It's raining on the day of the reaping. The second I wake I hear the drumming of raindrops on the window. I rub my face vigorously, trying to remove the remnants of my dream. The imaginary call of "Sable Schiller!" resonates in my ears. I shudder and roll out of bed, careful not to wake my little sister Lace, who lies face down beside me. She needs to sleep now, seeing as she spent most of the night crying over the reaping that would happen today. I had thought that she might become less terrified as the years went on, but at fourteen, I think she's more scared than she was for her first reaping. I dress quickly and quietly, and stride out of the room.
I nearly jump out of my skin when I encounter my brother in the hall, creeping as quietly as I am. It's still so early I wasn't expecting there to be anybody else up.
"Where are you going?" Aster asks with a smirk.
"Same place you are. So let's just go," I snap. He smiles and follows me out the door as I storm out. Aster is my twin, but we couldn't be more different. We look similar, people always say I'm like a miniature version of him, but our personalities are like chalk and cheese. We bicker constantly, but I love him really. We walk quickly down the street, heads bowed against the rain, until we reach the training academy. It doesn't look like much, not from the outside anyway, because technically what's done in here is illegal. Here we learn how to handle any weapon you could possibly imagine, in case we're chosen for the 'honour' of representing our district in the Hunger Games. I certainly don't like the idea of actually being in the games, but I, along with the rest of my family, don't see any reason not to train, just in case. Well that's how I feel about it. I sometimes worry that Aster is more into this than he should be; it's something in his eyes when he fights.
We punch in the code on the door and go down into the basement, a vast open space not at all hinted at by the small building above it. To my surprise, there's nobody else here yet. I know it's probably not even 6am yet, but it's the day of the reaping. How can anybody sleep? Aster strides over to the weights section and starts lifting twice my weight, sticking out his tongue at me. I roll my eyes and start where I always do: throwing knives. Yes I am puny, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about that. Sure, Aster or anybody else his size could probably kick my scrawny butt if they got near me. Fortunately, they wouldn't get the chance to get that close. I throw knife after knife, embedding them all in the centre of the target. Just for kicks, I turn my back on the target range and fling a couple over my shoulder.
"Well bravo." I jump. I was so engrossed in my target practice that I hadn't even noticed him coming in. Nero smirks and pats me on the head patronizingly. I blush slightly at his touch. "Not much good being able to hit the target if you're that easy to sneak up on, kid," he jokes.
"Shut up, you're just jealous," I retort, punching him on the arm. "And I keep telling you don't call me kid!"
"Well, you're child-sized, that's for sure," he laughs, picks up one of my knives and throws it at the target. Doesn't hit the centre like mine do, but not far off. He shrugs. "Meh, not perfect, but it would slow you down enough for me to catch you. Then you'd be in trouble."
"Ugh, stop. That's not funny! I don't even want to think about it actually coming to that." I love Nero, we've been friends since we were kids, but I just hate when he makes light of the situation we're in. Later today one or even both of us could be sent off to the Hunger Games, and it would be no laughing matter. Sure, I can hit the targets every time with my knives, but I don't think I would actually be able to treat human beings like those targets.
"Aw you know I'm just kidding. I would totally not throw a knife at you, I swear."
"Shut up and go throw your weight around with my brother. Because you're both sooo big and strong," I mock. He laughs and heads over to the weights, where he high-fives Aster. I sigh as he goes. Will he ever realize that I've had a crush on him since we were kids? Probably not, we are just friends, I tell myself firmly, and turn back to my practice.
Two hours later, I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. There are more people there by this time, getting last minute advice from the trainers. I've had enough, so I wave goodbye to Nero, who's wrestling Aster, pinning him to the ground. He winks at me as my twin angrily struggles beneath him.
Outside, the rain has stopped and the sky is now a clear blue with wisps of white cloud. On the way home, I make a little detour to the bakery, because I want to buy my little sister something to make this day a little bit better. I select a few cheesy buns, Lace's favourite, and hand over my money to the baker's son.
"Good luck today, Sable," he says, smiling tightly.
"You too," I reply automatically, kicking myself for not remembering his name and hoping he won't notice. He's in my school, but I don't think I've ever been in any classes with him. He's never attended the training academy either – I guess his parents can't afford it. I feel bad for people like that. If he were reaped, what hope would he have?
With a final wave, I leave, clutching my delicious smelling package. We're more fortunate than a lot of families in our district in that we can afford to buy things like this whenever we want them. That's because our mother is a victor, which means we get a nice house in Victor's Village and plenty of money. Mom has always encouraged us to try and spread the wealth around the district, so I try to buy from the less well-off storekeepers. We're told in school that District 1 is one of the better off districts, but that certainly isn't true for everybody.
Lace's hazel eyes light up when I walk into the house, bringing in the waft of fresh bread with me.
"You're the best!" she squeals when she opens up the basket. "They're still warm!"
"Especially for you, Lace," I give her a little hug. "Is Mom up yet?" I'm not surprised when she shakes her head. Mom hates reaping day. "Okay, you bring these outside to the others and I'll go get her," I say cheerily and she scampers off. I sigh and head up the stairs. When I peek into my parents' room, she's sitting at the dresser, staring into space.
"Mom?" I say tentatively. She turns around and forces a smile on her face.
"Morning, sweetie. Were you and Aster training? You should have brought Lace with you. She probably needs the practice more than you do."
"Yeah…we didn't really do much, though. And I wanted to let her sleep." I walk in and sit on the bed. "We all have to be at the square by eleven, remember?"
She sighs heavily. "That's right. You all have to be there today, I know. Fifteen slips between you." All of us are eligible for reaping, and even though we have never needed tesserae, our number of slips is increasing every year. "We all better start getting ready then!" She stands up.
"I can help Lace get ready, if you like."
"I can do it, sweetie. You just make yourself beautiful." She kisses my forehead and walks out the door.
I stand in front of the mirror and survey myself. Nero's right; even at seventeen I still look nearly like a child, with my short stature and boyish physique. I narrow my eyes in the mirror. What do I care what I look like today? What does it matter? Looking more womanly would hardly protect me. I turn swiftly away and dress in the outfit my mother has laid out for me, a floaty green dress that highlights my hazel eyes. I leave my hair tumbling down my back in soft waves and leave the room.
The others are ready to go too. My father has returned from his workshop; nobody is allowed to miss the reaping. Before we leave, Mom hugs us all tightly, holding onto Lace for an especially long time.
"Okay, we'll be late, Mom," Aster says pointedly, forcing her to let go of her youngest child.
We leave the house, and walk in a procession to the square, meeting lots of other worried families along the way. In a few short hours, two of these families will be changed forever. I just pray that mine won't be one of them. We have to separate when we get there, Mom and Dad going to the section for parents, while we proceed to have our fingers pricked to check in. I give Lace's hand a squeeze as she files into the section roped off for the fourteen year old girls. Aster gives me a smile as he stands with the other seventeen year old boys. I feel a twinge of worry; worry that one of us will be chosen. Also, no matter what he says, I have a niggling concern every year that my twin will do something crazy like volunteer, even if he has the good fortune not to be picked.
Soon, the square is packed with people, and the ceremony is ready to begin. The mayor drones on about the Treaty of Treason and I zone out. I've heard this so many times I could recite it in my sleep. Finally, the Capitol escort, a young man with bright purple hair and eyeshadow to match, who introduces himself as Remus Bloom, bounces across the stage to the microphone.
"Welcome, welcome! It's time for the excitement of picking our brave tributes for this year's Hunger Games!" He announces in his affected Capitol accent. "May the odds be ever in your favour! Ladies first!"
He sticks his tattooed hand into the glass bowl of girls' names and I close my eyes. Not Lace, she's too young, not her, I chant in my head.
"Sable Schiller!"
Crap. Last night's bad dream come true. I open my eyes wide and see everybody turning to look at me. The square is deathly silent. I refuse to look weak. I paste a smile on my face and confidently walk up to the stage, the crowd of my friends and peers silently moving out of my way.
"Hello, Sable!" Remus shouts in my face when I reach him. I don't know why he has to shout, he has a microphone. Idiot. "How old are you?" He bellows.
"Seventeen." I keep my smile steady, even though my heart is thumping.
"Excellent! Now for the boys!" He makes his way over to the boy bowl, wiggling his hips slightly in his shiny gold suit. He selects a piece of paper and returns to the microphone.
"Aster Schiller!"
There's a collective gasp from the crowd when his name is called. He makes his way to the stage quickly, and I bite my lip to force back the tears that are welling in my eyes. I look stonily ahead as Remus greets him.
"Aster! Are you kids related?" Remus gabbles in his face, eyes wide with excitement. Aster pauses, and purposefully wipes his face with a finger. I assume Remus has spat on him in his enthusiasm to get the words out, and smother a laugh.
"Yes we are. She's my twin."
"Wow! What a family! Well, District 1, here are your tributes for the 67th Hunger Games, Aster and Sable Schiller!"
Aster takes my hand and squeezes it as we look out onto the crowd together. People clap half heartedly, only for a few seconds. Then we are ushered inside the Justice building by peacekeepers. The door closes heavily behind me, the loud bang sealing my fate. Despite my training, they might as well just hang me in front of the whole District in the old gallows that stand in the square. My life is over.
It will get much more interesting, I promise! I have some fun ideas! Please review :)