Softly, almost silently the air whistled on the cold night. It was almost midnight and in his bed Oscar lay, his eyes connected with the ceiling as thoughts ran through his mind over and over again. All day he had been repairing the windmills that sat on the land his father owned, him and his brother had worked without breaks. While his father tended to the land.
They weren't wealthy but within this District they were considered one of the richer families. All together there were five of them, Oscar's mother, father, older brother and younger sister and then himself. They own some of the land with the windmills on, known to most of District 5 as people who would help whenever they can.
That day Oscar's father had told his workers to go home early that day so when Oscar and his sister got home from school they were given jobs which they usually wouldn't have. Oscar spent the remaining part of the day with his brother, Dale; they fixed up the windmills and washed the Capitol logo on the side. While his sister, Suzie, helped his mother cook the meat she had collected earlier that day. They had saved up for the meal since two months before; it was a tradition within the family. A meal which was eaten as a family, sat at the table chatting to one another and savouring the family time.
Because the next day was the reaping, with two children within the family eligible to be reaped they went ahead with the meal as planned.
"When our family are no longer eligible to be reaped we will have a celebration the day after!" His father would always say smiling to them all warmly. After the meal they would go to bed knowing that they would have to get up earlier than usual to get ready on time.
So now Oscar lay unable to sleep as per usual before the day of the reaping. Turning to look at the clock he could just about make out the time, it was just past midnight. Letting out a small sigh he turned over in his bed and closed his eyes pushing his head into the pillow. He had to try and sleep, no sleep makes him grouchy.
Moments later a loud yell caused his eyes to snap open. It was daylight, the sun shone through the thin curtains. Putting his hand up to shade his eyes he pushed himself out his bed standing up too quickly. The room began to spin so he closed his eyes tightly and rubbed them with his fists.
"Oscar! Time for your bath, we need everyone looking good today." His mother called, Oscar glanced over to the door putting his arms in front of him and stretching before making his way over to the closed door. Pulling it open he saw his sister dart past him and into her own room. Everyone's rooms were small but it was worth it to have their own space. Walking out a sudden hand clasped his shoulder.
"Finally awake eh bro?" His brother chuckled. Dale was already dressed; he was wearing a grey shirt and brown trousers. Oscar shrugged to his brother walking past and to the bathroom. Closing the door behind him Oscar looked to the water, it was obviously going to be cold. It was always cold. He ran his hands through his hair multiple times dunking it in the cold water quickly then pulling it back out as he sat in the circler tub. His hair was a light brown although it seemed darker before the bath. Getting out of the bath after washing himself Oscar wrapped a towel around himself before looking to the clothes his mother lay out in the bathroom.
A grey shirt like his brothers but with dark blue trousers and black shoes, Oscar stared at his reaping clothes for a few moments before putting the towel over his hair and pulling the clothes on. Once his shirt was buttoned up he walked out of the bathroom and into the living room picking up a few berries and throwing them into his mouth taking a seat on the wooden chair in front of the mirror.
"After this only five more years to go" His father said walking into the room and rubbing his hands together. The smile on his lips masked the nervousness he felt inside, Oscar knew this too well. He had been taught the same; looking into the mirror he practiced a fake smile.
"Only one for you Oscar, it's almost over." His mother said walking into the room and smiling back to him. She stepped behind him and began to dry his hair with the towel, once it was semi-dry she began to style it. As she was pulling it back Dale walked over raising an eyebrow. "You looks like a dork" Dale sniggered folding his arms and leaning against the mirror.
"Just because you're jealous" Oscar replied smirking a little and crossing his own arms. Laughing shortly after the smirk the two brothers shook their heads while the mother of the family chuckled along with them. Running her hands through his hair she made it slightly messier than what it had previously been.
Nodding to them Oscar's mother smiled before turning around and going over to her daughter checking the pigtails. "Are we all ready?" She said loudly looking around the room, she watched as each of them nodded one by one.
"Okay then, let's go." She said walking towards the door and opening it walking out with Suzie next to her. Behind them walked Oscar, Dale and their father. They paced themselves walking along a dusty track past many houses and fields that seemed to stretch on forever. As the houses got closer together they knew that they were getting closer to the town centre.
In the centre of the District there was a massive stage; behind the stage was the mayor's house which was painted a dull yellow. Next to the house were many different shops which stretched onto three different streets. As they got closer a sudden hand was upon Oscar's shoulder. He turned around to see a girl stood with a wide smile on her lips.
"Oscar! There you are. God I thought I wasn't going to be able to find you in this chaos" The girl spoke rapidly putting her hands on her hips and looking left and right. Oscar let out a small laugh shaking his head.
"Nice to see you too Athena" Oscar chuckled stepping back to walk with his best friend. She smiled to him running her hand through her brunette hair and fixing the band that kept her hair back. She was wearing a green and white checker dress with white socks and green shoes.
"So another year another games, I wonder if anyone we know will be chosen" She said, the usual small talk before the reaping. Oscar shrugged looking around noticing a few classmates giving them a smile as a greeting. It was a 'hope you don't get reaped' smile.
"Hopefully not" Oscar replied looking around. "I mean, statistically the odds are in our favour. But you never know."
"Well I just hope someone from our District survives this year." Athena said chewing on her nail as they began to slow down almost bumping into the people in front. Dale turned around and looked to Athena nodding to her giving her a smile before turning back to Oscar.
"Good luck little bro. You too Athena, make sure to walk Suzie to her place." Athena nodded to Dale and Oscar did the same smiling to his brother before walking forward. His mother gave him a hug as did his father before they walked forward into the line.
"It's weird not having Dale here…" Suzie said looking to Oscar and Athena crossing her arms and stepping forward every so often. Oscar nodded and Athena just looked across to the stage.
"You nervous?" Oscar asked, Athena glanced over smiling a little and nodding.
"Who isn't?" She replied letting out a nervous laugh before stepping forward. They watched as Suzie stepped forward getting her finger pricked and being pressed to a sheet of paper. Next Athena was called forward, Oscar watched as the same happened to her but instead of waiting to him she walked to Suzie turning back to mouth good luck before taking her to the girls area.
When his name was called Oscar stepped forward and allowed his finger to be pricked, it hurt for a split second but he ignored the pain watching as his finger was pressed to the sheet leaving a blood mark. He was told to walk to his area and he did so walking towards the seventeen year old section. Stepping in he nodded to the guys he knew listening as they spoke carelessly about how they hoped they weren't reaped and how many times their name was in the bowl.
It became more crowded as the time passed; he stepped to the side feeling a little boxed in. Oscar took a deep breath glancing around once more. The line was almost finished and only one person was left when the stylist for the District stepped onto the stage.
Enlicia was her name; her hair was a bright blue which stood out against all the dull yellow that was within District 5. It was extremely curly and landed at her shoulders, her skin was a pale pink which made all the bright blue makeup and over the top eyelashes stand out even more. A wide smile was on her lips as a blue heart was drawn on them. Oscar watched her carefully; she couldn't be more than twenty three years old however the makeup added a few years.
Sat behind were the two mentors, Hugo and Jenna. Before Oscar could get a good look at them Enlicia spoke up tapping the microphone a few times and coughing clapping her hands together and giving a big smile.
"Welcome! Possible tributes of the annual Hunger Games! This year is the fifty ninth Hunger Games!" She yelled in a high pitched happy voice, she was met with a confusing few claps. She visibly faulted moving a little before clearing her throat once more.
"Now let's get this under way!" She yelled letting out a nervous giggle at the end of the sentence. She was met with staring eyes, fearful faces and tensed bodies. "As always, ladies first."
Once she picked up the bowl everyone joined hands, it was a tradition in District 5. Before the person was reaped everyone would join hands and hope that you weren't picked. It was a way of joining the District together even if it was in fear. Most people looked down and closed their eyes but Oscar looked up to watch for the moment she would announce the name of the female tribute.
Enlicia pushed her hand into the bowl feeling around for a few moments, her fingers grasped onto a piece of paper and she pulled it out holding it up for everyone to see. Everyone's hands tightened, even in the boys section. Because most of them hoped their sister, their lover, their friends weren't picked. The District 5 stylist opened up the paper giving everyone a wide smile as she looked up to the crowd.
"Evangeline Jensen!" Oscar felt some shock within his system, he knew this girl. Everyone on their row did, all the boys looked to one another and then to the girl who was now walking from her spot and to the stage. It was always hard when they knew someone who was reaped. Oscar was just thankful it wasn't his sister or Athena chosen, even if that did feel like a horrible emotion when a classmate was walking up onto the stage.
Evangeline has raven hair; it was dark and long falling to her mid back. Her blue eyes pierced through the area and her face moved to look over the crowd before her arm was roughly grabbed by Enlicia. Evangeline shrugged the stylist off giving her a hard cold stare.
"Lovely name! I bet you are excited to represent your district!" Enlicia said happily shoving the microphone in the tributes face trying to get a response.
"Oh yeah I'm happy you've practically given me a death sentence." Evangeline snapped back. Everyone was silent, even Enlicia who was usually known for bouncing back with something to say no matter what the situation was.
"Now now!" The stylist stuttered. "Don't think like that! You could win for this District!" Before Evangeline had time to respond Enlicia pushed her back from the microphone and grabbed the next bowl giving everyone a wide smile.
"Now time for the boy!" She yelled loudly just in case the tribute had anything else to say. Pulling out another piece of paper everyone joined hands once more, this time Oscar felt his heart racing. Everyone hoped it wouldn't be them. He had a one in thousand, or even more, chance that it wouldn't be him. And then the stylist opened the piece of paper and yelled out the name of the male tribute.
"Oscar Ebecknezer!" Everything froze. Oscar slowly raised his head. That was his name, his name. He glanced to the boys beside him who had all turned to look at him, the shock in their faces was clear. They quickly cleared a path for Oscar to walk out to the main section of the reaping area.
He was numb, he could hardly compute what was happening until he realised he had begun walking towards the middle. Once he was out of the section he glanced around, his eyes caught Suzie's who had ran to the side. A peacekeeper was currently blocking her way; suddenly it computed that she was yelling his name. He blinked a little and did what he had been taught to do since he was young, smile.
Oscar tried to give her a reassuring smile before turning to walk to the stage. But then another voice screamed behind him, he turned around to see Dale trying to push through the peacekeepers.
"No! Let me volunteer! He can't-" Suddenly a peacekeeper pushed Dale to the ground pinning him on the spot. Oscar's eyes widened but he turned around and took a deep breath walking towards the stage. Getting onto it he looked out to the area seeing all the faces staring at him.
"Well this is a bit eventful!" Enlicia chuckled putting the microphone in front of Oscar. "So is that your brother?" She asked. Oscar looked to the stylist before looking back out to where his brother was, Dale was sat on the ground with their father the other side of him talking to him quietly. Oscar gulped back and looked to Enlicia.
"Yeah uhm yeah. It's my brother." He just managed to say before he was pushed to the side by Enlicia.
"So District Five! I present to you the tributes for the fifty ninth Hunger Games! Evangeline Jensen and Oscar Ebecknezer!" No one cheered, everyone just stared. "Now shake hands" Enlicia said turning around to face them. Oscar looked to Evangeline who stared right back, she looked angry. Very angry. She slowly shook her head and Oscar nodded, he knew she wouldn't want to shake hands so what was the point?
Suddenly the door to the side of them was opened, Evangeline walked straight to it leaving the public eye. Enlicia quickly followed with Oscar and the two mentors behind her. They all left the stage, the reaping was over.