Chase Ridge

"Chase!" His mother was shouting to him, calling him to come down for breakfast. It hadn't been long since it was Chase trying to feed her. After Chase's nan died, his mother went into deep depression, she quit her job and distanced herself from the world around, leaving only Chase's father to work and look after the family. She was in this state for three years up until a couple of months ago when slowly she came back around. Since then she had got another job and is supporting the family again along with Chase's father.

As Chase sat at the table his little sister, Macey, came running in wearing a long floral dress. She had turned eleven a few days ago but was still a year younger than Chase. Chase thought it was odd as she seemed to be dressed too prettily for an ordinary day. That was when it struck him, it was reaping day. This was the one day a year that the majority of districts feared and so Chase had put it to the back of his mind. Having just lost his appetite Chase sat there somewhat unnerved by the thought. This year he wouldn't have had as high of a chance of being picked as last year, because now that his mother was working again there was no more need for tesserae.

The thought of the reaping was quickly dismissed as nerves had gotten the better of Chase like usual and he was now running to the bathroom to vomit. After about five minutes, Chase was ready to return back to his bedroom. As he climbed the stairs he saw his reflection in the window at the top of them. His dark hair stood up on end, but he refused to flatten it as his attempts are always futile. Chase was small for a twelve year old and had a lithe build, his eyes were green and his skin was olive. Chase had never been one to stand up for himself as a result he was bullied a lot by the older kids of his district which usually led to a breakdown, this encouraged people to bully him more as floods of tears streamed from his eyes.

He searched thoroughly through his wardrobe searching for a set of nice clothes to wear to the reaping but could find nothing but a shirt and some plain grey trousers. He slammed his bedroom door shut and slipped on his clothes. After a lot of hesitation and procrastinating, Chase kissed his mother and father goodbye and left for the reaping with Macey.


Valire 'Val' Morden (Vall-eye-r)

Val sat there drinking from the same bottle of unidentified liquor that she had been all morning. Her and her friends decided they'd stay up all night together, it wasn't like anyone of them would get any sleep anyway as it was the day of the reaping. It was still early in the morning when they returned to their homes. As Val entered her small house in the corner of District 8 she was tempted by the smell of porridge.

She joined the rest of her family at the table but no-one was talking. Val had three sisters, two older and one younger. Both her parents were still alive and well and her eldest sister was engaged. Val was known for her crude sense of humour but was not popular as she didn't have the 'looks'. She has thick wiry black her that reaches her shoulders. Her skin is red-brown and dotted with spots and her eyes are a muddy colour. Even if they're caked with make-up her lashes a close to non existent. A hooked nose lies in the centre of her face.

She quickly finished breakfast and headed upstairs where she found a sweet dress presenting itself on her bed. She assumed her mother had layed it out for the reaping, so she climbed into it without question. The dress was long and black and swept the floor as she walked. Usually she doesn't wear dresses as she claims they're not very practical, but for the reapings she occasionally made the odd acception. This year her name hadn't gone in as much as the previous because now that both her older sisters are working they no longer need any tesserae. Even though the chance of her name being drawn was slim, Val was still worried. It was hard not to be when your life was in the balance. Val knew that in the games she wouldn't be the first to die however she knew she wouldn't win. Against the career districts, no matter how determined to survive she was she thought they'd always hunt her down.


The day was a sickly nice one for such a cruel and sad occasion. The bright sun beat down on the concrete square where the children had been herded by swarms of peacekeepers in their blazing white uniforms that districts 8, Val's and Chase's district, had made.

The two children stood in the crowd, both unaware that this might be the last time they step foot in the large grey square surrounded by more grey buildings, it might be the last time they step foot in their home. While they stood amongst the other children that had flocked the square, each one wearing a mask that covered their gut-wrenching fear, District 8's elderly escort, Vicktor Elessroy, hobbled across the stage, leaning heavily against a bone walking stick. The harsh sunlight made the metallic blue patterns he'd had imbedded into his cheeks like tattoos shine brightly. As he reached the microphone that stood lonely in the middle of the stage everything seemed to fall silent. The birds stopped chirping, the children stopped murmuring, and even the wind that had been gently blowing through Vicktor's silvery hair seemed to stop. He had this effect every year. The children had come to fear him because of it.

Vicktor cleared his throat and growled into the microphone, "Hello District 8, and happy 36th Hunger Games. May the odds, be ever in your favour." He gave a false pitiful smile that he couldn't hold for long before he broke into a bark type laugh. District 8 never had the odds in their favour. The only district that had worse luck was 12.

Vicktor painfully made his way over to the boy's reaping ball. "Let's begin, shall we?" He reached his hand in and after a moment of rummaging pulled a single folded bit of paper out. He unravelled it and smiled crookedly, making eye contact with a few of the boys, this made them even more unnerved because Vicktor knew most of the district by name and if he looked at you there was a good chance that you were the name on the paper. Finally his eyes fell onto Chase. He smiled crookedly again Chase Ridge.

For Chase the name seemed to echo in the silence as he watched his world shatter around him. He started to panic, tears welling up, bile building in his stomach. Even the bullies had nothing to say, no one ever wished anyone else to be reaped, no matter how much they annoyed you. He stumbled forward and vomited over the floor. Luckily the crowd of boys surrounding him had parted when his name was called. Old Vicktor on the stage was cackling at the boys discomfort and continued to as Chase made his shaky way up onto the stage in front of the daunting Justice building.

Now came Vicktor's favourite part. He would make the tribute on stage pick out the second tribute's name. This was because Vicktor thought that in doing so the tribute on stage would feel partially responsible for the potential death of the second tribute and there was nothing Vicktor liked more than to put people, especially ones as innocent as children, out of their comfort zones.

Vicktor barked at Chase who was just about holding himself together, ordering him to go and fetch a name from the female reaping ball. Chase looked apologetically towards the crowds of females as he reached into the large glass ball. He opened up the bit of paper and stared blankly at the name that was printed across it. 'Well go on then! Read it, boy!'

Valire's heart came to a halt as she heard her name choked out of the young boy on the stage. Not her, why her? She started to make her slow journey towards the stage, swaying slightly. Evidently she was still a bit drunk. On her way towards the grinning Capitol man and the young, district 8 boy on the stage a million thoughts ran through her head. How was she going to get through this? She wasn't. Would be the last time she would see her friends and family. People she had been with just hours before. This was the end of her world. But then one final thought hit her; she could win. It was a slim chance, but she could and even if she didn't she would go down with one hell of a fight. At this thought she composed herself and made her way onto the stage, with her head help high.

Vicktor once again returned to the microphone " Well here are your tributes, District 8, I assume you're happy as we have no volunteers?" No one in the crowed moved.

"Okay then, thank you district 8 and happy hunger games" he said with another crooked smile. The Capitol's anthem played and he turned around and ushered the two tributes into the Justice building. As the doors closed silence once again fell across the large concrete square where the sun continued to bask district 8 in an unfair warmth and false happiness.


A/N

Sorry the tributes weren't explained well I had sever writers block and had to get my older brother to do the last little bit :/