Holding up my arms as i awoke to block out the sun, I yawned tiredly and turned my head to face the clothes hung on the back of the door. A smart white button up shirt, ironed to perfection. Alongside a pair of grey pants and polished smart shoes. A common thing in a Reaping was to dress as smart as possible. Just as sleeping in as long as you could before you were called to the town centre was, if that meant half the day then so be it.
Sighing deeply, I threw away the bedsheets that wrapped around my body and left the comfort of my warm bed. My fingers traced over the shirt gently as i thought about what was to come. An hour from now, i could be on a train heading for the Capitol, never to see my family ever again.
Taking the grey pants off the door, i pulled them on over my boxer shorts, followed by the pair of black socks and shoes. I slipped the shirt on over my muscle toned arms, and fastened each button carefully. I began tucking the shirt into my pants as i left my bedroom, being sure not to leave any of the shirt hanging over just in case the Peacekeepers were picky this year. In the kitchen, my mother was stood combing over Eric's hair and my father was smartening up Finn's attire.
Seeing me enter the room, my mother finished combing Eric's hair and made her way over to me.
Cupping my face with her right hand, she began combing over my shoulder length dark hair in all the messy places before kissing me on the forehead and smiling.
Smiling back, I pulled her into a tight hug and said "It'll be okay. Finn and Eric will be okay".
"I'm worried about you too" she whispered.
"Don't be." I pulled away and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll be okay too".
"I know" she was trying to stay strong, but I could see she was slowly breaking down.
"Come on, we need to be at the Justice Hall in a few" My father spoke from across the room.
Nodding slowly, mother took one last glance at all of her boys and smiled weakly. After that we left the house as a family for what may have been the last time.
The walk to the Justice Building was a silent one, just as it was each year. Upon arriving there, Finn and Eric followed me towards the peacekeepers, whilst our parents took their place with the other mothers and fathers who had gathered. Stepping in line first, I turned to glance at Eric. This was his second Reaping this year, he still hasn't adjusted and is petrified with what is happening. Luckily Eric's name is only in the bowl twice, Finn's is in four.
"Name" the peacekeeper sat at the desk asked as I moved forward.
"Ethan Mayne" i answered.
"Hand please"
I gave the peacekeeper my hand, and with a short pin prick to my index finger, he drew enough blood to roll on the page in the book and scanned it.
"Move along"
With that a different peacekeeper came along and grabbed me by the arm. After standing me with the other boys my age, the peacekeeper retreated to the back of crowd. Soon after, every boy and girl in the district had gathered outside the Justice building in perfect lines across the yard. The girls on the right and boys on the left. Peacekeepers surrounded the crowd and the stage in front of us, making the atmosphere of the Reaping ten times as threatening then it should be. Camera crews lined up along the stage and roof of the Justice building, broadcasting the Reaping straight to the Capitol.
I'm unable to spot my brothers as Mayor Wellcreek begins his speech, but I do spot Reggie two lines in front of me. He's making faces, mocking the mayor who continues to read from his card in that boring, monotone voice of his that could put an insomniac to sleep. I try not to laugh at Reg, because if a Peacekeeper see's us then we're a shoe in for a beating, but the longer it goes on the harder it is not too.
Reggie was about to incite his school friends around him to join in, thats when the video played on the large screen and made him pay attention to the Reaping. Each year, the video would be played to remind everyone why the games occurred. It would remind everyone about the old world, how it ended, how Panem came to be. It reminded us about the rebellions, and that it was our ancestors who forced the Hunger Games onto us. Everybody was silent as the video ended, too afraid to so much as murmur.
The doors to the Justice Building swung open, and District 7's personal escort stepped out onto the stage. Her name was Camomile, her skin was pale as snow - just as all the other Capitolians - and her hair was as red as the hottest flames. She wore a bright red dress and a tight red jacket with various silver chains hanging from her neck. She was frequently known as 'The Bull' around the village, due in large part to the ridiculous ruby ring piercing her septum and her unatural red eyes.
I didn't know what it was about the Capitols fashion sense, but it made them all come across as freaks with stupid accents. When you add to the equation the fact they enjoy live murder for sport it hardly sounds like any of them are sane. They probably aren't.
A huge smile washed across Camomile's face as she began reading from the white card in her gloved hands. "Hello, and welcome one and all, to the 71st annual Hunger Games".
The crowd was itching their heads and sighing as she read her own speech on the Capitol and thanked Snow for keeping us safe, etcetera etcetera. It's annoying how they make us wait to find out who's gonna die.
Eventually she shut up and moved towards the glass bowl containing the name of all the females. "As is customary, ladies first".
There was complete silence for a moment, not even the birds from the surrounding tree's were singing today. They never did on Reaping day, it was almost as if they knew, and shared the grief of the families of the chosen tributes.
Camomile cleared her throat before she placed her delicate hands into the glass bowl and turned over many of the name slips. After thirty seconds of rooting around, her slim fingers latched onto a slip of paper and she yanked it free from the bowl, taking more time by trotting back to the microphone and clearing her throat.
A bright smile appeared on her face as she opened the slip slowly and said "Johanna Mason".
I turned my head towards the female group. Within the crowd, the peacekeepers retrieved the female tribute and brought her up on stage to stand beside Camomile. She stood deathly still on the stage, glancing straight ahead of her at all times.
The girl from yesterday, it was her. Come to think of it I've seen her around, mostly at work, but I didn't know her name until now. Seeing as I chop tree's half the time and don't venture out much, i don't really get a chance to meet anyone new, and when i'd see her around work the patrolling peacekeepers would've probably shot me if i left my assigned area. She's beautiful though, long auburn hair, those wild green eyes, and fair skin, strange for somebody who lives seven considering how much time we spend in the sun.
"Any volunteers?" Camomile looked across the female crowd in hope she'd have a volunteer to take to the games. Nobody was willing to take Mason's place.
"Well then, moving on. Last but not least, the boys" Camomile spoke cheerily, bringing me out of my thoughts and back to the cruel reality of the Reaping.
Closing my eyes tightly, I took a deep breath, as Camomile's hand reached into the glass bowl on the other side of the stage. I wish my pleads to a higher power had worked, but let's face it, if there is someone up there he stopped paying attention to the world a long time ago.
Camomiles's voice rings out across the square. "Reginald Thirsk".
Just like that, a huge bomb fell into my stomach. I looked over to my best friend, who I grew up with and was like a third brother to me, and now tribute for the Hunger Games as the crowd around him split apart. Reggie was pale, and holding his left, stubbed arm as tightly as he could to stop himself from shaking and appearing weak in front of the cameras.
I can't let him go. I can't let them take him to what was certainly his death. I can't let his mother go through the pain of losing another child, not after her attempted suicides after Jane. Debating it over and over in my head, the Peacekeepers had already reached Reggie before I made my fatal decision.
I waited until Camomile asked, then my hand shot into the air as I shouted "I volunteer".
Everybody turned to look at me. And as their eyes all settled onto me, i heard my moms pained screams and cries, and my father's deep, shaken voice trying to comfort her from the back.
Reggie was more shocked now then when his name was drawn from the bowl, he stared at me slack jawed as the Peacekeepers left his side, and instead guided me up onto the stage to stand beside Camomile.
I took calm steady breaths as i looked out onto the crowd, i now found both my brothers within the mass of people and smiled lightly as they stared up at me with sad frowns on their faces.
"Districts 7's volunteer for the 71st Hunger Games". Camomile's grin was almost haunting. "What is your name dear?"
"Ethan Mayne." I say confidently.
"Well, ladies and gentleman this years volunteer, Ethan Mayne" she began to clap wildly, her grin growing wider and wider.
The people in the square did as she did and clapped slowly for both myself and the girl, Johanna. During their clapping, I looked over to Reggie who was still frozen in place.
The clapping subsided as Camomile raised her hands in the air. The red headed woman then switched glances between us two tributes before saying "Well ... Shake hands my darlings you're going to be spending quite some time together."
Turning to my left, my gaze met the deep, dark green eyes of my fellow tribute and I shook her hand. I guess I can find a positive in signing my death warrant.
After that was done I searched through the crowds of relieved mothers and fathers to find my parents. My mom was on the floor, crying a river as my dad was holding her tightly in his arms.
Dad gazed up to me, and within his eyes I could see the disappointment he felt. I promised i'd volunteer for nobody but my brothers, and i broke it.
"Ladies and Gentleman, please give out a hand for this years tributes" Camomile almost sang it, as though it was some sweet song that had to be cherished. "Happy Hunger Games to you all. And may the odds be ever in your favour".
Just like that, the crowds began to clap slowly yet again and the Peacekeepers retrieved me and Johanna and took us inside of the Justice Building.
The door was closed behind me as I entered my asserted room. I would spend no more than a few minuets in here, but it was enough time to say goodbye to my loved ones. As i stood there waiting, i could hardly believe what i had just done. If i'd have left Reggie to go to the Games, i'd be a free man now, never to have to face the Reaping again. Now i was going to the G ames themselves, and would likely never see another Reaping because i'd die some painful death in the arena.
I sighed. It wouldn't have mattered if i could turn back what just happened, i'd still volunteer for Reggie every time. After all, I had a better chance at winning than my friend. And one thing I wouldn't stand for was knowing i could have saved him an unnecessary death.
The door opened with tremendous speed as my mother burst through the door in a fit of tears. I was expecting her to hit me, or do something to show how angry she was with me. Instead her arms flung around my neck as she cried into my shoulder.
Pulling away slightly, she looked me in the eye, and through her tear covered eyes said "You win this thing. You come back to us."
I only nodded. I wasn't going to promise something like that. There was 23 other tributes going into this thing with me, it was likely half of them were much stronger then i was. The most i could do was try.
I took the necklace from my mothers hands and put it on around my neck. I realised it once belonged to my grandmother, of whom i'd only ever heard about. Mom told me that she passed on a few years before i was born, this necklace was all that remained of her. Smiling down at her I said "Thank you".
"You just focus on coming home" she then took a few steps back, and allowed my dad to approach me. Pulling me into a hug, he patted me on the back.
"Dad..." I began but was cut off.
"I don't care if you went back on your promise" he stated "I just want you to win this thing, and kick the Capitol in the ass as you do so".
I was surprised when a light chuckle escaped me "I'll try my hardest".
"Good ... we love you, son" after another pat on the back, dad moved to stand with my mom, and brothers.
"I'll see you guys soon, don't worry about me." I said to my brothers with little hope. Even I couldn't help but worry.
The last thing i saw before the peacekeepers collected my family was the sad smiles on both their faces, and that was that. I was alone in my very own jail cell, tormented by thoughts and visions of the upcoming games.
The door opened again, and this time Reggie stormed into the room like a man on a mission.
"Why?" He said as he stopped in front of me.
"Why what?"
"Why did you volunteer for me?" Reggie's hand turned purple as he clenched it.
I shook my head as i said "Come on, Reg. We both know I have a better chance then you at surviving".
Reggie was quiet for awhile. He agreed with me, but he didn't like it "You shouldn't have volunteered for me" he finally managed.
"I'm sorry" I was going to grow tired of apologising at this rate. But I understand why he's angry. He'll think that if I die in the arena it'll be his fault.
Reggie nodded his head before looking up over his glasses "You do whatever it takes to win this. Do whatever you have to do and kill whoever you have to kill".
"I got it"
Reggie continued nodding. I figured he was trying to boost all his faith in me, but it was hard to tell with Reggie.
"Times up!" A peacekeeper barged into the room and made his way over.
"Show them we aren't their slaves." Are Reggie's last words as the peacekeeper guides him out of the room.
I don't know how I'm supposed to do that, but I promise I won't become a lapdog to President Snow and the Capitol. I'd rather die.
Just so happens that might be the case.