Reapings

District Seven


Rowan Clear (17) D7F

It had been raining too heavily since morning. Thankfully, I did not have to go to work that day. Staring outside my window, I saw my image being reflected from the glass. Sad brown eyes, wavy auburn hair, a pale structure; my reflection reminded me of mom.

Not that I had ever seen mom. She died giving birth to me. If only we had the injection to clot her blood, she would not have bled to death. Biting my lower lip, I frowned at the reflection. Why was I not avenging her? If the Districts had not been so neglected maybe, just maybe mom would have been alive. It would have been so wonderful.

I didn't mean that my step-mom didn't look after me well. She loved me dearly and was always there for me but still, I missed mom. I wondered what she was like. Dad often told me I resembled her and this only made me more curious about her.

It was all the Capitol's fault. Those darned people were born to make our lives miserable. I worked so hard, my family worked so hard, and yet there was never enough money. I had to take tesserae. I had to live without mom. So many times I had seen the sadness in dad's eyes when he talked about her. I knew he loved her even now. But she was gone. Gone! And the reason? The negligence we had faced. But I could not forgive myself either. If I had not been born, maybe mom would be alive. These thoughts were irrational but the guilt just wouldn't go.

"Rowan! Rowan!"

Violet burst into my room and threw her arms around me. She was only ten, not old enough to be reaped. I was grateful for that.

"Look Rowan!"

With that she thrust the paper she had in her hands towards me. I took it and smiled at the painting. I used to bring wildflowers from the forest for her so that she could paint. She had drawn a really pretty dress with frills. She had made so much progress in drawing. I was proud of her.

"I wish I could afford such a dress for you," I thought, but aloud I said, "Wonderful Violet! It's beautiful, just like you!"

"Thank you! Drason tried to whistle at it."

I laughed. Drason was only six, with both his front teeth missing. I was trying to teach him how to whistle through the gap. He was making progress too.

Violet gave me another hug and then left, running to dad maybe. My smile vanished. There were too many things that were taken from me. How many people would have lost their loved ones due to the Capitol's tyranny? Were they not humans? Did they not deserve a nice life too?

Recently my thoughts had become over-rebellious. They were too scary to be shared. In fact, I kept myself silent usually because of it. A slip of tongue and they would know how much I hated the. Had I only been powerful enough to do something about it… I would have taught them a lesson. What did the Capitolites think of themselves? That they were invincible? That we were not people? Their mind set was sick.

It was almost time to go for the Reapings and the rain had not ceased. Would we have to stand in such a fierce downpour? Probably. I was wearing black shorts and a green shirt. I would not change; this was good enough. Tying my hair in a ponytail, I stared back at the window. Decent enough, not that I cared. Weren't we going now to celebrate a child's death?

Pulling on a raincoat, I walked out of my very bare room into an equally bare hall. Dad and my step-mom were talking about something in hushed voices. They looked worried, too worried for my liking.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Nothing dear," dad said and smiled. It was fake.

"Why are you both so anxious?"

"Rowan," my step-mom said, "You've taken too many tesserae although we told you not to and-"

"And nothing will go wrong," I cut her off, "I assure you."

And nothing would go wrong. I had waited for far too long for someone brave enough to come along and do something about our situation. Sadly, nobody did. At least I could do it at my level. We had become the change we wanted to see.

"I need to go to the Reapings. I am getting late."

"Wait-"

"No dad. It is very late."

"Let's go."

And the two of them followed me as I walked out of the house. We never took Violet or Drason to the reapings. It was too much to bear.

I hoped to meet Hale before the reapings. He was a member in my lumber team and we worked together. The two of us were friends and I thought he was very handsome. But I could not think about him like that. I might not see him ever again.

Sadly, there was nothing we could do about it.


Asher Ravenstone (15) D7M

"It's raining hard today," I muttered as I leaned against mummy's shoulder. She patted my head lovingly and I grinned at her.

"Mummy, I don't want to go to the reapings," I said with a pout. She shook her head and then cupped my face in her hands.

"Sorry dear, but there's nothing we can do about it. You'll have to attend it."

"But what if I am chosen?"

My voice was trembling then. I could very well be chosen. "No silly," I thought, "I won't be picked. Mummy and daddy are with me."

Mummy smacked my head playfully.

"No Ash!" she said, "Didn't I tell you before that you won't be Reaped? You're too nice for that."

I nodded and then hugged her.

I loved my mummy and daddy but children at school often told me I was too childish and naïve. I didn't know why. But I was happy the way I was. And if being childish could make one happy then why should one want to grow up? I loved my life and I didn't want to change anything about it.

I jumped to my feet and then ran into my room to get dressed, mummy's laughter echoing in the house. I was lean and muscular so I was fast. Entering my room, I went straight to the mirror. Combing my medium length brown hair, which was the same colour as my eyes, I put on khaki shorts and a red T-shirt. I nodded at my reflection and then went to the kitchen to have some water.

"Ready, are you?" daddy asked.

Daddy was always a strict person but his presence was comforting. I felt safe around him and sometimes his eyes twinkled when he saw me. I loved him so much and he always tried to protect me.

"Yes. I'll just wait for a while for the rain to stop," I replied and then gulped down the water. Daddy stroked my hair softly and then smiled kindly at me and I grinned back at him. My parents were the most wonderful in the world and I knew they did everything in my best interests.

Both of them worked as lumber jacks and often took me along as well. They taught me the basics of handling an axe and chopping wood. I loved going there. I had been working with them since I was twelve and I enjoyed it. Why? Because when I was not working, they let me wander around in the forests.

I loved the lush green grass, the peaceful environment, the wind blowing. I liked to lie on the grass and ponder on things, think about the future. However, my parents never let me move outside their sight, and always watched me. Maybe because I was the only child, I didn't know. But I did know that they would be doing so for a reason so I obediently never went away too far.

"Here Asher, have some tomato soup!" mummy said. I beamed, realising how hungry I was. After all, it was always nice to have something warm during rain.

I slurped and made weird sounds while drinking. Mummy laughed lightly but daddy just frowned so I stopped. But then he smiled too and I chuckled.

Soon the soup was gone.

"We'll have to go now," mummy said and I felt just a tiny bit of worry in her voice. But she had no reason to be worried. She herself told me that I wouldn't be chosen.

The rain beat against my umbrella as if fighting an old foe. The sound was deafening and despite the umbrella I was very wet. I could barely see or hear anything but I could feel my parents on either side of me.

I bumped into a girl.

"Sorry!"

"It's okay. Oh, it's you Asher!"

I looked up to see Autumn and smiled at her. She was my schoolmate and my best friend, someone with whom I shared my secrets. She was like an elder sister to me and was a really pleasant person to have around.

"Autumn!"

The two of started walking ahead together, and my parents fell back a little so that we could talk in private.

"Who do you think will be Reaped?" she asked.

"I don't know. Hopefully, not you."

"What about you?"

"Mummy said I won't be Reaped."

"Hopefully. Anyway, what do we do after the reapings?"

"Celebrate the fact that we still get to live," I answered darkly.

It hurt when the Peacekeeper pricked my finger. Why did they do that? After that I was ushered to my section. The other fifteen-year-old boys were whispering among themselves, trying to assure each other, or rather themselves, that they wouldn't be chosen.

Henna, our escort, was dressed up in a long green dress that looked like a tree. I laughed softly. She was almost jumping around, even when the mayor gave his speech, which was thankfully short. Too long speeches were boring.

"And now, we shall begin with the boys!"

My heart started beating against my ribcage. It could be anyone. Not me. Definitely not me…

"Asher Ravenstone!"

My blood seemed to have turned cold. Why did she call me? It- it had to be a mistake. I couldn't be Reaped… Yeah, it probably was a mistake. I tried to look at my parents but my view was blocked. The boys started moving away from me. But why?! I opened my mouth to say that it wasn't me but my voice failed me. I could not move. Was I really…?

"Move along, kid," I heard a voice and then somebody pushed me. I saw that it was a Peacekeeper. So… I was Reaped. Slowly, I started moving forward. Why me? How could it happen? My umbrella fell from my hand and the rain mixed with my tears so nobody knew that I was trying not to cry, and failing at it.

On reaching the stage Henna asked me to say but I shook my head.

I was Reaped…


Rowan Clear (17) D7F

I gritted my teeth. The poor boy was numb with shock, staring wildly at the crowd, his mouth slightly ajar. It was so sad… He didn't deserve it. None of us did.

"And the lucky girl is Mathilda Oak!"

"I volunteer as tribute!"

My voice rang clearly despite the roaring downpour. A silence seemed to have fallen in the Square as I moved forward towards the stage. People were giving me weird looks but I didn't care. I was doing this for them.

"Wonderful! May I have your name, young lady?" Henna exclaimed.

"Rowan Clear," I answered quietly.

"Ah Rowan, do you want to say anything to your District?"

I shook my head and looked at Asher, who was staring at me now. I smiled at him.

"Your tributes, District Seven! Rowan Clear and Asher Ravenstone!"

The two of us shook hands and his was trembling. I steadied it.

"But why?" he asked.

"Somebody has to fight it. I will at my level."

He looked confused but I didn't expect him to understand. What I could do against the Capitol was to volunteer and help some other tribute win. They deserved it.

And then maybe someone brave would come along and save this place, even at the cost of my death.


District Seven is here! I told you I won't go in order. Anyway, I feel I made Asher a little too childish here. Hopefully not.

So, did you like these two? How far do you think they will go?

By the way, I made a blog for this story and I'd love to know what you thought of the characters. Here is the site- thegardenofroseshg. Weebly. com

Also, I know some of the tributes don't look as if they belong to that district. The reason is that I had to change their places and so it's not the submitters' fault. And anyway, there can be exceptions, right?

Hope you enjoyed. Have a good day!