District 2
The first thing I realized when I opened my eyes, was that Autem was gone, and the fire was unlit.
Inexcusable! I had half a mind to report him the the unit manager. Then again, that would only spell trouble for the rest of my family.
Heracles, Rudy, Amacotabe, Nathan, Lacry, Leah, Nephele, and Conner.
No I couldn't, if the unit manager found out that...
The thought brought me up short, no they could never know.
I pulled myself up and off the low bed that I slept on, next to my 8 other siblings. Autem slept on the floor next to the fire.
That simple movement brought a fresh wave of pain. My limbs were sore and stiff from combat training, my pale skin was sunburned bright pink.
I grabbed the broken comb off the mantle and began to fight with my long brown locks.
I eased on my school smock and pulled my hair back into a braid. I grabbed my school cap off the mantle as well.
They said that the style was something known in the Old World as a "head-covering" or a "bonnet".
It is a rank of status, once you reach the age of the reaping (also known as adulthood), you get a new head-covering in accordance to you status, how much money you make. Ect.
The highest status wear no veil. The second highest wear a style known as a "bandana", it is tied on the back of the head. The third highest wear a smaller style of "bonnet" known as the "heart shape." And then you have me. The lowest of the low. We wear a full "bonnet."
The teachers use this as a tool to ridicule us. To make us stronger.
Your school smock also corresponds to your rank.
Again, The highest wear no smock. The second highest wear an apron. The third highest wear something known in the old world "pinafore." Then there is mine, something known as an "overdress."
It goes over my trousers and shirt. The sleeves go to my elbows. The hem reaches about 3 or 4 inches off the floor. It is made of stuffy, itchy material. It makes you freeze in the winter, and boil in the summer.
God, I hate school.
I tie the strings to my cap and flip them over my shoulder. I knelt down beside the fire and began the long tedious task of lighting a fire.
Go to hell Autem.
20 minutes later
I wrapped myself in my shawl and headed out for school. Heracles would wake up in an hour to the District bell, then get himself and his siblings to school.
The cold mountain air, seemed to cut right through me. I looked up at the village clock.
I gasped. I was going to be late!
I burst out running. I went as hard as I could, and as fast as I could! I rounded the corner of the main street. I speed past the Justice Building. I crossed the main square. I ran up the steps of the school building.
I burst through the door. The first thing I saw, was a knife coming straight towards my face.
My heartbeat picked up. My instincts took over. I reflected the knife, turning, moving fluidly. I followed the trajectory of the blade. I felt it fly alongside the skin of my inner arm. As the hilt flew into my hand I grasped it. I tightened my grip, turned on my heel, and threw it back.
My teacher caught it in between her fingers.
"Silk Evengelica!"
I took in the sight.
The room was small, as all the class rooms were. Autem was sleeping in the third row.
The TV was on. Displaying the current scene in District 1. The female tribute had just been reaped.
God the names in District 1 were ridiculous.
My teacher caught sight of Autem sleeping.
She took the knife she had just thrown at me and threw it at him. It landed right between his fingers.
That effectively woke him up.
"I volunteer!" he shouted out, still semi in the grasp of what ever he was dreaming.
I rolled my eyes, as the rest of the class laughed.
"Autem Emanuel Kittridge!" barked the teacher.
"Yes Ma'am?" responded Autem, clearly shaken by the events that had just taken place.
"If you are going to volunteer, save it for later!"
"Yes, ma'am."
I walked right along the rows, settling into my seat in the first row, slapping Autem on the back of the head as I passed.
I tried my best to pay attention for the remainder of the class.
After class...
I walked home alone, as Autem had to stay after school cleaning whiteboards. My arm throbbed from sparring, I was put against someone that was above me, weight wise.
Then again, no one was in my weight class. Judging by the fact I was only 74 pounds soaking wet.
Oh well.
I opened the door of my compartment, and was immediatly run over by a hoard of excited siblings.
They all started chattering on and on...
It took me at least an hour to calm them all down. By them Autem was home, he kept asking me if there was anything he could do to help.
"Well for starters, you could get the bathwater while I lay out the reaping clothes." I said finally, after her had been asking non-stop for a half-hour.
"Alright then!" he said, seeming eager to help.
Well, at least he was trying. I didn't really want to shut him out of my life completely. But somethings just happen.
I went to the sleeping room. The bed was rumpled, unmade.
If it wasn't reaping day I would have beat each and every single one of them. As much as I don't want to, it's District rules.
I straightened out the bed and turned my attention the the closet. I pulled out reaping clothes for each one and lay them down on corresponding pillows.
When I left the sleeping room, not only was there warm water waitng, but 8 freshly scrubbed youg children.
I stared at Autem long and hard before finally saying, "Show off!"
It really wasn't that hard judging by the fact that all that needed to be done was hair washing.
"Admit it! You're impressed!" Autem teased as a goofy grin spread over his face.
I looked him up and down, and I could practically feel the chill that spread through the room when I next spoke.
"I would be if you hadn't been so careless and were now trying to make it up!"
My voice came out rough and harsh. That grin vanished clear off his face.
"I'm sorry! How many times do I have to say that?!" he said.
"Go get dressed!" I barked at my younger siblings, before turning my attention back to him.
"You can never say it enough! You're mistake cost more than you can ever make up for! Becasue of you Jade-"
My voice broke on that last note.
I took a deep breath and continued.
"Because of you, Jade's dead! She was just a baby!"
"I never thought!" he looked away, I could see the pain on his face. "I thought I was doing what was best!"
"Well you weren't!"
I decided to stop there before I made him mad. I stormed into the sleeping room, where my siblings had just finished dressing.
Heracles was helping Leah button up her top in the back.
I ignored them and went to grab my own reaping clothes. Thank god I had washed up at school since there was only 10 minutes till the reaping.
I quickly changed into a blouse and skirt. I took my cap off and shook out my hair. I pulled it back and into a rolled braid and set out for the reaping.
At the Reaping
I walked along the rode as wel filed in to our designated rope spots. I was 12 years old so I was at the front.
My heart pounded in my chest so loud I almost missed the name.
God I wish I had.
"Winter Kittridge!"
But that wasn't the end. I stood on stage looking around as the male name was read.
"Autem Kittridge!"
Then suddenly the floor came hurtling toward my head.