District 1 Reaping's
Aislinn Reitz, 18
(Submitted by ataharcot)
I place a mixture of breads, pastries and other foods in a large woven basket. Even if it is reaping day, the homeless children still need to be fed. I mutter to myself the words I've been rehearsing ever since I was 8 years old, 'I volunteer as tribute'. I'm not nervous for the games, in fact, I'm excited for the thrill of it! All the academy training team as well as my parents have always called me a natural leader, which, I can't really disagree with. I'm just nervous for actually murdering children. Children who will be ripped from their families, thrown into an arena filled with mutts and traps and killed before they even know where to run too, and I will have to kill them, end a child's living, breathing life if I wish to return home. Of course, I do, it's all I've ever wanted to be, a victor. I just can't bare to see people in pain. I take out the pin in my hair and my thick brown locks fall to my back, I slip on a leather jacket, whisk the large basket filled with food under my arm and take a quick glance at myself in the mirror, my striking green eyes stare at my face, everyone has always complimented it, my parents, boys at the academy…him. Whilst I do appreciate it, nobody ever realises that pretty girls can indeed have brains as well as beauty. I sigh. God, I hate people who stereotype.
''Homeless food run?'' My father walk down the grand staircase.
''Of course!'' I say brightly. He smiles at me and kisses my forehead. Well don't dawdle please, the reaping is in a few hours, can't miss my girl's big day.
''I will, love you dad, bye'' I smile as I walk out the house. I leave Victors Village, my dad missed out as well as my mother, but my grandparents certainly didn't. Henry & Elle Fancy, victors of the 31st & 35th games have taught my everything they know to help me try and return home, I think about them in the arena until I see him, leaning against the sign reading 'Victors Village', Thor Valentine.
''She finally arrives'' Thor says in a deep voice. My heart skips a beat, and not just because of his looks. Me and Thor have been best friends ever since we were very young, but only if he knew, I loved him, but he can never know. I can't jeopardise what we have already, besides why would he go for me when the amount of girls that drool over him in school as well as the academy. No wonder there's the rumour going around that he's slept with quite a few girls from the academy, I hope its not true, but I'm too embarrassed to ask him, he's assured me it's not, I do believe him, but I have my doubts.
''Says the boy who spends over an hour getting ready, and that doesn't even include doing your hair!'' He laughs as I knock his huge bicep. It hurts my hand, but I shake it off. I forget how much and how hard he trains! He becomes the gentlemen and carries the basket We walk together to the square to the homeless shelter and I start giving out all of the food in the basket, most of the kids look very grateful, but some look terrified that a boy of Thor's physical size is giving them food. He doesn't mean to scare them of course, he's a big teddy bear under all of his muscle. Once we leave the homeless shelter its not long before we are back at Victors Village.
''Well, this is me! Ill see you at the reaping?'' I say smiling at Thor. ''Of course, you will!'' He smiles at me, but he seems different. I begin to walk away until he grabs my arm. ''Aislinn?'' He says with emotion. ''Yeah?'' I say back curious. He doesn't say anything, instead he just pulls me into a hug, I can hear his heartbeat considering he has about 7 inches in height on me. ''What was that for?'' I say looking up at him. 'I just…Thank you, for being you''. My heart melts, ''You're the bestest…friend, I could ask for Thor.'' I say back with a smile. Soon after, I shower change in a simple but stylish blue dress, and we leave for the reaping.
After a brisk walk from Victors Village to the square with my family, I tell them I love them, and I sign in. I get into the roped off area along with all the other girls who will never get the chance to experience what I will. Most of them where furious when they found out it would be me representing one and not them. As we are all gossiping who we think the male tribute will be, our escort Jewels stands on the stage conveniently wearing a white jumpsuit covered in diamonds, rubies, emeralds and the rest. We watch the video which has been played for the past 77 years, why the hunger games exist, what they stand for, all stuff I've remembered way before today.
''Now! Let's meet our female tribute representing District 1 this year in the 77th annual hunger games!'' She screeches as she tiptoes over to the bowl filled with white slips. She snatches one and I don't even let her finish ripping it open.
''I volunteer as tribute!'' I shout with supreme confidence. I walk out from the line and wave to the crowd as I climb the stairs. I shake Jewels hand. ''My, my! A volunteer! What is your name my dear?''
''My name is Aislinn Reitz, future victor of the 77th hunger games!'' I smile at the cameras whilst waving. This is the moment I've been waiting for, I stare at my family, they look unbelievably proud, I stare at the academy staff, they are beaming with pride. I look for Thor in the crowd unable to find him. That is until I realise, he is standing next to me, representing the male tribute from 1. All the happiness drains from my body. I didn't even hear him volunteer, why didn't he tell me the academy chose him to volunteer? I feel my eyes tear up.
''Wonderful! Please Aislinn, Thor, shake hands!'' Jewel steps aside, we shake hands, he squeezes my hand to give me the reassurance I need, but it's not enough. The anthem plays and a single teardrop falls from my face to the concrete floor, along with mine and Thor's possible future together.
Thor Valentine, 18
(Submitted by ataharcot)
My dreams switch out with one another, I see my little sister holding the knife in front of her, I whack it out of her hand, and she screams, my hands ache but I ignore it as I punch them, the people who have ruined my little sisters' life. Blood spurts everywhere as Aislinn screams and cries and begs me to stop hurting them. Her screams relief me from the nightmares. My eyes open as I sit up in my bed, sweating and hyperventilating. I look down at my body, the sweat drips from my chest to my abs. I place my hand my hand on my head through my wet hair. I need to distract myself from my dreams. I fling myself out of my bed, the cold floor feels good on my bare feet. I head straight for the shower and wash the sweat away from my body. I step out and stare at my soaked body in the bathroom mirror, I flex, showing my biceps and chiseled abs. I still look good which is a good thing, I smile and laugh. The reaping isn't until a few hours, but I decide to get changed now, I comb my blonde hair to the side and change into a grey muscle fit shirt with simple black pants and grey shoes.
I stare at myself. Today is the day, the day I become a tribute. The excitement rushes through me. The academy staff have told me that I'm one of the best careers they have ever seen out of districts 1, 2 & 4, I don't see why, my body is in perfect shape, I'm cunning, more than people probably realise and I'm ready to kill. I ponder who my partner will be, the number of girls that have 'claimed' they've spent a night with me, of course it's all lies, I only have eyes for Aislinn. She probably only likes me as a friend, but I doubt it will be her representing the female from one in the games. Don't get me wrong, she's strong and intelligent…and the most beautiful girl in the district, but when it comes to killing someone? Well, I've seen her cry when an animal is in pain. That's why I love her, she's different, but I could never ruin things between us.
There's a knock at my door, my younger sister walks in, Ryelle. ''Well, its your big day! You excited?'' She says with excitement. ''More ready than I ever have been!'' I reply smiling. I stare at her she fixes my shirt at the back. After all, she's been through, she's so positive. 2 years ago, Ryelle came out as a female, she's still Ryker in some ways, but after the bullying, her near suicide, she's come out of the other side 100% happier. I give her a hug as I leave to go meet Aislinn.
I walk to the Victors Village just as I see her walking out with her huge basket of food for the homeless. No other girl from District 1 of all places would do what she does, selflessness at its greatest. ''She finally arrives!'' I say laughing. I love teasing her. ''Says the boy who spends over an hour getting ready, and that doesn't even include doing your hair!'' She jokes as she hits my bicep, I can tell she hurt her hand but she's hiding it, I smile even more. I can be natural around her, I don't have to play this huge cocky act all the time. We soon walk to the shelter and give out the free food to the homeless adults and children. Most of the kids look terrified when I approach them with the food, they must be terrified of my size rather than the food. After we hand everything out, I offer to walk Aislinn home and she doesn't deny it, when we arrive at the village, she says goodbye but something inside me tells me to say something, anything. ''Aislinn?'' I say with emotion. ''Yeah?'' She says back curiously. I don't say anything, instead, I just pull her into a hug, she leans against my chest. ''What was that for?'' She says looking up at me. 'I just…Thank you, for being you'' I say. ''You're the bestest…friend, I could ask for Thor.'' She says back with a smile. It gives me clarity. I may be strong, but I'll never have the guts to tell her how I truly feel.
As I arrive at the square, I notice my family waiting for me, I hug them, my parents tell me they're proud and sign in. I walk into the pen and hear all the girls trying to get my attention by fixing their hair or showing their cleavage, I laugh at how embarrassing they are making themselves look. I fist pump the guys in my area as I get in line. I look at Aislinn, she looks like she's thinking deeply. She's so naturally beautiful. No wonder the other girls are jealous of her. We look at each other and smile. ''You okay?'' I mouth to her. She nods her head and smiles at me. I smile back as the anthem begins. Our escort Jewels looks ridiculous as always but soon starts the reaping. ''Now! Let's meet our female tribute representing District 1 this year in the 77th annual hunger games!'' She squeals. She walks over to the bowl and grabs a slip, as she opens it, a very familiar voice shouts the words.
''I volunteer as tribute!''. I don't need to look to know who it is. I stare at Aislinn on the stage as she says she is the future victor. I am horrified, this is not a surprise, this is another one of my nightmares. I can't volunteer, but if you are chosen by the academy and don't fulfill your duty, you will be banished from the academy as well as being hated by the district, I can't bring shame upon my family when they have already been through so much. 'I'm so sorry Aislinn, please don't hate me' I say under my breath. Jewel doesn't even get halfway to the boys reaping bowl before I shout in my deep voice.
''I volunteer as tribute!'' The guys pat my back in congratulations as I walk up to the stage. ''Another volunteer! What's your name young man?'' Jewels asks with excitement. ''Thor Valentine''. I say as I wink at the camera, I still need to look like I am happy. Aislinn doesn't even notice until I'm standing on the stage next to her, she tries to cover the fear, but her happiness goes to horror in the space of seconds.
Jewels asks us to shake hands, we grab hands and I squeeze Aislinn's hand as I see her tear up. The anthem plays, we don't know what to do we just stare into each other's eyes.
What have we done?
One district down, 11 more to go! I'm so excited to create the other tributes you have all sent in! District 2 will be out in a few days! Please feel free to leave reviews! Until next time!