A Dragon's Spirit's Chapter

This is my first time back to FanFiction in a while, so please be kind!

Jason – The Reaping

The grass crunched under my feet as I sat down on the slope of the hill. Today's the reaping. I thought. I wonder if my name will be pulled today.

I stared out at the mountains in the distance. It would have been a pretty sight, except many ugly towers and power plants covered the blackened landscape in every direction. I grimaced. It was usual to see those long plumes of smoke go up into the sky. It was part of life in District 5.

Our district was fairly rich, but that didn't do anything to our happiness. Most of the people in our district led grim, depressing lives and usually met a fiery end in one of the factories. It was a miracle for any one of us to live past the age of forty.

In the district, this small hill was the only place where I liked being. Everywhere else was… wrong. Almost like a violation against nature. Here… it felt almost natural.

Less artificial might be a better word. Since our district supplied power for the capital, everything was extremely industrial. I was sitting on one of the only parts of nature left in the entire district.

I thought about my parents. Both killed in an accident when I was three, I had been passed around from family to family in the district. None of them had ever kept me around for more than a year.

Even though I was too young to remember my parents, I still miss them every day. Life would have been much different for me if not for their sudden deaths.

In the distance, a bell began to sound, signaling it was time for the reaping.

I took a deep breath inwards. It's ok. You won't be called. Today isn't your day. Your name will not be called.

I stood up and began walking at a brisk pace down the hill, before I lost my nerve. I passed the poorer part of our district fast, because they were known to attack strangers for money and possessions.

I walked back onto the main street of our district. Passing the people on the right and left of me, I stepped into the crowded courtyard.

A long line of people stretched out before me. I waited patiently until it was my turn. "Next!" The lady at the counter said. She quickly gave me the shot. It hurt, but hey, after four years of getting it, I was used to it.

I found my place in the ranks of boys on the left side of the stage. After a few more minutes while the last people filed in, the lady in the weird dress-up began speaking.

I tuned her out, and watched as she played the regular video and such. Her speech after seemed to go on forever until finally she said-

"Well then. Ladies first."

I could feel the dull pounding of my heart.

She lowered her hand into the cup and pulled out a scrap of paper and walked briskly back to the podium. She opened the paper.

"Amber Hale!"

My heart sank. No. Not her. I knew her- she was my age (sixteen) and she was the daughter of my parents' friends, well, at least when my parents were alive. And I had a crush on her.

I watched as she was pulled out of the crowd and hauled onto the stage, helpless.

"Now- for the boys."

Now fear for her morphed into fear for both of us. She reached into the glass and pulled out a scrap of paper.

"Jason Murray!"

An ice-cold fist of fear formed in my stomach.

Amber's eyes widened as she heard my name, and she looked at me through the crowd.

This can't be happening. This can't be happening. I thought as I was dragged out of the crowd by Panem officers and hauled up on the stage.

"Meet your new District 5 tributes!" The ridiculous reaper lady announced, obviously expecting applause.

Only a few, dim, weary claps covered the silence. The ridiculous lady scowled. "Tributes, shake hands."

Amber and I slowly looked at each other. I saw my fear and worry for the other reflected in her eyes.

Then we shook hands.