Hunger Games and the Olympians

by MeteorSmashStories

After plenty of battling, Percy and Annabeth-of course-must go on another quest. Apollo has a very powerful daughter, and she, too, has just gone through a war. However she lives in the future, so Percy and Annabeth will have to time travel back and forth. They can bring only their memories. Well, and their clothes, of course. Can they handle this task, or will it be too much?

4. Reaping Day for a Stranger

Normally, beds are the most comfortable place on Earth. Sometimes they feel like the only comfortable place.

Not this bed! It feels like crap. A scratchy blanket. An old mattress with about half the foam in it to keep it cozy. Rips everywhere in the small pillow.

I open my eyes and get up, and realize that maybe an extra 30 minutes of sleep isn't that bad.

When I get up again, I lookout the nearest and only window. It's almost noon. Chiron said I have to attend the Reaping. The people probably would drag me there if I didn't go.

I go, still in my Camp Half Blood shirt and jeans shorts. If other kids are fancy, so what. I'm cool.

I pass the sea on my way, and the fisherman are reeling the last fish in. Some of them look about 14 years old. They'll be attending the Reaping, too.

I bend down and dip my hand in the water. It gives me a sense of warmth. It makes me feel stronger, more energized. It clears my skin of all cuts and bruises.

When I get to this crappy place's public square, there's already a bunch of kids there. The last few arrive, then an elderly, well dressed man speaks into a microphone.

"Greetings, children and citizens of District 4! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor! Now, before we pick the Tributes to compete in the 74th Hunger Games, I would like to give a brief history of our country's journey."

He talks a bit about how, in penance for our uprising, the 12 Districts have to give a boy and a girl up, blah blah blah. I already know who is going in. Me.

After a bunch of useless blabbering, the man finally goes over to a bowl and grabs a piece of paper. When he opens it, he announces a name, "Gretna Winecoser."

A girl walks up to the stage, bawling her eyes out. Her face is red. She isn't hiding any feelings, you can tell.

Then the man walks to a different bowl. He plucks a name. I start walking forwards before he calls the name. My name. "Perseus Jackson."

Dammit. They used my whole name. Why couldn't... Eh, whatever, it doesn't matter.

I don't cry. I know what I'm here to do.

When I get up, the man tells me to shake hands with the girl, Gretna. Her eyes are very puffy, and her nose is running.

"Um, you have a little..." I draw a squiggly line under my nose. Her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Did I say something wrong?

The man shouts, "These are District 4's Tributes for the 74th Hunger Games!"

Then we are instantly put into a big train.