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🫧 WALKER SCOBELL 🫧

as

🫧 FINN COLDWOOD 🫧

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✨ THE REST OF THE HUNGER GAMES CAST ✨

as

✨ THEMSELVES ✨

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ABOUT THE CHARACTERS

🌺 LILLIE CURTS 🌺

AGE: 17

DISTRICT: 9

FAMILY MEMBERS: HUE CURTS (BROTHER), HARRIS CURTS (BROTHER) , PRIA CURTS (MOTHER) (DECEASED), ENZO CURTS (FATHER) (DECEASED)

TALENTS: EVERYTHING (EXCEPT CAMOUFLAGE)

🌿 LANCE GOODENS 🌿

AGE: 17

DISTRICT: 9

FAMILY MEMBERS: ASIA GOODENS (SISTER), JOLIE GOODENS (SISTER) ELLE GOODENS (SISTER), ESTELLE GOODENS (MOTHER), WILLIAM GOODENS (FATHER) (DECEASED)

TALENTS: SLINGSHOT, CLIMBING

💫 CATO HADLEY 💫

AGE: 18

DISTRICT: 2

FAMILY MEMBERS: BISHOP HADLEY (BROTHER) (DECEASED), MOTHER (NAME UNKNOWN) (DECEASED), FATHER (NAME UNKNOWN)

TALENTS: SWORD, SPEAR, KNIFE, STRENGTH, HAND TO HAND COMBAT

💕 GLIMMER BELCOURT 💕

AGE: 17

DISTRICT: 1

FAMILY MEMBERS: GLITTER BELCOURT (SISTER), SHIMMER BELCOURT (SISTER), MOTHER (NAME UNKNOWN), FATHER (NAME UNKNOWN)

STRENGTHS: LOOKS, ARCHERY

🎉 MARVEL SANFORD 🎉

AGE: 17

DISTRICT: 1

FAMILY MEMBERS: SISTER (NAME UNKNOWN), MOTHER (NAME UNKNOWN), FATHER (NAME UNKNOWN)

STRENGTHS: SPEAR, STRENGTH

🍀 CLOVE KENTWELL 🍀

AGE: 15

DISTRICT: 2

FAMILY MEMBERS: FERN KENTWELL (BROTHER), JUNIPER KENTWELL (SISTER), MOTHER (NAME UNKNOWN), FATHER (NAME UNKNOWN)

STRENGTHS: KNIFE

🏹 KATNISS EVERDEEN 🏹

AGE: 16

DISTRICT: 12

FAMILY: PRIM EVERDEEN (SISTER), MOTHER (NAME UNKNOWN), FATHER (NAME UNKNOWN) (DECEASED)

STRENGTHS: ARCHERY

🍞 PEETA MELLARK 🍞

AGE: 16

DISTRICT: 12

FAMILY MEMBERS: BROTHER (NAME UNKNOWN), BROTHER (NAME UNKNOWN), MOTHER (NAME UNKNOWN), FATHER (NAME UNKNOWN)

STRENGTHS: CAMOUFLAGE

🌱 HUE CURTS 🌱

AGE: 13

DISTRICT: 9

FAMILY MEMBERS: LILLIE CURTS (SISTER), HARRIS CURTS (TWIN BROTHER), PRIA CURTS (MOTHER) (DECEASED), ENZO CURTS (FATHER) (DECEASED)

STRENGTHS: POISONOUS BERRIES

🍃 HARRIS CURTIS 🍃

AGE: 13

DISTRICT: 9

FAMILY MEMBERS: LILLIE CURTS (SISTER), HUE CURTS (TWIN BROTHER), PRIA CURTS (MOTHER) (DECEASED), ENZO CURTS (FATHER) (DECEASED)

STRENGTHS: SPEED

🪻LAKELY VANDERS🪻

AGE: 17

DISTRICT: 9

FAMILY MEMBERS: JONAH VANDERS (BROTHER) (DECEASED), TATUM VANDERS (SISTER), CLEO VANDERS (SISTER) (DECEASED), JACKIE VANDERS (SISTER), KIARA VANDERS (MOTHER) (DECEASED), JOSEPH VANDERS (FATHER) (DECEASED)

STRENGTHS: CLIMBING

🌻 MAYLEE POTTINGS 🌻

AGE: 36

DISTRICT: 9

FAMILY MEMBERS: NONE

STRENGTHS: SMARTS, CLIMBING

OTHER: VICTOR OF THE 53RD HUNGER GAMES, WON AT 15

🫧 FINN COLDWOOD 🫧

AGE: 17

DISTRICT: 4

FAMILY MEMBERS: MOTHER (NAME UNKNOWN) (DECEASED), FATHER (NAME UNKNOWN)

STRENGTHS: SPEAR, POISONOUS BERRIES

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello Whoever Is Reading This,

Congratulations! You picked a cringey book by me! If you are reading this, here are a few things before you start. Number one, the Hunger Games universe belongs to the one and only ship killer, Suzanne Collins. A lot of the characters belong to her but some of them (including the following: Lillie, Hue, Harris, Pria and Enzo Curts, Lance, Asia, Jolie, Elle, Estelle and William Goodens, Lakely, Jonah, Tatum, Cleo, Jackie, Kiara and Joseph Vanders, Maylee Pottings, Finn Coldwood, Ivory, Quinn, Fern, March, Denise, Lyanna Hull, etc.) are mine, please don't copy them! A lot of the plot also belongs to Suzanne Collins but the wording is mine, don't copy me please. Second, this story takes place in the year of the 74th Hunger Games and is in different POV's throughout the book, along with third person for some of the chapters, however the MAIN character is Lillie Curts. Third, as I said before, some of the plot is Suzanne's and some is mine so please don't say things like That wasn't in the book\movie! Or What about that part? This is Fanfiction so I can choose to write it as I wish. Speaking of the book\movie, please, please, please read\watch at least the first Hunger Games book\movie or else it will make no sense! If you like this Hunger Games story, I also have Hunger Games ~ Prim's Story, The Fourth, and All is Fair in Love and Games. I hope you enjoy my book, The Death of Me!

Your Lovely Author,

🌸 SOPHIA 🌸

PART ONE ~ THE JOURNEY

"Live your life to the fullest. Enjoy the life you get to live. Growing up is a privilege that some don't get the option to receive."

TEN YEARS BEFORE

"But Ma, I don't want to go!" Lillie Curts whined, stomping her foot down.

"Sweetie, this will be good for you. You need to meet some new people. It will be fun1" Pria Curts enthused to her seven year old.

"But Ma, everyone Lakely invited doesn't like me!"

"They just don't know you well enough sweetie! Once they get to know you they will adore you!"

"I don't care! I don't want to go!" Lillie said, rooting herself to the spot where she stood in the Curts' small kitchen\living room.

"Please can you go. Just for Ma?" Pria tried. Lillie looked up at her Ma with big sad eyes. Pria moved a piece of Lillie's blonde hair out of her face.

"Fine," Lillie said with an exaggerated sigh.

"Thank you! Now go run and put your dress on."

"The yellow one?" Lillie asked, hoping to wear her best dress. Her other one had rips on the ends and stains upon the skirt.

"Sure." Lillie cheered, her mind forgetting the cons of going, and raced to her bedroom, a small, cozy room toward the back of their little house. Her bedroom was Lillie's favorite part of the house. It had a small window looking out into the fields of grain behind the Curts' home. 

Lillie threw off her tattered shirt and scruffy leggings and threw on the pale yellow party dress that she kept under her bed for safe keepings. She skipped out of her room, leaving her dirty clothes at the foot of her bed, which she shared with her two younger brothers, Hue and Harris.  

The Curts weren't the wealthiest of Nine but they had a decent amount to live on. Lillie tucked her hand into her Ma's, hers was much smaller and fit like a puzzle piece into Pria's. Pria smiled at her young daughter. So full of happiness. Unknown to the children dying each year to the Capitol's horrendous Hunger Games. 

Each year, two young children from the age's 12 to 18 were selected randomly from each District and sent to the Capitol to fight to the death against 22 other tributes from all the neighboring Districts. Pria and Enzo's daughter and sons hadn't reached the age to become eligible to become Reaped and they therefore wanted to spend as much time as possible with their children before they were gone forever. 

Pria and Lillie walked through the small town they'd known for their whole lives known to the rest of Panem as District Nine, otherwise known as the source of grain production for the Capitol. That day was particularly cloudy with a cool breeze blowing through often. Pria and Lillie arrived at their destination, a small home with a brown door at the end of the thin road. Lillie stopped at the end of the path that roped up toward the house.

"Ma, I'm scared." Pria took her daughter by the shoulder and stared into her bright blue eyes, which were glistening with tears ready to overflow like a waterfall.

"Sweetie, you are the bravest little seven year old I know and you are amazing and everyone will absolutely adore you. And, if you're ever scared just look at your bracelet and remember we are always with you." Lillie sniffled and glanced down at her gold bracelet which had stars rimmed around the edges. There were tiny flowers, hibiscus, roped in between the stars. 

Lillie smiled and wrapped Pria in a warm hug and Pria led Lillie down the path. Pria softly rapped on the door, a two and two pattern. In a window, which spread across the top of the door, the dark gray drapes were pushed out of the way by a small seven year old. 

Lakely Vanders jumped on her tiptoes to see out the clear window. Once she finally reached the height of the glass, she spotted Mrs Curts and her daughter, Lillie. Lakely squealed and flung open their brown door. Lakely threw her arms around her best friend. Lillie pulled away after a moment and held out a small gift bag striped with pale blues and pastel pinks.

"Happy Birthday Lakely!" Lillie cheered. Lakely grabbed the bag and grinned an ear to ear grin only Lakely ever showed.

"Thank you Lillie! I'm so happy you came!" Lillie smiled and skipped inside after Lakely, she yelled "Bye Ma!" Down the small hallway. Pria chuckled to herself and left the small home and started the short journey down the thin road, back to her own house. 

At the party, Lillie's smile faded as Lakely lead her into a small living room type area filled with other seven year olds of which are chatting loudly. Lakely left her and skipped over to a small group of girls, braiding each other's hair. 

Lillie, unknown at what to do, shuffled over to the side of the room, away from the chaos, and slumped against the wall, sliding to the floor. She pulled a book, one of the ones the Capitol approved of course, from her party dress. She slipped it under before heading out the door with her Ma. Her eyes started drifting around the pages. 

Lillie had always loved reading, ever since she learned how in her first year of grade school. Lillie felt comfort within the pages of her favorites, although they mostly consisted of the history of Panem or the more rare, tales of children, most of which ended up becoming separated from loved ones. Those books always made Lillie think about her own life and how others around her got their siblings or children stripped away from them, leaving them to grieve. 

Lillie's neighbor, Mrs Grings, had lost her only daughter to the yearly Hunger Games. Lillie had always loved visiting her and her daughter and sharing and listening to stories they'd come up with, but that was before Quilli was selected. Lillie hadn't talked with or even seen Mrs Grings since. Grief can become a weight upon some's shoulders and if not handled correctly, someone's demise. Lost in her own thoughts, Lillie hadn't noticed the small boy that came and took a seat beside her. 

Lance Goodens was a small and frail seven year old with unruly sandy brown hair and soft brown eyes. His mother had dropped him off at Lakely Vanders' party although he hadn't had the desire to go. Lakely had had the biggest crush on Lance since they met the first day of grade school. Lance despised Lakely which apparently hadn't shown enough for Lakely had announced aloud to the entire second grade class that he was in love with her.

Lance had wandered around aimlessly through the crowded room before his eyes landed on a petite blonde girl seated against the wall reading a rather large chapter book for a seven year old. He recognized her from his class at school but had never spoken with her nor knew her name. 

He glanced around, checking for signs of Lakely ready to bombard him with a conversation he'd rather not be in, but when he found no signs of her dark brown hair, he made his way over to the peculiar girl. Lillie sensed the boy sitting next to her but didn't choose to make a statement about it, but let him start up a conversation.

"Hey, what are you doing over here?" he asked, sliding into the spot next to her small body.

"I could ask you the same," Lillie stated, not bothering to look up from her book.

"Why is that book so big?"

"I don't know."

"What's your name?"

"What's your name?" Lance sighed, fiddling with the button on his dark blue button down shirt. His mother forced him upon the article of clothing, claiming it would look nice. As much as he complained, his mother wouldn't budge and he was forced against his will into wearing it.

"I'm Lance. Lance Goodens," he said, outstretching his bony hand. Ignoring his hand, Lillie looked up from her book and studied his features. She recognized him from her class at school. 

Lance had unruly sandy brown hair which currently was messy but trying to be neat as if his guardian had tried combing it over. He had soft brown eyes and pale skin. Lillie recognized him as the boy Lakely talked about all the time. 

Once, Lakely made a statement in the middle of class, standing upon her chair and sharing to the class that this boy was in love with her. As she did this, Lance studied hers as well. The girl had silky blonde hair that lightened at the whipy edges. Her piercing blue eyes looked into his, studying his face. The girl's skin was pale like his and her frame was small and petite.

"Oh, you're the boy Lakely talks about all the time," Lillie said. Lance sighed and shook his head in annoyance at even the slim thought of it.

"Unfortunately," Lance said, breathing a half-hearted laugh. Lillie smirked.

"I'm Lillie Curts, Lakely's best friend," she said, meeting his waiting hand and giving it a firm shake.

"Nice to meet you. Why are you over here?" Lance asked.

"Too crowded, plus I don't know anyone besides Lakely," Lillie said, shrugging it off. "Why are you over here?"

"Hiding from Lakely. And I wanted to see why you were over here by yourself." Lillie nodded in understanding and the two sat in silence for a bit watching the others chat and laugh as if there wasn't a care in the world. "Hey."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to be my friend?" Lillie was appalled by his question. No one had ever wanted to be her friend before other than Lakely, who wanted to be everyone's friend.

"Really?"

"Yeah, you seem nice."

"But no one else ever wants to be my friend. Why do you?" Lillie asked curiously. Lance felt for her as she saw the hesitance in her eye. He too had a tough time with friends. He was only known around the school as Lakely's Admirer.

"Why does no one want to be your friend?"

"I don't know. I guess no one likes me that much."

"Well, now you have your second friend. You're my first." Lillie's mouth widened but then she snapped it up thinking it would appear rude. "Promise to be friends forever?" Lance asked, holding his pinky out.

"Friends forever," Lillie said, interlocking hers with his. They shook on it and talked for the rest of the birthday party. They talked about things like school, and other random things. Soon enough, the party came to an end, the door receiving a knock every other minute. The children, all huddled together in a group close to the door, anticipated their name being called by Lakley's mother, seeing their parents arrive. Lance and Lillie chatted quietly towards the back of the group.

"Lance! Your mother is here!" Lakely's mother called out. Lillie and Lance exchanged a quick hug before Lance ran to his mom, a pretty brunette in her late thirties. As Lance was about to leave, he waved goodbye to his first, new, forever friend.

SEVEN YEARS BEFORE

Lillie Curts walked down the small dirt road leading to the square, her brothers' small, fragile hands slipped into either of hers. There was a cool breeze blowing through Nine today, clouds darkening across the sky, rain drops threatening to cascade out of the sky. 

It's the day of the Reaping, the one day a year no one has a smile on their face except District Nine's escort, Lyanna Hull, who is far too enthusiastic about this whole process. Hue Curts dragged his shoes through the dirt as if this would make time slow down. His small hand was slipped into Lillie's, which was smooth and warm. It was comforting having his sister beside him. 

Ma had requested for them to go ahead and she would meet them in the back, left hand corner of the square, their normal spot to observe the Reaping. Hue was grateful he still had six more years before his name was added to the many in the glass bowl which sat atop the stage next to the girl's one. Harris Curts was feeling the same pang of relief his twin was. As was Lillie. The Curts siblings stopped in front of a small gray house with a dark, rust colored door. Hue and Harris bent down and drew pictures in the dirt. Small stick figures, trees, birds, wheat.

"Be careful not to ruin your Reaping shirts," Lillie reminded them. "And be sure to run over them with the bottom of your shoe once we leave. The Peacekeepers wouldn't like that very much." Lillie lowered her voice at the last part even though no one was around. 

The rust colored door creaked open causing the siblings to glance down the small path swerving up towards the door. Four figures shuffled out the door. Lance Goodens smiled at his best friend as he ushered his sisters out the door. He thought Lillie looked beautiful as always in her pale blue sundress that went down to her knees. Her sandy brown hair was falling down her back about half way, and had a small braid weaved through it. Lance realized he had probably been staring for too long and averted his vision to his sisters. 

Asia Goodens, the oldest girl of the Goodens family wore a pale strawberry colored dress with a sash across her small waist. Her hair was in a series of intricate braids, all weaved into a small bun. Her leather sandals slapped against the dirt road as she walked down the path leading from their house. She had a slight bounce to her step, mostly because she felt as if she had no reason to worry since she still had three more years before her slip was added to the mix of children. 

Jolie Goodens ran, her wavy, olive green dress flowing behind her, sandals slapping against the sidewalk, light brown hair billowing behind her. She ran to her best friends in all of Panem, Hue and Harris Curts. She flung her arms around Hue, the closest, and then did the same to Harris. They were each wearing forest green, button down shirts and had their messy hair flopping into their eyes every so often. Hue and Harris smiled as their best friend Jolie wrapped them each in a hug. There was a slight pink tinge added to Harris' cheeks but it went unnoticed by all. 

Elle Goodens, the youngest of all of them, stood with her hand in Lance's like he was a life line. She had no idea what was going on even though they had repeated this process last year. And the year before that. And the year before that. One day. Get all fancy. Mother and Lance get super nervous. The lady with the big poofy hair comes upon the gray stage and reads off two names. Elle never saw those kids again. 

Last year, Ava Thomas got picked, she helped out at the Pre-school, and Elle never saw her at school again. She didn't want to come across rude by asking what happened to her so she kept her mouth shut. Being only five, she had not one reason she should feel this nervous but she had tingles running through her body. 

After the greetings, the group made their way down the path a bit more to another small house with a brown door. Lance's face fell slightly when he saw their destination but shrugged it off. 

Lakely Vanders bounded out of their small, beat up house, her purple dress, the color of lavenders, her favorite flower, flowing loosely around her knees. Behind her followed her four siblings. 

Jonah Vanders was wearing a black button up shirt and his messy, dark brown hair was falling along his forehead. Jonah's face was stone cold to the others but inside he was having a panic attack. Battling inside his head like two childish kids fighting over a toy. One side of his brain was telling him to relax and he won't get picked as he didn't the last six years. The other side was also worrying but about something completely different. This side was wondering what will happen if Tatum gets picked. Or Cleo. Or even worse, what if himself and one of his sisters' names gets plucked from the large glass bowl. But the odds weren't in their favor. 

Jonah and Tatum, trying to replace their dead father and sick mother, had taken all the tesserae possible to help carry their family. Although it had worked, and they were all decently fed, Jonah now had 46 slips that read his name in that bowl while Tatum, who had been recently rejected by Jonah to receive any more tesserae, had 32. Cleo, who had been banned from receiving any tessare had one slip amongst the thousands. 

Lakely, unsure really of what was happening, pulled her best friend and her crush into a tight group hug. Lakely had always known that her and Lance were destined for each other. Even their names started with the same letter. Lakely noted that Lillie also started with an L but ignored it as if it was just an unknown blade of grass among millions. 

What also went unnoticed was the way Lance looked at Lillie. Whenever he even glanced at her, his eyes would light up like the stars and his lips would turn upwards in a smile. A slight blush creeped along his face whenever she came into his view. Lillie of course was oblivious to the whole thing. 

The group made their way to the small square in the center of town. On all the other days of the year, the square was a beautiful place, soft gray cement tiles laid in a pretty pattern that danced across the ground, vivid assortments of flowers lined up the sides, wrapping around it like a hug. 

On this day though, the light gray color turned as dark as the sky, the tiles seemed to slow their dancing into a death march, the flowers losing their color, looking dead. The small cluster of anxious children arrived at a scene of four long lines wrapping around the outside of the square. In those lines were children in their best clothes, those laid out specifically for this day, full of pale blues and yellows, as if trying to brighten up a dead looking square. 

The children joined the end of the shortest line, which even that was a bit long. Hue tugged on his sister's pale blue sundress, trying to gain her attention. Lillie turned to her brother, his eyes were nervous and scared, the blue color seemed to be in the process of dying as they grew less and less vibrant.

"What is it Hue?" Lillie asked sweetly, bending down to her brother's height. Hue stuttered over his words.

"What-what if- what if Lakely's siblings get picked? They're old enough right?"

"Yes, they are old enough but that doesn't mean they will get picked. They don't have that many slips." Lillie was also trying to convince herself of that fact.

"How many?"

"Not that much Hue."

"How many Lillie?" Hue repeated, eyes full of determination. Lillie sucked in a breath before continuing her sentence. She glanced down at her star speckled bracelet finding comfort in toying with it.

"Jonah has 46. Tatum has 32. Cleo has 1." Hue's eyes widened. "But they will be fine Hue, there are some people with at least 60." Lillie knew of one singular person with sixty and that was an eighteen year old too nervous to volunteer but wanted to get picked for some weird reason. She wrapped her brother in a big hug before the line lurched forward. 

They inched toward the front, the anticipation acting as if time slowed down. When they finally reached the front, they felt as if they might throw up right there in front of everyone. The worker, who was sitting on a stool with a small finger prick tool in her hand, gestured for Lillie to come forward. Her hand left Hue's grasp as she stepped up to the worker. The worker inserted the tool to draw some blood and Lillie was too blinded by nerves to flinch. 

Hue had brought up a good point. While herself, Hue, Harris, Lakely, Lance, Asia, Jolie, Elle and Jackie didn't have a slip entered in the glass bowl, Jonah, Tatum, and Cleo had one. Lillie Curts flashed across the screen in dull blue letters and Lillie was ushered on so the next person could be counted present. Lillie waited until their group had all been counted present and they made their way down the small dirt path. 

The square was already filled with children when they advanced. On one side, the boys, all sorted into different age groups, and on the other side, the girls, sorted into the same. And in the back, the people who were either too young or too old to be Reaped. The group stood in the exact middle of the square and glanced cautiously at each other.

"Well," Tatum said, breaking the silence that had fallen. "I wish you all the best of luck, even though y'all ain't eligible. May the odds be ever in our favor," she said, mimicking Lyanna Hull, District Nine's escort. They all laugh, a half hearted one though before departing for their sections. 

Hue, Harris, Jolie, Lakely, Lance, Lillie, Jackie, Asia, and Elle walked back to the small corner on the left hand side where Pria and Estelle were already chatting quietly. The mothers welcomed the group. Pria gripped her sons' hands as Lillie chatted softly with Lance. 

Lakely watched Lance and Lillie, a pang of something she had never felt before, flying through her body like butterflies. Lakely, who had never felt even a slight wave of jealousy in her life, was wondering what in the world would she possibly be feeling right now. 

Jolie tried to start up a conversation with the twins and Harris happily joined in while Hue stayed quiet, thinking about the odds and how they were certainly not in their favor. Asia talked with Jackie and Elle, comforting the small five year olds. Suddenly, Lyanna Hull's obnoxiously high pitched voice rang out through the square, silencing any started conversations.

"Welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" Lillie rolled her eyes at the escort. Lyanna had her carefully styled, poofy, light green hair piled atop her head with a giant, fake frog sitting in the middle. Her green dress had a ridiculous amount of frills and her eyebrows were dyed the same color as the twins' shirts. 

The mayor, Yasmine Jaspers, shared a quick speech and the next thing everyone knew, Lyanna was sticking her almond colored hand into the glass bowl to her right. Her hand felt around a bit, trying to find the perfect slip, before selecting one and bringing it out. She slowly opened the slip, her emerald colored lips turning into a smile, as she whispered the name to get the feel of it in her mouth. 

"The female tribute representing District Nine in the 67th annual Hunger Games is Tatum Vanders!" The crowd grew dead silent as Tatum walked, confidently but unsure, up to the gray stage. Lakely's soft smile fell, her eyes on the brim of a waterfall. Tatum stood next to Lyanna, glancing at her feet. "Wonderful, any volunteers?" That was the moment everything took a turn for the worst, as if it already hadn't.

"I volunteer!" a squeaky voice called. (MAY 21 A/N: NO WHAT IS WRONG WITH OLD ME WHYD I DO THAT) The group in the back left hand corner's mouths fell. Cleo Vanders walked bravely up to the stage, the crowd gasping at the sight of a volunteer, a twelve year old nonetheless.

"No!" Cleo what are you doing?!" Tatum cried, running to her sister. Tears were cascading down her cheeks. "Cleo! Please take it back! You can't go! I can't lose you!" Cleo wrapped her arms around Tatum, though they only went around her waist. She whispered something in her ear in which none of the square could hear. Tatum nodded slowly. 

Time seemed to have stopped for everyone in the square, especially for those in the back left hand corner. Peacekeepers arrived at the touching scene and escorted Tatum away, she screamed and kicked, but it was no use. Cleo, not regretting her decision even slightly, walked up the stairs, her pale yellow dress blowing in the soft, gentle breeze. As she took her place next to Lyanna, she whispered to herself that she did the right thing. Lyanna, still in a slight state of shock, recovered just as quickly and continued the Reaping.

"Splendid! I believe we have our first ever volunteer! And what is your name dear?" Cleo took a breath before answering.

"Cleo Vanders."

"Well Cleo, I'd bet that was your sister correct?" Cleo nodded. "Let's give it up for our first ever volunteer and our female tribute representing District Nine, Cleo Vanders!" No one clapped. 

In the back, Lillie put her three middle fingers to her lips and then held them out in the air. The rest of the square followed. Cleo smiled brightly on the inside, knowing at least her town cared. Lyanna took the action as a sign to move on and she slipped her hand into the boy's. "And now for the boys!" her shrill voice called out. This time she selected the slip quicker. She snatched one from the side and brought it out. She unfolded it, tested the name in her lips and then smiled sweetly, almost a smirk just not quite. 

"The male tribute that will be representing District Nine in the 67th annual Hunger Games is Jonah Vanders!" In the back left hand corner Lakely collapsed, fainted of one presumed. Two of her siblings would be sent to fight for the death in the 67th Hunger Games.

➿➿➿➿➿➿➿

All televisions in Panem were tuned to the games. Jonah and Cleo Vanders talked quietly with their stylists, about to be raised into the arena.

"10 seconds before launch," a monotone voice called over the speakers. Cleo started breathing heavily.

"Hey, hey, you will do fine. Don't go to the Cornucopia, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction. Hide, find water, don't eat anything if you're unsure if it's poisonous or not. And just.... Try to survive. I believe in you," her stylist Treelee said, looking into the girl's deep brown eyes. 

Cleo nodded and stepped into the cold glass tube that would take her to her death most likely. Treelee flashed a thumbs up and the tube sealed shut and was raised into the arena, a forest type place, where all of the 23 others were. Cleo wiped her sweaty palms on her leggings, a part of her outfit for the games which went along with a dark gray shirt with a black jacket over it. Her hair was pulled into a singular French braid down her back. Cleo took in her surroundings as the luminous orange countdown flashed above the cornucopia.

10. Jonah was about five podiums down from her.

9. The boy from six was to her right.

8. The muscular boy from Two was two podiums away from Jonah.

7. Her new ally, Denise, was right next to the muscular guy.

6. Would it be easier if she just stepped off the platform early, killing herself from the bomb that would go off?

5. Jonah made eye contact with her.

4. Don't go, she mouthed to him.

3. Denise made eye contact with her and she mouthed to run.

2. Terrifyingly, the frightening girl from One that was good with an arrow was right next to her on her left.

1. Cleo blinked hard.

Gong. 'Oh may the odds be ever in our favor.' Cleo thought. 

Back in nine, The Curts, the Vanders, at least what was left of them, and the Goodens huddled around a small television in The Curts' house. Estelle and Pria were seated in two chairs, pulled close together and were biting on their nails which were already stubby. Lakely and Asia were seated on the floor, closest to the television with Jackie and Elle on each of their laps. Jackie and Elle didn't really know what was going on but Jackie's head tilted to the side when the screen flashed with the image of Cleo on the podium and then when it switched to Jonah. Hue and Harris were sitting on one of the two small couches with Jolie hanging on the back. Jolie wondered if she would ever see Cleo or Jonah again. Lillie and Lance were on the other couch and Lillie was gripping onto Lance's arm like a lifeline when the gong went off. 

Cleo turned around and sprinted the opposite way of the Cornucopia. An arrow whizzed past her head barely missing her ear. She glanced back and saw the girl from One with her bow reloaded aiming it her way. Cleo ducked again and it whizzed into the side of a tall tree. Cleo kept running and the arrows stopped and Cleo suspected the District One girl either ran out or thought she wasn't worth it. 

Jonah, going against Cleo, Maylee, and his stylist's suggestions, sprinted for a spear, his main weapon which was close to him. A knife, thrown by the small girl from District Two, flew in front of his face, so close to his nose it seemed like it was threatening to cut it off. Jonah knew immediately this was a terrible idea. Back home, Lillie yelped when Cleo's eye almost got taken out by the girl from District One. Lakely yelled out when Jonah ran towards the Cornucopia instead of the other way as his mentor had told him.

"No! What are you doing!" She screeched, sitting upright. "OH MY GOODNESS HE ALMOST DIED!" She burst into tears as Asia patted her back comfortingly. The screen switched to kids getting slaughtered by the Careers. Lillie turned her face into Lance's shoulder, hiding it so she didn't have to watch. Lance blushed a soft pink color but wrapped his arm around her in a comforting manner. 

In the arena, Jonah tripped over a large rock and did a sort of somersault, landing on his feet, before continuing on. Finding his target, he snatched the spear up and grabbed the small pack which laid next to it. He felt a sharp pain in his left ear and he whipped around to find a small black haired boy from District Three. His hand flew to his injured ear and felt no ear at all. (MAY 21 A/N: GEORGE WEASLEY WHO?)

"I ALWAYS KNEW DISTRICT THREE WAS STUPID!" Lakely yelled, eyebrows furrowing. Jonah was quick to react and whipped out his spear and stabbed the boy in the stomach, his bright green eyes welcoming the darkness. Lakely tightened up. 

Her brother had just killed someone. Yes, it was the Hunger Games and you had to kill to survive but it still seemed unreal to her. Jonah quickly ran out of the arena, jumping over dead bodies as he went. The cameras flashed on each of the dead tributes. 12 in all. 

Lance tapped Lillie's shoulder, giving her the all clear. She lifted her head and jumped off the couch and walked over to Lakely who was crying on the floor. She wrapped her arms around her, letting her soak her t-shirt with tears. The odds weren't in their favor and they knew it.

➿➿➿➿➿➿➿

The second day of the games was uneventful, as was the third. As was the whole first week. But the ninth day was one everyone in Panem would remember. Cleo and Denise had been together the whole time, sleeping up in trees at night, attempting to hunt for food during the day. Jonah had been by himself but following the Careers, but going unnoticed by them. Although it wasn't too useful, he had learned their names. 

The District One girl's name was Ivory and she had platinum blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail. She had bright emerald green eyes and as Jonah had seen before, when she almost took Cleo's eye out, she was good with a bow and arrow. 

The District One male was short and scrawny but was the only one who knew how to wield a spear. Apparently, the career districts weren't taught how to use a spear in the training which lasts their whole life. This boy's name was Fern but they called him Pipsqueak, hence his body. He had chocolate colored hair and deep almond colored eyes. 

The District Two girl who had almost cut off his nose had ebony colored hair pulled into two braids going down her back. Her name was Quinn and she had eyes that were the color of grass. Her pale skin was dotted with freckles and looked to be about 14 but Jonah knew better than to judge by people's size. 

The muscular dark skinned boy from District Two's name was March and he looked more man like than boy like. He had black cropped hair and hazel eyes. He seemed to be good at everything, with the exception of a spear, and he certainly showed it at training. 

The group had initially had the girl from District Three, a tall about seventeen year old with dark hair and tan skin who was good with a sickle, and a boy from District Four with curly blonde hair and deep blue eyes who was excellent with a trident, however the Careers had declared them useless, after the girl had failed to keep watch and fell asleep outside their camp, leading the Careers to slit her neck while she was sleeping, and when the boy fell and broke his leg and could barely walk, the Careers cut his leg off and left him there to die in pain. 

Cleo had learned a lot about Denise. The small olive skinned girl was from District Eleven and was 13 years old, just a year older than Cleo. She had shiny black hair and eyes the color of the clouds during a storm. She shared she had two brothers, both older, who both had the same ebony colored hair like her. 

Calvin, the oldest, was 19, just out of the Reaping age, and Willis, who was just three years older than Denise, had been Reaped last year but had luckily received a volunteer. Denise worked well with a sword and was able to climb trees. Cleo was able to wield a knife pretty well and was decent at climbing trees as well. 

Cleo and Denise thought this would be a breeze. They thought they wouldn't have to kill anybody and just hide up in a tree the whole time. And when it came down to them in the end, they would simply refuse to kill each other. Little did they know, it would certainly not be that easy. 

On the ninth day, Denise and Cleo ventured down from their tree, a large oak, to visit the stream which was a small, couple minute walk away. They could hear the water before they saw it and they jogged the rest of the way. Cleo cupped her hands and brought the cold, fresh, water to her dry lips. Denise did the same. Unfortunately for them, they didn't hear the footsteps drawing closer and closer behind them. 

Back in Nine, Lakely was horrified. Her sister was about to die. She felt like she wasn't breathing. Maybe she wasn't breathing. Lillie's eyes didn't blink the entire time. Either too nervous or she wanted to see Cleo for the last time. Lance watched the four girls, the two onscreen and the two offscreen. His eyes were dull and sad. Seeing people he loved hurt could never feel good.

"Well, well, well," a voice said from behind Cleo and Denise. Cleo's heart stopped. Not literally of course but that would soon happen too. They whipped around and slowly pulled out their weapons, a knife and a sword. But even that wasn't enough to take on four Careers, armed Careers as a matter of fact. 

Jonah peered down from a tall tree he didn't know the name of. Cleo was always better at that kind of stuff anyways. He was horrified. His sister was about to get killed right in front of his eyes. The Careers had the girls backed into a wall of rock, no escape for them. 

March pulled out a large ax. Where he got it from, Jonah didn't know. He hadn't seen an ax at the cornucopia so the producer of this weapon was unknown. Cleo and Denise clung to each other. This was it. This was where they died. Maybe dying wasn't so bad. Cleo would get to see her father after all. 

Cleo had always had a strong connection to her father. When she came home to the Peacekeepers dragging him away for crimes unknown to her, it had been the worst day of her life. Most people would put the day they died first, if it was painful, but Cleo decided not to. At least now if she died she couldn't feel the pain anymore. 

March held the ax above his head, ready to strike when someone yelled out from the trees. Cleo's eyes widened. No. Jonah leapt from his hiding spot in the tree with a spear in hand. The same one he had gotten from the cornucopia not even nine days before. He came down on March's skull and in a matter of seconds, there was a cannon. Jonah attacked Pipsqueak who collapsed to the ground, blood covering his chest. Another cannon. 

He was about to swing for Ivory when a knife cut his head clean off. Jonah Vanders was dead. Another cannon. Quinn smirked at her kill. But while all this had been happening, anger was brewing inside of Cleo. This girl had killed her brother. Her brother. He should've lived way longer, and he would not die without revenge. 

It all was a blur. The clean cut of Ivory's head which rolled off her body like a rag doll, the knife that impaled Quinn in the heart. Cleo stepped back, quaking violently. Two more cannons boomed into the early morning. She had killed someone. Her brother was dead. They had advanced to the final three. 

In Nine, Lakely screamed in agony. Her only brother, dead. Lillie's eyes remained unblinking, watching the chaos that unraveled itself before her eyes. Lance didn't know what to do. Lakely was writhing on the ground, tears cascading down her face like a waterfall, soaking the ragged carpet she was on. 

The next five minutes were even more terrible. Out of nowhere, the District Six boy sprinted out of the trees, cutting Denise's head off in a matter of seconds. Cleo jumped and tried to pull out her knife. There was no possible way she could manage to kill him. He had to be at least 17 and was five times stronger than Cleo. 

The District Six boy confirmed his winning of the games with the slice of Cleo's head. The cannon went off and the 67th Hunger Games drew to a close. And Lillie made a silent promise to herself that she would train secretly so if she got picked, she would protect her District partner at all costs.

CHAPTER ONE ~ NOT IN OUR FAVOR

(LILLIE CURTS POV)

"Lillie."

"Hmm?"

"How many?"

"What?"

"How many slips do you have?" I bit the inside of my cheek and could taste the blood dripping from the cut. It was a nervous habit.

"Hue, we went over this last year. And the year before. And all the other years. I'm not going to get picked and neither are you."

"When you said that seven years ago, Cleo and Jonah went into the games. And now look what happened." I gave him a scolding look.

"Don't bring that up. And we'll be fine. I only have one more year anyway. And you and Harris only have one slip in the bowl."

"Expect the unexpected," Hue said, shrugging. He walked away, back to his twin brother, Harris. I grumbled an argument and continued braiding pieces of dead grass in our front lawn. The Reaping is scheduled to begin at 2:00 giving us three hours from now to get ready.

woah i kind of ate with this one, high five to younger me