Chapter 2

The Reaping

When I burst through the jungle the town bell was already ringing 5, Ben got home at 5:30 and then the reaping is at 6. I ran home and fished around for the few spare change we had left and went to the store and bought Ben his candy and a new pair of cheep pants. When I got home I had about 5 seconds before Ben rushed in excitedly, and almost knocked me over as he excitedly said "Guess what, Guess what, I made you something!"

"Wow Ben slow down I got you something to." But that did a whole lot of crap he was practically vibrating as I sat him down on a chair.

"What is it, what is it?"

"What do you want me to give you yours first or do you want to go first?" I asked him

"Me" he shouted and sprang off the chair and reached into his bag and pulled out a ring with brilliantly colored ribbons flowing from it. He went behind my chair and placed his creation on top of my head.

"Thanks Ben it's beautiful," I said as I looked in the cracked merrier hanging over the sink. The blue, green, and purple ribbons made my long blond hair look like the beautiful ocean that I had grown up around. My high cheek bones were not as prominent under my tan skin since I've been hunting more but we were still in danger of starvation. My blue eyes looked like the ocean on clear days. I think that they are the same color as Ben's. Jared thinks that mine are deeper blue-green then Ben's but I don't know.

I turned around and hugged Ben, tears in my eyes, and kissed his chubby face "Ewwww! Come on Lily what did you get me?"

"Oh you lucky duck," I said with a smile as I opened my bag and pulled out the candy and new pants. "Now put those on and get ready for the reaping.

After Ben and I changed we heeded toured the main square. The streets where flooded with the hole population of district 5. Parents had nerves faces on holding their children close while the delouses sent of cooking sea food wafted through the air. I pulled Ben over to Jared and whispered "So how many did you put in?"

"Four, we can't just survive on meat we need the oil and grain plus its Jimmies first reaping so I took over so he wouldn't have to."

I leaned over and said very quietly, so Ben wouldn't hear, "I put in five."

Jared's eyes widened. He was about to say something but just then a voice boomed "Welcome to the 31st Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in the favor of our two lucky tributes!" I speaker was the equator for District 5, she stood there on the makeshift stage with her puffy green capitol hair, yellow skin, a huge smile that could stretched from one ear to the other. She was wearing the most make up I have ever seen on a human, her name, Cladia. She stood there next to the two large glass bowls that held life or death for the young citizens of District 5 like it was an honor to send two innocent children into and arena to fight to the death.

I stared at her with disgust as she announced "Well let's switch it up a bit and start with the boys." She reached her hand deep into the bowl and pulled out a folded card and read out "Joe Peterson is the new boy tribute for District 5! Let's give him his applause." I saw a tall handsome boy with wavy black hair walking through the crowd; his face was unwavering and showed no emotion as he pulled a small sobbing girl off his leg that I'm assuming is his sister. He stood stiffly on the stage as Claudia smiled at him then turned back to the crowd "Ok people, the next tribute is…" she dramatically reached into the other glass bowl and pulled out a slip of paper. Claudia looked at one of the many cameras surrounding the stage and said "The girl tribute is… Lily Elmark!" I almost fainted, no, no this isn't happening!

"Lily Elmark where are you? Please come on up." I turned to Jared and shoved the screaming Ben into his arms. "Don't let him starve, protect him please!" I cried and walked away towards the stage and wiped my face of all emotion, and joined Joe. He looked at me with silent tears welling up in his very dark almost black-blue eyes. Without thinking I reached out and tuck his hand, he jumped at my action and stared into my eyes then he squeezed my hand and looked out over the crowd. Our hands were still clasped together as we entered the capital train.

End of chapter 2