Reapings
District Twelve
Coleen Mines' POV
My father was lying on the bed, a sad smile on his face. I returned it. It was always painful to see him in so much agony. I just couldn't stand it. I needed money to make him well again. And there was only one way to get so much money.
I walked out of my house to meet my friend Abigail. It would be a good time to go out and hunt and I wanted my hunting partner with me. As soon as I stepped out I saw him coming towards me.
"Not today," he said as he came up to me, "No hunting today."
I looked at him, surprised. Abigail never refused to hunt. He saw my expression and said in an angry voice, "Today is the Reaping Day. You have to get ready."
I clenched my fists. The Capitol. The games. How I hated them both! My blood boiled at the very thought of them.
Abigail still had that angry expression. My friend was very rebellious. When we would go to hunt and stop to take a break, he would tell me how much he hated the Capitol. They treated us like toys, they were inhuman. If he could only get a chance to start an uprising, he would.
I reached out for his hand. He was well past his reaping age for which I was thankful. A smile appeared on his handsome face and he squeezed my hand back.
"Go get ready, princess," he said softly.
I smiled at him and went in. As soon as I entered I saw my mother sitting on a chair, looking at everything listlessly. Anger boiled inside me. That woman had deserted us. She was mad and useless. I had to fend off for my family, I had to hunt and provide food for everyone while she just sat there, refusing to move. I huffed and went to my own room, slamming the door shut behind me.
I combed my golden hair and braided them. I had blue eyes and I was quite fair, which was an unusual combination in my district. I put on a beautiful blue dress that my grandmother had given me. It still fit me and I looked quite good in it. After I was ready I walked out of my room and bumped into my sister, Rose.
"Wow Coleen! You're looking beautiful!" she said and hugged me. I beamed at her and returned the embrace.
"You have to get ready too," I told her, cupping her face in my hands. She looked confused.
"Why?"
"For the Reapings," I replied. She still looked confused.
Of course, I realised, she didn't know what the Hunger Games were! We never let her watch… And this year would be her first Reapings.
"Coleen?" she asked.
I sighed and, in a slightly trembling voice, told her everything about the Games, the Reapings, the tributes… everything. By the time I had finished her eyes were wide, tears brimming up, fear evident in them. She took a step back, shaking her head. I stepped towards her and hugged her tightly, saying soothing things to her.
"What if- what if I am reaped?" Rose asked, sobbing.
"You won't," I told her, "You won't."
I led her to her room and searched the closet for some good clothes for her. As I did so, my thoughts wandered off to that day two years ago. My father and I had gone hunting. We had caught three squirrels and were quite pleased with it. We were about to head home but suddenly my father was attacked by a bear. It crippled him, broke his bones, his legs. It was as if he would have died if I hadn't shot the bear with my arrow. Somehow, I brought my father home. My mother tried to treat him as best as she could, and she managed to save his life. But, she could not cure him completely. He was to stay in his bed forever. That broke my mother. She went slightly mad after that incident. The whole responsibility of the household fell on my shoulders.
And so I trained in the woods. I got better with my bow and arrow. I had to volunteer to win the money and with that I could save my father, get him cured. My mother would be healed too if that happened. I just had to win this thing.
I pulled out a red frock and gave it to Rose. She took it gingerly.
"Get ready," I said softly, "I'm waiting outside."
Abigail was waiting for me at the door. I smiled at him and he returned it.
"Looking pretty," he said.
"Thanks."
That's when my eyes fell on the boy with brown hair and eyes. He was looking at me shyly. I knew him. He was Peter Merkant, a boy belonging to the merchant class family. I was suspicious that he liked me or something. He was always shy around me. No, he was always very sweet.
Rose walked out of the door and joined us. She was trembling with fear. I knew it was hard for her, she was so naïve. And she got scared very easily. I grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it.
"It won't be you."
Coal Telve's POV
My younger brother, Evan, leaned against me as I told him a story. Nothing special, just a simple story as to why a prince would marry a girl with glass shoes who couldn't even handle them. Evan laughed as I tickled him.
"Stop!" he yelled and looked at me in mock annoyance.
I looked at him innocently. He raised a finger at me and said, "You are angrying me!"
"You are making me angry," I corrected. He huffed at that. Before he could say anything that would make the ghost of English Language haunt his dreams forever, I pointed at the wall behind him.
"That- what's that?! Help me!" I cried. Evan turned around and I ran away from there.
"You can't get away from me!" he yelled and started chasing me. I laughed. It was fun teasing him. He was so young and it was so easy to make him mad. I ran out of the house. The streets were buzzing with people but there was a dread in the atmosphere. I could feel it radiate out of every single person who passed by. Evan came to a stop next to me.
"What happened?"
"Nothing. Just the Reapings. Come on," I replied and took him inside.
My eyes fell on a cracked up mirror. I had short brown hair and my eyes were the same shade. They went well with my fair skin. I would not boast or anything, but I did look quite good and I was quite strong.
My family was quite poor but we were not starving unlike many other families in this district. However, I did want to make the living conditions better for my family. I was eighteen and worked in the mines with my father but we did not earn enough to lead good lives. We had just enough to eat. I wanted more for my family.
They didn't know I was planning on volunteering for the Hunger Games. They would only try to stop me and I didn't want that to happen. I trained myself in the woods, away from everyone's eyes.
"Coal?"
I whirled around to find my sisters looking at me. My elder sister, Sarah, looked at me anxiously as my younger sister Evangeline ran forward and hugged me. She was only eleven, not old for the Games. I was glad about it.
"You want help with something, Sarah?" I asked. I liked helping people with everything.
She smiled. "No dear, just get ready, will you?"
"I don't need to."
"Your clothes are dusty," my mother said as she came into the room.
"I know but my clothes are grey anyway. Doesn't matter much."
"Yes it doesn't," mom said with a loving smile, "You look handsome all the time."
I grinned at her and patted Evangeline's head. She looked at me with her large eyes.
"It won't be you," she whispered.
My grin ceased at that and I ruffled her hair. My mind was made up. However much I hated the games and the Capitol, I had to volunteer and get the money. Maybe I could give my siblings a better life and my parents a reason to be proud of.
"Come on, it's time I leave," I announced. I left with Evan, talking all the way, my family following behind. I was talkative, I always wanted to talk and managed to find topics to bring up. It took us some time to reach the Square. In spite of being so crowded the place was silent. It was sort of frightening, the loud silence. I took my place among the eighteen year old boys.
Our escort, Lavender, skipped onto the stage. She lived true to her name. Her whole body had lavender tattoos, like the actual flowers, and her dress was of the same hue. She had too much makeup on. Frankly speaking, she looked weird.
"Hello District Twelve! This is Lavender, your escort for the Sixtieth Hunger Games! And I hope to have a victor from here!"
She was greeted by silence. Nobody said a word. Nobody believed what she said. This was because she herself didn't believe it.
"Starting with the girls," she said and walked over to the girls' bowl. She rummaged for a long time for a slip and then pulled it out.
"Rose Mines!"
"Noo!"
A loud scream emanated from the twelve year old section. A young girl was crying there, trembling hysterically.
"I volunteer!" a voice rang out from the group of eighteen year old girls. A beautiful girl walked up to the stage. She looked like a princess from a fairy tale. So beautiful.
"A volunteer?" Lavender said. She managed to catch herself and said, "A volunteer! Amazing! What's your name, young lady?"
"Coleen Mines," the girl replied.
"So, Rose is your sister?" Lavender asked.
"Yes."
"Beautiful. Beautiful. You are a brave girl, saving your sister. Little Rose, you are really lucky."
Coleen gave her a small smile. She wasn't even trying, but she was very charming.
Lavender had moved on to the boys' bowl. Her hand hovered over it for a while before she dug in and pulled out a name.
"Jamie Samue-"
"I volunteer!" I cried and ran onto the stage.
Lavender was shocked, her eyes wide. The whole district was shocked.
"Do we have… another volunteer?" Lavender asked.
I nodded. "Yes. The name's Coal Telve and I will try my best to return."
Nobody applauded or said anything. They looked at me as if I was mad. My parents were crying, I could see them do so. Lavender gained control of herself again.
"So these are this year's tributes! Coleen Mines and Coal Telve!"
We shook hands. Her gaze was hard as if weighing me. I grinned at her.
"Care to have an apple?"
She was startled by it. "What?!"
"Nothing," I replied and grinned.
I was lead to the Justice Building after that. The seats were too comfortable, I was not used to so much comfort. The walls had many paintings. After a while the door burst open and in came my family.
"Why?!" my mother wailed as she took me in her arms. My father took us in his embrace too. I wanted to stay like that forever, in my family's safe and loving arms. But then Sarah repeated mother's question.
"I want a better life for you guys," I replied, "I don't want to remain poor anymore."
"This is ridiculous," dad said.
"This is important dad. A better life for them. For all of us! A life in the Victor's Village!"
"Well then, make shoore you come back alive," Evan muttered.
"Sure," I corrected.
He narrowed his eyes at that. Evangeline hugged me.
"Win, okay?"
I smiled at her.
"Definitely!"
She produced a photograph from her pocket and gave it to me. It was a family photo, very old, but a family photo all the same. I hugged her and whispered a thanks in her ears.
A Peacekeeper came in to tell us that the time was up. My family hugged me one last time and then they left. I slumped back on my seat, hoping that I wouldn't have to regret my decision.
Coleen Mines' POV
Abigail hugged me really tightly while my mother and Rose cried together. Their wailing was annoying me now.
"Stop it you two," I said. They became quiet but their sobbing continued. I sighed. Abigail handed a small arrow to me.
"You are a hunter," he said, "Always remember that."
I nodded and pocketed my token. I was hoping that I could alter my decision. However, it was too late now.
"Time's up!" a Peacekeeper came in and said. All of them hugged me again and left. Despite everything, I was glad that the ladies left. I could not handle the wailing anymore. I sat down and set my mind to work.
Before anything else, I request you, please don't kill me. I know Coleen has similarities with… someone we all know but there is a reason for that. It will be revealed later on. I want to thank Santiago. Poncini20 for these tributes. And 54 reviews? Wow, I never thought I would get so many. Thank you so much all of you!
To We're All Okay: It's all right. Silver is a great character! I loved writing about him. It's great that you like Carmen too.
To Mistycharming: I'm glad you liked him so much. Thank you for your review.
To WizardDemigodGladerGatekeeper: I love long reviews! Thank you! I am glad you liked Silver. And I was smiling too when I read that Gold won the Fifty Seventh Games. :)
To Santiago. Poncini20: Thank you! I am glad you liked Silver so much! Here is D12, just as you asked for.
To Seahorse8: Thank you for your review. I don't know how far they'll make it but I am glad you liked them both.
To Mystical Pine Forest: Well Carmen is a good character. Glad I was able to write her without messing up. It's great to see that you like Silver so much.
To Sakura-Fiction: Yes, the Careers are pretty good. Thank you for reviewing! I will write D5 soon.
To EverlastingImpression: I was waiting for someone to say something about Silver and Carmen's sister, Silver! Glad you noticed. And thank you for the review, I really love long reviews! :) I am glad you liked them so much! Wow, Silver has gained a lot of popularity, hasn't he?
To CreativeAJL: Thank you again for a long review. :) I am glad you liked him so much. As to how they will interact… hehehe. Wait and watch!
Have a good day everyone!
