Clarke:
Clarke woke up on the cold, hard cot in her cell. She sat up and stretched, her thoughts still groggy. All around her are pictures of earth that she's drawn after watching the Hunger Games on TV. That was when it hit her, today was the day. She tried not to get her hopes up but she couldn't help it. After three years in a cell with limited human contact, this was her last chance. Today they would gather all of the prisoners and choose the 24 that would be sent down to earth to fight each other and granting the victor immunity for their crimes.
Clarke desperately wanted her name to be called, she needed it. In just over a month she would turn 18 and her crimes would be reevaluated and if she was still found guilty then she would die. And no one had ever survived the reevaluation that she had known of, so the Hunger Games were her only real chance. It was cowardly of Jaha and the others to do this, Clarke thought as she got up and got dressed in preparation of the reaping. They weren't brave enough to set foot on earth and face the grounders or the mountain men so they sent children instead to help reduce the number of criminals they were forced to keep alive until they became adults.
Clarke glanced at herself in the small mirror located in the corner of her cell. Her face was serious as she tried to push down the possibility of hope that had shoved its way into her thoughts. She was one of the over 300 prisoners and only 24 were chosen, her chances were slim. Taking a deep breath, Clarke gathered her hair into a ponytail, leaving a few strands to fall down around her face and then went to look out at the other prisoners. There was a lot more commotion than normal, everyone knew that today was the reaping. Clarke heard her name and strained her head to the right.
"Hey Octavia," Clarke said back loudly so that she could hear her over the unusual noise. Octavia filled the cell next to Clarke's just under a year ago when she had been discovered as the Blake's second child after Bellamy, which was against the law. The day after Octavia was imprisoned both of the girls saw Bellamy being dragged by officers and placed in his own cell farther down the hall. This was Bellamy's last year as well and Clarke wondered if he was thinking the same things that she was.
"So should I be nervous since this is my first reaping and all?" Octavia asked, trying to keep her voice light. Instead of replying, Clarke stretched her arm out of the corner of her cell and Octavia did the same. If they both stretched as far as they could their fingers would brush each other's. It had become a comfort for both girls since they were only allowed visitors once a month, things got pretty lonely. Clarke thought a moment about Octavia as their fingers barely touched and prayed that they wouldn't be sent to earth together, there was no way she could kill her. Octavia had become her friend and practically her family. Once her arm started to ache she pulled it back.
"We're going to be ok" Clarke said since she didn't know what else to say. Clarke was thinking of her mother and she knew Octavia had to be thinking of her brother. Before she could say anything more the alarm started ringing and Clarke stepped back from the bars and raised her hands in the air. Then a voice came on over the speakers and everyone fell silent.
"Welcome to the 100th reaping of the ark, please proceed in an orderly fashion out of your cells and into the common room. Any resistance will result in punishment on spot." The message repeated as guards spread out among the prison cells, guns in hand. Clarke remembered back to last year's reaping when a girl who had looked like she was in her early teens, had started running as soon as her room opened. The guards shot her in the back without hesitation. The memory of this gave Clarke the chills as she stepped outside her room and into the harsh light of the hallway.
Clarke saw Octavia glance behind her as they lined up and gave her a weak smile. Clarke had a sickening feeling in her stomach as she stared at the back of Octavia's head while they slowly started walking towards the common room, the place where the reaping would be held.
Once in the large room, Clarke looked around. It was the same as it was the past 3 years, the walls and floor completely white with chairs lined neatly row after row and a stage at the front. On the back wall was a large TV and camera set up so those on the ark could watch the reaping. Clarke gasped as a guard pushed her forward and she regained her pace and continued following Octavia into the next row of chairs. The tension in the room was building as row after row was filled until all of the prisoners were seated.
"Bellamy, Bell" Clarke heard Octavia whispering repeatedly. Bellamy, a row ahead and several chairs down, finally turned his head to the sound of his sisters voice. Clarke watched as they exchanged sad smiles. Octavia began to stand, as if to walk over to Bellamy, but Clarke grabbed her arm and pulled her down. She shook her head in a warning at both Octavia and Bellamy. She received an understanding nod from Octavia and a harsh scowl from her brother.
"Welcome," chancellor Jaha announced, clearing his throat. "Welcome to the 100th reaping of the ark. Today 24 lucky individuals will be chosen for a second chance." Clarke inwardly rolled her eyes as he continued his speech, only really paying attention when Jaha started drawing names out of the large bowl on the stage. As he began reading names out loud, Clarke wondered if it was actually random or if they pre-picked the contestants ahead of time, to make a good show. Clarke heard a couple names she recognized, Finn, John and Jasper.
Jaha picked up a glass of water and took a sip before continuing, "number 12, Octavia Blake." Clarke froze, glancing over at her friend. To Clarke's surprise, she stood up holding her head high and with her shoulders back. She walked quickly to the front of the room and stood next to Finn. Clarke looked over at Bellamy, feeling even more nauseous. His eyes were trained forward, his shoulders tense and hunched.
Jaha continued calling out names but the next one she recognized shocked her, "number 20, Bellamy Blake." Clarke couldn't help the gasp that escaped and she quickly covered her mouth to stifle her surprise. That was when she decided that the games really were staged, they put the only 2 siblings together for a good show, that's all Jaha wanted. Clarke forced tears down as they called out the last name, "number 24, Clarke Griffin."
Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed! The next chapter should be posted either today or tomorrow!
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