Chapter 2: Reaping and Justice Building

The walk to the town square is agonizing. Not physically, but emotionally. Just seeing all those families where even the thought of their child or children being sent off to fight to the death against twenty-three either stronger or older children sends shivers down my spine.

At least I'm comforted by the fact that none of these little girls will be District 5's female tribute this year.

There are Peacekeepers everywhere, it's not hard to spot them in their pristine white uniforms among the dimness of District 5's people's attitudes and clothing. The rusting powerlines everywhere add to the effect. Lisbeth and I get in the long line for some of the Peacekeepers to prick our fingers and then I give Lisbeth a hug. She whispers 'Good luck,' in my ear. We then stand in our age groups, so I am only a couple of rows in front of her.

After a while, Sparkles Pelew, Mayor Davies, and the previous victors of District 5 take their places on the stage. The last victor was Makayla Hallman, she won the 40th Games by outsmarting the rest and hiding in the rubble piles in the junkyard-like arena at the age of 14; making her one of the youngest victors in the history of the Games. The victor before that was Brock Powers, who won the 32nd Games when he was 16 by sheer luck, his opponent tripped over his own feet and somehow landed on Brock's sword. There are only two other victors apart from them, but Makayla and Brock are the mentors for this year's tributes.

Mayor Davies finally stumbles up to the microphone. He prattles on about how the Capitol is awesome and they own us so don't even bother uprising again because they can obliterate us just like they did to District 13, yada, yada, yada.

He returns to his seat, and you can see in his little beady eyes that he did not want to be up there for one second. Of course, because his precious son can still be reaped, not even being the Mayor's son can save you from the Games.

Sparkles steps up, her magenta wig sparkling (cliché, I know), making it hard to focus on her. She's definitely dressed the brightest today.

'Welcome, welcome everyone! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour.' Yeah, yeah, we know. Lets be happy that there'll be two kids merrily going to their deaths.

'As always, ladies first!' she says cheerfully. She walks over to the glass bowl full of the girls' names. She daintily puts her hand in, shuffling up the slips of paper for what feels like 10 minutes before pulling a name out.

'Nicola Finch.'

The girl next to me stiffens and there's a look of terror in her green eyes. She moves slowly and rigidly towards the stage. Sparkles greets her happily, almost as if she was happy that this girl, Nicola, was going to her certain death. Our tributes usually don't last long.

Sparkles calls out if there any volunteers. I shove my way through the crowd of 17-year-old girls, most of them in shock that someone is volunteering, let alone me.

'I volunteer! I volunteer!' I shout, making sure she can hear me. Nicola looks genuinely surprised.

'Oh, excellent, a volunteer! How brave of you!' Sparkles exclaims. She beckons me up and ushers Nicola off the stage at the same time. Nicola whispers a thank you as I pass her.

'And your name is?'

'Scarlette Hewitt.'

'Are you a friend of Nicola's?'

'Yes.' I lie. I didn't even know she existed until today.

'Wonderful! Congratulations on your courage Miss Hewitt! Now, onto the boys!' she wanders to the boys glass bowl and plucks out a name.

'Fletcher Davies.'

The son of the mayor: classic. But the name Fletcher rings a bell somewhere in the deep recesses of my memories.

Oh God, not that Fletcher. The Fletcher I'm thinking of couldn't possibly be the Fletcher that's walking shakily up to the stage right now. But my head is telling me that it is.

Fletcher Davies is the boy that I got dared by my "friends" to kiss three years ago. I'm only worried now because he is a sweet boy and doesn't deserve to die. I couldn't bear the thought that he will probably be dead in a couple of weeks.

Soon enough he is standing opposite me, and I'm shaking his hand as Sparkles introduces Panem to the tributes of District 5 while the anthem plays over the speakers. Fletcher's sandy blonde hair is half covering his huge emerald-green eyes, which are filled with terror.

The anthem ends, the cameras are turned off, and we are taken into the Justice Building.

My first guests are Lisbeth and Mother and Father. Lisbeth pulls me into a teary bear hug.

'Why would you volunteer? You don't even know her! You idiot!' she cries.

I mutter why, and what I've been doing for the past 6 months, hopefully out of hearing range for the Capitols hidden cameras. Lisbeths' soft brown eyes get even tearier.

'You're still an idiot.' She murmurs into my hair. She releases me, and in turn I hug my parents and apologise for putting them in this position. The Peacekeepers barge in and start to usher my family out.

'I promise I'll come back!' I shout as they are dragged out the door, choking on the last word. I sit on the dusty velvet couch with my head in my hands, sobbing my heart out. I am disrupted by Nicola Finch, the girl whose ass I just saved, who comes in quite awkwardly and stands just in front of the doorway.

'What do you want?' I spit at her, almost like I'm blaming her for my family's situation.

'Why did you volunteer for me?' she asks quietly, looking me dead in the eye.

'Because I had to.'

'No you didn't, you don't even know me. No other districts apart from the Careers volunteer for someone they don't know.' Nicola points out.

I exhale, 'I volunteered because I have to prove what I'm worth to everyone. I let my only friend die last year because I was too cowardly to stop her. You have no idea how that feels.'

'No, I don't, but thankyou for volunteering, wouldn't have made a day in the arena. I know you can win,' she states.

'Thanks,' I whisper. She walks over to where I'm sitting and holds out a dark blue ring in her hand. The ring looks like it's pulsating with energy.

'Take it. It can be your token. To remind you of District 5: of home.'

I take it, not saying a word as she leaves quietly.

I have no more visitors.

The Peacekeepers come in early, realising that no one else is coming. They lead me out to a car where I am squished up against Sparkles with Fletcher sitting on her other side. She babbles on about how great the Capitol is, and how delicious the food is, and blah, blah, and blah.

We stop outside the train station, where we meet Brock and Makayla. I stand on the station platform, and take one last look at District 5, my home, before the Peacekeepers block my view and I move on to the next phase of my life.