Dreaming of Nightmares: The 525th Hunger Games

Chapter Three: Among the Frightened


Reapings: District Five to District Eight


District Five:

The previous night's rain still hung frozen in the air. The slow, melodious sound of sprinkling rain playing soundly through the light wind. The vast outline of powerplants filled the background with it's unfortunate presence, and the sound of unwilling feet marched onwards.

Parents and children alike stood on end for their anxiety was sky-rocketing. The thought of double the killing machines shocked them to the core and duplicated their already ever growing fear. It was bad enough their was a hunger games, but this? Doubles from 1,2 and 4? It was horrifying in the least.

The escort had barely acknowledged the fidgeting children as she pulled out a hand mirror. With her lipstick smeared to the right, she turned around with a snaggle toothed grin. A deep chartreuse tinted her teeth as well as her lips as her mouth began to move.

"Today, I shall be pulling two lucky contestants for the Hunger Games! Shall we have a round of applause?" she asked, nodding her encouragement. When she got no reply, only the constant movement of petrified feet did she continue.

"Well, let's shake things up! I'll start with the males, if you don't mind." she said, briskly turning to the right. With a slight stumble she fell onto the bowl, nearly knocking out it's contents. Waving off invisible help, she plucked a small paper from within the bowl and turned on heel.

"Dangan Ivanoff!" she rumbled, botoxed eyebrows praying for release.

An audible 'what' was heard as a darker toned boy slipped quietly on stage. His face held slight emotion as he looked to the sky, hands held tightly in front of him.

"Welcome, Dangan. May I say! What a fascinating name!" she said, looking down to the slightly shorter boy.

He gave no nods, no sounds, no faces. She stared at him, her eyes blinking rather slowly before her herself inched to the female bowl.

"How rude." she muttered, literally into the microphone. She cast a sneering glance in Dangan's direction as she unfolded yet another slip.

With a dramatic sigh she spoke, "Astoria Hart!"

A girl, clearly younger, looked around. Her face held brief fear, yet soon it diminished. As if reassuring herself, she gave a brief nod and straightened her back. With eyes beginning to water she walked forth, a brave look etched onto her features.

As she boarded the steps a struggled sob escaped her lips, yet it was controlled nearly a millisecond afterword. With her newfound position beside the escort, she tucked a brown colored braid behind her ear and looked determinedly forward. Her face still looked brave, yet her eyes seemed frightened. Tears seemed to be tugging at her cornea as her brave facade held.

"This are your tributes!" she said, giving the rather still Dangan another sneerful look.


District Six:

Today was the day.

The wonderous day where children from ages 12 to 18 would be sent to their demise. It was a happy day for the Capitol, in fact, it was like a holiday. A twisted, gory holiday. No one ever knew how long it would last, every year proved different. But this year.. this year seemed as if it would go on forever.

With the joyous thought of double the careers, all parents were anxiously hoping their kids would make it another year. To think that two kids would from District Six would go in, and the lingering fact that they most definitely wouldn't come out.

The mayor gave a sigh, as his face turned a light shade of scarlet. The air was rather cool in the room, as well as outside. He had just entered the justice building where two large fish bowls were being held.

He really wished it hadn't come to this, especially since the escort had left. With a nervous hand he switched two bowls, looking over his shoulder in the Justice Building. With a sigh of relief he exited the small door frame, waving his hand as a sign.

Two knowing peacekeepers each grabbed a bowl and followed the 4'5 man onto the stage. All of the district was there, frightened. They had heard the treaty of treason from the Mayor's wife, as he was inside the doomed building doing...something.

With a tap of the microphone he spoke. "Hello, I'd like to apologize for my absence." he waited a moment, scanning the crowd. "And, how about we start with the females!"

His hand moved in the air until it caught the side of the bowl. With an apologetic smile he snatched a slip, opening it with yet another smile.

"Erm.. Rowena Trolley!" he said, his teeth clenched. His right hand was jumping slightly as his eyes looked intensely into the male crowd.

A girl with slightly sunken cheeks and a tattered purple dress gave a shrug. She seemed to not really care, as if she felt no emotion in the situation.

"Woo!" a voice said from the crowd.

"I volunteer!" another voice said, followed by a boo.

The mayor said, "Um.. you're a boy.. So, uh.. Wait until the males are called." His face slowly began washing away it's color, as an audible gulp was heard from the man.

Rowena had made her way to the stage right next to the mayor. As it was the hotspot for all those chosen.

"Welcome." he said, giving the slightest look to Rowena. He then took a male slip, his face degrading to white.

"Henry Green." he whispered, his eyes oddly wide.

The boy who had tried to volunteer for Rowena looked shocked for a moment. After a few seconds her regained himself, and began to walk up the steps. He was closer to the stairs because as soon as the girl was called he had made his way to the front.

His face still held confusion as his plans of volunteering were thrown away. His army green tank top barely concealed his muscles. He gave a look to the mayor who was shaking like a leaf.

"I have to go!" he blurted, his eyes unblinking. "Um, shake hands!" he said, and with that, he scurried away.


District Seven:

All at once, the sounds of falling wood stopped. The scent of freshly cut pine still hung in the air, with the ring of bird calls. Littered on the muddy, spongy earth were wet leaves. They clung to the ground as if it was their only life source.

The stage itself was made of fine oak, a rich, brown color. Droplets of rain residue smothered the stage with natural sheen. The lights had rain droplets still dripping from their posts, the faint sound of 'plop, plop' heard.

The escort walked upon the stage, all makeup and bow ties. He tapped the microphone not once, but three times. Even though the first echoing ring had gathered their attention, the clown had decided it was alright to cast another.

"Hey, hey, hey! What a rainy rainy day!" he started, his voice oddly high. Without even the thought of telling them they were beginning, he strutted over to the female's bowl.

"Twichtel Vexis!" he said, not bothering to speak into the microphone. Yet it was not needed.

"I volunteer." an elegant voice called out. A girl wearing a beautiful white silk dress pushed through the crowd, her golden blonde hair tied in an elaborate braid. Her back was straight as her shoulders were bared back. Each step seemed precise, gracefulness leaking through her pores.

Her step never faltered once and her stern gray eyes bore straight ahead. With a ballerina's etiquette she practically leaped upon the stage. Her face held no emotion as she was handed the microphone.

"My name is Eleanor Maines, pleased to be here." the faintest of smirks stabbed at her face as she looked proudly upon the crowd.

"Nice to meet you!" the escort said, his eyes looking over to the victor's. With a masked sigh he sashayed to the male bowl, and plucked out a white slip.

"Lese Beol!"

A rather pathetic and sad sigh was heard, as a male with muddy brown hair walked forward. He didn't seem fazed in the least bit. In fact, it seemed like he expected it. His eyes were covered by a curtain of brown as he took his spot. He quickly gave Eleanor a handshake, and started toward the building.

"Um.. and your tributes!" he said.


District Eight:

The air was touched with a thick sheet of smog. The smell brought nausea to those who breathed it in everyday, even the elders not used to it yet. It burned holes in your lungs, threatening people's health. The male escort had taken it to himself to get a gas mask even, which he claimed it to be a part of his outfit.

It was a full on body suit, in fact. With gloves and everything. The man looked ridiculous and it was hard to understand any word that exited his mouth.

With a quick wave of his hand, he attempts to catch everyones' attention. Some were already paying massive attention, and other's had been caught. A few still looked around, as if hoping some invisible exit would fall from the sky.

This time he tapped the mic. The noise radiated off nearby buildings, and was amplified by auto boxes. He paused for a moment, as if he was smiling. Quickly, he opened his mouth.

"H...lo. Wel...me Dri...ct... Eig...t." he said, his voice muffled by the mask covering his face. Nearly everyone looked to one another, hoping they had caught it. For all they knew he already said a name.

The mayor, who was currently seated, gave a sigh and stood up. His shoes made a small noise as they brought him to the mic. He gives a knowing glance to the escort, and the escort hands over the microphone reluctantly.

"Welcome! District eight! Let's start off with the females, shall we?" he said, looking to the escort again. The escort stands there dumbfounded for a moment, before he catches the drift.

With an inaudible mumble his fingers pluck a piece of paper from the bowl. He unfolds it and hands it to the mayor who takes it with a thanks.

"Your female tribute this year will be... Velveteen Desain!" he cries out to the crowd, his eyes flitting from the paper to the mob of females.

A girl with olive colored skin had froze. Had the man actually called her name? For a moment, all was quiet. A nudge from a nearby fifteen year old quickly snapped her back to an unfortunate reality. She slowly looked around, her face confused. Then, her knees visibly began to crumple. Black dots were playing in her field of vision and it felt as if someone had placed weights on her head.

With her head pitching forth, another girl let out a sudden, childish, shrill scream. Velveteen's head collided with a female in front of her's shoulder, and her entire body slumped down.

The other girl was surprised in the least and had jumped to her left, causing another girl to be shoved to the side. The girl who was called, Velveteen, had her face meet the ground, and was soon picked up by oncoming peacekeepers.

The peacekeepers set the unconscious Velvet down in a heap of yellowed fabrics. The girl was still out cold as a boy's name was told.

"Wivellatro Firdansic!"

A boy with confusion swirling in his eyes was pushed forth by some snickering twelve year olds. The boy, being twelve himself, had stumbled forth barely regaining his footing. Light played on his bald skull as he looked around, walking toward the stage. His shoulders were perfectly hunched and he had a rather bored looking face.

When he had reached the mayor his hand involuntary shot in the air. The mayor as well bent down to put Velvet's hand in the air.

"District Eight! Your tributes!" he said, his face smothered with fake happiness.


Hullo! Thanks for reading! I guess I will have a few questions that I put here and what not. Oh! I also figured out how to do goodbyes. Honestly, for the districts with double the tributes I will be putting two tributes' goodbyes in their POV's. I'll probably switch from 1st person to 3rd person. I guess I'll now officially use past tense because I must admit, it's slightly easier!

Um.. Actually. Me being me, I'll most likely be switching from 1st and 3rd person.

Thank you all for your reviews, I just love reading them!

-Which tributes stood out to you/ were your favorites tributes in this chapter?

-Who are your favorites so far out of all of these?

-How was the details, etc.?

P.S. Sorry TitanicX, I just switched it up a bit :p.

-Did it seem awkward/forced? (When I read it it did to me :p)


FINAL TRIBUTE LIST:

Capitol:

Male: Apollo West, 18

Female: Valiant Aurora, 15

District One: Luxury

Male: Octavius Willow, 16

Male: Spinel Giordano, 16

Female: Melody Saxon, 17

Female: Rosemarie Iris Kandry, 16

District Two: Masonry/Stonework

Male: Bronze Etreal, 15

Male: Vince Masons, 17

Female: Bianca 'Bibi' Vance, 18

Female: Calista Lyston, 17

District Three: Electronics

Male: Enlai Li, 18

Female: Athena Spectrum, 17

District Four: Fishing

Male: Mason Sarutobi, 16

Male: Dylan Seatyler, 18

Female: Aqua 'Valkyrie' Sol, 18

Female: Cascade Sterling, 17

District Five: Power

Male: Dangan Ivanoff, 14

Female: Astoria Hart, 12

District Six: Transportation/Medicine

Male: Henry Green, 15

Female: Rowena Trolley, 13

District Seven: Lumber

Male: Lese Beol, 14

Female: Eleanor Maines, 17

District Eight: Textiles

Male: Wivellatro Firdansic, 12

Female: Velveteen 'Velvet' Desain, 16

District Nine: Grain

Male: Rai Keru, 15

Female: Amaryllis Thorn, 14

District Ten: Livestock

Male: Werkenworth "Wurk" Higginsfitner, 13

Female: Claudia Dale, 13

District Eleven: Agriculture

Male: Bud Saffron, 17

Female: Blye M. Wintos, 13

District Twelve: Coal

Male: Dano Falconeri, 12

Female: Ryleigh Hana, 14


P.P.S. The blog will be posted after the last set of reapings! Thank you very much for reading! :)