Conleth Hale slep peacefully whch was a surprise since it was the night before the reaping. The fact that she didn't have a big chance at going helped but there were exceptions when you just have bad luck. Saphire Hale was reaped for the 70th anual Hunger Games at 14 and her name was only in there three times.
As many expected she didn't make it she was the 19th to die she drowned after the arena was flooded no one knew how to swim except for the female from 4 and she went insane. These thoughts kept Gneiss Conleth's twin sister awake.
She was nervous not only for herself but also for her younger sister Amber who would attend her first reaping. By the time dawn came Gneiss had only slept for a hour. She had decided to put of getting ready for the reaping for as long as she could.
This ment two hours at the most. Gneiss got dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans, a over sized black shirt and sneakers. If you had seen her in the street you would have never guessed she came from the richer part of district twelve.
She walked out of her three bedroom home and into the streets. Today was the start of the days she would allow herself and mourn her dead sister Saphire. Gneiss walked to no particular place but she ended up in front of a house she spent a lot of time in.
She shrugged and went up to the front steps and knocked on the door. From inside she heard soft foot steps slowly come closer to the door. "Who is it?" a high pitched female voice called. "Gneiss" Gneiss called waiting patiently. The door opened after a few seconds and Gneiss was greeted by her golden blond best friend.
"I didn't excpect to see you here" Madge Undersea said gesturing for Gneiss to walk in. "Well I was taking a walk and ended up here" Gneiss said as she walked inside. This was basically her second home.
"Oh" Madge said walking to her room. Gneiss followed quitely since any loud noises even foot steps would make Madge's mother's daily migraine worst. Once in Madge's room Gneiss layed on Madge's bed "Is it bad I'm worried?" she asked as Madge sat down on a love seat that was located near a big window that gave the perfect view of the richer part of twelve.
"Everyone worries Gneiss" Madge muttered. Gneiss shrugged "How long until the reaping?" she asked. "About a hour" Madge replied. "What are you wearing" Gneiss asked even though she could care less if Madge wore a potato sack. Madge rolled her eyes "A blue dress"
"Sounds good" Gneiss was about to say but she was interrupted by a yell. "Madge" Gneiss gave Madge a questioning look there was rarely a loud noise in the house even rarer a yell. "Dad probally needs me" Madge said and stayed quite for about 20 seconds. "Not to be rude or anything but I think you should go" Madge advised looking at the door.
Gneiss nodded "I should get home" she said standing up and walking out the open door. As she walked down the hallway that would lead to the front door she heard the voice of Mrs. Undersea.
"Madge won't understand" she whispered in a pained voice. "She has two" responded in a cold unemotionel voice. "She is mature enough" he added using a softer tone.
Gneiss knew she shouldn't eavesdrop and with some difficulty she walked to the front door and opened the door. Only to be immidetly blasted by cold air which was strange since it was summer. Knowing the others inside the house would have noticed that someone had opened the door Gneiss stepped out and closed the door behind her. She started walking to her house but not wanting to arrive there soon she took the longer route that involved walked throught the seam.
She looked around and saw a girl she knew from school. Katniss Everdean also seemed to be walking home her eyes locked with Gneiss for a few seconds and Gneiss not knowing what to do waved. But all Katniss did was purse her lips and keep walkinh.
Gneiss understood the hate she and her family had since they were from the richer part the others envived them and there fore treated them with haterd and it didn't help that Gneiss father was a peace keeper. He came from district two and all his kids except Saphire had inherited his emereld green eyes. This made them stand out even more.
Gneiss reached her home and was immidetly ushered in by her mother. "You need to get ready soon" she said. Gneiss nodded and walked to the bathroom they were lucky enough to have running water. After taking a shower and wrapping a towel around her body she walked into the room she shared with Conleth and Amber.
Even though the house had three bedrooms only two were in use the other was Saphire's old room and was basically a shrine room for her. Their mother locked herself in their whenever the games came near three years and the pain from her lost was still not numb.
Conleth was brushing Amber's golden blond hair and humming. As Gneiss walked in Conleth looked up her dirty blonde hair was up in a tight pony tail and she was still dressed in her night cloths. Amber on the other hand was dressed in a black knee length skirt and a white blouse tucked in at the waist her hair was almost knot free. "Finally" Conleth exclaimed grabbing a towel next to her and handing the hair brush to Amber.
She made a dash for thr bathroom and Gneiss rolled her eyes. After getting dressed in a light pink dress with white flowers printed on it and brushing her hair she waited in the living room for Conleth. Amber was sitting on the couch reading a book.
After what seemed like forever Conleth came down. Her wavy dirty blond hair was down and it reached her waist she wore a simple black dress and flats. "You guys ready?" she asked. Gneiss and Amber stood up. "We've been ready for like a hour" Amber said in a exaggerated voice. "Let's go" Gneiss said they were actually running late.
After walking to the square they stood in line waiting to sign in. Conleth at the front, Amber in the middle and Gneiss last. Amber seemed calm but her hands were shaking so bad she had to hold onto her skirt to keep them steady.
Soon Conleth had signed in and it was Ambers turn. "It'll be fine" Gneiss assured her. Amber nodded and handed the woman who was dressed all in white clearly a peace keeper her hand. She pricked her finger with a needle and a drop of blood dropped onto the paper she scanned it and the name Hale, Amber showed up.
After signing in and walking over to the fifthteen year old section Gneiss stood next to Conleth who held onto Gneiss hand with a iron grip. The escort walked onto the stage with six inch heels her hair which was most likely a wig was straight up and painted a hidious orange she wore a hat with a bumblebee and a yellow dress that reached her knee's she wore so much make -up Gneiss was sure if she removed it a scale would say she weighed 5 pounds less.
Her heels made a annoying Clink sound as she walked to the microphone. "Ladies and Gentlemen the reaping for district twelve will begin soon" she said in the most annoying capital accent. They showed the same video they show every year all about how the war took many lives and how they are doing us a favor by making us kill each other. When the horriable video ended the woman cleared her voice.
"Now as usual ladies first" she said walking over to a crystal ball full of names written on strips of paper. Gneiss held her breath and Conleth's grip got even tighter. The woman smiled and it made Gneiss want to vomit. Her hand went into the bowl and she moved her hand taking out a slip and then putting it back as if changing her mind.
Everyone was so completly silent that to Gneiss her own breathing seemed too loud. After a agonizing moment the woman pulled out a slip of paper and walked back to the ceneter of the stage. She smiled her sick smile again and opened the slip of paper.
"The tribute of District Twelve is" she paused for a dramatic effect. "Conleth Hale" as the name escaped her lips Gneissfroze. Conleth froze too she gasped. Gneiss wanted to say something but she couldn't speak. Conleth had a shocked look on her face. "Come on we don't have all day" the escort said. Conleth's tight grip loosened and she started walking forward since everyone cleared her path it seemed easy.
I should volunteer Gneiss thought to herfelf. She wanted to volunteer but she was frozen in fear of just the thought. Conleth had reached the stage and now stood to the right of the escort. Her face showed not fear but shock as if she couldnt believe she was reaped. "Any volunteers?" the escort asked and Gneiss knew this was her last chance but her mouth stayed close and everyone seemed to be even more silent.
"Okay then" the escort said. "Now for the Gentlemen" to Gneiss she didn't care who the boy was all she could think about was that that girl up on the stage with the shocked look on her face was the second sister she would loose thanks to the games.
Gneiss hadn't even noticed the woman walk back to the center of the stage holding a slip of paper. "Caden Hutton" the woman called. A boy stepped forward from the 18 year old section he was sickly pale and thin he had short dark hair and grey eyes that clearly indicated he was from the seam.
No one volunteered for him and after the escort made him shake hands with Conleth they were taken to the justice building. Gneiss stayed frozen on the spot where she had stood for a while until Amber came. "We have to say good bye" Amber said silent tears rolling down her cheeks.