Hi, it's LeeAnn here! I'm trying my hands at another fanfiction, one that shouldn't fail.
This time it's Hunger Games themed, woo. I'm going to enter it in Computerfan's competition, and I'm not going to get last this time.
The 15th Hunger Games ~ Chapter 1
The sun shone through the windows of the miniscule apartment where Grace Cooper resided. District 8 was starting to awaken after a soupy slumber overnight. Its residents were beginning to stir out of their homes and into the streets, headed to work in the clothing factories. There was a twang of anxiety throughout the crowds, however. Tomorrow was the Reaping, the day when two teenagers would be picked from the District to participate in the Hunger Games; the yearly contest held in which 24 children would fight to the death and only one shall prevail. All of the kids between the ages of 12 and 18 were scared out of their wits, terrified that they would be picked and killed.
Grace awoke to a pot falling in the kitchen, where her sister Anna slept.
She's probably trying to make pancakes again... Grace thought, mentally laughing at the thought of her actually succeeding. Anna wasn't the best cook, being only seven and all. The two room apartment consisted of the bedroom and main room, and Anna had to sleep in the main room due to there only being enough room in the bedroom for Grace and her mother. Grace's mother was probably helping Anna, if she hadn't gone to work yet. Grace's mother had issues with responsibility, so Grace was typically the one who did most things in the home. She was actually pretty astonished that her mom wasn't still in bed. Marcie tended to be quite lazy and frequently had to be reminded on what to do. Grace made her way into the main room. "Hi!" she exclaimed, talking to Anna. "Where's Mom?"
"I think she went to work... she wasn't here when I got up." Anna responded, while going back to making pancakes.
"Oh, okay. Would you like some help with the pancakes?" Grace asked, while straightening her dress and attempting to comb her hair. "You should probably get ready for school as well. We need to leave soon." The faded wallpaper seemed to smile back at Grace in agreement.
"I guess." Anna then ran into the bedroom, shutting the old wooden door that was probably about 200 years old. Selecting the nicer looking of her two dresses, she began to dress herself, trying not to mess up her curly brown hair.
Grace glanced at the mess that little Anna had made. Pancake batter was splattered over the rose covered wallpaper and filthy white countertop. Flour appeared to be smeared on the seemingly ancient wooden cabinets, and there was what seemed to be egg on the floor.
Ugh, she thought, irritated. Her pale blue eyes turned dark and gloomy, like a storm out on the sea. Anna's apron had everything from flour to dirt on it, and Grace would have to hand wash it later, due to there being no time now. Sighing, Grace dampened a green rag and began to wipe up the disgusting pancake batter, which had attempted to harden. Next, she cleaned the cabinetry. Finally, she mopped up the egg. "Good enough for now," she remarked, grinning. "Anna! Come on, we're gonna be late for school!" Grace cried out.
"I'm coming! Give me a second!" Anna screamed, in her what was typically considered cute lisp.
Grace sighed, stomping into the room and dragging her out.
###
After school, Grace was talking with a group of girls. Each and every one of them were worried about the Reaping. They all went to the school in the poor area of town, so they had their name in extra times to get additional food and oil. Grace shook with fear, her purple skirt fluttering in the wind. Her face turned extremely pale. Somehow, she had a sense that she would be picked. Of course, who didn't? This was an extremely scary time, and that wasn't debatable. Grace was pondering what she would do if she was reaped. She probably would just hide during the Games and die of something stupid like infection or starvation. That is, if she wasn't killed in the bloodbath.
I wouldn't even grab anything from the Cornucopia. Just run and run and run and then die. If I somehow don't die, I'll hide, be found and die, or die on my own. What optimism. Her thoughts seemed sarcastic, but in fact they were rather accurate. That's what had been happening to District 8 kids all 14 Games before, and this time probably wouldn't be any different.
Ellie Connelly, one of the girls that Grace was chatting with, seemed extremely enthusiastic and was convensed if she got reaped, she would win. "I'll win the Games if I'm reaped. Really, it's easy. Just kill kill kill. I'm extremely athletic and strong, as well as smart. I know survival techniques. I'm also extremely skilled with several types of weapons; including bows, crossbows, swords, several types of guns, knives, both throwing and stabbing, as well as my fists. I've memorised many types of plants, including their uses as medicines and food. Picking which ones are poisonous? Pfft, that's extremely easy! Also, I'm fast. I've run a mile in 4 minutes. I've also studied the layouts of the Cornucopia and know where all the good loot is. Instead of being right in the middle, it's actually in the back left corner! Who thought of that? It's brilliant, in fact. I know how to make many types of shelters too. All in all, I would be the victor of the 15th Annual Hunger Games."
Grace, tired of this arrogance, walked home, holding Anna's hand. Their mother was still nowhere in sight, and it was almost eight o'clock. Grace sighed, and cooked a quick supper of soup and warmed up bread before sending Anna to bed. She then began working on her homework. After its completion, she did the wash. The old metal washbasin somehow had made it through all these years of use, and didn't seem to want to give up soon. The two filthy dresses that belonged to Anna were washed first. They both had so much dirt and grime on them it was nearly illegal. Grace's nice dress went through next, because it would need ironing in the morning. Her nails began to bleed after vigorously scrubbing the clothing against the washboard. "Ow," she remarked, before continuing her work. Soon, she went to find her absent-minded missing mother.
Excuse the lack of action and general lack of point in this chapter. Really, I was just setting the scene. I'll have a better chapter up tomorrow or Friday, and that should have the Reaping and parade thingy and stuff. I'm hoping that it'll be better. Anyways, CC welcome! I'm going to enter this in Computerfan's Competition. :3
Posted:
6/26/2013 3:49pm
