Annaliese Sweeney // D1 // FIN

[Gryphon]

. annaliese sweeney ♕ 17 ♕ district 1 .

"Girls, breakfast is ready!"

A dark gaze of familiarity blinks back at me, brush in the grip of pale fingers and blonde locks are detangled at their command. They flow to my chest and back and shoulders like the white lace curtains around my bedroom window, open and sinking a cool breeze into my pores.

"Coming!"

Pop the pop of glossy red and blinking lids of glittery cream, I stretch the ends of my ribbon tie just once more for good measure before enveloping the clean tile in darkness, bristles to dresser and down the stairs I go. Turn the corner and there they are, the people who have my heart: Dad already dressed to the nines and ready for another shift 'til five, sis in baby blue with floral print and silver jewelry for accents, mom in canary yellow and a plaid apron, I take my seat and she sets a plate before me with a kiss to my forehead.

"Thanks, Mom!"

"Of course, honey."

Omelet stuffed with sausage, cheddar, and pepper, hashbrowns, a blueberry muffin, Mom's cooking was the best and I can't resist it God I gotta dig right the HELL IN--

"Whoa, Annaliese, slow down. You're gonna give yourself a stomachache."

"Sowwy, Dawd."

"Don't talk with your mouth full!"

Oops. Gulp. "Sorry."

"And Agnes, come on, put the book away."

He can be uptight but he has the best intentions, both of them do, so we listen and do our best to be the best daughters we can be.

Life can be rather scary, what with the annual battle to the death that we have to take part in and watch and all, but it's why I try not to take any of this for granted. No matter how much I complain about the minuscule details that bite at my nerves, a rhinestone falling off my skirt, Agnes and I fighting over the last cookie, the pile of worksheets I stare blankly at at my desk when the stars come out, we still have it so much easier than others and everybody knows it.

So I strive to do better in taking responsibility for myself.

We finish our food and it's time to head out the door, just another day, Dad off to that jeweler's place and sis and I to another round of lessons and ringing bells and gossip, but before we go does Mom give us one more kiss and a hug, Dad's hands then to our shoulders and connecting our gazes directly.

"Good luck, you two. We love you. May the odds be ever in your favor."

Agnes nods, I only blink in confusion because this didn't make any sense? Why is he saying that, why are they doing this? It wasn't already Reaping Day yet, was it? The 81st is still going on.

Something falls to my gut but I find myself turning around and striding over to the square with her anyway, watching her shuffle around that deck of Tarot cards she has as explanation of today's universal forecast for us mostly floats through one ear and out the other.

(It wasn't that I didn't care though, I found it interesting too; she was just a lot smarter than I am. I don't know why I spaced out.)

Everything turns to white noise and what lies ahead of me is a blur of colors, before I know it we clear a path for ourselves through the crowd and take our places.

My heartbeat thuds like a drum, I scan the area but everyone remains unrecognizable besides the two of us. What started out as just another day was suddenly taking an ominous route, I don't know how and I don't know why but I could feel it with my morning meal.

My ears hone in on the clacking of her heels up the steps and towards the microphone, everything seems to be going so slow now and that's all I can hear and focus on is the escort emerging from the sea of bodies into recognition as she then brings plum-colored lips to it.

"It is time, to once again send two of our own children to the Capitol to compete in the Hunger Games. Let us begin the Reaping!"

I'm so scared. Why am I so scared?

"Ladies first,"

Ghostly fingers and lavender nails into our glass ball, paper rustling around, she's sure taking her time with this one and being extra fastidious about this (did I even use that word right?). Finally it emerges out into the air with the simplest death certificate that can ever be given out, and from her lips leaves the name of--

"Agnes Sweeney!"

...I know why.

Because the odds were never in our favor.

The stars have aligned to torture us all and punish the very girl that worshipped them, so cruel--God it was so fucking cruel--and all at once does everything return to real-time, faces now distinguishable.

The cards scatter to the floor and sis looks up with absolute horror, right to me and me to her, I can already feel myself tearing up and then the men in white try to snatch her.

"NO," I scream, grabbing onto her hand and holding on with all my might, the shadows of Emberly and Clementa Lowe loom over me and my world begins to crumble to dust. "YOU CAN'T GO! IT CAN'T BE YOU, SOMEBODY HELP!"

A proud District, one that breeds Careers, one where volunteering is an honor and not a suicide wish, yet not a single soul speaks up.

This wasn't supposed to be our future.

Mom and Dad were going to grow a happily old couple, watching us find true love and get married and visit each other at our jobs; she was gonna follow Dad's footsteps and open up a store for both the gems and the galaxy. I want to be a tailor, I was going to come consult her for more readings and she could stop by if she needed anything fitted or made or...

...now she's slipping away.

And as we're finally separated do I find myself falling, fallingfalling, she's made to turn away and stand for all of Panem to see, I now want to scream

(I VOLUNTEER I VOLUNTEER I VOLUNTEER I VOLUNTEER--)

but I can't. I can't. It won't come out of my throat.

Rivers down to my chin and I can't bear, I squint my eyes closed, throw my hands to my ears as the last thing I hear is beeping.

beeping.
beeping.

beeping.



bee

ping.
beeping.
bee--

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

"Ah, goddAMMIT--"

An arm flails to shut that alarm clock up and instead I tumble over and to the floor. Eyes wide, few strands of frizz over them, why did I do that.

Shock subsides and I get up, peering around before stepping into the shower.

The smell of Mom's cooking wafts through the open door by the time I come out, getting my skincare routine and outfit and make-up bag in order when I hear the door to Agnes' room open.

I sneak a glimpse and see her in mint green with a cotton candy pink cardigan, an emerald around her neck.

I breathe out a deep sigh of relief.

So it was a dream.

To the mirror I go, applying what I usually do then throwing on my striped crop top and high-waisted skirt. Fix my hair and pretty myself up, and now I leave for the dining room.

Mom's dress was different too, as was Dad's suit. We were served blueberry crepes with french toast and deviled eggs. Agnes didn't have a book with her this time.

...So it was a dream.

Another one.

I don't know why, but since last year, I've been starting to have them. They felt so real, and the craziest part was that most of the time...they were coming true.

It's usually small things, but so specific: new clubs at school. What Mom was gonna cook for dinner. Dad getting a raise. But a few nights ago, I instead found myself in the shoes of Saturn Rhodon, the current male tribute from here, as he took on four of the others. I thrusted a spear into the eyes of one of them, and not long after did I feel blades across my skin.

And then everything went black.

As I took my time with what was on my plate, I glance at my sister doing the same.

I wish I could tell her this one.

She got to find out about those other dreams--including the one with Saturn--but I feel like I can't say a word this time.

Watching her get reaped on a day just like this...

I can't let that happen.

Never.

When we have one foot right out the door do I give them all a big hug, especially her.

Maybe I should start doing some more research on astrology later this afternoon.

I gotta do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't happen.

[Gryphon]

done b

[umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars]]

Love the dream idea!! Welcome back bby xo