The Island of Madness

Chapter 1 prt 1

Today is the day.

I've been trying not to think about it, but everyone was so quiet at work today. No one sang, not even the birds... There's always someone singing. But not on reaping day. Reaping day is always quiet.

I collapse onto the sturdy stool in Aidan's workshop. The only light was the dim sunrise leaking through the walls and the glow of the embers emanating from the forge.

"Aaliyah! Tough day at work?"

I shake my head and slick back my sweaty hair out of my face. "10 hour night shift, things could be worse I guess," I breathe.

He smiles and shakes his head. What is he making today? Looks like the usual- some squamous, sharp piece to something, or tool that someone needs somewhere. There's always a need to fill, and Aidan happens to be one of the few that can fulfill these ones.

Aidan and I have known each other for years. I don't remember meeting him, we were tiny. He's my best friend. Maybe more than that... I don't think about that half of it often, though. Aidan is a light skin, pure. I'm a mixed skin. I get plenty of looks already. Thinking about our relationship doesn't give me much relief. Light skins on their own aren't the most liked type around here, but Aidan is an acception. His parents come from way up North. They sailed down to this miserable place. Aidan was born on the way. He's a upania. That gets respect here.

"Can you come feed this?" Aidan steps away from the forge and goes to the anvil, letting me take over at the bellows, pumping the air with my foot as I watch him pound away at the glowing metal.

Minutes of time pass as I sit listening to the metallic bangs, and my thoughts start eating my brain. Thoughts are dangerous. I clear my throat.

"So... how many slips do you have?" I ask loudly. He pauses.

"Just seven. I don't need tesserae."

I already knew that. I just needed to make sure. Still, seven feels like a lot.

"What about you?"

I quickly try to work out the math in my head. I do 3 tesserae for my dad, grandma and I every year. I'm 17 so that's been 6 years that i've been doing tesserae. That's 18 slips, and then another 6 for my regular amount...

"Twenty-four. It could be worse. I'm lucky that my family isn't bigger..." I say. Twenty-four is still twenty-four more slips than I would like. I would die if I got put in the games. Without a doubt. We have only had one person win from 11, and that was luck all on its own. Although I am probably one of the most fit and able girls in my age group. I don't have experience but I do have the health and body for it...

"Yeah, you'll be fine. You've been fine for six years."

He's right.

"Plus, I don't think they would let the hardest worker in 11 go," he says with a wink.

That's true too. Well, not entirely. I pick up all hours I can get. I love to work. It keeps me from having to deal with everything else in this miserable world. I get paid for it too. Not a lot.... At all... But it's still something. The only reason I haven't dropped dead in the fields like a lot of the others is because of the orchard. But then again, that could kill me too.

"Says you," I chuckle.

Aidan and his Dad, Caelan, known to others as Diyan and Chisulo, are the only blacksmiths in 11. They're necessary to our functioning as a district, what with all of the tools and equipment we use. Aidan and Caelan have a steady work flow, and because they're separately hired by the Capitol, they get bigger wages than the field and cattle workers. Aidan has to enter his name every year, but part of me wonders if the capitol actually puts it in to draw... Even if they did, I like to believe his odds would be good. He's well over 100 pounds and almost a head taller than me. He's huge, even compared to a good sized man here in 11.

Aidan laughs. "Don't worry about it, okay? I won't get picked, and you won't either. We're too indispensable."

I wish it worked that way.

"Ashanti!" I whip around. An area friend, Masozi, waves her hand at me urgently. "Your father wants you. You need to get ready fast, or you'll be late, dada.

I reluctantly step out from behind the protective walls in the forge area and wave to Aidan. "See you soon."

Aidan smiles sadly, but it quickly turns to a stupid grin. Then, in his horrendous Capitol accent, he mocks, "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" 

...

Hello Ghost Readers!

My sister and I are very excited to put out this new book. Her chapter is coming next. I hope you enjoy this story as much as we enjoy/ed writing it! 

(( I do not own The Hunger Games - all rights reserved to Lions Gate and Suzanne Collins))

((I do not own chapter photo- unknown artist credit))