Chapter One- The Reaping
Dusk had fallen in District 7, the District I called home. I was working at the mill, slamming my axe down hard on a large oak, needing its precious wood for the fire to keep warm. My clothes were drenched in sweat and dirt as I wiped my forehead.
'One last swing should do it,' I thought as I brought the axe down one more time, seeing the tree tip to one side as it fell with a sickening boom. Taking in a deep breath, I rest my axe on my shoulder, rubbing the back of my neck as I looked behind me, seeing my house a little ways off. Deciding I'd chop the rest of the tree tomorrow, I called it a day, making my way back to my house.
It was a cute home, a small log cabin that was cozy to fit my family. There were only four of us. My father, who ran the mill and made a decent amount of money. My mother, who stayed and cleaned most of the time, cooking warm dinners. Of course my little brother Caleb, who caused mischief around the mill, playing around in the lumber and being the clumsy little boy he was, he would always come home with a scrape or two on his knee's or elbows from falling off the pile. Then there was me, a 17 year old teenager who helped his father around with the mill along with helping his mother around the house.
Smiling to myself, I opened the door, walking inside as I closed the wooden door softly behind me, setting down my axe by the wall and taking off my boots. Slicking back my black hair, I made my way to the table, seeing my family look up at me.
My mother had a stern look in her eyes, her arms folded and her foot tapping the ground impatiently. I stood there awkwardly before then looking at my father, who was also glaring at me. I heard a snicker come from my little brother, seeing him look up at me with a grin on his lips. He knew I was in trouble, and he loved it when I got yelled at, it was one of his favorite things in the world.
"Cole," my mother muttered bitterly. Then it hit me. I was late for dinner. The food was untouched and looked amazing, making my stomach rumble as I licked my lips. "We've been waiting-"
"We've been sitting here foreevveerr!" Caleb whined, interrupting my mother, earning him a harsh scowl as well. I chuckled as I walked over to him, putting the palm of my hand on his head and ruffling up his sandy blonde hair.
Making my way to my seat, I glanced at him. "Forever? Dang, I thought I was only gone for a few hours," I teased, making him giggle with a silly smile. Giving my mother a small kiss on the cheek, I sat down. "Sorry mom, that tree took longer than I thought," I admitted.
My father grunted as he rolled his eyes. "Where did you put the lumber?" He asked in a dull tone, making me laugh nervously.
"Well, you see, since I was already late I thought I could just chop it up tomorrow," I told him softly, knowing how my father was. My father was the strict type, and I couldn't lie that he hadn't laid a hand on me before, though I would never let him touch Caleb, he tried once, but I blocked it thankfully. My mother on the other hand was really the only person who kept the family together, her sweet attitude and warm tone of voice was always welcoming and calmed my brother and I at the worst of times.
A fist slammed onto the table, making Caleb jump in fright as my father clenched his jaw in anger. "I told you to get the lumber, and now we're going to be cold for the night!" He shouted, making my mother wince at his tone.
Silence filled the air like a thick cloud that lingered. "James, please," my mother murmured in a soft tone, reached her hand as her finger tips grazed his. "Let's just enjoy the dinner," she told him, calming him down as he moved his hand away from hers, crossing his arms again. My mother gave me an apologetic look, but I just nodded at her, telling her it was alright.
Dinner was silent after that, we ate our food and headed off to our rooms. Since the small amount of space, Caleb and I shared a room together. The room was nice, two nightstands, two dressers, and a bunkbed for the both of us, Caleb always got top bunk, though I never complained.
As I laid down, I heard a soft sobbing, making me sit up as my eyebrows knelt. "Caleb?" I asked. There was a sniffle and a small sob.
"I-I'm fine," he mumbled, I didn't buy it. Making my way to the top bunk, I saw him gripping his pillow, his eyes red and blood shot and his hair a bit messy. It came to me that the reaping was tomorrow, and Caleb was 12, eligible to be picked for the 66 Annual Hunger Games.
Last year in the 65 Annual Hunger Games, a fourteen year old from District 4 won, his name was Finnick Odair. I wasn't surprised when he did, the boy was powerful and a career, giving him the upper hand by far.
I pushed my thoughts aside as I sat down at the foot of his bunk, giving him the best forced smile I could muster. "You're not going to be picked," I said in a promising tone. "Your name is only in there, what, two times?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow.
"Two," he sniffled and rubbed his eyes. "But I'm not worried about me," he murmured. "Moma say's she's worried about you, she say's that your name is in there seventeen times," Caleb croaked. I silently cursed under my breath, it wasn't false that Caleb was a eavesdropper.
Trying to comfort him, I ruffled his hair some more. "Hey, I am big guy, right?" I said jokingly, showing off my muscles and making my little brother giggle. "Besides, I know boys my age who have their names in there about twenty times, plus, I only have two year of reapings left, then I'm home free," I said with a chuckle, making him smile. I then poked his stomach, making him squeal with laughter. "And you, my good brother, have nothing to worry about as well," I assured him. A warm smile was on my lips as I pulled him into a hug, his arms wrapped around me making me smile. "Get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning," I whispered, pulling away from the hug and making my way back to my bed.
As I laid down, I began to think. What if I was picked? What would my family do? How would Caleb react? Running my fingers through my hair, I couldn't think about these things, not now. I had to stay strong for Caleb, I knew he was more frightening than I was, and I had to comfort him through this.
Slowly, I closed my eyes, my dreams taking a hold of me.
I awoke to the sound of tweeting birds outside my window, making me sit up and rub my eyes. Reaping day.
Getting to my feet, I made my way to our small bathroom, taking a look at myself. My black hair was tussled from my sleep, my green eyes were dull from just waking up. I slicked back my hair and looked over my shoulder, hearing a yawn from Caleb as he sat up from his bed.
"Good morning sunshine," I joked, leaning against the doorframe. Caleb looked at me and stuck out his tongue in a joking manner before he jumped off from the top bunk, landing on his feet as he made his way to his dresser.
As I was putting my pants on, I heard a know on the door. "One minute!" I called back as I buttoned up my white shirt, moving towards the bedroom door as I opened it, seeing my mother with a small smile on her lips. She looked like she hadn't slept, her blonde hair was jumbled and her green eyes were puffy and red.
Before she could speak, I pulled her into a tight embrace. She wept into my shoulder as she wrapped her arms around me. I was used to comforting my mother and brother, they were both very sensitive, and i had to admit, so was I at times.
"Shhh... Shh.." I hushed her. It was kinda funny, she used to do this to me when I was little, hold me when I cried and calmed me down. I began to stroke my mothers blonde hair to sooth her as she slowly pulled away from me, wiping tears that had slid down her rosy red cheeks.
"Good luck," she whispered, then looking at Caleb as she walked towards him, giving him a tight squeezed hug. "I love you both, my handsome boys," she said softly with a forced smile, making a clump in my throat.
I joined in the hug, making them both laugh lightly. "I love you too mom," I said wholeheartedly.
Within an hour, Caleb and I were out the door, heading towards the stage where they picked the two teen's who would fight to the death in a bloodbath. Peacekeepers surrounded the place, guns and black bats in their hands as if daring someone to attack or something of the sort. District 7 knew better not to do that, though I could recall my first year of the reaping that someone smacked a Peacekeeper in the helmet, that was the last I had ever seen of them.
We walked up to a table, a woman was looking down at flies with a needle in her hand. "Next," she grumbled. Caleb walked up to her with a small smile, though she didn't return it. "Hand," she muttered. Caleb looked confused but gave her his hand. She turned it so it was palm's up as she pricked his finger, earning a wince from his lips. The Peacekeeper then pressed her bloody finger on a paper, releasing his hand. "Next."
I was next. I walked up to her and gave her my hand without her asking me to do so. She took my blood and I was on my way. I watched at Caleb walked towards the twelve year old section, mixing in the the group of boys.
Before I was even in my section, I felt a tap on my shoulder, making me turn to see one of my best friends. "Hey Cole," my friend, Elm, greeted warmly. I smiled back at him. Elm went to my school, a grade below me, he was sixteen.
"Hey Elm," I replied, still walking towards my section. Because of our ages, we were fairly close to one another. "So you excited?" I asked him in almost a taunting tone, making him snort in a fake laughter as we walked.
"Do you enjoy seeing your mother naked?" He mocked.
"Dude, too far," I mumbled as I rubbed my eyes at the thought, making him chuckle as we took our spots, looking up at the stone stage. "Good luck," I said finally before we parted ways.
"You too man," Elm told me as he went with his fellow sixteen year olds.
As the music of the capital started playing, we were forced to watch last years victor. A fourteen year old named Finnick Odair, I could practically hear girls swooning over him. He had blonde hair with crystal blue eyes, a good build and such.
It showed him killing the final man in the career pack (which he was part of) and him holding his weapon up in victory. The crowd was silent, though I think the people from the Capitol wanted us the clap for the grouse film.
Finally a woman walked on stage, a woman from the Capitol who would pick our names and be a District Representative for two unlucky teens. Her hair was a hot pink and her tight dress matched, her face painted white with hot pink lips, eyeshadow, and cheeks to match. Her high heel's looked to be about eight inches as she smiled down at us.
"Welcome! My name is Sev Renalds and welcome to the 66 Annual Hunger Games!" She shouted as she clapped, her being the only one. Clearing her throat, she forced a smile at us. "Now let's get started! Ladies first," she murmured as she walked towards the clear glass bowl that held the names of many female's, one would be picked.
Sev's fingers lingered around the bowl before she picked one up, holding the piece of paper as she slowly unfolded it. "Rose Markos!" She shouted. I froze, knowing that name. That was the girl I had a crush on all through my eight grade and up. Even though those feelings had faded, I still felt bad for her.
Rose's eyes looked fearful as she slowly made her way to the stage, her legs shaking. When she made it to the stage, Sev smiled at her. "Do we have any volunteers?" She asked, Rose making a hopeful face at the crowd, but no one stepped forward. "No? Then meet your female tribute for District 7!" Sev said into the microphone, clapping.
No one else clapped. Rose's green eye's started watering as she seemed to be fighting back tears. Rose was a small girl, very fragile and not fit, she wouldn't last in the games. I felt a ping of sympathy for her, silently wishing her the best of luck through it all.
"And now, the gentlemen!" Sev said cheerfully as she walked towards the bowl. My stomach seemed to be in a knot, but I calmed myself down. Sev picked a name and brought it up to her eyes, unfolding it. "Caleb Lone!" She shouted. My blood went cold as I froze, my eyes going wide. No.. "Do we have a Caleb Lone?" Sev asked, looking around the crowd.
Slowly, I saw my frightened brother flinch his way through the crowd. I felt my legs move as I walked towards him. "Caleb.." I whispered as I went to the edge of my section. "Caleb!" I shouted, now feeling the Peacekeepers put their hands on my shoulders to keep me back. I growled as I punched one of them in the face, shoving the other one and running towards my little brother as I saw him turn to face me, shock in his eyes.
I felt a pair of gruff hands snag me and throw me to the ground. "Get off of me!" I yelled loudly, thrashing and struggling to get them off. Five of them were pinning me, two at my legs, two at my arms, and the last one holding down my chest as he unsheathed his bat, about to hit me on the head until I heard something.
"Stop it! I think he's volunteering!" It was Rose's voice, being amplified by the microphone, her voice strong and not faltering. I took in deep breath's as the Peacekeepers looked at me, as if asking if that was true. I gave them a nod as I got to my feet.
Caleb's eyes were tearful, he was crying beyond belief. I wrapped my arms around him as I let him cry into my shoulder. "It's ok, it'll be ok," I soothed, but I felt Caleb being torn from my grasp by a Peacekeeper as he put Caleb back into his section. Feeling my own tear's coming on, I wiped my eyes.
I walked up the stage, my breaths deep as I glared at everyone, they all seemed in shock as I stood before them. "A-And there we have it! Your male and female tributes for District 7!"