ღChapter 2♪

Instructions

✧･ﾟﾟ: Chapter 2: ･✧ We soon get to the metal fence, which currently is not humming with electricity. Making sure no one is watching; we quickly go inside the woods through the weak spot that Lenore Dove told me about. I breath in the fresh forest air taking a moment to admire the trees, but Alex hurriedly pulls me with him deeper into it. Once was finally at the small creek, and sitting on a log, we sigh in relief. It is forbidden to sneak into the woods of District 12, but we and some others disobey that. I carefully reach into the hollow part of the log, that we disguised with leaves and moss. I pull out two of my most prized possessions. My beautiful, dark shiny wood bow and arrows, which were my fathers, and my violin, which was my mother's. For whatever reason, violins were not allowed in District 12, because of something about violins being used as w3ap0ns? I don't know. So, I just keep it out here, with my set of bow and arrows. I take out the bow and arrows and Alex nods, running his finger down the string gently. "You got lucky, Aveline. Not many orphans are left with their father's prized bow and arrows, and their mother's beautiful violin." He says sweetly. I nod, staring up at the sky, wishing that my parents were here now. Determined not to forget my skills, I load my bow and aim at a tree stump, before letting it fly. It shoots directly between two intertwining tree branches, over a bird's nest, and right into the center of the stump. Alex grins and high-fives me, and I can't help but smile as I run over to retrieve it. After that, we share a snack of baked apples and bread rolls, and I play a song on my violin. We have to leave soon though, because in exactly fifteen minutes, the electricity for the barbed wire fence will turn back on, and it takes about ten minutes to walk back. We hurry there and get out just in time as the fence hums back to life. We say goodbye and just stare at each other for a moment, wondering what will happen tomorrow, and if one of us will no longer be in the district. When I return home, the rest of the day I play my guitar out in the meadow, savoring every peaceful moment I can, because there's no telling what might happen the next day. When I finally go to sleep that night, dreams of being chosen still to try to haunt me, but I manage to get some sleep. The next morning, I wake up to the sound of pounding on my front door. I wake up terrified. Did I get chosen? What happened? But then, I remember, and a jolt of panic rushes through me. Last night, I completely forgot! The broadcast of President Snow announcing the theme for the first ever Quarter Quell...I missed it. And now everyone knows except me. Heart pounding, I race to the door, to find Lenore Dove standing there, her face very pale. " Aveline! Its-the theme...what..." I fight down the fear that's bubbling up inside of me and listen to what she has to say. " Aveline, our own district has to vote for the two tributes that will be chosen!" She said out of breath with tears welling in her eyes. I suck in my breath, completely shocked. In the whole history of the Hunger Games, nothing like that has ever occurred. I can only sigh with relief that Lenore Dove won't be chosen-she is under twelve years old. But then I think about myself...and how I could very well be chosen by my own neighbors. After all, I have no parents to mourn me, and no siblings to despair me. There is only Lenore Dove, who isn't even my closest friend. And of course, Alex. And possibly Astrid. But still, not many people know that.... they just will see me as the perfect substitute for their own children. Lenore Dove stares at me with fear in her eyes, clever enough to understand my situation. " Oh Lenore... it-it will be ok. I'm sure of it..." I say, my voice trembling. She still stares at me blankly, and I can tell that all the possibilities are whirling around in her head. Taking a deep breath, I invite her inside for a small breakfast of bacon and apples, and we eat in silence for a few moments. After that, she simply tells me to meet up with her in the forest in an hour. I nod, and when an hour passes, I run to the forest. I find her there, playing her keyboard, with Alex sitting against a tree. Alex shakily waves at me, and I can feel the horror in his mind too. I smile though and give him a hug. But I can't shake the feeling that this could be my last time in the woods with him and Lenore. Lenore Dove immediately requests that I play a song with her, and I grab my violin, tuning it, before playing a beautiful song with Lenore, are voices singing in harmony. " You're headed for heaven, the sweet old hereafter, and I've got one foot in the door. But before I can fly up, I've loose ends to tie up, right here in the old therebefore. I'll be along when I've finished my song, When I've shut down the band, when I've-" Suddenly we are interrupted though, by a large cow bell echo through the district. We sigh. It's time to get ready.