I woke up in a cold bed, and my hands gripped the sheets. I immediately stood up, remembering what today was.
Today was reaping day.
I shuddered. This is the most terrible time of the year.
I walked past my sister's room, and opened the door. Usually, if I went into her room, she would try to kill me with security. But she wasn't in her room. Huh, it figures. She probably woke up early because of the reaping.
I walked to the living room, and was shocked at what I saw. My father, or Professor Membrane as you probably know him, was asleep on the couch, hugging my sister, Gaz. Gaz was asleep as well, and to my surprise, tear trails were down her pale cheeks. Throughout my whole life, I've never once seen Gaz cry. Maybe she did it when I wasn't around, not wanting to show weakness even to her own brother. But today was reaping day, I didn't blame her for crying. I cried too, on my first reaping day.
I glanced at my father and fought a scowl. He used to be a good dad…not really that much of a father anymore. But it was good that he was comforting Gaz when obviously she couldn't come to me. Even though I'm practically the head of the household since Dad is never around.
I leaned forward and swept Gaz's spiky purple bangs to the side so I could kiss her forehead. No matter what horrible things she did to me, she was still my little sister, and I loved her.
Once in privacy, I stripped off my pajamas and pulled on my usual clothes: A navy blue cotton t-shirt with a gray unsmiling face on it, black jeans, and a black trench coat. I pulled on my black boots and walked to the kitchen.
Out in the kitchen was two pieces of pizza with a sticky note beside it. I picked it up. It read:
"Dib: Don't let my reputation be ruined just because of one tiny gift. If you tell anyone about this, you will pay…
There wasn't any name from who sent me the note, but I didn't need one. I thanked Gaz silently in my head, grabbed the pizza, and ran outside.
I walked for a little while. It was the same routine every day: Get up, get dressed, provide for my family, and go to sleep. And it will be like that until the day that I die. But I don't mind, because it means a better life for my sister. And my dad obviously won't take care of her. So that leaves me, the big brother.
I remember how my father used to be. He was a good dad. He would play with us, take care of us when we were sick, and provided for us. But after my mom was murdered, he sort of shut off. He wouldn't respond to us, and I was concerned. And even though Gaz seemed indifferent to the situation, I knew that she was concerned, too.
After that, he took up science, and totally left us to fend for ourselves. He was never home, and he never showed any affection towards us. It was then that I realized that he never truly loved us. He loved Mom, and Mom loved us. And he would love whatever she adored. So after she died, what was the point in even caring anymore?
I was snapped out of my thoughts when a large, metal fence caught my eye. I smirked and climbed through the giant, gaping hole that I had bore a couple of years back. Oh, yeah. Poaching to provide for my family. How low could I get?
I took out my rifle while still gripping the pizza. I looked around for a familiar feminine face…ah. There she was.
Tak, my hunting partner, smiled at me and motioned for me to sit down. Her blue hair was mangled and bits of grime was lodged in it. I huffed at the sight, though my hair looked the same. It was just average from where we lived now.
I sat down and she surprised me by taking out a fresh loaf of bread, still warm. My mouth gaped open.
"Wow, Tak! How did you get that?" I asked, my amber eyes gleaming. Tak smirked and replied, "I caught a rabbit, and Mr. Vasquez traded."
I hugged her and brought out my own prize. Two pieces of pizza. Nowadays, this was precious. Tak's mouth watered; she was speechless. We quietly ate the food, savoring every bite.
Tak interrupted the silence by stating, "Dib. Let's run away together."
I almost choked, though she had told me this nearly every day. And every day I ignored her like I didn't hear her, but this time I felt like I should respond.
"Tak…" I began, my voice cracking. I really did want to run away from everything with her, my best friend. But I couldn't bring myself to agree. "That's…ridiculous. We have to provide for our families." he whispered. Tak shrugged, she didn't have a family. But Dib did, and while she couldn't show empathy for the boy, she could still show sympathy.
"Fine…but if you change your mind…"
"I won't."
Tak slumped her shoulders. And smirked again. "Oh Dib…I forgot to tell you…Happy Hunger Games!"
I stared awkwardly at the blue-haired girl before shrugging it off and continuing to eat.
After we eat, we collect berries, roots, plants, and fish. We are both satisfied with out luck.
I set out with Tak, and we trade some of our food. Mainly the berries because the mayor is a sucker for raspberries, and luckily, we have picked a lot. While we are there, we bump into the mayor's son, Keef. The red-head isn't dressed in his normal happy rainbow shirt and shorts, he was wearing a black suit and tie, which was totally unusual for him. He grinned and waved at us.
"Wow, Keef. You sure look fancy." Tak commented on the boy's appearance. Keef held his hands together and nodded. "Well…if I'm going to be sent to the Capitol for the Hunger Games, I should look presentable." he pointed out. Tak shrugged. "You only have five entries. You're not going to be picked." she retorted. Keef glared at her. "Well, it isn't an impossibility." was all he said.
I flinched at this conversation. I didn't like talking about the Hunger Games, even though it was reaping day. You see, whenever a kid reaches the age of twelve, he or she has to put their name on a slip of paper to be drawn for the Hunger Games. When you turn thirteen, then it is entered twice. And so on and so forth until you turn eighteen and you aren't legible for the Hunger Games anymore. Well, if you are in a poor family, you can enter your name in another time and your family can earn a fair amount of goods. This is what I do, as head of the household. It might not be safe for me, but it's safe for my family. And that's all that matters, right?
Well, this is Gaz's first time when her name being eligible for the Hunger Games.
Tak and Keef got into an argument. Keef was rich, so he didn't have to enter his name more than five times. Well, as for me, my name is entered twenty times.
I quickly left them for home.
Back at the house, Gaz is wearing a pretty purple dress with a large bow around it. It is very out of character for her, but I think she looks dashing in it. I tie the bow, and she complains, but she doesn't do anything to stop me. Wow. She must be really scared.
I strip down and pull on my Sunday best. It's not much, but it will do. It is reaping day, after all, so I have to look my best.
I walk downstairs, cook leftover fish for my family, and we eat. It's in silence, and no one complains about the odd acidy taste in it. I shrug and get up. I protectively hold Gaz's hand, and she doesn't slap me away. She just holds my hand so tight that it nearly cuts off my circulation. But I don't care, because Gaz must be really nervous.
I finally let go of her hand, and she goes to stand with the twelve year olds. I stand next to Tak, and she grins at my sight. She is wearing a powdery blue dress and I can't help but stare until the clock strikes two, and it's time for the reaping to begin.
The mayor has a microphone, and he tells up about the Hunger Games. It is a fight to the death on live television. Twenty-four 'tributes', as they are called, are sent to an arena and forced to fight each other until there is only one tribute alive. That tribute wins the Games, not to mention earning fame and fortune.
So the results of winning such a contest is great, but the consequences of losing are severe. I shudder, and Tak does the same.
The mayor lists the names of the former tributes from our area. Only one won the Games. His name is Dwicky, and he stumbles up to the stage, a stupid grin on his face. I wonder for a spilt second if tis man has gone mad.
He takes the microphone, and the tension in the atmosphere is oh so high, This is the time when the tributes from our area are called out. The victims. The people who will most certainly die.
I cross my fingers behind my back and pray that it's not me.
Dwicky pulls out a card, and speaks into the microphone with a booming voice:
"Gazlene Membrane!"
