District 1 Reapings
Britton's POV: I awaken with a start. I just had a dream that I was reaped...I hope this dream comes true. If not, I'll just volunteer. My parents won't be confused, they'll know exactly what I'm doing. They've always known I wanted to be in the games...atleast I think they do.
My dad hasn't been home in a whole year. I hope he shows up. I want him to see my determination. He's drunk, but he's still my dad.
I brush back my silky blond hair and get out of bed. I slept in until 1:00, I have an hour to get ready. I take off my pajamas and put on a white sundress with my hair in a loose bun. I also put on my new white heels, 6 inches.
I brush my hair and look at myself in the mirror. Silky blond hair, sparkling green eyes, tall and luxurious...I'm perfect. I put on a light layer of red lipstick and go downstairs.
Ugh. My brothers are pretending to be "at war". It's a game they like to play. Breakfast is already on the table, with Brianne eating quietly. Markus and Matt are pretending to shoot each other. They hide behind the couch and peer up once in a while to take a shot. I kick at Matt on the way to the table. "We have a giant on board! I reapeat: we have a giant on board!" Markus shouts. I roll my eyes. "Can you shut up for once? Geez."
Our cat, Snowball, is meowing curiously at Markus and Matt. I sit down next to Brianne. "Brianne," I say. "Aren't you excited for today?" She shrugs, and then grins. "Yeah. I hope you're picked, I always knew that you wanted to be picked." I squeeze her tightly. She doesn't want to be reaped, niether Matt or Markus. This is why I stand out.
I gobble up my breakfast and walk with my family out the door. "I'm going to meet up with Cammi, Hannah, and Reagan," I tell my mother. She nodds. I squeal and run up to them. "Hey," I say to them. They repeat. "Gee, Britt, you seem excited!" Cammi says. Hannah and Reagan nod in agreement. I laugh. I can hear Markus and Matt behind me. They're still pretending to shoot each other. If I was next to them, I would be publically humiliated!
Jewlia's POV: Today's the reaping. I slept in, it's 1:00. Of course I did. I look the the other houses out my window. A lot of other people just got up. I push back my sandy blond hair and yawn. I look to my left and see Ruby. She's my younger sister, only 12 years old.
I go downstairs and see mom and dad. They ignore me. I just go back upstairs and wake up Ruby. She awakes with a start, breathing heavily. She must've been having the dream again. The dream where Laurel dies.
Laurel was my older sister, but she volunteered for me when I was 15 and Ruby was 8. She died, stabbed in the back by a career that betrayed her. Ever since then, Ruby and I have been miserable. My parents have ignored us more, they thought Laurel was the perfect child.
I dress myself into a dark green dress with a brown belt, including brown sandals. Ruby has on a simple white dress with a black belt and black dress shoes.
I go downstairs to eat breakfast. It's not made. My parents always forget it nowadays.
My parents are counting their money. My dad won the Hunger Games years back and now we're rich. I make me and Ruby some pancakes and hear my dad say, "Kids! That vace over there won't polish itself! Get moving!"
I ignore him. I wolf down my pancakes and walk out the door. Ruby follows. I can see mom and dad flirting. Ruby met up with he friend Rolly and I met with Heart and Ria.
We talk about what we'll do after the reapings are done, maybe play the game where we see who could last longest without food. My record is 3 weeks. Heart is close behind, Ria has never played. After we play the game we have a big feast and all...it's really fun.
Spiral's POV: I get up and look to the side. My brother, Joel, is still sleeping. It's 1:00, today is the day that they choose the lucky people to get make overs! "Joel! Get up!" I yell. He opens his eyes. I can tell he's mad at me, but I don't care.
I hop downstairs, Joel behind me. I zoom into my seat at the table. Yay! Waffles! I eat it quickly, I'm so excited! Joel eats slowly like a turtle. He seems nervous. Why is he nervous? He shouldn't be sad! He should be happy!
Joel's POV: My sister is exstatic. Why? If she was reaped, she'd die early, I know it! I slowly eat, but she's already done. She goes upstairs. I sigh. This'll be horrid. Spiral wants to volunteer if she isn't chosen, but I'll persuade her not to. But she'll be bummed if she finds out that this is a fight to the death, not a "make over".
Spiral's POV: I change into a really pretty white dress with black shiny shoes. Joel is in a tuxedo, he looks cool.
Joel doesn't want me to be chosen. But I want to be chosen, he can't make me stop!
I squeal. This is a blast! If I'm not chosen, I'll take the person's place. What's it called again? Oh yeah, 'volunteering'. Mommy says that I shouldn't do it, but I am going to! Since three girls will be chosen, I have three times the chance of having a make over!
Joel's POV: Spiral is clueless. If she's in the games, I'll be in the games. I can't let her die, or atleast die alone. As I walk out the door, I think about Spiral and I. Will both be picked? I'd rather have it both of us tha one or the other.
Spiral...I feel really bad for her. She doesn't understand the concept of the games...the only part you get a make over is for the interviews and the chariot rides. She'll be gone by the blood bath...I think so. She's had no training...
As I almost reach the square, I have a horrible thought. Me in the games, being killed. Or even worse...Spiral.
Dusk's POV: I wake up in complete darkness. 1:01. Today is the reaping, where they choose tributes to fight to the death. I hope I'm chosen, but I won't volunteer. I'll refuse anybody who wants to take my place. The wind in my room is tense. I sit up, unable to talk. Of course I can't talk, I'm mute. Or atleast I think I am. I've never said a single word in all of my long and grueling 22 years of life.
I get out of bed and put on my gothic getup. It suits me with my spiky black hair and grey eyes. I have piercings everywhere; on my ears, tounge, nose, belly button, and even in my hands and feet. I'm not rich at all, even though I should be. My mother won the Hunger Games and gave her money to me. But after both of my parents died, I was robbed. Now I'm very poor and have barely anything to eat.
The hall of my house is very narrow, but I'm skinny enough to fit through. I'm so skinny, all of my bones are visible. For breakfast, I eat a single stale piece of bread and a pint of water. That's enough to keep me alive for a whole week. I almost died a few years ago when I didn't eat for a whole month. Yes, I could survive a whole month with only one piece of food and a tiny bit of water. I'm strong like that.
When I walk out to the reapings, I have nobody to talk to. I'm very lonely, atleast that's what I think. I have no friends really...except for my cousin Ariel. She runs up to me, squealing. She talks about how much she loves the reapings and how she'll invite me to a big party after they're done...yeah, maybe she's a kind-of-friend-but-not-really-a-friend.
I shrug whenever she asks me a question or for my opinion. When she starts talking about how much food and drinks will be there, I run away from her. I'm super fast, which will be an advantage if I'm in the games. Ariel is drunk...she's kind of an idiot.
I run all the way to the square and don't stop...I don't even sweat or pant. I see a few people that may be good contenders for the games. There's a tall girl with amber hair and grey eyes...looks sly. There's a strong-looking boy with a weapon belt on him...full of knives. There are even toddlers who look excited.
George's POV: No! I overslept! It's 1:45, the reaping is in fifteen minutes! I do everything as quick as I can and have nothing but a pancake for breakfast. I squeeze on a green sweater vest with normal jeans. I see my family downstairs: my kids and grandkids. My wife's seat is empty, of course it is. She died of crippling illness a week ago...
As we prepare to leave for the reaping, I feel nervous. What if one of my kids or grandkids are reaped? That would be worse that me being reaped myself.
Britton's POV: Ew! They have to prick my finger! More of my precious blood wasted!
Jewlia's POV: The same thig every year. Finger pricked. Boo hoo. I don't care, it barely hurts.
Spiral's POV: Ouch! A zappy thingy poked my in the finger! It hurts! Ouchy ouch ouch! Why?
Joel's POV: I want to scowl at Spiral, but that would make her even sadder. Being pricked is nothing.
Dusk's POV: Why are people crying when they get their fingers pricked? It's nothing.
George's POV: This hurts, but I'll eventually get over it.
Spiral's POV: My finger hurting, I walk over to where I'm supposed to go. A whole bunch of other young kids are there. I recognize my friend Bri. We stand next to each other. She talks to me until a screen shows something...
It's a movie, a very scary movie. Why is there war? This doesn't make sense. Even Bri is holding my hand. We sweat with nervousness. This movie is so scary...what does this have to do with make overs?
Then, a very fat man comes to the stage and reads a paper. A treaty, I think it's called. When he's done, a very strange looking girl comes out. She has lots of silly clothes on...with make up. Is this what I'll look like?
"Ladies first," she says. "This time, there's a twist. I'll reap 3 females this year!"
Britton's POV: The escort puts her hand into the bowl. "Bri Hamlor!" she annouces. I look around for Bri Hamlor. Oh no! It's a five year old! "I volunteer!" I shout, running up to the stage. Bri looks relieved. "I volunteer for Bri," I repeat. "Great! A volunteer. What's your name, sweetheart?" "Britton Dalamazky!" I happily announce. I lost my chance all the years before, and I finally have it!
Jewlia's POV: A very career-ish type girl is on stage. She looks like a tough competitor. The lady puts her hand in the bowl again. "Jewlia Maxwell!" she calls. I look back to Ruby. Her face is blank, but then changes to worry. I walk up to the stage, expressionless. Should I be happy? Sad? I can't let Ruby down, I can't! I'm eager someone will volunteer, but nobody does. Britton Dalamazky looks so happy to be up there, so I put on a fake smile and I giggle. I think if I keep this act up, I'll get plenty of sponsors.
Spiral's POV: I look over to Bri. She seems happy. The Brottin Dalamoozy seems happy. I'm happy. Jilea Maxwill is happy. We're all happy!
I look over to Joel, who is standing in the way back. I hope it's me and him. I hope he'll volunteer if he's not chosen...
"Lia Ma-" "I volunteer!" I yell happily. Yay! I'll be in the games! The lady seems suprised to have so many volunteers! "What's your name, honey?" she asks me. "Spiral Blue!" I look to the crowd and see my family in near tears. Why are they sad? They should be happy, like me!
So the girls are Brottin Dalamoozy, Jilea Maxwill, and me. I hope Joel is chosen! Then we could be parters!
Joel is sad, and so are mommy and daddy. Am I supposed to be sad? Afraid? Scared? Mad? I still feel happy...why aren't they?
Joel's POV: No. This is all wrong. She's just clueless! She'll be dead within seconds!
I need to be in the games with her. I think mom and dad will understand. I love Spiral, I'll never let her go. The escort walkes over to the other bowl. "Now for the boys. Again, I'll choose 3 boys," she says. Yeah, we all know that.
She reaches into the bowl and plucks one out. "Joel Blue!" she yells. For once, I'm happy that I was reaped. I walk up to the stage. Spiral is clapping, cheering, and she throws her arms around my waist. I smile. But I'm in a fight to the death with my 5 year old sister...we're dead.
My family's tears have dried up. It would be better to lose the both of us than only losing one.
I must look stupid right now. A mature 18 year old boy with her sister hugging her...why?
Dusk's POV: That 5 year old looks so glad to be there. I assume that the 18 year old is her older brother. Then there's the other 2, Britton and Jewlia. I think I've heard of Jewlia...Jewlia Amnethyst Maxwell. Her dad won the games, I think. And Britton Dalamazky...she goes to school with me. She's really popular. I may have a wee crush on her...
The escort pulls out another name. I cross my fingers. Please be me, please be me, please be me...
"Dusk Heave!" she shouts. I smile as widely as I can. I run up to the stage. I'm so excited. I'll finally die, finally!
Why'd I want to live if nobody likes me(Ariel doesn't count)? That's exactly why I love the games. I'm also pretty fond of the Capitol.
I see Ariel in the crowd. She's wobbling around, alternating feet. Her eyes are nearly closed and she's half asleep...good for her.
To be honest, I wanted Ariel to be reaped. Then, at the start of the games, I'd have someone to slice with my trusty axe.
George's POV: "George Chapperfeildman!" the escort says. I'm dead...I look over to my grandchildren. They're all in tears. Even my kids.
The goodbyes(these are really short): Britton's parents were shocked, but proud that she'd do such a thing. The Maxwell parents couldn't care less, but Ruby was in tears. Spiral and Joel got hugged, Joel being the only one who cried. Spiral kept asking why they were crying, and they said because this would be dangerous. She wondered how make overs could be scary...Ariel said goodbye to Dusk, but after her first sentence, she fainted and was pulled away by Peacekeepers. George's consisted of crying and words of hate to the people who created these dreadful games.
A/N: Yeah, you can tell that George's going to be a blood bath. And please save my tributes! Spiral, a 1 year old, and a 7 year old are in danger of the blood bath! And so is Dusk and Jewlia! And poll closed! The ones that are saved are: (may be blood baths but very slim chance) Micedda Charnel, Tinder Attwood, Spiral Blue, Charcleff Ferdeth, and George Chapperfeildman! Congrats!