Chapter 2

When we finish what could be our last meal together, we pack up and Mia climbs aboard with me on Oliver and we gallop home, she holds on tightly as we race through the dense foliage of the forest. When we reach the borders of district 12, we hold on tightly as Oliver makes the impossible leap over the 'electrical fence' and with a heavy landing we make our way home. As we reach our home we dismount Oliver and Mia goes inside to wash and get out of her normal comfortable district clothes and into her reaping clothes. I take Oliver to the porch, tie him up, un-tack him of his homemade bridle and saddle and refill his water and grain bucket. Once I've finished I go inside to find mother holding up a towel, signalling to me that it's time for my wash and for me to get ready for the reaping. After I've washed I go to my room and find a light purple dress with an orange ribbon tied around the waist of the dress. I hate it. The colours are amazing, it's the frills and awkward fitting that makes my skin crawl. I never wear dresses normally. One- because I hate them, two – because we can never afford them, and three - I'm more or less always riding Oliver in the woods, or hunting game so wearing something so pristine and tight would be a nightmare.

I make my way down the old dusty, splintered stairs and find my mother braiding Mia's hair. I wait until it's my turn for my hair to be braided. Mia sits through the braiding and final touches to her presentation comfortably, whereas I sit yelping out short strikes of pain as my hair is tugged at and braided tightly. Once my mother has finished she stands me next to Mia hand wraps us into a tight group hug. Suddenly the gong sounds, my heart beat increases as two peacekeepers barge into the house and drag me and Mia out the door. The peacekeepers take us to the line situated for girls only, parallel from us is the boy's only line. When I reach the ID station a peacekeeper pricks me with an electrical powered needle which opens a puncture in my finger-tip, the peacekeeper then takes hold of my hand and presses it against some paper- showing up my fingerprint in my dark crimson blood. She then scans it with a hand-held device.

"You may go now Megan."

She gestures me to the girls, and I walk there and stand next to Mia.

Once all children aged 12-18 have been pricked, identified and placed in either the boys or the girls section a deafening BOOM surrounds us. The reaping has begun.

"Hello and welcome to the annual reaping of District 12 for the Quarter Quell!" (50th hunger games) "This year, as you know, double the amount of tributes shall be reaped into this year's games!" She seems to hold for applause. There isn't one.

"Ladies first!" She walks over to the spherical glass dome which holds, somewhere, my name times five. Along with all the other girl's names. She waves her hand around and around in the dome before plummeting her slim pink tinted hand deep into the dome. Seconds later her hand resurfaces holding a petite piece of paper, enfolded and tied with a thin golden thread. She unfolds it, clears her throat and says briskly,

"Miss Mia -" She is cut off by Mia screaming, and falling to the ground. She holds tight onto my leg and I pull her up, and whisper "Don't worry. I'll sort this out." She stares into my eyes, perplexed. Her eyes full of anxiety and hungry for an explanation. I let her go. She falls back onto the floor again. I shout at the top of my voice, "I volunteer. I shall take Mia's place." the pink woman looks perplexed and she whispers to the mayor of district 12, but I can't hear them. I just see the mayor give her a nod. After that she straightens her fluorescent pink and crimson wig. "Come on dear."

I make my way towards the stage. Peacekeepers following me. I reach the iron stairs and look up to see the pink woman holding out her hand, ready for me to climb the staircase. I ignore her hand and climb them on my own.

"Let's have a round of applause for Megan!" I cringe, at the sound of my putrid name. My name is Pineapple. Period. Silence falls over district 12. No one applauses me, they just place their ring, index and middle finger to their lips and extend their arms sky-high; keeping their pinkie and thumb on top of each other. It's a symbol of respect. A symbol of good luck. I symbol saying goodbye. The pink lady shakes her head disappointingly and quickly moves on. "Let's have the second girl!" she repeats her hand actions, into the dome, waves it around, picks up another strip of paper and stands back near her microphone stand, and she unfolds highlighted eyes widen. With a sudden look of shock she stutters out "M…Mi….. Mia Lily."

The name hits me like a tonne of bricks. After risking my life, to try and protect her. To make sure she doesn't get entered into the twisted Capitols games… Mia is destined to be a tribute.

To my surprise, she doesn't look as horrified. Maybe the shock hasn't sunk in I think to myself. But she just straightens the bow on her dress and walks over the stage. She quickly climbs the stairs and links arms with me. The pink lady stares at us for a short while, and I think I see a tear forming in her left tear duct. I'm surprised that the amount of makeup is allowing her to shed a tear.

"Now for the boys." Again she repeats her actions. Picks up an enfolded piece of paper. And reads it out. Fresh and brisk like.

"Callum Hawkins."

I search the district's court for anyone who could belong to the name Callum Hawkins. I spot him out. He's tall, dark brown hair, looks about the same age as me and Mia, and has the seam's eyes. Grey / blue. Another boy is holding onto his arm. He looks a lot older than him, however he looks vaguely similar to him. I just assume he's his older brother. Callum looks confident and briskly walks over to the stage, and climbs the stairs. His expression is hard to read. So I shake my head and continue to wait for the reaping to be over. The pink woman congratulates him, and then swiftly repeats her dome actions for the last time this year. She unfolds the paper and reads out-

"Fabian Taylor"

I again search the court for a boy belonging to the name Fabian Taylor. I spot him as he walks gingerly down towards the stage. He has very short brown hair, eyes to match, slim figure and looks again- around the same age as me and Mia. I think to myself uneasily, easy kill. I shake the thought from my head.

The reaping is nearly over. All there is to do now, is to shake hands with my fellow tributes and say my goodbyes.

WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK? LEAVE A REVIEW PLEASE :-) THANKS FOR READING.

MORE CHAPTERS COMING SOON!