Chapter One- The Reapings
SECTOR 2 (Amaranth Briars):
I stand, waiting and bored, in the crowd of eighteen year olds. I can see my twelve year old brother Toby standing in his age group, fidgiting and looking nervous and freaked out. In my mind, I'm scolding him. I've spent three weeks coaching him on how to act at these Reapings. It's not that big of a deal, but he sees how I act. He should be like that, too. If you don't seem too worried, you're more likely to get someone to volunteer for you if you get Reaped.
Finally, the Guide for Sector 2, Cannon (haha, yeah, the Dome is so hilarious), walks up to the microphone. The crowd is immediately silent, not that anyone was really talking.
"Welcome to the Reaping for the 74th End Trials!" Cannon booms, his voice annoyingly loud and cheery. "Before we begin, I would like to introduce the Trainer for Sector 2, Gunner Smithson!"
A tall, balding man comes up on stage, waves, and takes a seat in the single chair.
"Alright, now to the Reaping!"
There are two bowls sitting on a table, one blue, one pink. It's sick, how the Dome can take somegthing so horrible and make it to where they can enjoy it and we're forced to go along with it.
Cannon pulls a slip of paper from the pink bowl, goes back to the microphone, and reads the name loud and clear.
"Amaranth Briars."
I stand still for a moment, and then I find my feet moving forward, going up the steps to the stage, and turning to face the crowd.
Toby is horrified. My older sister Hannalyn looks at me with sadness in her eyes. My parents, Crane and Lucinda, look like they really couldn't care less.
I'm going to the Dome. I'll be in the End Trials. I might not live.
"How old are you, Amaranth?" I hear.
"18."
I vaguley hear Cannon call the boy's name, Adrian Abernackle, who is a sixteen year old that I've seen around. Then the two of us are led down the steps, away from the crowd and the cameras, and pushed into two rooms at the Center to wait.
All I can think about is my best friend Cameron, who I've known since I was five. And my daughter, who is so young. I hope Cameron will do what he said he'd do and take care of her for me.
SECTOR 3 (Synora Nightsong):
The square is filled with people. I seperate from my cousin Casey and go to my age group, pushing through to find my best friend and boyfriend, Alec Arjay. He sees me and grabs my hand, squeezing it. We are both hoping neither of us will be Reaped. Hope is all we have. There is nothing else for us.
The Guide for our Sector, Flash, introduces our Trainer, Dryve Parks. Then he calls the name of the girl Tribute.
"Synora Nightsong."
Alec grips my hand, as if that will make it not true, and I will stay here. But I make myself let go, make myself take the steps to get to the stage.
As always, the Guide asks the question: "How old are you?"
I say, "17", and then I am silent.
The male's name is called, a 16 year old named Andrew Sheehan.
I can see Casey, his eyes full of pity. I know why. But I keep my eyes on Alec's. He looks at me, tears in his eyes. I try to focus on that, and not the fact that I will never see Griffin again. I force myself to hold back the tears. I will not cry; I will not appear weak. I will become a silent girl, never giving anything away. I will not show my fear, nor will I be fearful. I will create a new me.
I will win, and then I will find Griffin.
SECTOR 5 (Wulfie Moonblossom):
I'm starting to feel claustrophobic again. There are way too many people here. I need space to breathe. I look to the back of the crowd and see my adoptive father, Aaron, and my biological twin sisters, Raven and Robin, who are 5. They don't exactly understand what's going on, but then again, they don't understand why Robin's hair has fallen out. I wish I didn't understand. But I do. Robin has cancer.
The Guide for Sector 5, Vixin, comes on stage, says a lot of crap about the Dome and the End Trials, and introduces the Trainer, Fawnie Wood.
Fawnie is tiny. It's been 7 years since she won; and she's only 17. Fawnie was the only 12 year old to ever win the End Trials. That's why most people think Sector 5 will win - until we don't.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, your female Tribute! Congratulations to... Wulfie Moonblossom!"
I feel faint.
I walk to the stage and look over at my small family. Aaron looks horrified. The twins are confused, uncomprehending why in the world I would be up on the stage.
I barely whisper 13 when they ask my age.
The male Tribute's name is called, Tom Line, a 16 year old who is tough looking and a bully. Then we are pushed to the Center, where we are placed in rooms to wait.
All I can think is that I will never get to tell Robin goodbye. I will not get to sit by her side as she leaves this world, because I will already be gone.
I never thought I would go this early.
SECTOR 7 (Alex Turner):
My life has never been great, but this just sucks the most. My second Reaping, and already I'm sweating like crazy. The heat doesn't help. Why is it so hot? We're nowhere near the equator that all the teachers talk about in school. I don't even believe it's real.
I stand beside my two best friends, Hunter Raven and Madison Jay. Hunter is 14, but he doesn't ever really pay attention to the rules, so he stands with the 13 year olds.
The Guide, Branche, comes on stage, welcomes the Trainer, Ceader Bush, and calls out the names.
Female: Alex Turner.
Male: Hunter Raven.
I can't believe it. Hunter is one of my two only friends. Now we'll have to fight each other in order to win. Forget trying to both get out alive; that's never happened before.
We both walk onto the stage and are about to be taken away when a voice calls out: "I volunteer for Hunter Raven!"
Hunter and I turn. Heck, everyone turns.
A fifteen year old, Keaton Hill, steps forward. I stare in surprise. Keaton's never liked me, or Hunter. Why is he volunteering?
Branche looks surprised. "Well, this is unexpected. But great! That's the spirit of the End Trials!" He looks at Hunter. "Young man, it's your lucky day. Go ahead and stand with your age group."
Before Hunter leaves, he does something completely unexpected: he kisses me. In front of Branche, in front of Keaton, in front of Ceader Bush, in front of the entire Sector, in front of all the cameras that will broadcast this all over Africana.
When he pulls away, he exits the stage and walks over the Maddi who is staring at him in shock. The Branche clears his throat, asks Keaton for his name and age, asks my age (13), and announces us the Tributes for Sector 7.
My eyes remain locked on Hunter's as I'm dragged away to the Center.
I fear I will never see those eyes again.
SECTOR 11 (Zoe Reid):
I can't believe this. My life up until now hasn't been all that bad, but this is horrible.
I stand next to my best friend, Ameila Heart, who is once again sick with influenza. She is almost never well. I feel sorry for her.
Our Sector's Guide, Mare, introduces the Trainer, Buck Allen, in her peppy voice I dispise so much. Then she turns to the pink bowl, draws out the name, and reads it.
"Amelia Heart!"
My eyes widen. My heart beats faster. Then I scream.
"NO!"
I run forward, beating the frail Amelia to the stage.
"I volunteer for Amelia Heart!"
No one seems to know what to do. There has never been a Reaping where someone has volunteered. At least, not in Sector 11.
"What are you doing?" Amelia whispers, coughing.
"Repaying the debt I owe you," I reply, then mount the stage.
"And what is your name?" Mare asks me.
"Zoe Reid, age 16," I reply quietly but strongly.
"It's great to see people volunteering!" Mare says brightly. Then she heads to the blue bowl, leaving me to my thoughts.
Then I hear the male name being called out, and my heart almost stops.
SECTOR 11 (Joshuwa Hart):
It's hard to understand what's going on. I've never been the tallest person in the world, but usually I can see pretty well. But today, all I can see and hear are people. I might as well be blind and deaf.
But I see the Guide call a girl's name, and another girl rush to take her place. Then I see Mare pull a name out of the blue bowl.
"Joshuwa Hart!"
I know, in that moment, that I will never make it. And I also know that no one will volunteer for me. Because my only friends are at the group home where I live. And I am the only one over the age of 12. They are not able to take my place.
I walk to the stage and take my place next to Mare, opposit the girl.
"How old are you, Joshuwa? Or do you prefer Josh?" Mare asks.
I use my hands to sign my age: 14.
Mare doesn't seem to understand.
"14," I hear the girl tribute say. "He says he's 14."
I look at her, noticing for the first time how familiar she looks. Then I know. She's always with the sick girl, Amelia, once a month at the local doctor's office/hospital. I see them every time I'm in for a check-up, which means, the doctor will look at my throat and try to find a way for me to get my voice back, but they never figure out anything. I think the girl's name is Zoe.
"Well... thank you, dear," Mare finally says. Then she turns to the crowd. "There you have it! The tributes for Sector 11, Zoe Reid and Joshuwa Hart!"
Zoe and I are led down the stairs and to the Center. Before we are shut in our rooms, Zoe smiles at me.
Maybe this won't be so bad.
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