Adair Paxton POV

This exact day for the past few years I have been woken up by the sound of muffled cries.

Ever since my sister, Mable, was reaped into the Games several years and was killed in the final six my mom became a train wreck. Mable was only twelve years old and no one volunteered to take her spot, but instead of breaking down and crying, like other twelve year olds would, she walked up to the stage with confidence and took her spot next to the escort.

I hopped out of bed and walked over to my mom who was curled up into a ball and sobbing into her pillow. I sat down next to her and rub my hand on her back, "are you okay, mum?" I ask. She turns to me and wipes the tears off of her face, "mhm, yeah I'm alright" I obviously knew she was lying but I didn't want to argue with her. She rolled back over into her pillow and the sound stopped, but by her heavy breathes you could tell she was still crying. I slowly got up and went back to my room to get ready for the reapings.

I grab a pair of old jean shorts and a casual, white, button-up, collard shirt and quickly put them on. I grabbed a pair of brown sneakers that somewhat matched the outfit and shoved my feet it. They were kind of tight but I didn't care.

I slowly walk back to my mothers room and peek my head through the door, "mum, I'll be back after the reapings" I whisper, but I don't get a response which indicates that she is sleeping. 'Must've cried herself to sleep' I think to myself. I tip toe over to her bed and pull the covers up over her body and kiss her on the cheek, I then walk back over to the door and begin to close it. "Love you" I whisper before turning the knob and shutting the door quietly.


Celestia Macent POV

"Goodbye dad.. love you!" I shout before walking out the door, but I get no response. He was too busy getting drunk in his room to say goodbye to me... that's how it always was for the past few years. Since my mom died, years ago, my dad became a raging alcoholic and he rarely ever spoke to me, and when he did it was usually just commanding me to do something. And during his drinking days when he blacked-out he became very aggressive and abusive... and I was always the target. I wanted to get away from here, far, far away.

I begin my walk to the Town Square. Shortly after I hit a small line, and then realized I was just on time for the reapings, which was a good thing since I dreaded waiting since I am very impatient.

"Your finger, please" a deep voiced, male peacekeeper demands. I place my whole hand in his and he forcefully grips onto my index finger, the peacekeepers here aren't very friendly, in fact two people were recently taken to confinement after being caught outside during curfew hours. He uses an odd machine that slides a short needle in and out of my finger and then dots it on a piece of paper, "you may proceed" he says sternly still looking down at the paper. I turn away from the table and walk towards the entrance, I quickly make my way towards the sixteen year-old group before it starts to crowd up and be impossible to move.

"Celestia!" I hear a familiar voice call out which makes me whip my head around.

"Oh hey, Felicia!" I shout out as she runs towards me, Felicia was my best and only friend... I didn't need anyone else because I was content with having just her around. We knew each other since forever, it seems like... we were both protective over each other, especially when I used to get bullied in school because my mom was dead and my dad was an alcoholic. She even got in trouble one time for punching a kid and breaking his jaw because he kept harassing me... he deserved it though.

"How are you?" she asks curiously.

"I'm the same as usual and you?" I ask her, I never felt quite comfortable expressing my feelings so I tried to hide them.

"I'm good, I have to tell you though th-" she is stopped in mid-sentence by a peacekeeper who shouts at her for now being in her right group. Felicia was one year older than me and so she had to stand in the seventeen year-old section. "I'll catch you after and finish telling you" she yells out while literally being dragged to her group.

After everyone has made it to their assigned groups the mayor stands up and walks over to the microphone, "Welcome fellow citizens of District Five" he greets us, "To commence the reapings we'll be watching the video from The Capitol, then we'll have the lovely escort finish off the reapings with selecting the tributes" he announces. He presses a button and the usual, boring video begins, but I zone out while it plays. "Now let's give a warm welcome and applause to the District Five escort who has come all the way from The Capitol!" no one moves and no one even thinks to applaud. We didn't like the Capitol, in fact we hated it and everyone who came from there.

"Thank you" the escort says to our mayor while taking her place at the center of the stage.

"Hello everybody, my name is Cecelia and I'll be the new District Five escort" she comments with a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Now let's begin with the female tributes" she announces then quickly moves over to the female reaping bowl. She dips her hand in the bowl and grabs a handful, then out of the handful she picks one in particular while putting the rest back into the bowl. She walks back to the microphone and unfolds the folded piece of paper.

"The female tribute is... Lydia Shortman" she calls out with glee. Immediately you hear the sound of crying coming from the twelve year-old female section, she refuses to walk up to the stage so peacekeepers are sent out to retrieve her. Once they reach her they grab her by both of the arms and begin dragging her body to the stage, occasionally stopping to pick her falling body back up and get a better grip. My instinct kicks in and I can't hold it in much longer, she didn't have a chance in the games and she has her whole life ahead of her... I'd rather it be me than her.

I run through the crowd and dash through the empty lane yelling at the top of my lungs, "leave her alone!... take me instead!" escapes from my mouth. The escort looks surprised and so does the little girl. The peacekeepers drop her to the ground, and she scrambles away and back to her group, they begin marching towards me then grip me by the arms and bring me up to the stage. I am "thrown" up the stairs and I quickly run to the escorts side.

"Oh dear, and your name is?" the escort asks

"C-Celestia... Celestia Macent" I stutter, Cecelia nods in response then continues on with the reapings

"and now for the male tribute" she announces while walking toward the male reaping bowl. She repeats the same thing over again and picks out a slip. She walks back to the microphone and unfolds the piece of paper.

"And the male tribute is... Adair Paxton" A tall, blonde haired, blue eyed male slowly walks out of the sixteen year-old group and up to the stage. He finally makes it up to the stage and his facial expression is blank, emotionless.

"Everyone meet the District Five tributes; Celestia Macent and Adair Paxton!" she announces with glee.


Review Questions and Author Note:

1. Favorite of the two?

Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter... I honestly feel like this chapter wasn't my best written but I still hope you enjoyed it.