It was reaping day in district 12. Bellamy was helping Octavia with her reaping clothes.
"You excited Bell? This is your last year in the reaping." Octavia asked looking at her brother.
"Well, it's a bit of a relief. But with all the times my name is in there it's going to be hard not to get drawn." He replies as he brushes her hair.
"Well that's your fault, I told you not to get those rations" she retorts. "Or at least let me get some of them."
"Not a chance in hell," he replied kissing her forehead. He smiles at her."I mean what would you do if your name was drawn O?" He teases.
She smiles up at him strongly. "I'd kick all their asses, you know that."
He chuckles, "That's my samurai." He says as they both walk to the town square.
Bellamy stands in with the other boys.
"Ladies first," Effie Trinket hollers as she tries to keep her head up straight. To be honest Bellamy had no idea how she wasn't on the freaking floor. That damn pink hairdo looked like an easy 15 pounds at the least.
Stupid capitol dumb asses he thought to himself as Effie dramatically dragged out choosing the girl.
Bellamy wasn't really paying attention, he never did to be honest. This was all just one big, majorly fucked up game. He hated seeing the panic as his eyes roamed over to the girls, he hated the faces that flashed in his head of those chosen in the years before.
His eyes locked with his sisters, he knew she wasn't scared. They were both certain she'd never be picked. After all he made sure her name was never in there more than once. Or maybe it wasn't so much the fact that they were certain, as it was that both of them refused to think about either of their names being drawn. It was too painful to think of, long ago, they made a promise to each other that every year on the reaping, both of them would not worry, about themselves or each other. It was to painful to worry.
Bellamy sighed and closed his eyes, he couldn't help but worry, his name was in there so many times. He was scared, not for himself, but for Octavia. If he was picked she wouldn't be able to take care of herself without him. She was all he had left, and he promised his mother and her on the day she was born that he would never let anything bad happen to her. A promise he wouldn't be able to keep if his name was drawn.
These thoughts ran through his head every damn year. He knew his promise not to worry, but he couldn't stop himself. Octavia was strong headed, but he knew, he knew she wouldn't survive without him. She couldn't hunt, she couldn't bargain. This horrid world would eat her alive if he wasn't there to shield her, protect her from it all…
Effie finally grabbed a name for the girls. "Octavia Blake"
….Wait…..what?! Bellamy's eyes swing open. He couldn't breathe as he watched the peace keepers grab her. It's like the wind was knocked out of him. This can't be happening, he was always so worried about being drawn, he never stopped to actually think about what would happen if she was.
Octavia swallows hard and starts to go up to the stage, her carefree facade breaking at a fast pace. He can't take it. He had to do something. What? He had no idea, something, hell anything. He couldn't let her be taken. He pushes guys out of his way to get to her. He grabs her arm and kicks a peace keeper till Octavia is released. By then he feels three peacekeepers restrain him. He's kicking and trying to break away from them, but he can't as he watches Octavia continue being escorted up the stairs helplessly.
"Wait! Wait! I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute! Me for her!" he screams. The peace keepers loosen up in shock. Effie Trinket eyes him. He knows. He Knows his request is not how the Ark does things. He knows they need one boy and one girl, he knows but he had to try. He had too. Everyone is silent for a minute and then the screen behind Effie comes on.
The game maker of the hunger games, Marcus Kane appears on the screen. "Bellamy Blake. We accept you as a volunteer. Octavia Blake is to be released immediately. Another female shall be drawn." Kane states as the screen goes black.
Everyone is shocked, Kane has just agreed to something that has never been done before in the whole of Ark history.
The peacekeepers confused, look to Effie for an answer.
"Y-you heard the man, release her! Ladies and gentlemen! We have our male tribute!" She practically squeals in delight. Finally, something interesting was happening in district 12.