The 68th Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 8

I carried the basket in my arms, walking with my coat drawn tight around me. It was bitter cold, and the frost was biting the end of my nose, forcing my teeth to chatter, but I knew these people were suffering more.

The border terrified me, but as the snow settled on the ground I knew that I had to overcome my fear and do the right thing. The walls of their houses were made of basic corrugated iron, and had barely any isolation, if any.

Eventually I came out the other end, my eyes resting on the sea which suddenly appeared as I started down some thin pebble made steps, grass poking up as the path turned from mud to sand. I walked along the market, stopping to talk to the odd person here and there. My favourite stalls were the ones that sold expensive fruits, which were clearly stolen from a capitol cargo. I smiled after walking down the street with my banana's.

I came to were the pier started, opposite my old house and Denzel's current one. I crossed the road, and knocked harshly on the door, trying to seem more confident than I actually was.

His mother came to the door, giving me a blank look before realising who I was. Recently, she had become more slow than she was before, the only thing she can remember are the name that the gods graced her with.

After a long winded conversation about the new baby Albert, she told me that Denzel was somewhere along the market, or could even be at the dome. I thanked her politely, before heading back down the market. It wasn't like Denzel to go to the market I didn't think, but then I saw him;

He was leant on the side of the bread stall, which sold some of my favourite seaweed breads and even sandwich's, which were pre made and came at a generous price. He was grinning, and fiddling with the side of his top, the way he often did when he was nervous before a running test, or before he was about to shoot. A girl was stood next to him, her hands clamped down her sides, and she was shuffling her feet awkwardly, looking very dreamy. She had a pale complexton and green eyes like Finnick's, but the same auburn hair as Albert and I. I knew I recognised her from somewhere, especially when she smiled. I knew she wasn't from the dome, as she didn't have the posture or frame from the constant and strenuous training, but looked fairly healthy from the warm glow in her cheeks. I wandered over, curiosity burning through me.

I pushed my hair out of my face and licked my lips, wondering if I looked OK. I so desperately wanted to impress Denzel, especially when another girl was there.

He noticed me before I'd even established a plan, and waved at me apprehensively, drawing the girls attention towards me too, her face dropping suddenly, but she didn't leave, but instead remained stood in her usual stance.

"Hey." I said as I approached, running my hand along Denzel's sleeve before looking over at the girl. Before I could stop myself, my mouth shot open, realising were I knew this girl from;

"he's obsessed with that school girl from the market."

Mrs Cresta made bread for district four, and was an old friend of my mothers, making her favourite prawn sandwich whenever she was nearby. The girl who was looking at me with a terrified expression, was her daughter, Annie. She was a school girl, and I knew that Denzel had an interest in her, remembering the past reaping where he join me as I walked down with the other girls, remembering how he'd always wanted to be near her.

I seem to always overlook the most obvious things. It's like I'm so self centred I cant even be bothered to notice significant things that are happening to my friends and family, unless they concern me. I nearly smacked myself with annoyance.

"I knew your brother... not as well as you of course... but well." Annie said, fumbling with her hands and sounding worried. "He was nice to me. Didn't deserve what he got."

"Nobody deserves that." I agreed in a kind voice, smiling at her to show I appreciated her condolences, before turning to Denzel. "I just wanted to say hi, but I dont want to disturb anything... I might see you at the dome on Monday.. bye."

I realised how awful I sounded as I dashed back along the border, stopping only once to help up someone who's fallen down on the floor. It was only a little boy, and he looked so hungry. I took the bread out of my bag, and layed it in his broken hands. Why should it be fair that the people in the capitol eat like kings for doing nothing all day, yet the people who did do the work get next to nothing.

Back in the victors village, I found myself at Coral's, playing with my little nephew. He made me laugh in so many ways, but moments after I'd look into his face and remember his father, thinking of him and how happy he would be. I remembered his words on the balancony about children, and smiled. I the end he'd got his wish.

But the all I could think about was Annie and Denzel, kissing the way I so desperately wanted to with him. Being Victor wasn't what it was cut out to be.