AN: Hi! Welcome back to UMUD! I'm writing this at exactly 12:15am, but that's nothing. I usually go to sleep at about 3am. :). But anyways, I'm not going to say much. Here's the District 4 Reapings!
UPDATE 10:16AM: The next chapter after this will be coming in about 1h 45m.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games. I own nothing.
Eaurin Orc, (14), District Four, POV:
Come on, Eaurin, you have to get up now. Come on, Eaurin, you have to get your trident and your net. Come on, Eaurin, you have to go to the water and catch some seafood. Come on, Eaurin, it's almost eight, and the Capitol man needs your fish. Come on, Eaurin, you have to have a shower. Come on, Eaurin, you have to go to school now. Come on, Eaurin, you have to learn about the different types of fish now. Come on, Eaurin, you have to train. Come on, Eaurin, you have to go home. Come on, Eaurin, you have to eat dinner. Come on, Eaurin, you have to go to bed. Come on, Eaurin, you have to sleep.
It has been the same schedule since I was nine-years-old. My life has never been the same ever since. Back then, President Marrish was in her first year as President of Panem. My parents were both fishermen, and we were doing well. One night, though, I over heard them talking about running off to District Eight. Being scared, I pretended not to hear them and I simply went to my room. But when I saw them not selling the fish that we caught to the Capitol, I started to get worried. About a week later, President Marrish came along.
'You sell the fish to the Capitol, or your fate will be determined.'
My parents still fished, but they still didn't sell to the Capitol. It was the night that we were going to run off. We had all caught fish, not intending to sell to the Capitol. But that day, President Marrish had come over. She had already been informed that we weren't selling to the Capitol, and she was furious.
'I have been informed that you still haven't sold your seafood to us. That is unacceptable. You have chosen to disobey the Capitol, and that is unacceptable. You will both be executed immediately. We have chosen to spare your daughter, and she will take over your job. If at anytime she doesn't do her job and sell sixty percent to the Capitol, then she too will be executed.'
And with that, Peacekeeper held me in their grip. President Marrish lifted up her jacket pocket to reveal a long dagger. She started with my Father first, as he was the one who originally came up with the plan to disobey the Capitol. She played with the dagger for a few moments, the suddenly cut his cheek. Immediately bleeding, she made them endure a long, painful death. She whispered a couple of words into his ear, and then he spat in her face. Wiping the saliva off, she stabbed my Father in the heart, and he died instantly. She also stabbed my Mother in the heart, not desiring as slow of a death. I had saw my parents die right in front of me, by the hand of a cruel president. All my parents were trying to do was spreading the good. Because they wouldn't sell the Capitol, they were selling them to the further districts so then they could have food. But as always, the Capitol uses us and takes all of the goods we have, leaving us to survive on our own. I hate every aspect of the Capitol.
"You are going to do the fishing." she says. She points to a little bench at the end of the dock. "On that bench you're going to see a man. You give him most of the fish; only keep enough to give you energy to work. He will give you money in return. You may have random boat checks at any time. If you are caught keeping fish or not selling them to the Capitol, then your fate will be determined by the Capitol." And as soon as she came, she disappeared.
Hunter "Hunt" Princeton, (16), District Four, POV:
The soft crashing of waves wakes me up immediately. Being a heavy sleeper has never been a strong part of me. Then again, a lot of things haven't been, either. I've never fought. I've never stepped a foot inside of the Training Center. I haven't held a triton, although I've seen my father use it on some occasions. It doesn't matter, though. What are the chances, anyway? My sister and I don't take the terassea. Our family never believed in being Careers, but we could easily pretend to be. People like us. I don't fully understand what aspect makes us that way, but there's nothing wrong with being likable, as my mother always says. I smile as I think of my mother. She currently works backbreaking hard, but at the end of the day, she always smiles.
I take off the covers, and almost immediately, I feel something sharp on my right foot when I hit the hard, flimsy wooden ground. Not an ache or a sharp pain, but almost like something is physically inside of my foot. I look down to see that a sliver of wood somehow made it's way into my foot. I clench, but slowly pull it out. To my relief, there's no blood, which has never been my strong suit. The pain subdues immediately after I pull it out. This time, more carefully, I put my feet down and fortunately there's no sliver wanting to lodge itself into my foot. I get up onto my feet and I relax.
It's probably just to go and get into reaping now. It'll save time when Sue is complaining that we're going to be late, she'll be the one that I'm waiting on.
Looking for the single dresser that occupies our families clothing, I think about what reaping should be like. Our escort, Senza Delta, should be there. Our new Mayor, Cooper Lanco, will be there, so it'll be good to see him, and of course, all of the girls will be throwing themselves at me. I can't really escape from them. I've been called "charming", "cute", "funny", "clumsy in a good way", plus many more. I guess you could call me popular, but I prefer liked. Popular makes me sound like one of those people who always are making fun of other people. I find what I want, a sky blue button down t-shirt and brown faded jeans. After dressing, I head back downstairs to see that Sue, my Mother, Claire, and my Father, Peter are already downstairs. All three are talking until my Mom stops talking and gives me a genuine smile. Sue's long, blond hair flips around, seeing that it's me.
"Well what took you so long?" she asks, putting down her cheese and bread. She's still in her pajamas, and looks like she just came down after she woke up. She looks pretty tired, so I suspect that she hasn't noticed that I'm wearing my reaping clothes.
"Well I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm wearing my Reaping Clothes, not some pajamas, like you." I say, pointing to her pink nightgown. She looks down, but soon shrugs after.
"Oh well. What are the chances, anyways?" the well-fed blonde says finishing her breakfast.
"Not very much at all. Hunt, I'll get you some breakfast, Sue, you go up and get changed into your reaping outfit. I want to talk to some of the other mothers." Mother says, beginning to slice some bread for me. Sue passes by me, walking up the stairs. I take in this moment, and I think of the chances that I won't return.
Eaurin:
This day, however, is different. I get to go to reaping, and have a day off fishing for once. I lock up the boat, and hook it up to the dock securely. Once that's done, I walk down the beach over to my small house at the end. It isn't much, really, just a kitchen, a cabinet for clothing, a table for various uses, a bathroom, and a bed. It's small, yet cozy. The soft, yet coarse sand is a natural feel to me. Small parcels of shells, sand, and rocks make it one of the most unique beaches in District. It fills in between my toes, but the wave of cool, salty water washes it all away. It is my only place of pure comfort.
I make it to my "house" and I immediately walk over to the basin filled with purified water. Cleaning my face, the water is cold and refreshing. It feels relaxing, and it feels like home. What they used to say, home is where heart is, is a true saying for me. It's where today, I will leave my heart to exchange for the girl who has a hatred again President Marrish, where I will leave the "innocent little girl" back at home. It's where my plan of revenge against President Gesuza Marrish will go into play. She won't even know what's hitting her.
After cleaning myself up, I search the fairly empty drawers for my reaping outfit. All of the things here are Capitol provided, considering a nine-year-old couldn't take care of herself without a little bit of help. It doesn't take me long to find my reaping outfit. An ocean blue dress with one-inch straps, it fits pretty well. I haven't grown much since last year, so I fit pretty comfortably in it. Since I love the color black, I add on a black belt around my waist, trying to extenuate my almost unknown curves. I put on my Mother's old locket, that's doesn't have the usual chain; it has a thin piece of rope. After tossing on some ballet flats that match my dress color, I head off.
I take a couple looks at the district while I head over. The homes are brightly painted, greatly adding some sort of excitement in our fishing district. All of the homes have a clear path to the Justice Building and the various piers, so things it's easy to make my way over to the Reaping. I see fear in all of their faces, but I also see their mothers and fathers kissing them as they leave. In a way I envy them, always having someone to fall back on, but I also take than anger and fury buried deep inside of me and release it when I train. It's how I cope with what my life is now, compared to five years ago, where I was safely in my parents arms, shielding me from the dangers that lie within this cruel place they call Panem.
The Capitol knows that they can help us. They're in a great place, full of industries that could supply us for millions of years. But instead, we're busy being used and tortured for already one hundred years. Can't they find some other way of entertainment? The Capitol is made of people just like us. If there were no districts, no Capitol, then how different are they? Not very much. They can't find it actual entertainment, can they? People, no children are dying at their control. It's almost a joke. Children, innocent poor adolescents are pushed into a hellhole to kill people; some might even be from their own district. Who finds that entertaining?
Hunt:
Breakfast is divine. My Mother had prepared it in such a way that the cheese slowly melts onto the fire-toasted bread while you eat it. I spend a couple of minutes relaxing, until there's a knock on the door. My father goes to answer the door, and I lean the chair back to see what who it is.
"Hunt, it's a girl." Father says without even a hint of interest in his voice. Stumbling on the way, I see its Jordana, one of my friends. She always talks to me, and provides a smile along with it.
"Hey Hunt. Can we walk to the Reaping together?" Jordana asks. I turn back and raise my eyebrows at Mother but to my luck, she nods her head. Waving slightly, I close the door. We begin to walk onto the wooden panels that provide a pathway. I stumble across them, leading to a laugh from Jordana. Flipping her auburn hair behind her, she mumbles something about being cute, that I can't fully understand.
"What did you say, Jordana?"
"Oh sorry, I didn't realize that I was talking so quietly." she comments, as a gentle breeze picks up. "I wanted to say that you look cute when you say that, but I think this will show it better."
Suddenly she takes my head and kisses me. Her warm lips crashed into mine as I wrap my hands around her waist. Her lips feel like butter against mine. A warm feeling spreads through me. Suddenly, it all comes back to me.
"Hey Hunt." she says, sitting next to me. I'm on the pier, legs dangling over the edge of the pier. She puts her arm around my shoulder and we rock together. I smile and she returns one. We're watching the waves coming in, crashing against the water that borders the district. I close my eyes, taking all of the other senses in. I can hear the waves rocking, smell the salt, taste the salt, and feel the stableness of the wooden pier. The lush water hits up against my legs, but running off as soon as it came back.
Eaurin:
I make my way to the Justice Building, hopefully being in the crowd one last time, and next year being on the podium, with the Mayor and the other mentor. I check myself in and the prick on my feeling isn't pain; it's joy. I smile as I meet up with the other fourteen year olds on the end. It's a perfect spot for making my way onto the stage.
The square slowly fills up, with many scared, yet eager teenagers. I shift weight from my left to my right, unable to find a somewhat comfortable position. After about eight minutes of waiting, the reaping finally starts.
"Hello future tributes! As many of you already know, I'm your escort for this year's Hunger Games! I am Senza Delta, and I have been escort for the past 3 years. I have a feeling that District Four is going to come out with some wonderful tributes for this Quarter Quell! As they used to say, without further ado, let's begin!" Senza says. Her green wig fits oddly as she makes her way over to the female reaping bowl. Clearing my voice, a rush of adrenaline comes through me. She barely has enough time to say the full name, Annie Falarne, when I bellow out "I volunteer". Both surprisingly and fortunately, there are no other volunteers, so my walk is hassle-free.
"Well hello! What's your name?" Senza asks me, in a chirpy tone that doesn't annoy me as much as I thought it would.
"My name is Eaurin Orc, and I am fourteen years old." I say proudly, smirking only slightly.
This is your chance so shine, Eaurin. Scare the competition before we're even at the Capitol.
Changing my smirk so it's more noticeable, I also improve my posture and stand tall. I'm not too tall, but one look at me with a triton and you'll change your thoughts forever.
"Beautiful! Onto the boys!" She says, taking mini steps in her razor thin heels made so high that she might as well have her feet pointed.
"Hunter Princeton!" Senza proclaims into the microphone. Similar, there are no volunteers and males at the mid back push forward a boy that looks about sixteen. He has a crooked nose and grey eyes that look slightly scared. His honey blonde hair is plastered all over his face and it appears he made no attempt to comb his hair. He also has a silly grin on his face, but that slowly turns into a look of desperation as he faces reality.
"Well this has been very exciting! A volunteer and a reapee! I can already tell that these games are going to be the best yet! It is now time for your Mayor to read the Treaty of Treason!" Senza says, putting her arm around Hunter.
Hunter:
This, this can't be happening. I had four pieces of paper in that bowl. Four. And no volunteers. The chances were so slim, yet it was me. I wasn't supposed to be in the Hunger Games! I was supposed to be growing up, living a normal life, growing up, getting married, starting a family, growing old… But that won't happen now. Killer girl over there looks like she's going to kill the all of the people before we even get into the arena! Thank the rebels that we're not in the same arena… But I can't do this. My life is over, I might as well say goodbye and just die right here. I've never trained! I've never held a weapon! I wouldn't hurt a bug! But now I'm expected to kill someone…
My thoughts are interrupted when the escort comes and guides us into the Justice Building. Peacekeepers push me into a lush room. Almost immediately there's my whole family coming in, all have tears flowing freely from their eyes. We all begin to exchange goodbyes and "I love you" messages while hugging, kissing, and crying.
"I'm so sorry, Hunt! I should have treated you better before! I never expected this to happen! I wish I could change positions with you! I love you so much!" Sue says while sobbing into my arm.
"I didn't expect this to happen at all Hunter! I love you so much! I love you! I love you! I love you!" my Mother says, weeping into my other arm. Only my Father has the courage to stay strong throughout this.
"You listen to me, alright? You're going to come home. I don't know how, but I assure you that anything that we can do we will do. You can't give up, all right? Face your fears, and it can lead you to glory!" he says, and it's clear that he's fighting back tears. After that we all hug for a big group hug and we all cry together. When the Peacekeepers come in, we all separate easily, as we're too weak to fight them. I give them one last wave, and take in the final words that I was told.
"Face your fears, and it can lead you to glory."
Eaurin:
There's no use getting comfortable, so I don't. I begin to train for a little bit. Practicing my martial arts, I get into my inner Zen mode. Suddenly, I imagine that I'm in the games, on my podium in the dead center. There are all the other female tributes, looking at me. I smirk at all of them, draining any possible color from their faces. They transport me to the final arena, and I take out the other tribute easily.
"Eaurin Orc, you are the victor of the 100th Annual Hunger Games!" the announcer says in my mind, as I practice my kicks. The door opens slightly, and I kick it closed. Unfortunately, it doesn't end up how I want. Instead of the door closing, the door breaks in half, revealing a Peacekeeper.
"Lets go." he says, waving me to come out through the doorway where there used to be a door. I do as he says and we're whisked away to the Capitol where we could never return back.
How'd you like it? It's 12:17am here, so I don't know if we've reached 50 reviews yet, but only time will tell! I'm planning for 3 more chapters, so I'm really excited! Don't forget about my twitter, because I tweet frequently. Just ask Pax Cronin (he's an author here at FF) or PaxCronin. There's also some new sponsor items, so I'm excited for that. Some are useless, some are valuable! Check it out on chapter 3! Also I've been browsing your profiles, and I've been checking all of your favorites. If you had favourited me or my story, I will periodically check if it's still there. If it's not, then the number of points that you had will be deducted. So if you favourited my story and it's not there, then that's 5 points deducted. If it's fav. author, then that's 6 points. You don't fool me people, so don't play games with me. Thank you! Don't forget to review, and you still have 3 more chapters coming at ya!
FireBreadandSnares
P.S. This chapter is not beta-d.
