Before The Reaping
Ever Since President Dawson came into power, life has been harder than usual in some districts, which means many of us had to try to switch to better ones. There, of course is no district 13, District 12 is almost gone, as well as District 11, whether the people there die,or they just move to another one.
My Family lived in District 12 before it became to run down, then we moved to District 11, but that one was to run down to stay. My mom and dad attempted to move again, but they were killed by peacekeepers. It was just me and my sister.
One day my friend Persia Green came to visit us, she won the 94th Hunger Games at the age of 13, anyways she smuggled us into district 9. I believe she wouldn't have been killed even if she were caught i mean the winning tributes are more precious than ever to the capitol and the districts.
mainly because in the 75th Annual Hunger Games no one survived, President snow was embarrassed so embarrassed that he hung himself. putting His son in charge. that was 24 years ago. now at the age of 40, President Dawson is still president, and in the 24 years of his presidency only 10 tributes have won.
i mean i have only been alive for 16 years so obviously i was told this story the few times I've actually been in school. Today is the reaping for the 99th annual hunger games, instead of tons of people wondering who the unlucky tributes are, they are wondering if there will be a winner this year.
I stood up from the couch and walked over to the mirror hanging up, trying to get my red hair to look somewhat presentable for the reaping. I let out a groan of frustration. "God damn it!" i exclaimed. Persia immediately ran from the bathroom her hair wet "what is it Freya?"
"I can't get my stupid hair to stop being crazy!" she sighed. "come on. i'll do it."
"you will?"
"Of course. what are friends for?" i smiled happy for having the best friend in the whole world by my side. "When will Cassia be back from the market?" Persia asked me i sighed. Cassia was my fraternal twin. born 15 minutes apart. Me being the younger child. "I don't know, hopefully its soon it is already 10 and we all still need to get ready." i said looking at Persia's tank top and shorts. "I know i know."
I followed her to the bathroom, there she took a brush and ran it through my tangled waist length hair. i hardly felt it. "Damn i wish i had your hair color. it is such a rarity now. and yours is all natural."
"I got it from my mom." i told her. she smiled sadly then the door opened and a flustered Cassia walked in. "Sorry i took so long girls." she said holding a basket. "I brought us some food though. How does baked potatoes, corn, and mint tea sound?"
"Yum!" Persia exclaimed
"I'll just take the tea. i'm not that hungry, you know me" i said looking at Cassia she nodded. then smiled her bright cheerful smile. Persia braided two pieces of hair and combined them in the back. "Gorgeous!" she said to me i thanked her.
then I went to the closet that had our clothes. i picked out a dark green knee length dress with tulip sleeves then went to the bathroom to change. careful to not mess up my hair i got dressed leaving my feet bare. I really didn't like shoes i mean i spent the first 13 years of my life barefoot. Mom and dad didn't care nor did Persia. Cassia loved shoes and anything fancy.
Her name on the other hand... Cassia was named Cassia because of her "spicy personality" meaning she's very flirtatious, and happy, but when she's angry, watch out. My mom named me Freya because as soon as i was born she saw love in my eyes. my name is derived from Freyja, the Norse goddess of love. Pretty cool huh? as you can tell my mom named us based on our personalities. i mean they are kind of... strange... but they suit us.
Enough about names though. After i put the dress on i looked in the mirror loving how my hair looked. i exited and took a seat in the kitchen sipping my tea. Cassia scarfed down her meal and raced to get changed. she came out in a sky blue knee high dress with long sleeves it looked good with her light brown hair she had on a pair of flats. i clapped as she spun in a circle. "You look lovely sis!" i told her she smiled happily. "Thanks."
Persia then left to get changed. "I'm so nervous!" i told Cassia. She nodded "same." Persia picked us up just over a year ago, and we, Cassia and I, have never been in a reaping. i know the first one your in is when your 12 but, us being in the ruins, hiding, Mom and dad kept us safe, dangerously illegal i know, we all could have been killed. As far as every place knows we were found in the woods away from the districts.
Cassia wrapped her arms around me. don't worry we'll be fine. i promise" Persia exited the bathroom, took one look at us and wrapped us in a hug. "Well girls. we best be going." Cassia and i nodded and we followed Persia out the door.
while walking past the market several kids saw me and ran towards me wrapping me in a hug i fell over and they laughed. "Freya Freya!" a little girl named Morgan called to me. i stood up dizzy. "yes Morgan?" i said picking her up, she was 12 years old but very light i loved her like a sister "I have a present for you!" she said happily.
"What is it?" she pressed a ring in my hand. it was swirled and adjustable, made out of real silver. "aw! its gorgeous!" i told her she blushed. "my daddy made it and said to give it to someone i care about. I thought of you Freya. Look we're twins!" she said holding up her hand and there i saw the same ring i giggled and put it on my ring finger. "Thanks Morgan. Now you better get back to the other 12 year old's." I said putting her down she sniffed. "I'm so scared Freya." I wrapped her in a hug "it'll be ok. i promise." she nodded then ran off.
i caught up with Cassia and Persia. Wiping my sweaty palms on my dress. "ok so you guys will check in, meaning they'll prick your finger, remember you are officially in the database now. i will be waiting over here with the parents, cuz you know. i'm special." she laughed, and wrapped us in another hug. "See you soon kids!" she said smiling. I laughed as did Cassia. I then grabbed her hand.
"Let's do this thing." I said as we walked to the tables.
