The Hunger (These are NO) Games

PG-13

Thematic elements, gore, and violence (but no language, drugs, or sex so that’s good)

It was a pleasant evening in the Berry home. Tess and Hunter sat at their small table laughing merrily as they as shared stories from their day.

“Oh Hunter you’re so funny!” Tess laughed.

“No, Tess. You’re the funny one.” He corrected with a smile.

A stomach growled. The friendly banter came to an abrupt halt. The siblings stared warily at each other from across the table.

“The weather was nice today,” said Hunter trying to keep his voice light, but to no avail. The merriness of the moment before had been lost. A hungry stomach was no laughing matter.

“Indeed¹,” agreed Tess. She could think of nothing else to say.

They sat in strained silence. The doorbell rang. Relieved at the sound Tess got up to answer it. At the sight of the pizza guy, that relief left as quickly as it had come. Anxiety now clutched her. The man was paid. The pizza set on the table. It was as if the Berry children were looking through a camera lens, and it was zooming in on the pizza sitting on their kitchen table. Steam wafted lazily toward the ceiling. The scent of garlic, cheese, pepperoni, and all the other wonderful ingredients that make up the delicious life-staple that is a pizza filled the small apartment. Both smiling tight-lipped at the other, they each reached for a piece of pizza and began to chow down.

Though only a few minutes had passed, it seemed like hours to the brother-sister duo. The pizza had only eight slices. Hunter had finished three of his already while his sister was still working on her second. Soon his fourth piece had been gobbled up too. Tess was still struggling to put down her second one. Finishing off her third was going to be rough, but what else could she do? Ideally, she would like to save it for later, when it could actually be enjoyed. After all, nutrients in their apartment were hard to come by. Tess sensed her brother’s gaze and turned to face him. His eyes dropped to the two remaining pieces. Hunter was bigger, and so naturally he reasoned that he was in need of an extra slice. Their eyes locked from across the table. There was a brief pause, and then the action started.

Tess ducked a steak knife hurtled over her head. Hunter was reaching for the pizza, taking advantage of the distraction. He was close, but he didn’t make it. He dodged as his sister advanced toward him, swinging the lanyard holding their keys over her head like a mace. He took a heavy blow to the back. He found their bucket of change and flung its contents into Tess’s face. Hunter scrambled to the kitchen in search of a new weapon. Tess, unable to do the same, grabbed a “couch lid” to use as a shield. Seeing a glass candle holder, Tess picked it up and smashed it against the wall. She sorted through the shards, picking a large piece with one edge jagged and one smooth. It would serve as a good shank. With caution she headed for the table which held her lifeline. The younger Berry was able to get a quick bite in before he charged her, wielding two large knives like an ancient warrior would a sword. He slashed at the hand holding the pizza and was rewarded with his sister’s cry of pain. She thrust towards him with her makeshift weapon, but Hunter was too quick. He charged her again, swiping with one of his knives and barely missing her throat. Thrown off balance by the movement Tess fell, and her piece of glass clattered away. Acting quickly, she reached for a pair of scissors on the television stand. Tess turned just in time to fend off Hunter’s blows, leaving a gash of her own along his left cheek. There was a howl of pain, and the girl scrambled to the kitchen in desperate need of a good knife. Hunter caught her as she reached the counter, yanking her hair from behind. Frantically, arms out she felt around for something, anything to use as defense. Her hands closed around a ketchup packet. She tried to sweep the jagged edge across his face. Of course the effect was a weak one. But as she squeezed, the packet exploded, sending a spray of ketchup into his eyes. His grip on her hair loosened but not enough. Tess clawed at the gash in his cheek. It was enough. Hunter released his sister, temporarily blinded by ketchup and pain. There was a sickening thud as Tess swung a frying pan with all her might at her brother’s head and made contact. Lights danced before Hunter’s eyes. The brother staggered backwards, trying to regain himself before his life became forfeit. Tess swung again, but he heard her coming this time and sidestepped. For the second time, Tess was thrown off balance and nearly fell. Now able to see, though not clearly, Hunter sent a swift kick to her back. She crashed; face first, into the wall. Blood from her now broken nose sprayed the white walls, painting them red. Tess crumpled to the floor, unable to see for the blood in her eyes. Hunter seized his opportunity. All thought of knives and weapons were gone. He was now acting on blind rage, kicking her savagely again and again. Then, remembering the pizza, he headed once more for the pizza. Tess’s hand feebly grabbed for his leg. Hunter shook it loose, and kicked her in the face. She lay moaning on the kitchen floor. He picked up the pizza and began to devour it.

The girl opened her eyes. Only seconds had passed since her brother had left her lying on the floor. She didn’t have time to assess her injuries. Tess knew that her time was running out and with it, the pizza. She slowly crawled across the floor. Every move was agony, but she needed to reach the knife lying only a few feet away. Moving to the doorway and leaning heavily on it, Tess rose to her feet. Hunter was just laying hold to the last piece of pizza. He brought it hungrily to his lips. With a sudden jolt forward he dropped it and slid to the ground. Reaching to behind him, Hunter plucked the knife from his back. Tess was still standing in the doorway. With much effort, she moved into the next room where her brother sat next to the table. The pizza was only a few feet from his right hand. No longer able to stand, Tess was crawling towards the pizza. With his last ounce of strength, Hunter took of his shoe and hurled it at his sister. She cried out. Crumpling to the ground as the force of it caused one of her already broken ribs to puncture a lung.

The siblings lay only a few feet apart from each other with the last slice of pizza between them. The room was silent now except for the shallow breath of the two lying wounded on the ground. The pizza lay tauntingly close to each of their hands hand, but neither was able to grasp the source of their desire. A slight scuffling noise was heard. The brother and sister looked around warily. Sniffing the air as it went, a little mouse began making its way toward the lone slice. Neither able to move, Tess and Hunter were helpless to stop the mouse’s nibbling. Soon, the nourishment that had been so brutally fought over was gone. With nothing more to be done, each Berry child began to attend to their wounds.

Tess and Hunter sat at the table. Once again they were laughing and talking together as if no battle had been fought between them only a couple days before. It was a pleasant day. The sun was bright, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The wind whispered lazily to the trees. All was well. Then the doorbell rang. 

¹ For those of you (namely my family) who have seen the Bud’s version of The Lord of the Rings imagine me saying this like Paxson says it while playing Gandalf.