Reaping District 7
Lenka Keller (D7) 17 POV:
Today is the reading day. Wow that last year went by fast. Believe it or not time flies when your living in the forests of District 7. When I say in the forests I really mean IN the forestss. Ever since my parents were murdered I've been living off the land in hiding. My parents were killed because of the rebellion. When I was 12 the day of my first reaping our escort had something to add into the normal speech. She said that new evidence had been found on many members of the district 7 community that supports earlier claims of involvement in the district 7 uprising that brought the hunger games upon us 9 years before. After that reaping my parents rushed me home and told me to hide in the closet of their bedroom. There I sat for about 20 minutes. Then there was a knock at the door which my mother answered.
There was a man at the door dressed all in black and told them that they were to go with him. My parents refused and attempted to subdue the man. They fought with the man for whhat seemed like an eternity to me but I'm sure was only a few minutes. The fight was brought into the bedroom, I could see it all through the cracks in the closet door. He was too strong for them and in the struggle he shot both of my parents in the chest. I saw my mother's cold dead eyes staring at me through the cracks in the closet. The man, realizing what he had done left the house immediately. I never got a look at his face, I was too concerned with my dead parents lying dead not even 5 feet away.
I don't know how but I eventually got out of that closet and I ran. I then realized just how much evidence was gathered over those last 9 years, almost 30% of the adults in the community were gone, taken by the capitol for questioning. So in all that confusion I decided that then was the perfect time to run. I ran into the forests, I had no idea where I was going. In all the confusion no one even noticed that I had left. When my parents were found and I wasn't I think they just assumed that the man killed me as well and perhaps hid my body because I was a child. I don't know what they told themselves all I know is that I wasn't looked for I was just forgotten.
So no were back here, at the 5 year anniversary of the end of my normal life. I've been living in the forests for the last 5 years so I know how to handle myself. Every year I go to the reaping. The first one after it all happened was tough but after that I realized no one knew or cared who I was. It is one of the only days of the year that I actually see people. It's kinda nice even though no one is in a particularly good mood on reaping day. So I stood there like I do every year with no one recognizing me, no one really caring about each other only worrying about themselves or their family and friends. Then I hear that same escort's voice that sealed my fate 5 years ago but this time I hear her say my name when she pulls out the card.
"Lenka Keller!" She shouted. I look around and I see a lot of faces of relief, and others in thought of trying to remember this seemingly familiar name.
"She's dead!" I hear one guy shout out at the escort. Just letting her know. Those contemplating faces in the crowd all suddenly snapped back remembering the sad girl who was killed.
"What! That's impossible!" The escort shouted back. "Every name in this bowl is triple checked before it goes into the bowl. It is absolutely impossible that this person is dead, unless they dropped dead this morning!" Ha she sounded so funny saying that in her capitol accent. Others in the audience snickered at the thought of a capitol mishap.
"Sorry to tell you she's been dead for about 5 years now." The same man shouted back. Mummers of agreement penetrated the air. Everyone just believed that I was gone.
"No she's not!' Yeah that one was me. Suddenly all the people in the audience shifted to me. All the other 17 year old girls kinda jumped around and made a clear space around me as if they had just seen a ghost. I took this as my que to walk up to the stage. I hear a few gasps and a few squeals coming from random audience members as I walked past them. Everyone was having their own conversations; asking their neighbor if they knew I had been alive all this time. Which obviously they hadn't. I am perplexed by one thing though. If I've been gone for 5 years how did the capitol now to put my name in the bowl. How did they know that I was still around. I may not know now but I'm gonna find out.
Dylan Schmidt (D7) 17 POV:
CLUNK... CLUNK... CLUNK... BOOM! There goes another tree. That's my main job, taking down the trees. My whole family is in the tree business me and my 5 older brothers Cameron, Jason, Eric, Tanner and Noah. I'm the smallest and the lightest so I normally climb the trees to survey them and make sure they are good for cutting down and then I cut them down. Cameron is 18 he is in tree transport. He takes the trees I knock down and sends them to tree cutting. Jason is also 18 he works in tree cutting. They take the trees and cut them into smaller logs. Then there is Eric. He's 23. He works in log distribution. The take the logs and deliver them to the citizens of district 7. Then there is 28 year old Tanner he takes the logs and readies them for transport from district 7 to the other districts. Finally there is Noah, he is 33. He is a general manager for the logging company we all work for. Yeah its all one big logging family.
13 years ago our parents died. I was only 4 but Noah was 20 so he and our great aunt took care of us all. Our great aunt Matilde took care of us but she was an old lady. She couldn't take care of 5 young boys. She died not 4 year after. By that point we had already kinda learned how to take care of ourselves. Noah couldn't be a 20 year old he was too busy being a fire. So far the only one of us that have been able to keep a life are Jason. Jason and his girlfriend Rebecca are pregnant at 18, not that rare in district 7. The more strapping young boys there are the more profit for the district. So we have as many kids as we can as soon as we can. Jason will be a great dad. We're all really happy for him.
Today we have a day off which are rare and far apart. Well they always give us off for the reaping. So we all walked down to the reaping as a big family like we always do. I went the the 17 year old section and Jason and Cameron went to the 18 year old section. The escort, a really strange looking lady in a bright orange skirt, pulled out the girls name. She sounded familiar but I wasn't sure who she was until the comment that she was dead. Ah right I remember her, she was that girl who died a couple years ago. I remember her from school, she was there the day before the reaping and the day after that she was gone and everyone was really worried. Then I heard a voice call out.
"No she's not!" I look towards the voice and it's her. I remember her so well, man I would love to see her again. I hope she wins so I can get the chance.
"Now for the men." That snapped me back from my thoughts. "Jason Schmidt!" Then the moment of relief came. Thank god its not me. As fast as it came it went, oh my god Jason. Hes supposed to have his kid. He's not supposed to be dead!
"I volunteer!" I shouted it as loud as possible. Cameron and I shouted at the same time. Crap I guess he had the same thought I did. We walked up to each other. He told me not to do it that its his responsibility he's the older brother. "No!" I said. "I'm going. Your only in transport at least I know how to use an axe." This went on for several minutes. Until finally I punched him in the face. I didn't know what else to do he wouldn't listen. I ran up to the stage without even looking back. He just stared at me with worry in his eyes. I'm sorry Cameron but no one is gonna do this and even have a chance of surviving except for me.
There we go District 7. Thanks to Jay-Goh for Dylan Schmidt and New2FanFic for Lenka Keller. Also great news no more need for new tributes! We're finally full and we can finally finish the reapings without worrying if I'm gonna hit a stalemate because I don't have a tribute for the next chapter. YAY! Also I'm gonna ask you guys for general questions you would like me to ask the tributes in the interviews. If you have a good question please post it in the comments or PM me with the subject being Interview Question. Also just an FYI I don't do the parade because I think its pointless to hear them talk about clothes.
Peace Out For Now, Conman418
