THE REAPING OF DISTRICT THREE: DECLAN KINGSLEY AND NITRO KLENDINE

Declan Kingsley POV:

My alarm clock goes off and I smack the poor thing harder than necessary. I sit up in my soft, woollen bed and gather my pyjamas about me. I slip on my white fluffy robe and tie it around me. My room, full of rich items, and electronic gadgets. Inventions that only my family can afford, because I'm the son of the Mayor. Its not a bad life, in fact its perfect. I get what I want, when I want, how I want. I walk downstairs to a bountiful feast of sweet foods, fruit, hot foods and drinks I cant even describe. I slowly eat my hunger away with raisin toast and hot chocolate.

Once I am done, I proudly walk up back to my room and enter my private bathroom. I strip off and take my shower. I love showers, they're so warm and I love the feeling as the liquid slowly trickes down your back. I wash my short black hair with shampoo and clean my pale skin. I'm short for my age, I'm seventeen but im only 5'5". I walk out of the shower and pull on my clothes, an elegant suit made from silk and cotton. I want to look my best for this day. Im scared to death by it, and I don't ever want to participate in it.

Almost every year, the tributes of District Three die within the first five minutes of the bloodbath tribute. Its quite sad. My friends, friend, brothers, girlfriends, sister went in, she only made it to third day. An impressive feat for us. I slide on my glasses, the world instantly becomes clearer. Back to my bathroom, I style my hair back to its usual messy look. I walk downstairs again, and greet my Father, the Mayor.

"Good morning, Father. How are you?" I ask fervently.

"I am fine. But I will need to leave for the Reaping early. For reasons you already know." He says with the same intensity.

I nod my head. He's that Mayor, he tells me what he can but I know that most of the things he knows, he keeps from me. For reasons I understand. He has these, meetings three hours before the reaping. I don't know and care, I have other things to worry about.

I follow my Father out the door and I head to the Town Square. It's freezing. I forgot about that due the heating in my house. Its snowing as well; a common thing in District Three. In fact its almost always snowing. I pick up one of the expensive black umbrellas and place it above my head. At least I wont get snowed on as much. As I pass other children and kids my age, they glower at me with hatred. They probably think I'm an arrogant stuck up snob. Which is probably true, but I don't care about them, they're beneath me. I'm above them since I'm the Mayor's son. And I always boast that I wont be picked for the Hunger Games because of my Fathers position. I mean, its impossible for me to be chosen right?

The silver gong rings out and I begin to walk to the Town Square, for the reaping. I get marked off and I stand with the seventeen year old boys. I put my umbrella down. Its stopped snowing a bit, so I don't need it. A small bit of snow wont kill me right? I watch my Father as he walks onto stage. He says a small speech about the rebellion and some other boringness. I don't pay attention to it. I've heard it five times already. Once he's done he calls the escort to stage. Imogen Keerigamie. She looks like a freak, all dressed up in bright red, she stands out in the white snow. Like a drop of blood, ew, I hate blood.

"Good morning everyone!" She giggles in her Capitol accent. "Welcome to the 13th Quarter Quell. The 325th Hunger Games. Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!"

She walks across the stage and she picks up a slip. Imogen Keerigamie opens the slip and speaks into the microphone. " Declan Kingsley!"

I gasp with shock. My name was only in there six times! Much less than some people here! I know some boys who have put theirs in twenty times this year. My chance of being chosen was extremely small. But I thought because of my Fathers position, I wouldn't get chosen! Obviously not.

I walk up slowly and I realize as I climb up to the stage that I'm beginning to cry. I can't cry, or else I'll be seen as weak. So I try to hold them back but I cant; so I just let them flow freely. I stand next to Imogen Keerigamie and I say to her.

"But I'm the Mayor's son! I thought I could never be chosen!" I bawl my eyes out.

"Oh Declan Kingsley, everyone is equal. Everyone had the same chance as being picked as you do. So try to stay strong for Daddy now?" She squeaks. I look over at my Father and I can see that he is holding back tears. I stand to the side and look over at the mountains. The mountains that connect with District Two. I wish I could see what it looks like on the other side. I mean, isn't the grass always greener on the other side?

I watch the rest of my reaping go by. Interestingly, we have our first volunteer in years. Some guy called Nitro Klendine, with orange hair. He loks sad and depressed, like he doesn't want to live anymore. When I say goodbye to my Father, he's crying. And I cry with him, not because I'm scared about the arena, but because I'm scared to die. I know its true, I'm going to die. And it scares me.

Nitro Klendine POV:

I wake up to the sound of my Mother crying. And I'm pretty sure I know what she is crying over, my Father. He's been sick for a month now, with strange dark lumps appearing over his body. Last week he contracted the flu, and its been snowing recently. We don't have heating, or any kind of fire, we're too poor too afford much. I jump out of bed and burst into my parent's room.

Well, really my Mother's room now. I see her hugging my Father, his eyes are glazed and unmoving. He stares at one particular spot on the wall. My Mother breaks down into sobs and she kisses my Father on his forehead, one last final goodbye. She stands up, gives me hug and flees the room. I cant imagine what its like, loosing the love of your life. Gone. Forever.

I sit onto my Mothers bed, looking at my Father more closely, he looks peaceful. I clutch his head, full of ginger hair. I remember what my Father used to be like before he fell sick. Always, nice, loving and forgiving. Sometimes he'd work himself up in anger and yell at me but then he'd forgive me afterwards.

I love him for that. I remember when he first showed me where he worked, tall factories, full of clockwork pieces. I've always been interested in clocks and clockwork, the delicate, so beautifully crafted pieces of machinery. I remember the first time I ever saw snow, I was little, but my Father showed me. It was so incredible. A miracle, if you must. I love my Father so much.

But now he is gone. I hug my Father, I feel incredibly sad inside, but I don't show it. I prefer not to show my emotions, I don't like people knowing what I feel. So I just hold my Father, who looks like he's asleep. I look at his hand, and I see his marriage ring. A thin white circle of painted silver.

I reach down and slip it off his finger. I put it on my pointer finger, I want something to remind me of my Father at all times. I look at my Father and it hits me. My Father is dead. Dead. A tear escapes me, but I don't care at the moment to brush it away. I silently weep as I mourn the loss of my Father. I don't cry out, I don't want my Mother to think I'm weak.

After ten minutes of mourning I change into my reaping outfit. Its not much but it's the best I have. A white shirt and brown pants with worn out sneakers. As I walk downstairs, I see my mother curled up in a ball, sitting on her rocking chair, just staring at the wall. She's trying to deal with my Fathers death.

I kiss her before I leave for the reaping. I need to get out of here, I need to escape my Fathers death, so I walk to the only house that I know will give me comfort. Lily Dengsov. She's my girlfriend and we've been dating for almost two years now. I observe the beautiful snowy streets as I do.

I remember my life before my Father got sick. I was happy, popular and had many friends. I used to cook all the time, I learnt that from my mother. My mother would spoil me all the time, bringing home little presents or treats. I would be with my friends all the time, or with Lily. But then when my Father of mine fell ill, I slipped away from my social life. I wasn't as happy, I stopped cooking, I didn't see Lily as much. I pass some more snowy streets and houses before finally reaching her house. I knock on the door and its Lily that answers it.

"Oh Nitro! What brings you here? You look awfully cold! Come inside, whats happened?" She pauses for a second. "How's your Father?"

I look at her and give her a small shake of my head. I let a tear fall. Obviously I'm still mourning his death. Lily's eyes widen with shock and her hand flies to her mouth. I walk inside and am grateful for the fact that the fireplace is lit. I sit down on the sofa and Lily hugs me. I look at her bright blue eyes. She doesn't know how I feel. But she wants to know.

"I woke up to the sound of Mother crying. And I knew instantly what had happened. Father of mine was dead. My mother is still upset, just staring at the kitchen wall."

I hold her tightly to me. I just need something to hold onto. I need her comfort, I need her love. I bury myself into her shoulder and play with her long red hair. I can hear my heavy deep breathing and I just want to sit here, with Lily, forever.

Time passes quickly and the gong sounds for me to go to the reaping. I sigh, and I peel myself away from Lily's grasp.

"Come on now, lets go." I say to her.

I hold her hand as we walk to Town Square. I am marked off and I say goodbye to Lily. I'll see her afterwards. The mayor says a few boring things and then Imogen Keerigamie is introduced. She picks Declan Kingsley. I hate that kid, he's such a stuck up snob. And even better, he starts to cry as he walk up. I laugh, he wont last five minutes. I see my Mother in the crowd. I realize that I don't want to see her grief and sorrow for my Father. I want to win for my Father.

Imogen Keerigamie selects the second tribute. And I volunteer, walking up to the stage with steady hands and a pale face, I speak my name into the microphone. I look at Lily in the crowd, tears are streaming down her face.

I shake Declan's hand and pretend not to hate him. My mother doesnt visit me when I say goodbye. Only my friends and Lily. I forgot about her when I volunteered. Oh crap! I tell her im sorry, but she doesn't believe me.

"Nitro, I have to tell you something. Because you're most likely going to die in the games. I have to confess to you. Well.. umm"

I'm nervous on what she's going to say.

"Nitro, well. I'm sorry but I've been cheating on you. Im sorry it has to be this way, but ever since you slipped away when your Father got sick. I didn't feel anything with you, so I found myself attracted to Copper Batree. I'm so sorry."

And then she leaves me alone with me, gasping in shock.

So, there you have it. District 3, did ya like? if not y u no like?

up next, District 4, im excited to write this one :D

~Josh-who-is-bored