ONE

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Fingers stretched across the sheets, feeling for something that wasn't there. Her eyelids flicker open as her hand reaches the edge of her mattress and the sound of boats in the harbour fills her ears, their horns soundings as they head out for a day of fishing. Her fingers curl round the mattress edge as she yawns. The 17 year old girl had much to do before the Reaping tomorrow. Her brother needed new shoes and her mother probably had other things for her to fetch.

She pushes her worn blanket off her body and gets up, pulling her dark blonde hair back into a ponytail before opening her closet, a grey long sleeved t-shirt, fitted cargo trousers and lace up knee high boots- which is what she wore most days, interchanging the t-shirt and trousers when they needed washing for different ones. Her feet take her into the living room that also doubled up as a kitchen and dining room and was often where her eldest brother, Mickey slept when he came home too drunk to fall into the bed he and Talia's younger brother were forced to share. The house was a single storey, two bedroom building- Talia and her brothers shared one room and her parents got the other.

Fredrick has already left for school, he was 13, nearly 14 and he was the smartest kid in his class- sadly, growing up in District 4, in a poor family, meant his only future would be found on a fishing boat, making hooks and nets or in the market selling whatever the fishermen brought in. Or he could train to become a Peacekeeper like her other brother was. Michael had never been the smartest, as displayed by his apparent alcoholism, but he was always strong, always fighting boys who dared to tease his little sister. Sadly, both Talia and Mickey had finished their education, and Freddy was left to defend himself.

Talia scans the room, Mickey was slouched on the sofa- as Talia had predicted he would be since she had not seen him in his bed- and her mother was sorting through washing. Thats all her mother could do when the need for fishing hooks was low, she washed for people who needed it and barely earned a penny.

"Morning," Talia says, giving her brother a kick in the leg, he groans, looking up at his sister, "Drinking again?"

"What does it look like?" Mickey asks, causing Talia to roll her eyes.

"What do you need from the market, mum?" Talia asks, eyes moving from Mickey to Denise, her beautiful mother.

"Just Freddy's new shoes, and whats on this list, dear," Her mother says, hands wringing out a dress.

"Of course," Talia says, grabbing the list from the side and sending her mother a warm smile, "Be back soon,"

"Be careful, dear, the Reaping is tomorrow and everyone is in a shambles," Denise says, nodding to her daughter.

"Always am," Talia says, slipping on a black leather jacket that used to be her older brothers, but somehow he out grew it even more when he started to turn his body to a muscle machine.

Talia pulls the satchel over her shoulder and heads out the door, boot covered feet taking her towards the centre of town, her nose filling with the scent of the sea. As much as she hated the District she lived in, she loved the scenery, the sights, the smells, the sounds. Talia had always been an excellent swimmer, and not all that bad at net fishing too. The one thing she could never quite master was trident fishing, though few of the locals could.

Talia enters the market, passing the Peacekeepers who guarded it and ensured nothing illegal was happening, and headed for the clothing stands. Old ragged clothes were what most of the things for sale were, but Talia found a good enough pair of shoes for Freddy that would look even better with a polish. Talia hands over a few coins, much to the elderly woman's surprise- most people traded item for item, but Talia's mother had nothing to trade.

Talia checks her list- bread, milk, oats and meat. The girl sighs, she looks at the coins in her purse and wonders if she'll be able to swindle one of the market traders. Talia heads for the milkman, he was the only dairy supplier in District 4 and his products were usually pricey.

"One pint of milk, please," Talia says and she offers two coins, the man scoffs.

"4 please,"

"4? It was 2 last week!"

"Inflation," The man turns to another customer who had 4 coins ready to go.

"My family are desperate," Talia turns to begging.

"So are bloody mine, and 99% of this damn districts," The milkman tuts and waves his hand at her, "Away with you!"

"Coldhearted prick," Talia mutters as she walks away, tugging her jacket tighter around her as the wind gusted through the market. She decides to head for the bakery, she knew the boy who worked there and hoped maybe she could get something out of him.

She pushes open the door and immediately feels her stomach rumble at the scent of the bread baking in the oven.

"How can I help you?"

Her eyes flicker up at the sound of the voice and she sends a wide smile at the bakers boy.

"Jamie!" She grins, "Its been ages!"

"Yeah...It has," He says, already knowing something was up, he hadn't seen her in at least a year, he barely recognised her. She looked so different. His feelings for her from all that time ago pulse through him like adrenaline.

"I was wondering...I'm...Really, really struggling to get anything and my family-"

"I'm sorry, but I really can't spare anything," He says, flustered, "Try the market, its cheaper there,"

"I'm afraid its not, the markets prices are rising by the week," Talia says, looking at him with desperation, "Please, Jamie,"

"The most I can give you is one loaf," Jamie says, quickly shoving a less attractive, more burnt loaf of bread into a paper bag and holding it towards her, "Just this once, Talia,"

"Of course, Jay, thank you so much! I owe you!" She calls out as she rushes from the bakery, feet travelling lightly. She quickly buys the milk using the coins she didn't use to get bread and starts heading home.

She keeps her head low as she passes the fight pits- people often came to the pits when they got desperate, bareknuckle fighting was a pass time her elder brother had chosen in his youth, and he was good at it. But the pits were illegal and he'd run into the Peacekeepers a few times, and now here he was, wanting to become one.

Finally, she opens the door to her home, her brother still lay spark out on the sofa, and her mother still stood washing clothes.

"I could only get milk and bread, milk has gone up to 4 coins," Talia says, placing her purchases on the countertop, "I got Freddy his shoes,"

"Alright, thank you, my dear," Denise smiles softly, trying to hide her disappointment, "Your father asked me to let you know that he was taking out the trident, to fish,"

"The trident? He hasn't used that thing in years,"

"Desperate times we live in," Denise sighs, her hands were dry and cracked from spending so much time in soap and water, "He's given up on the boats and the nets, he's gotten out his old trident, cleaned it up and taken himself down to the lake,"

"I'll go find him," Talia says, "Don't forget to rest your hands, mum,"

And as her only daughter heads back out into the district, Denise calls, "Be safe!"

_______________

Thank you for reading!

the first two chapters are kinda like intros to Talia and her family life, but don't worry, the third chapter jumps right into the reaping and thats where her story really starts

i hope you enjoyed!

~lachys-loch
❤️