The reaping

BPOV

I woke to the sound of birds chirping in the trees, and the feeling if the sun on my face as it filtered through the the gaps in soft shade that the trees leaves produced. I sighed with contempt, this was my favourite element to control, earth. The way the earthy smell filled my nose on a hot summers day, with the grass tickling my my fingers as I stroked it. Flowers would be in full bloom and range from different shapes and sizes. Of course, my favourite were the beautiful red roses that I grew myself. Having the... abilites I did, sure came in handy when it's winter.

The distant sound of the district 12 boys shouting at eachother brought me out of my daydreams. I frowned, why would anyone be awake at this time of morning? I thought to myself. I contemplated this as I started to pack my things up, including my pin. My pin was the only valuble thing I ever possessed as I didn't actually live in a house like my fellow District 12 villiagers, I prefered to live in the forest just past the electricity fence that seperated the forest from the square. It felt more natural considering what I am, of course the people of District 12 did not know that. I never told them what I am. The districts were abnormal enough, we did not need the capitol having anymore reasons to hunt us down.

Ugh. Capitol. I thought with disgust, killing everything that is unexplainable to them. Ever since i can remember I've hated the capitol, it's not the fact that they are normal human beings, with out any supernatural gifts. No, it's so much more then that. It's the horrible little game they make every year. The Hunger Games. The most inhumane, dispeakable and down right evil game you will ever see. Every year a girl and a boy tribute ranging from the ages 12-16 are picked from the reaping bowl to fight to the death using their supernatural abilities. The capitol's message of their everlasting hold on the districts despite our "freakish abilities".

I was roughly pulled out of my inner monolouge when a disturbing sound rang out through the forest. It sounded like the hovercrafts the capital use, but what would they want to do with district 12 on a day like today? A day like today... my stomach dropped as reality hit me like a ton of bricks. It was today, the reaping,which only felt like it had happened yesterday when in fact it had been exactly a year ago. I remembered the last 2 tributes aswell, a girl by the name of Amy Greengrass, a fellow student from my school. I didn't know her well, but she didn't tease me at school for "not having any powers" as they oh so smartly put it. If only they knew, i chuckled to myself. Amy, had the ability to breathe under-water, though, unfortunatly for her the arena had a desert base and contained hardly any water. she was the 2nd tribute to die that year,the first being the boy district 12 with the power to "glow in the dark" as he put it. Of course that turned against him in the night and led his enemys to him whilst he was sleeping.

I shook my head as if to shake it out of my head. I did not need to let myself remember his death, as it had been particularly horrifiying. I realised now that I had reached the electric fence. It was no harm to me, it hadn't been switched on for years. I landed on my feet gracefuly from the tree I had just created to help me climb the fence.

I was about to walk on when I realised I had not had breakfast or brought anything to trade at the hob. I quickly scanned the area for any hidden audiences, then proceeded on to my knees on the ground. I gently let my hands hover about 10 cm above the grass then focoused of my desire for a strawberry bush to grow there. I was immedietly met with the warm sensation pumping through my veins, traveling down into my hands and into the ground. I opened my eyes and met the sight of a delicious, ripe strawberry bush. A smile graced my lips as t tried one. Delicious as always, I was definatly going to get a good trade today.

I picked of the rest of the strawberries and put them in my mini bag I took for small trades like these. I slowly stood up and looked into the sky. It was still quite early but I needed to pick up my pace a bit if i wanted to look presentable for the reaping. Of course I was already beautiful, with perfect mahagony curls that fell to my waist and eyes a enchanting emerald green colour that was framed with thick, long lashes. My skin was pale, without a single scratch. I was about 5'4 with a thin but slender frame with curves in all the right places. Only boys didn't pay attention to my unnatural beauty, they were too disgusted with me "not having any powers" pfft, as if. I was probably more powerful than district 12 put together. I quickly stuffed those thoughts away as i neared the hob.

"Isabella! how lovely seeing you here!" exclaimed Greasy Sae

"Oh, well you know... just picked some strawberries to trade" I replied awkwardly, Greasy sae was the only one in District 12 that was nice to me.

"Oh good! I'm sure we all need something to brighten up the mood this day has brought!"

"Mmmm" I said disractedly as I relized I now only had 20 minutes until the reaping would begin.

"So how much for the lot?"

"Hmmm uh, oh, no just take them. I really need to go" I said as I put my bag of strawberries down.

"Dear, are you su-"

"Yes, yes now if you'd excuse me I really have to go" I cut her off running out the shop round the back.

The bins were just as i'd placed them out the back of the Hob hiding the all too familliar reaping clothes bag which contained a emerald green chiffon dress that came to a stop at my knees. I pulled my hair back into a tight braid ending at my waist. I then grew and amazing emerald green rose in the middle of my hand and put it in my hair. There were no mirrors so i could only hope i looked okay as i made my way the the square.

I reached there in a minute and was hardly suprised to find nearly all the town was here already. We lined up as the capitols people checked you in using your blood. Soon after my blood was checked i found a place to stand towards the back. It wasn't as if i needed to be at the front. I was almost definantly no going to be picked, my name was put in once as I don't have "Supernatural abilities" it was all about how powerful you are. The more powerful, The more times your name goes in and so on.

It all became quiet as District 12's escort came up on stage. As i squinted my eyes i recognized it to be Effie Trinket, in her signiture pink outfit and matching wig.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome. The time has come to select one corageus young man and woman, in the honour of representing district 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games"

Yes, I thought to myself ,what an honour to fight to the death on live t.v

"Ladies first" We watched in suspense as her hand mad a circular motion around the glass bowl. Her hand suddenly shot in pulling out a folded piece of paper.

She slowly waddled back to the Microphone and opened the paper slowly...

"Isabella Riddelle"

Oh dear...