disbelief || a hunger games story

𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢

the room glowed from the capital-issued
projector. a young mother sat in the old
wooden chair resting in the corner of the room.
she rocked back and forth almost rhythmically
to the sound of the crackling of electricity.

a small girl with short, chestnut hair played
on the old wooden floor. seashells that
she collected the week prior with her
older brother littered the floor. her
small stubby hands stacked the
shells—one on top of the other—like a
capital child would their blocks. although she
was far too old to be playing like a young
child—her mother reminded her that
daily—the young eight-year-old would still
stack her shells as she had for as many years
as she could remember. the shells she
stacked with her brother.

a loud cough erupted from the mother's lungs as a
sandy blonde boy crossed the screen.
her daughter ran over to her mother's side
while handing the glass of
water over. the mother took a sip of the
water, choking slightly before swallowing.

the crowd on the projection erupted as the boy
spoke. the voice caused the girl to turn her head.

"brother!"

"hush," her mother croaked while placing a frail
hand over her child's mouth.

the strange man with orange hair spoke, "now,
you are quite a dashing young lad."

"you are as well, ceaser," the girl's brother said
with a charming smile. he wore a sea-green tunic
with tan dress pants. the little girl's expression
broke into a  smile as she saw him
wearing her favorite color.

"mummy, look!"

"i want to hear, my love," her mother responded.

"yes, mummy."

"now, tell us about yourself. you are only fourteen...
do you think you will become the next youngest victor?"

her brother shifted in his seat as to puff his
chest out, "ceaser, i don't think i would
be able to not come back to this lovely place."

cheers erupted again in favor of the young
boy. it was as if the young boy was filled
with more and more confidence as each
voice praised him.  the young girl was
filled with pride as she saw her dear
brother be praised.

the sandy blonde continued, "i'm incredibly good with nets, knots, all things with rope." he
paused to wink at the camera. the sister
knew nothing of what the meaning of the
wink could possess, but she found
amusement in it.

"my dear boy at such a young age you have quite
the charm... where did you learn such skills?
your family perhaps?"

the young girl smiled as she waited to be mentioned
by her brother. "yes, my father taught me
everything i know."

"your mother? siblings?"

"no, it is sadly just me and my father."

another deep sob erupted from the mother's chest
as the sister grew confused.

"my dear boy, i am so sorry. i do not know
what it would be like to be without a mother."

"it is difficult," the brother said on the screen as his
face grew sorrowful. "but, my father is
a wonderful parent. he's the reason i will
win this game."

the orange-haired man nodded before speaking
again, "i do assume a sibling would get rather
annoying."

the brother let out a hearty laugh. "yes, that
is one thing i am thankful for, i had no
sibling to annoy me growing up. just some
annoying friends."

tears flowed out of the mother's eyes
faster than the tide came in. with each sob,
anger grew within the little girl's chest. as her
brother stood up to wave the audience
away, the girl bidded the brother she
knew goodbye.

running over to the shells, she stomped on
ever last one—crushing them into pieces.

she was too young to fully understand,
but she was old enough to understand
the power behind the words.