Frostbitten Glory Deleted Scene: Miranda's Reaping

Another morning.

Another day.

Another chance.

Another sun.

Each sun brings another chance at redemption but another chance for death, especially today.

My name is Miranda Olivia Kemp and I reside in Panem, District 12.

It only makes sense that I would be born into the poorest district but at least at that time I had my brother with me. Around the age of twelve, at my first reaping, the Peacekeepers and Blaineley O'Halloran realized what amazing strength my sibling Duncan had and discharged him from District 12 and since he wasn't allowed in 2, he was put in District 3. Now I'm stuck with my critical yet hardworking father, and depressed mother who doesn't leave the house.

I can understand being depressed about Duncan, I cry every night for him, but my mom needs to try and support us more. Duncan was my only friend to talk to and console in and when he said his goodbyes he sounded choked up and sincere but only to me, not our parents.

I thought my world would crumble further and further until nothing was left like District 13 but then I saw him.

I had just bought a large amount of Greasy Sae's soup with my father's money considering we lived in the richer part of the district, if you could say there was even one to begin with. I was running home through the buckets of rain that were pouring down and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him there. He looked utterly exhausted and like he was about to die and it was about then when I recognized him. Jackson Overland. He was a kid in my grade and I had to admit that he was kind of cute but I just couldn't sit and watch him starve so, right in front of my house, I ran over and bent down in front of him.
He stared at me confusedly with downcast and hurt eyes but I smiled empathetically while brushing my blond hair that was sticking to my skin in the rain off my face. I slid the bucket over to him and before he had the chance to utter a word after taking the pot I ran off into my house. I don't know if Jack overheard or not but god did my father give it to me. He screamed and hollered and spit and did other things all because I gave food to the boy who would've died without it.

It was worth it, I told my stinging cheek,
I saved an innocent life.

As time slowly wore on after the incident in the rain, my crush on Jack grew so much I wouldn't even call it a crush.

We would glance sideways at each other in the hallways at school but he was always on my mind, filling the void of missing space that Duncan created when he left but still nobody could replace my mischievous brother.

()()()()

The 73rd Hunger Games, the 73rd reaping.

I'm not ready.

I'd faced many a reaping before but I was terrified this time because ever since I gave Jack the soup my father told me I needed to put in for several tesserae's even though my mother objected, but nobody listens to her anymore.

Now my name is in the big glass bowl a grand total of exactly twenty times.

I throw on my classic white lace and flowing dress that Duncan once sent from 3, don't ask me how because I don't know but this didn't change the fact that it was beautiful and looked beautiful on me.

I let my blond hair down and ruffled it slightly with my fingernails and then lean out the window to find some white daisies growing in my flower box. I weave the flowers into my hair and finally I am ready.

Saying a little prayer, I walked downstairs to meet my parents at the front door so we could walk to the square.

This was the only time my mother would go out, like she wanted to see me off if I went away. I loved her easily more than my father though.

The three of us walk slowly through the gloomy streets along with many other people but my gaze is fixed in the distance on Jack Overland as he walks with Jamie, a small boy who I babysat once or twice. He was very sweet but this is the poor boy's first actual reaping but the chances that he'll be picked are extremely slim.

I stand with a crowd of other girls my age, most of them are catty mean girls from school but it makes me happy to think that I can see them all marveling and rolling in jealousy at the sight of my beautiful dress.

Everyone falls silent as Blaineley O'Halloran, our District 12 representative, struts out on stage in her classic colored outing which is somewhat of a gimmick to the Capitol people.

"Welcome everyone to the 73rd Hunger Games reaping and may the odds be EVER in your favor!" As Blaineley is met by utter and complete silence I realize how much I hate that emphasis that the colorful people use on ever.

"Well? Clap!" She hollers and a couple people, not including me or Jack, begin to put their hands together subtly.

Blaineley keeps spouting nonsense on the stage while I stare dreamily at Jack but I'm soon yanked away from my daydream by my own name being called.

"Miranda Kemp!"

All the girls then turn to look at me. Some mean ones snicker while others stare with cold, dead eyes. Hastily, I look around wondering what just happened.

"Miranda Kemp!" Blaineley calls again.

I glance over at Jack's sad face and the horror hits me as my mother's familiar sobs ring out in the air.

I've been reaped for the 73rd annual Hunger Games.

Without thinking, I lift my dress up slightly so I can walk easier to the stage and make my way through the crowd, my cape-like gown wavering after me like a ghost.

I can feel the eyes boring into me from behind and with a frown I walk up to the woman on stage.

"Oh Miranda! What a pretty name! And a pretty dress! Who would've thought!" Blaineley chortles but I just stare out endlessly at the crowd, at Jack, my mother, my father, at Greasy Sae who was always like a grandmother to me.
I can't believe I'll die like this, for everyone in the crowd to see.

My head whizzes over once again as I hear Jamie's name called by Blaineley and I realize she's already at the boys bowl. I feel like crying for the twelve year old but I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs when Jack calls. "I volunteer!"

"What?!" The narcissist woman next to me squawks in surprise.

"I volunteer! I volunteer as a tribute!" Jack repeats.

I want to cry and scream but I keep it encased in my nervous face as the boy makes his way around the crowd and walks up onto the stage with Blaineley and I.

"There you have it folks! This years District 12 tributes are Miranda Kenp and!" Blaineley shoves the microphone at the boy next to her.

"Jackson Overland." He mumbles.

"Jackson Overland!" The announcer repeats in a overjoyed tone.

Jack and I shake hands and share worried glances before we're rushed away into the town square's main building to say goodbyes.

First my mother runs in, a sobbing and screaming mess. I hug her and tell her that I'll be ok and that she'll be ok but she doesn't believe me. I scream that I love her and she returns my words as the Peacekeepers drag her away.

Then Greasy Sae comes in, giving me nearly all the food she has and telling me that she'll be rooting for me. I hug her and tell her thank you and ask of her that she look after my mother. She smiles sympathetically and leaves.

My final visit is not my father but Mrs. Overland and Olivia Overland, Jack's mom and sister. They run in crying thank you and hug me tight but I'm confused. What are they thanking me for? They claim I kept them alive but they're dragged out all too quick and I'm afraid I'll never know the reason of their coming.

Assuming these are all the visits I'll be receiving, I curl up on a small bench in the room, and cry for Duncan and his visit that will never come, I cry that my father doesn't care enough to see me off, but mostly I cry because I'll probably have to watch the boy that I love be slain brutally to death in front of my very eyes.

Hi! So these are gonna be deleted scenes from my friend Sapphire316's story "Frostbitten Glory" (it's awesome) so this probably won't make sense if you dont read that. Miranda is my OC and Duncan's older sister. She won't be very prominent in my other stories unless it's with Jack from Rise of the Guardians (which I've never seen) so READ Sapphire's story and then check back here as it progresses for different POV's! Thanks! ~PurpleKittyFangirl