Odds in my Favor

Chapter 1

The rebellion is over.
The capitol has won, and put us back in our districts.
Katniss and Peeta Mellark are missing.
My parents are dead.
They are executing Haymitch in the square of district twelve today. Tomorrow is the reaping of the 82 annual hunger games.
The capitol has sworn to make us pay.
There is no chance that me or my twin brother Brody will be picked. We're just twelve.
None of these thoughts seem to help me. I glance over at Brody who is still asleep, and decide I should get up.
I pull on old black leggings and boots. I pull on an old big jacket and quickly head out the door.
I head to the garbage heap, where I know I can find what I'm looking for.
I wonder about the hunger games. I wonder what unlucky tributes will be picked.
I never lived during the rebellion, I was born the year after it ended. How unlucky is that? I guess you could say the odds aren't in my favor.
One I reach the dumpster I pick up a rock, any rock will work. I walk quietly over to a place where I know that I can make a catch.
I hear a faint squeaking from under an old boot I lift it up and find nothing under it.
I find a mouse with six babies. My heart can't bring me to kill this mother. No one else would understand. How can they? I know what if feels like to lose someone I love. I was told
My parents were killed right after Brody and I were born. At least, that's what I was told.
I gently set the boot back down, not wanting to look back in.
I understood the scared look in their eyes. I walk over and lift up a trash can lid and find a big fat rat under the lid. This will do.
I bring down the rock as hard as I can, crushing the rats scull.
I pick up the limp body and put in my bag.
Security has tightened a lot since the rebellion. The gates are highly electric, which shuts out the idea of hunting.
I've heard that Katniss used to sneak under the gate, and catch all kinds of animals.
Lucky! I've been living off rats for as long as I can remember.
Next I go to the small patch of grass that has grown under the fence.
A few lint leaves are among the grass, not to mention a dead possum. It worked!
I had set out poison, seasoned with possum bait. I don't know how he got over the gate, but it's not a problem to me.
I pick it up, hoping the meat isn't poisoned. But that isn't my problem. It's the bakers. No one will trade for a rat, but I can get a lot out of a possum.
I jog to the hob, where business is starting to come out. I have a long talk with a cranky old man, and I manage to get a half loaf of bread for the possum.
I walk home to find Brody whittling on a piece of wood. He quickly puts it away when I come in. I know he whittles when he gets nervous.
"Do you have warm water?" I ask.
He nods in reply and picks up a lot of steaming water.
I crush up the mint leaves while he goes outside and skins the rat.
When he returns I have put the mint leaves in the soup and he adds the rat meat and boils it again, cooking the rat.
I cut the bread while he divides the soup into two bowls, leaving plenty for later.
We haven't eaten this well and days, and we make quick work of the food.
We are just picking up the food to store when we hear a knock on the door.
Brody answers it to see a peacekeeper standing there.
"We request everyone in the square and three this afternoon for the execution of Haymitch. If anyone isn't there we will find them."
He closes the door and moves onto the next house.
I feel an empty feeling as Brody and I walk to the square, with the other members of district twelve.
Haymitch is being dragged past us, and he doesn't look well.
He is brought to the middle of the square, where there is complete silence. Somehow I have been pushed to the front the crowd, only a few feet away from Haymitch.
"Any last words?" One of the peacekeepers roars.
"Yes," Hatlymitch answers steadily.
Then his head turns towards me and Brody.
"You are our last hope! You are our only hope! Do you know who you are? You are-!"
A gunshot goes off, then three more.
Haymitch is dead before he can finish his sentence.
Brody tightens his hand around mine, and quickly drags me away. He drags me back to our house in less than two minutes.
"Brody, was he talking to us? What does he mean?" I ask.
"I don't know, but it's not a good thing when crazy people are talking to you," Brody replies.
"He isn't crazy!" I disagree strongly. "He was part of the rebellion! He was telling the truth, and the peacekeepers knew what he was talking about. That's why they killed him before he could finish."
Brody considers what I say. But is still stubborn. We both are.
The rest of the day is passing quickly, and tomorrow is the reaping of the hunger games.
Brody and I lay down in bed, Haymitch's screams still ringing in our ears. But we can't focus on that now, we have another obstacle coming up. May the odds be ever in our favor.
(So what did you think of the first chapter? Be sure to comment, vote, and recommend this to your other friends if you enjoyed it
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