The Reaping

It was the one day out of the year that every District in Panem felt the weight of fear and doom. Distrct 7 was no different.

Pandora roused early. She was seventeen, this was her sixth Reaping and she had been lucky enough to beat the odds of the tesserae five times before. Last year she had put her name in 2 times, one for enough rations for her mother and another for her baby sister. But this year it was different. This year she had to put her name in 4 times. August was now nineteen and unable to be reaped, the responsibility of gathering enough rations for the year fell solely on Pandora. And although her mother and eldest brother tried to convince her otherwise, she knew this was something she had to do.

Almost immediately after waking she wandered to the shower, shivering when the cold water spilled over her. There was no hot water in District 7, at least none for the common citizens. The Victor's Village and the Mayor's house were the only exceptions to this.

Her teeth chattered as she dashed out of the shower and grabbed for a towel. The house was still sleeping when she quietly tiptoed from the bathroom to her room and shut the door. In a worn mirror near her bed she briefly glanced at her reflection, studying her soaking dark hair and wide eyes. It was the only day out of the year that the children of Panem were asked to look presentable, like preparing cattle for the slaughter.

After a brief time she blinked her eyes away and walked to her wardrobe. Her hands casually brushed past normal clothing, not stopping until she reached the far shadows of the cupboard, where she caught a glimpse of the fabric. It was the single dress she owned, handed down from her mother. A burgundy dress that fell just past the knees and had a square neckline. She stared at it, rubbing the soft fabric between her fingers before slipping it over her head and fastening the back.

Beyond the window she could see rain pouring from a thick shield of unrelenting clouds. A dreary day to match the mood, though she was sure that the fresh shipment of officials that arrived yesterday from the Capitol were having heart attacks at this moment, hoping that it would clear up.

After she had dressed and slipped her shoes on, she emerged from her room, freezing abruptly as she rounded the corner into the main area. Her family was waiting for her. All in a row, except August who was stirring a pot of something near the stove. He offered her breakfast but she declined, mostly because she wasn't hungry but mainly because she afraid that wouldn't be able to keep anything down at this point. She scanned the faces, even peering at her baby sister to see the wisp of chestnut curls around her face.

"When did everyone get up?"

There was a heavy silence. A silence that caused Pandora to drop her eyes, it was as if her father had died all over again.

"Do you want me to do your hair, Pan?" Her mother softly asked, ignoring her daughter's question.

She quietly nodded, lowering herself to her mother's feet. Though her hair was still damp, it was quickly drying. Her mother pulled her hair into a ponytail, leaving a few strands near her face loose and letting the long strands of the ponytail tickle her shoulder blades.

"Nice day for a Reaping," August suddenly said.

"August! Don't make jokes like that."

"It's fine, Mom—" Pandora shrugged, climbing to her feet and adjusting her dress, "Everything's going to be fine. This isn't my first Reaping."

She quickly looked away, unable to stare into her mom's eyes and see sadness. That was something she couldn't bear to deal with now. She had to be strong, even if she felt sick, even if she felt scared.

"This for you," Dash whispered, tugging on her dress and smiling, "It's for good luck."

Her lips parted. It was a bracelet. Nothing extravagant or breathtaking, just a simple silver bracelet with a fragile charm of a tree dangling from it, but to her it was beautiful.

"Oh Dash," her brown irises softened as she knelt down to look her brother in the eye, "Thank you."

He pursed his lips, furrowing his brow. She could tell he was trying to hold back the tears that were stinging his eyes, "I love you."

Pandora smiled, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling her head next to his, "I love you too, kid."

When she mustered the courage to break the hug and look up, everyone was staring at her. Calmly she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist and said her goodbyes. Just before she opened the door and grabbed her jacket, she peered back at everyone, "Maybe when I get back we can make something out of that deer we caught yesterday."

"You can count on it," August replied, giving her one last smile before she left.

It was the first time she had to go to a Reaping alone. It felt strange. Prior to this all the Reapings were unnerving, but this one felt different. Something wasn't right. She hugged her jacket closer to her body, occasionally twitching her eyes to the rain. The District House was only a few blocks away, and children from the ages of twelve to eighteen streamed towards the tiny square outside the House steps.

Normally the sawmills and lumberyards would be bustling with noise and workers but not today. Today they were deserted. Everyone had their eyes and ears turned to their local television screens and radios to see who was going to be picked for this year's Hunger Games. She could feel rain trickle down her neck and by the time she reached the District House and identified herself her hair was wet again. She was corralled into the section with all the seventeen year olds, each standing shoulder to shoulder awaiting the moment when the female and male Tributes for District 7 would be named.

Sitting in a row with a makeshift rain guard overhead were several officials for the Hunger Games and the District. Mayor Banes was sitting closest to the podium, along with several city officials Pandora recognized. Next her eyes moved to a woman with faded blue skin and silver lips. The woman's hair was a darker blue, a blue that reminded Pandora of August's eyes. Without a doubt she was the Capitol's representative. The final person, lazily slumped in his seat was one of the only Victors from District 7, apart from Johanna Mason, who was never present at the Reapings. His name was Lux Halstead, and he was a known throughout the District for being a morphling, though no one said much about that.

Echoed thumps caused Pandora to peer back to the podium. Mayor Banes was rapping his finger against the microphone to make sure that he had everyone's attention.

"Hello—and welcome to the 68th Hunger Games!"

No one cheered or clapped apart from the representative from the Capitol.

"Here to be this year's representative for our District 7 Tributes is Catia Lawson!"

Instantly after the brief introduction, Catia Lawson took to the podium, pushing the Mayor aside as she adjusted her silver and navy dress. She looked eager, an expression that made Pandora feel nauseous.

"Thank you," her Capitol accent was thick, "We will begin the name pulling with the males!"

Her extraordinarily tall heels clacked against the stage as she wandered to the wooden container, made from the surrounding woods, holding all male names. Gingerly she leaned forward, and riffled through the small pieces of parchment with her claw-like nails, smiling for a moment before snatching one out and prancing to the microphone.

"The male tribute representing District 7 is—"

In that moment nothing could be heard but the rain. Not a single person moved, for fear that it would be someone they knew, or worse, that it would be them.

"Marius Bishop!"

Pandora shifted her eyes to the movement in the crowd. The name was familiar but it wasn't until he ascended the steps and stood beside Catia Lawson that she recognized him. Marius Bishop was a year older than Pandora, and one of her brother's friends. He only had one year left before he was out of the Reaping.

In horrifying glee Catia clapped her hands together and patted Marius on the back, a gesture that he never reciprocated or responded to. His black hair stuck to his face because of the rain and his light eyes peered around the crowd that stared back at him. You could tell he was scared.

"Now for the girls—"

Pandora could feel her heart thumping against her chest. Raindrops hit her in the face, but she ignored them. Her eyes remained glued to the wooden container.

"The female tribute for the 68th Hunger Games is—"

She sniffed and hugged her drenched coat violently. She wanted to scream, to run into the woods, but she remained motionless.

"Pandora Sullivan!"

She could feel the blood quickly rushing out of her face. Her eyes widened in panic and her lips parted. She couldn't find the strength to move.

"Pandora Sullivan?"

The girls around her pushed Pandora forward. She didn't realize that she was moving towards the stage until she was standing next to the podium looking out at all the lucky faces.

"Isn't this fun!" Catia exclaimed clapping.

Pandora's lips trembled. She could hear her blood pounding in her brain. Suddenly she felt something grab her hand, when she peered down she saw a light blue hand next to hers. Catia raised Pandora and Marius's hand into the air.

"Your District 7 Tributes!"

Camera's moved around them. Operated by strange mechanics that were filming them live. But despite the morbidly joyful cadence in Catia Lawson's voice, no one cheered. That was something only Career Districts did. In District 7 they gazed on their tributes with mourning and sadness.

Pandora's eyes dropped to her feet, strands of her hair stuck to her neck and face. She was making her debut. She was on display now. Before she could lift her eyes again, she felt someone harshly grab her and pull her towards the back of the stage. Marius was being pulled as well, and as they were escorted into the District House she peered into his eyes with complete terror.

"Pandora—" He said her name as if he knew her, which was not the case, "It's okay," he softly whispered, nodding his head before he was pulled into a room.

In confusion she jerked her head from side to side, "Where are you taking me?"

The peacekeeper didn't answer. They only walked for a few more feet before she was shoved into a room and left alone.

Her dress and jacket were dripping. Her dark eyes glanced around the room in panic. She felt the weight, the overwhelming weight of what was about to happen to her. A whimper passed her lips as she lifted her finger to her mouth and bit her nail.

"Hello!" She yelled, standing in place, shaking, "Let me out of here!"

Suddenly the doorknob twisted, she darted towards the door just as it opened to see her mother and August.

She staggered backwards, gasping for breath.

"Mom—mommy—" She mumbled, holding back tears, but only barely, "I—"

"Shh, shh," her mother threw her arms around Pandora, holding her tight, "I got you."

When she looked at August she could tell from the hazy shadow of his blue eyes that he had been crying. Dash wasn't there, something that Pandora was glad of.

"I can't do this," Pandora whispered, peering between her older brother and mother.

"You can," August voice was firm, "And you will. Come back to us, alright?"

"I don't want to say goodbye."

Her mother cupped Pandora's cheeks in her palms, "So don't."

"Alright! That's all we have time for!" the peacekeeper shouted, as the door opened once more.

"No!" Pandora's voice was hoarse. She took a few steps back, staring at the peacekeeper with wide eyes.

"Don't make this difficult."

Another peacekeeper entered the room.

She pressed her back against the wall, letting out a gasp as one of the guards grabbed her. Her eyes glanced between the face of her mother and brother, "Tell Dash I love him!"

"We will!" Her mother yelled back.

Pandora grabbed at the edge of the door, "I love you both."

She was struggling against the grasp of the peacekeeper.

"Just come back to us quick, okay?" August cupped his hand over his mouth, trying to hold back the tears. The last thing Pandora saw before she was dragged down the hall was August comforting her crying mother.