District 12 is slowly being rebuilt. It's already been 4 years since the rebellion which cost me my mother's life. She was a spy, a small thin lady with sharp ears and even sharper eyes. She could fit in the tiniest of spaces. She'd died near the Capitol; a swarm of Jabber Trackers got her. Her body was never retrieved, not even after the rebellion.
Since her death, the rebellion was lost and the Hunger games were established. It's a horrible contest where the Capitol forces to 2 kids between the ages of 12-18 from each district to fight each other till all but one survive. The kids are chosen on a reaping day- a very appropriate name because the Grim Reaper makes a feast during the hunger games. Today is the forth Reaping day of District 12. Today no one between the ages of 12 and 18 are safe, that includes me.
My name is Persei Keene and I'm 14 years old. I have an older brother Baron and my father is a butcher. We live on the borderline between the poor section of the District called the Seam, and the rest of the wealthier District residents. When it comes to food and supplies, my family is better off them those of the seam, however I doubt the strange animal internals we eat are much of an improvement, but at least we have food on the table.
It is nearly 2 in the afternoon when my brother (who is 18) and I approach the main square where the reaping is being held. I look around. Allot of children are already queued before the registration desk . once District 12 was full of children, now only a few hundred remain. I queue behind a girl with long dark brown hair. Baron stands beside me, he should be queued with the other boys but he won't leave me alone. He'll queue when he knows I safely registered and in the square... well if you call that safe anyway. I feel nervous and Baron knows it. My hands are hot and sweaty and I am constantly wiping them in my dress, it is a few sizes too large for me; it had belonged to my mother. He tries to comfort me. He knows just as much as me that the worst thing that could happen to me is to get chosen for the hunger games- I'm no hunter, no fighter, no sprinter. It would be suicide if I get chosen.
"Now don't worry Percy." Baron Says. "You're name's only in there three times; it's very unlikely you'll get chosen. I know people who have their name in their 20 times because they didn't have enough grain and oil."
I give him a weak smile. "Well if I do get chosen, I say I could last a few days."
"Ha." Said a loud cruel voice I know too well.Mizar Allardyce, she's from the Seam and she hates my guts for some reason, probably because before the rebellion we were best friends but when we lost her family moved into the Seam while mine didn't so I think she blames me for some reason.
"You'd fall off the pedestal and explode before the games even start." She continues.
"Not true!" I say defensively.
"So true." She says, if I had recognised the girl with brown hair before I would have waited until there was some distance between us. "You're a klutz, I'm surprised you don't trip over your own feet more often. Do you still drink from Plastic cups Percy?"
I can feel my face turning red. I drink from plastic cups because I don't want to break the few remaing glass glasses we have. In fact my whole family drink from plastic cups.
But before I can reply Mizar turns round and I realise that we have arrived at the registration desk. Baron kisses my forehead. "Think you can take it from here?" He says.
I nod, all they're going to do if prick my finger. I'll be fine as long as I don't see the blood. Mizar walks behind the registration desk but before she vanishes into the crowd of girls she turns and tells me. "May the odds be ever in your favour Percy."
I can't reply. The man at the registration desk is impatiently waving for me to walk towards the desk. I hold out my hand and with a small needle he pricks one of my fingers, I look away as I imagine the blood seeping out of my finger. I feel the man press my finger on a piece of paper and with that it's over and I'm walking onto the crowd, towards the section reserved for 14 year old girls. There I wait in silence along with the other 14 year olds as I feel the air vibrate with the sound of the ringing bells, indicating its 2 o'clock. The reaping is about to begin
The Square was one of the first places repaired after the rebellion, it was the only part of the district 12 were one can find anything, anytime. Usually the Square makes me feel safe but today I feel like it's the entrance to Hell. A makeshift stage was built at the front of the square. Dozens of large television were hanging on the sides of the square, currently showing the stage. I stood on tip toes to try getting a better look at the nearest screen. The stage is empty except for two chairs and two tables with a large bowl on each one. Those bowls held our faith, one held the names of the boys the other held the names of the girls. Somewhere among those little slits of paper were three small little Persei keenes.
As a hush spread through the crowd of spectators two people appeared. One I recognised almost immediately, the mayor Vamos Roxen. A tall well built man who until a few years ago had been working in the mines. The other was Nitya Ivory, our Sponsor. She was a small pale lady with large light purple hair. Her lips and large mushroom dress were a similar shade of purple. Nitya was our sponsor from the Capitol, my faith was in her hands, it's her duty to select the names from her District.
"Happy Hunger Games!" she says in the Capitol accent, walking over to a microphone as Vamos takes a seat, his job today is to sit and pray that his own son isn't chosen as a tribute (that's what they name the chosen boy and girl.) Last year his eldest son was chosen and well, lets just say lasts years Victor was not from district 12,
We applaud politely. When the unenthusiastic applauds dies away she goes into a lively speech about what an honour it is to be chosen as a tribute and how the Hunger games are a reminder of the Dark days. When she finishes her speech, we reluctantly apploud. We older kids know that what she said about it being an honour to be chosen for the hunger games is all a lie. In reality, the Hunger Games are a form of treat to the Districts. The Hunger Games tell the Districts "We are more powerful then you. We can take your children and kill them for our own entertainment and you cannot stop us." Of course no one says this out loud under pain of death.
Nitya walks over to the bowls. "May the odds be ever in your favour!" she says enthusitically. She looks at the bowls. "Boys first." She says and slowly puts her delicate pale hand into one of the bowls. She pulls it out seconds later. I can hardly see the tiny paper in her hand, it is the same colour as her skin. She slowly unfolds the paper. Her eyes move as she reads out the name.
"Wade Yule." I can't help sigh. At least my brother is safe. Trough the screens I can see the crowds of boys part to let a tall, skinny boy with dark brown hair and light green eyes walk towards the stage. Although he is skinny as a stick, you can tell by his broad shoulders that many years of digging for coal has made their toil. He must be at least 17 years old.
As he climbs the stairs leading to the stage, his face is expressionless. All of Pannen see him as he takes his place besides Nitya. She gives him an even bigger smile. "Now for the girls." She says . slowly she places her hand into the untouched bowl. I hold my breath as she pulls out another small paper. My heart is pounding as she slowly unfolds it.
"Purse Eye Kinnie!" she yells. I exhale. I have never heard of such a girl but at least it wasn't me. Muffled whispers go through the crowd of girls. It seems like no one has ever heard of a Purse Eye Kinnie. Nitya looks down at the crowd of girls expectantly. "Purse Eye Kinnie!?" she calls again, her eyes are darting from side to side searching the crowd. "Come on up !" she practically yells.
"Now Miss Ivory may I see that paper please?" says the mayor walking towards Nitya.
"Of course." She says a little too enthusiastically. She hands him the paper. He scans it with his eye. His face momentarily saddens. He looks up at Nitya. "This is a native District 12 name, very easy to confuse the pronunciation."
"Then who is the remaining tribute?" she asks, although she tries very hard to cover it, she sounds impatient.
The Mayor looks towards the crowd. "Persie Keene!" he says sadly.
Then I feel hundreds of eyes on me. I am frozen still. The girls separate making a path for me towards the stage. They all turn towards me sadly, I know a majority of them and I can see the hopelessness in their eyes. they know I'm a lost cause.
"Now Persie, don't be shy, come join your fellow tribute on stage." Says Nitya.
I still can't move. My heart is pounding so loud I can barely hear her speaking. I hardly notice that all the televisions are now showing my face- drained from colour, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Then someone behind me pushes me and I stumble forewords, falling on my knees. I don't get to my feet. Now all of Pannen knows I'm a klutz, a coward, I can't even find the courage to walk up to the stage. Then someone grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. I look up to see Mizar. "Come on Percy, if you stay on the ground you won't get any Sponsors."
I nod my understanding. I'd need sponsors if I had any hope of surviving . well personally I didn't have much. Now, looking straight at the stage , I begin to walk. I pay no attention to the sad faces of the girls I pass. I slowly climb the stairs making sure I don't fall and shake Nitya's hand.
Smiling broadly, Nitya steps up to the mike. "District 12 I present your tributes!" she says.
This time there is no applause. I stare down at the crowd as they stare up at me. This is all like one big nightmare which I just can't wake up from. Everything seems so unreal.
"Now." Continues Nitya. "Since your District, unfortunately, has no past victors each tribute is allowed to pick his or her own mentor."
I look sideways as Wade steps up to the microphone, how can he look so calm? He looks at the crowd.
"Whytt Wellwood." He says. I can't help feeling surprised. Whytt Wellwood is studied in medicine. A jolly man with rosy cheeks. I have no idea why Wade would choose him.
That's when I realise the crowd is waiting for me. I walk up to the microphone, which is way too high for me to reach. Before Wade turns to leave, he lowers it down for me.
"Thanks." I whisper to him. He just nods at the microphone.
I turn once again on the crowd. I never gave real thought on who I would choose if I was chosen for the hunger games. If I could I would have chosen my brother, Baron, but rules say a girl tribute must have a female mentor when no ex-victor is available. I would need someone who can survive on what she's got, who knows how to hunt, fight and survive. Someone who's been living in the Seam would know how to do those things.
Before i even give it a second thought I say ." Mizar Allardyce" and it's too late to take the words back.