WARNING: UNEDITED! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
District 12 Reaping: Part One
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark never won the 74th Hunger Games, and District 12's most recent Victor, Haymitch Abernathy, is now dead.
The odds have never exactly been in District 12's favor, but now tributes must face the dangers inside the arena without a Mentor to help them survive.
District 12
Cora Leigh Weston
Ding. Dong. Ding. Dong...
I wake to the familiar gong of a bell chiming somewhere in District 12.
"7:00, time to get up," I think to myself.
I'd like to believe that today will be like any other day, but it won't.
"Reaping Day..."
Today I'll be going to the Reaping for the first time. From now on, I can be chosen to fight in the Hunger Games.
Every year I watch my siblings cling to my mother as they walk out the door, and make their way to the Reaping.
Every year I watch two children from District 12 get Reaped in the safety of my home...
Which is why today is so important. For the first time in my life I'll be going to the Reaping; I'll be going outside.
Most people would find it strange that I've never been outside. Few people would actually believe the reason I can't go outside.
' "he-mo-phil-ia
medical: a serious disease that causes a person who has been cut or injured to keep bleeding for a very long time." '
My mother says I've always been "sick" and that I'll never be like other children. Other children can run outside, and play. Other children can lead normal lives...
I could live my life normally, but I don't know how. For as long as I can remember I've been cooped up indoors with my nose in a book.
"It's safer this way..."
Safer isn't always fun though.
I'm not living, I'm only existing.
I've spent my entire life inside of a glass house. trapped by all of my mothers worries. But today, everything will change.
Today I will finally be free, even if it may only be for a few minutes, I will be free...
"Cora," I turn around quickly to find my mother standing at my bedroom door. I'm surprised by how she looks. When I was younger my mother was considered beautiful by everyone. She was perfect in every way. She had an amazing husband, a wonderful house...
She had children who were just as beautiful as her. They had her golden hair, and blue eyes. They shared her intelligence, and humor.
Everything about my mother's life was perfect...
Then, I was born.
My condition changed everything. My parents spent a fortune on remodeling the house, to make it safer. My mother had to quit her dream job, and was forced to become a full-time babysitter because of me.
My father tried to rake in money to pay for the bills, but in the end, we still lost the house. We never had enough money to pay off the debt that had been slowly building up since I was born...
"Cora," My mother says again. She flashes a gentle, kind smile at me. "Darling, are you alright?"
I nod my head slowly.
My mother sighs, and walks over to the side of my bed where I am laying. She carefully runs her fingers through my thin hair, and cups my face with her other hand, "Are you nervous?"
I laugh softly, "Nervous? Why would I be nervous?"
My mother shakes her head, and gives my hand a gentle squeeze, "It's okay if you're nervous, Cora. Everyone is nervous before their first Reaping. It's only natural..."
"I'm not nervous!" I protest, "If anything, I'm excited! For the first time in my entire life, I'll be going outside!"
Horror and shock crosses my mothers features, "It's a dangerous world out there, Cora. Your father and I have worked so hard at protecting you. We only want the best for you. Everything we've ever done, is for you! You're to precious to die out in the cold, harsh world!"
"I'm not a child anymore," I whisper. "You can't keep me locked up forever. One day, you won't be here to watch over me anymore."
My mother drops my hand, "Your siblings would gladly watch over you-"
"Is that what you want? For me to become their burden after you and father die!" I interrupt, "Do you expect me to make them suffer-"
"Enough!" My mother says loudly, "Just, enough...I don't want to hear you talking like that ever again. You are not a burden. You are a blessing; You are our gift..."
My mother takes in a shaky breath, and smiles. "Anyways, your father and I bought you something special."
I knew I should be happy that I was being given a present, but I wasn't. My parents shouldn't be spending money on my that they just don't have anymore.
My mother gets up, and leaves the room. When she returns, she has a dainty looking box in her hands. The box is wrapped up in a light blue paper, with little white swirls on it. A sparkly white ribbon is tied tightly around the box. The curly white ribbon bounces up and down as my mother walks towards me.
She places the present down on the bed besides me, "Open it."
I carefully tug at the white ribbon, and unwrap the present. I take my time, not wanting to damage the pale blue paper.
Under the paper is a bright white box.
I open the lid of the box, and gasp.
"It's beautiful..."
"Do you like it?" My mother asks. There's excitement in her voice, something I haven't heard in a long time.
"I love it," I respond softly.
"It's perfect..."
Inside the box was a pale blue dress, covered with lace, and ribbons. Beneath the dress was a pure white cardigan, and a matching pair of gloves...
"Your father and I thought you might enjoy to wear something nice today," My mother reaches for my hand, and runs her hand through my hair again. "I know he cardigan will make it a bit hot, and the gloves..."
"It's perfect," I say.
My mother seems to glow at my words, "I'm glad you like it."
I laugh quietly, while touching my dress.
"Well, then..." My mother says, "I guess I'll let you get ready now..."
I nodded my head quickly, keeping my eyes glued to the dress.
"So far, so good..."
District 12
Bruno James
Thud. Thud. Thud...
My heart was pounding in my ears, as my feet crashed down on the pavement.
"Left, right. Left, right..."
Thud. Thud. Thud...
Behind me, people were shouting. They're chasing me, and screaming.
"Get back here you little-"
I turned a sharp corner, and ran into a dark alley. I let my hand slip down into my jacket pocket, and clutch the stolen wallet I'd stashed there. I'd taken it from some wealthy merchant, not realizing that his wife had stared at me the entire time...
"One little slip, and now you're on the run..."
I turned another corner, and ducked under a low-hanging archway.
"Just keep running..."
My lungs burned, and my legs ached, but I kept running. I can't risk getting caught. If my father knew what I was up to half of the time I went out on walks-
"Enough!"
I easily silenced my thoughts, and concentrated on running.
The streets I'm running on are narrow, and old. The pavements been reduced to cobblestone, and weeds pop up here and there. If I keep running straight, I'll end up in the Seam, the poorest part of District 12.
"I can't go into the Seam yet. They're still following me..."
The shouts behind me had gotten quieter, but they were still there.
I bolted into yet another dark alley, and found myself staring at a large, fence.
"It's a dead-end..."
The shouts were getting louder. They were closer than I originally thought...
Without thinking, I scrambled up the fence in front of me, and hopped over. I was surprised when I landed in what looked like a backyard.
Ivy climbed up the walls of an older looking house, and flowers bloomed everywhere.
"So this is how merchants live?"
The voices, and footsteps got louder and louder. I made a quick decision, and I scrambled under the nearest bush.
"That little devil-"
"Where'd he go?"
"Well, he couldn't have gotten to far-"
"Maybe he's still here?"
"We must've gone the wrong way-"
I listened to the voices, and over time they grew softer, and softer...
Then, they were gone.
I peeked out from under my hiding spot, just to make sure I was safe.
"The coast it clear..."
I walked casually down the torn-up streets of District 12.
Pavement soon became cobblestone, and pebbles. The cobblestone quickly became dirt. The farther I walked, the more run-down everything became. New homes became old; Old homes became rubble, and out of the rubble rose unsteady looking shacks.
"The Seam..."
The Seam is where all the poor people of District 12 live.
I watched as mothers said goodbye to their children, and as those children made their way to the annual reaping.
"Reaping day..."
I picked up my pace, and jogged quickly down the uneven path leading to my house. I hopped up the front steps, and onto my families rotting porch.
I hesitated for a moment before opening the door. I listened for any signs of him: Loud crashes, screams, drunken laughter...
My hand reached for the door knob, and I braced myself for whatever was waiting for me inside.
When I entered the house, I was greeted by silence.
He's not here.
I quickly got ready. While I changed, I made that my new clothes hid the scars that were littered up and down my back and arms. I made sure no bruise showed, and that I looked presentable.
Before I left I took a look in a mirror that was propped up against that wall on the other side of the room.
"My first Reaping..."
I took a deep breath.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be..."
Hello there! I'm back!
I'm so sorry for not updating in...well, forever! I've just been so busy with life. I've done a lot of charity work lately, and my family went on vacation for a few weeks.
But, I'm finally back!
I hope this chapter is okay. I really didn't want to post it at first, because I wrote it differently than I originally planned to. I really hope that this chapter isn't that bad.
Anyways, feel free to drop a review with any suggestions , I'm always open to constructive criticism.
Thanks for reading!
Definition: /dictionary/hemophilia
