I woke up, heart racing from the dream I'd been having recently, the same dream. Over and over again. It was Athi being reaped. 'It can't happen, can it?' I whispered. Reluctantly I drag myself out of bed and crept into our kitchen. On the table was the small package for my sister I know she'll love it. Then I notice a letter on the floor addressed to me. It hadn't been there yesterday night so I assumed the post had come early. Then I remembered why...
"The reapings." I growled through gritted teeth.
Then I noticed the handwriting and once again forgot about the reapings. After ripping off the envelope, I sat down and began to read.
Dear Cassie.
It's that time of year again for you, good luck in not being picked! I can't wait for you to move here to the capitol, you and your sister will love it! Also, I want your sister to have this it's a real jay feather. She can put it in her feather collection, tell her that when she comes to the capitol, I will treat her as a late birthday present but this will have to do until then.
I paused and shook the envelope, a beautifully coloured feather dropped into my lap the light from the window making it shine vibrant colours across the walls.
I hope you're not making too many rebel stories, words got to the capitol about rebel stories from several of the districts and I'd hate for the next time I see you for you to be dead. Well any way my sister has said that you'll be sent for as soon as all of the paperwork has been signed by the mayor of your district so don't go getting you're self into too much trouble! But keep yourselves safe and sound I'll never let you go without a fight. So good luck today to both you and your sister and I love you.
Ian
I hear shuffling from the room above and after folding up Ian's letter and carefully hiding it from the prying eyes of my sister, I make some toast. The crust is slightly stale but the butter melts into it softening it until all of the yellowy cream has melted. I pick up my sisters birthday parcel and head up stairs.
I race through to Athi's room, holding the toast for her. Happy Birthday!" I cry. She smiles and grabs the toast right out of my hand. I pass her the parcel wrapped in brown paper. She rips it open, and a pale yellow dress with pink embroidery along the bottom falls into her lap.
"How did you afford this?" she asks incredulously. I shrug. Everyone loves little Athi. Everyone loves me. A lot of people owe me a favour or two. They were willing to donate a little money.
"Do you like it?" I ask.
"Like it?" Athi cries. "Like it? Of course I do!"
"You can wear it to the reapings," I say. She nods. This is her first reaping. I can see from the look on her face, whatever she says, she's really scared.
She nods. "Yup. I'll get ready now."
"Okay. I need to go make me look pretty now, too," I say.
Athi makes a face. "You always look pretty," she says. I don't argue, but it really isn't true. I go into my own room, trying desperately to tame my mousy-brown hair, but it refuses. In the end I give up, and just tie it up, in whatever state. I pull on a white dress with a blue sash that used to be my mother's before she died in a fire a year ago.
"You look lovely," Athi says when I come back into her room. I smile.
"Do you mind if we go to the reapings a little bit early?" I ask, biting down some lunch. Athi shakes her head.
"Of course I don't mind! Why do you want to go though?"
"I want to see Maisie. You coming?"
Athi nods and takes my hand. We walk along the streets towards the square. I stop a quite few times, basically whenever I see someone I know. By the time I get to Maisie's house, we're not exactly early any more.
"You took your time!" she says.
I sigh. "I know, I know."
Maisie just grins. "Hey Athi! Happy Birthday!" She pulls something out of her pocket, and fastens it around Athi's neck. A little necklace, with a pale pink gem pendant.
Athi gasps. "It's lovely!"
"Isn't it?" Maisie smiles. "Come on, we better get going." She takes Athi's other hand, and we walk the rest of the way to the reapings together. When we get there, I give Athi one final hug, and she walks into the other girls of twelve. I join Maisie in the sixteen-year-olds section. A few good lucks are passed to me from everyone and I wish good luck back. In front of me a girl called Emily breaks down into loud sobs just as the Capitol woman stands up. I pass her a wad of tissues which she thankfully takes before a deathly silence begins.
The Capitol woman does her little not so reassuring speech. Then, before I know it, she's reaching to pick out a girl's name.
"And our lucky girl this year is... Athena Taylor!"
The world freezes around me. I can't think properly. I see little Athi come out of the twelve-year-old girls, and I panic.
"I volunteer!" I shout. The crowd reluctantly parts, letting me up to the stage. "I volunteer!" I know I can't let Athi die. I don't know what chance I have. But I have a better chance than little Athi. I can see tears streaming down from her eyes. Yeah, best birthday present. Being reaped, and then losing your sister. She's must be having a great day.
Maisie comes up and takes Athi's hand reassuring her that I'll be fine. As she walks away she mouths 'see you in a bit.' Eventually the capitol woman who had gone as white as a sheet wobbly walked over to the boys names.
"Now, for our boy!" the Capitol woman cries, after the excitement of having a volunteer. She plucks out a name. "And it is... Polit Hutyer!"
Polit begins walking to the stage, and without even a chance to get onto the stage, a boy shouts "I volunteer!" Wow, the Capitol woman might pass out from all the excitement. Two volunteers from District Ten. Wow.
When he gets up to the stage, the Capitol woman looks like she's about to faint so she runs off of the stage swaying in a state of drunkenness the mayor finishes the reapings asking the volunteers names I realise that he's the district 8 runaway when he says Romeo Zuazo. He's a kind boy I know this because he looks after Polit. Not everyone will look after someone, it's that kind of act that earns you respect here.
