2: The Reaping
Ray and I finally reach home and Cassie is waiting for me.
"Dad will bring Spike, Ray, and Rose. He will be there right when the reaping starts," Cassie tells me. Cassie is wearing a bright yellow dress and her gray flats. Her light brown hair is fishtailed down one side of her head. She looks beautiful. I nod at her and set of to my room to get ready.
I grab my nicest shorts, orange-brown plaid, and a brown collared shirt to go with it. I guess in District 10 we call this nice. I grab my nice sandals and go back to Cassie.
"Finally! Let's go," Cassie says as we head out the door. Everyone we pass looks unhappy and sad or they are crying. Cassie has her head high and doesn't speak to me. Cassie and I are not particularly close siblings. We hardly ever talk to each other. The only words we say to each are phrases like "Pass the jam," or "When is dad getting home?"
When we finally arrive at the Justice Building, Cassie leaves my side to check in. She doesn't even seem scared. I head to a line to check in.
"Next," a woman peacekeeper tells me. I walk up to the booth and put my hand on the table. She takes out a tiny needle and pokes my index finger. I flinch. She scans the drop of blood and says "Next."
I walk to my age section and wait in my spot patiently. This is the worst part for me. Waiting. Waiting to see if you are to be put into the horror.
I look up to see Leporis Ivory walking out of the Justice Building. Leporis Ivory is always the one to reap the poor boy and girl from District 10. This year must be mint green because he is dressed in all mint green. His tux, shoes, and tie are all mint green. Leporis Ivory even has a tint of green in his skin. His hair is a normal style, but it is green.
"H-hem," Leporis Ivory silences the crowd and we all turn our attention to him. "First off," he starts to say "before this year's reaping we have a very special video from the Capitol," Leporis Ivory squeals as he fixes his tie. The video, that they show each year, starts to play and tells why The Hunger Games came to be. Blah. Blah. Blah. I watch the video with an "oh my gosh face" like I do every year. Leporis Ivory taps the microphone when the video finishes and smiles.
"It is time we pick a boy and girl from District 10 to be put into this year's arena. There is a new Head Gamemaker as well. Her name is Abigail Arrow. Ladies first," Leporis Ivory says as he slowly walks to one of the clear spheres that holds the girls names. He puts his hand in the sphere and moves it around and around. Leporis Ivory finally pulls out a piece of paper and smirks. He walks back to the microphone and says "Cassie Garze." No! Not Cassie! Not my little sister!
"Cassie!" I yell as I run out of my spot to the aisle that separates the boys and girls. "Cassie no!" I start screaming. Ray and Rose, who I can see out of the corner of my eye, are screaming for Cassie too. I don't know why I am screaming like a child because Cassie and I never care about each other. Peacekeepers start surrounding Cassie and they escort her up the stage of the Justice Building. Now peacekeepers start coming to me. They grab my arms and drag me back to my spot. They finally get me at my spot and have the nerve to full out slap me across the face. My cheek starts to burn. It stings. I can feel my cheek turning bright red. I mouth a few words as the peacekeepers go back to their assigned spots.
Cassie hasn't done anything with this commotion. She's just standing next to Leporis Ivory. She doesn't even look mad! There is one thing I can do to save her. One thing that will change my family. One thing that will change District 10. Volunteer for the boy who is reaped.
"Let's get back to the reaping. Shall we?" Leporis Ivory calls out to the crowd. He starts walking over to the opposite clear sphere that holds the boys names. He picks the boy a bit more quickly and then he walks back to the microphone. "Elijah Trummeck," he says calmly and slowly.
Elijah Trummeck, one of my worst enemies at school. Dark brown almost black hair, light brown skin, and a strong body. He is in the so what we call "popular group" at school. The only thing I can beat him at is climbing and running. Elijah Trummeck leaves his spot and walks down the aisle like he owns the place.
"No," I say calmly and loudly. "I volunteer! I volunteer," I yell as I run past Elijah in the dirt aisle. His face stares at me and I give him a slight nod. He walks back to his spot with a very confused face. I walk up the steps to the stage.
"How interesting. A volunteer from District 10. What might your name be?" Leporis Ivory asks me.
"A-Aaron," I stutter. "Aaron Garze," I say more confidently.
"Oh, so this young Cassie must be your sister?" He asks with his same smile. I give a brief nod. Cassie stares at me in disgust. Great, now she hates me even more. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this year's tributes from District 10, Aaron and Cassie Garze!" Leporis Ivory chants.
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I wait in the small room in the Justice Building. More waiting. Now I am going into the arena though. I need to help Cassie win. She's so mad at me now. Why would I want to help her? She's going to find her own allies. I wait and then I hear knocking at the door. Ray, Rose, Spike, and dad!
"Help Cassie," my dad says to me.
"I might want to survive too you know," I say back.
"Aaron, try to win. Ok?" Ray asks me.
"Of course I will try, but dad obviously wants Cassie to win," I blurt out.
"I want you both to win," my dad says.
"Well that's not how it works now, is it?" I yell to him right when a peacekeeper comes in to take them out.
"Bye guys," I tell them as they leave. I wait for the next knocking and in comes Elijah Trummeck.
"What are you doing here? You should be happy I volunteered for you," I yell at him.
"I am here to tell you thanks and good luck," he says back to me.
"Ok?" I say slowly.
"Thanks and good luck," he says. I nod a thank you and Elijah leaves. Time to go to the Capitol.
Leporis Ivory comes in and takes me to the back of the Justice Building. He has Cassie with him. We get in an automobile and drive to a train platform. Everyone is waving us goodbyes and then we get into the train and set off to the Capitol. Am I ever going to see my family again?