Rue's Story (A Hunger Games Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 1- The Day Before

I dedicate this chapter to longlivebacon because she is awesome and I feel that she deserves this dedication. If you like Harry Potter Fanfictions, check out her story 'This Love is Ours'. Go Siley!! :)

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Chapter 1- The Day Before

I slipped out of my small house and into the fields where I was to begin my day of work. My dark skin was covered in a thin layer of dirt and a few leaves from the day before stuck out of my dark brown hair. Long shirt and short pants were also covered in a layer of grime. Here in District 11 we don't get to wash a lot of the time.

I quickly walked into the field and made my way over to the trees. I jumped up onto the lowest branch of the tree and started to gather the fruit that was growing on it. It didn't take me long to pick that tree clean and I began to work on the small berry patches. Looking over my shoulder, I checked to see if anyone was looking. Concluding that no one could see me, I took a small handful of the berries I had be picking and quickly shoved them into my pocket then quickly returned to putting berries in the basket.

I could feel the Peacekeepers stare on the back of my neck and thought that I had been caught. I continued working as if nothing happened but when the Peacekeeper walked by me and moved on to staring someone else down the row I couldn't help but let out a breath of relief.

As the day dragged on, I went back to picking fruit from the trees. I hummed quietly to myself and whistled short tunes to the mockingjays. While listening to them repeat my tune, I could almost forget that I was living in a severe state of poverty and any day I could be caught for scavenging food to feed my five younger siblings.

The sun began to sink below the horizon and I started to jump from tree to tree while whistling out a four note tune that signaled the end of the day. I felt as though I were a bird flying through the sky.

Swiftly jumping down from the bottom branch of the tree, I ran back to the Justice Building to get my share of grain and oil. I had to make sure I got there early because they never have enough for everyone.

When I arrived there were only two people in front of me. They both were similar to me in looks but both were full grown adults. We all stood silently in line and got our rations and left without even an acknowledgement that we had noticed the other.

I quietly and swiftly ran back home to be greeted by my mother's warm embrace. I handed her our ration of bread and oil before pulling out the berries I had picked out of my pocket.

"Oh Rue! You need to stop doing that, you could be killed for that."

"I can't just sit there and watch our family starve."

She just sighed and walked across the room to the small stove where a big pot stood boiling. Mom put the handful of berries into the boiling water and started to stir. I knew she wasn't going to push the argument any farther since she knew she couldn't with my logic.

I walked across the room and sat on the smaller of the two mattresses on the floor. Heather, my younger sister snuggled up to me. Although she is four and I am twelve, we still have a special bond. She looked up at me through her lashes and said, "Are you going to get chosen tomorrow?"

"No, I will be safe, and I will be here with you."

This seemed to calm her but I couldn't help but feel worried. My name is in only a few times but I could still be picked. But I had to stay positive for Heather, my other siblings and my mother.

Mom then called us for supper and I got my other siblings ready to eat. We each ate a small bowl of soup in silence, each lost in our thoughts.

A/n-- I hope all of you like this so far. I don't know if she has a sister or not. I only knew she had 5 younger siblings. I wanted Rue to have a special bond with one of her siblings.

Leave me some constructive criticism and thoughts on the chapter! And don't forget to vote and fan!

Special thanks to Crazzypurplegirl for looking this chapter over for me.

~Melz :)