She Keeps Me Warm - A Hunger Games FanFiction

Chapter 1

 It was the day that she was reaped that I told her I loved her. I promised her that if she won then we would get married and be together forever. Nova won the 49th Hunger Games for me. To see me again. To marry me. I meant what I said. Our whole lives all I wanted to do was marry her. She's the love of my life. My whole world. The most beautiful thing to live in Panem. But I never told her how I felt until we had to say goodbye for the first time. I knew it wasn't goodbye. I knew the next time I would see her she would be a Victor. She could fight, hunt, swim, hide, anything. Her parents are rich and used to live in District 4 but when they got married they wanted something new, so they packed up and moved to 7. They taught her how to swim and fish and that came in handy during her games. The arena was mostly water, and fish was pretty much the only food source.

I can do some of those things, too. She taught me how to swim on our first date, right after her Victory Tour thingy, six months after her games. My mom taught me how to shoot a bow and arrow, she also taught me how to throw knives. Those were the only things going for me. Swimming and hunting. But I never once imagined I would have to hunt a human being.

That is, I never thought that until now.

I stood in the crowd listening to the District 7 escort give the speech about how the Games have been a chance for Panem to heal after the Dark Days. My beautiful girlfriend was sitting on a chair just behind the escort, Shell, just like she did last year as her first year of mentoring. (The 50th Games, 2nd Quarter Quell. Last year Haymitch  Abernathy from District 12 won.)

"As usual, ladies first," Shell said in her strange Capitol accent and walked over to the the bowl with a girls' names.

I looked up and made eye contact with Nova, to make sure it would be alright.

Shell reached into the bowl and pulled out a little slip, then walked back to the microphone.

I held my breath.

As she unfolded it a shocked look spread on her face. Shell has become a good friend of Nova. She knows who I am through her. And that perfectly explains the look on her face as she read the name. "Codie Reeves."

Nova went completely pale, she became the same color as Shell's hair. Perfectly white.

My name. She called my name. That's me. I'm Codie Reeves and I'm the female tribute for District 7.

Slowly, my legs started to move. I walked through the crowd and up on the stage. Once I introduced myself Shell sadly congratulated me and went to read off the boy's name.

"Erik McIntyre." A name I've never heard before.

Soon enough there was a boy onstage. He looked only a year or two younger than me. He had brown hair and brown eyes, he was tall and skinny. Average looking. Simple. You could tell we was not strong enough to get out of this but he looked determined. Already planning how to kill me, as I was doing to him.

"May the odds, be ever in your favor." Shell said and lead us off the stage.

This was when I could finally go to Nova and tell her it's okay. She was crying.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Shell and Erik, into a private room.

"How could it be you? Why is this happening?" She cried.

I hugged her. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Hey, I have the greatest mentor in these games. There's nothing to worry about."

She didn't seem to believe me. She just cried for a few minutes.

Soon Shell knocked on the door. "You two need to come out now so Codie can say her goodbyes."

I kissed Nova's forehead and walked out with her. We followed Shell to the goodbye rooms. Erik's family was already in his room saying goodbye. Mine was waiting for me.

My mom and my sister were there. Of course my dad wasn't. I've never met my dad. He left my mom and sister before I was born. My sister was only a year old, she doesn't remember him either. That's the only thing we have in common. Yet, some how we were close. We shared nothing. Mom says she's just like our dad and I'm like Mom. We don't like the same music, or people, or clothes, or anything. But somehow we found a way to bond over our M.I.A. father. We were best friends. She always saw the bright side of things.

"You're going to win. I know you will. You can hunt. It's no different," My sister, Missiah, told me.

"It's a huge difference."

"You can do it. Please. For me, and Nova."

I nodded. "I'll try."

Just then Mom came up. She told me she believed in me and knew I would win.

"Oh and I want to give you this," She said as she pulled out something from her small purse and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked as I took the little box.

"That's the ring. I think you should bring it with you, your token."

I nodded. "Yes, definitely." I smiled down at the box and opened it. A beautiful ring laid in it perfectly. I planned on proposing to Nova at the end of these games, because for the next three or four weeks she's going to be in the capitol getting sponsors for her tributes so she won't be home. Now I'm one of her tributes, and I may not come out of this alive.

"You wanted to give this to her after these games. You still will. As soon as you come home as a Victor you give this to her, got it?"

"I will."

Soon a Peacekeeper came in and told us our time was up. He escorted me out of the room and walked with me through a series of doors and hallways.

"Where are we going?" I ask to break the silence, even though I knew.

"The train to take you to the Capital."

I sighed.

Soon we boarded the train, where I was reunited with Nova and the rest of the team again. It was a luxurious train. Food so amazing I could die right here. But that's not what I focused on. This could be the last time I see my home. A few days from now I'll be in the Games, and no one knows what could happen to me there. I may never see Nova or Missiah or my mom again. This could be the last time I see District 7.

23 against 1. The odds are not in my favor.