A/N: Okay, now I'm excited for reapings to be over so the story can get started! Because as much fun as reapings are, they haven't been m favorite thing in the world. Not since my last SYOT when I had never written twelve reapings from about twenty-four—minus the bloodbaths—perspectives.
Speaking of which, we have very few bloodbaths. No, no one else will be put in the bloodbath, and no, I will not allow anyone to volunteer their tribute for it. I actually like the minimal amount of bloodbaths. Ultimately, it makes for a longer, more dramatic story.
So, on to the long, more dramatic story with District Ten Reapings. I have big plans with these tributes!
D10- 18- (Maxmilian "Lion" Leone)
The alarm clock wakes me with a jolt. I jump up and get dressed in nice clothes. In the hallway I pass my eleven- and seven-year-old sisters, names Alexandera and Suzanna respectively. Also, farther down the hall, I pass my sixteen-year-old brother, Tristan.
"Want to spar?" he asks. "Couldn't hurt on reaping day. Little more training."
"You make us sound like Careers," I tell him as he starts to follow me.
"But we're not," he defends. "But that's what I'd do in the arena. Join the Careers."
"Me, too," I tell him, exiting our house.
"But, you see, there's a difference," Tristan adds, "in that. They'd actually let you in."
I toss him a long stick and we spar like we have real swords in our hands. "Wait, wait, wait," I say, putting my "sword" down. "I forgot." In my best Capitol accent, I finish, "May the odds be ever in your favor!" Then we spar again until I win. Because that's what I do: I win.
"We ought to get ready and head off," Tristan advises. He goes inside and gets dressed. He gets my parents every year because I go early to meet with Erik—my best friend—or Emma—my girlfriend.
This year, since Emma and I are "on" on the reaping, I am to meet with her. I take her bracelet out of my pocket, forgetting it was there. I put it back and run to the square. It doesn't take too long to get there. Once I am, I sign in and see Emma already in her section, frowning.
"Hi," I say, and she turns around.
"Hey," she snaps. What's she mad at now…
"What?" I ask, trying to hide my annoyance unsuccessfully.
"That! That, exactly, Maxmilian!" she says. "We're through."
I nod and walk to my section where Erik is. Erik smiles and says jokingly, "Over again? You two have broken up and gotten together more times than they've held the Hunger Games!"
"Shut up."
People start to file in as the male banana—don't ask why that's his choice of dressing, because I don't know; it's honestly the wildest Capitol outfit I've ever seen—jumps on stage. Then the mayor begins his speech.
Eventually Bonanza Bonanzo—the male banana—starts his speech. Finally he says, "Ladies first and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
His hand goes in and his hand goes out. This year I don't have to worry about Emma's name being reaped. So I don't. And I didn't need to.
The girl—Addelynn Demetriu—has long red hair and green-blue eyes. She's small, about 5' 4", and she's very graceful looking. She's not very muscular, which is not going to help her at all in the Games.
That's good for the male tribute, I think as the escort announces, "Maxmilian Leone!"
D10- 18- (Addelynn Demetriu)
Not a lot of people know the truth of the Demetrius. Not many know that I am not the mother of Liam, River, Faye, and Lillian Demetriu. I can see why they'd think that, what with my raising of the four. But no. I am not the mother. The mother died in the birth of the youngest, our dear Faye. But that is a story for another time. Right now my biggest goal is to survive the week.
But the fact is: I have fifty slips in there. But this year's my last year. So it's fine. Right?
I hear a young scream in the twins' room.
I hurry to the room and Lillian is screaming her little heart out. I wake her up as gentle as possible. River is up next to us and Faye and Liam are at the door. "Shh, guys," I say. "River and Liam, take Faye to my room and stay."
They nod and River says, "May I stay?"
"No, River," I tell him. "I'll call for you in a moment."
I turn to my five-year-old sister. "What's wrong? What happened?" I ask.
"I saw Daddy die again, Addelynn," she says with her little voice. "Why did they both have to die?"
"Because, Lillian. We live in Panem," I say honestly. "I have to get dressed. Reaping is soon. But if you see him die again tonight, crawl in with me and Faye, okay?"
She nods and I pat her head. I leave the room and go to mine. "Go on. Get out of my room," I say with a smile at my siblings and they leave.
They're all worried for their big sister.
I get dressed after they leave in a deep purple shirt that reveals one shoulder but has two sleeves. It's loose everywhere except the waist, where it's tight, but despite that I said it's "loose" and "tight," I didn't mean unfitting. Put on a brown, mid-thigh, suede skirt. Lastly, I put on gold—not real gold—gladiator-like flat sandals, with a slightly heeled heel, but barely.
Then I gather my siblings and drop them off at the square with my best friend, Dru Quintrell's, family. Like I do every reaping year since my parents had died.
I go sign in and stand by Mickayla and Dru, my friends. Alexis—our other friend—is only fifteen, so she's in another age section.
"What's up, Addy?" Dru teases. He knows I hate it when he calls me that.
"Nothing, Dru-ey u-ey," I counteract. "And don't deny that your mother doesn't call you that. I heard her."
I laugh. And naturally, so does Dru and Mickayla. Dru says my laugh is infectious and that I can make the world smile.
But we're just friends, trust me, and neither of us see each other as more than that. But I think he likes Mickayla, which is exactly why I said his mother's nickname for him in front of her.
Suddenly we're talking of how many slips we have. When it comes to my turn, I say my number. Even though I have an apprenticing healer job n the district since I finished school early, I still have tons of slips in there.
Bonanza starts the reaping after the mayor's speech.
All I have to say about who was drawn is: Odds suck.
I go up to the stage because the escort called my name. My heart races for my family. The oldest of the siblings not including me is six-year-old Liam! I—I have to win. Because if I don't, they'll all die. Even if I become full of sadism in my rain of killing to get back, I have to. The feat is too high to reach for some, but I won't—no, can't—give up.
"Maxmilian Leone!" the escort calls. The boy has long blond flowing hair, much like a lion's, and a dirty blond beard. He has dark brown eyes. He's buff and at least six feet tall. We shake hands and then are taken to the Justice Building.
In there, Dru and my siblings race in. "Addelynn, you have to know I'll take care of them in every way I can. They'll live with us until you get back." He pauses. "Because you are coming back."
"Yes," I affirm, nodding. Then I drop to my knees and hug the crying Faye just in front of me. "Don't cry, Faye. I'll come home." The little three-year-old nods.
Then when she and I let go of each other, Lillian, River, and I hug. "Please," Lillian whispers. I nod.
"It could be worse," River jokes, and I smile so he knows everything will be okay.
The two five-year-olds move away. Then Liam gives me something. It's my father's wedding band. One day, Liam had been looking in the practically undisturbed room that used to be our parents while I was playing with the twins and Faye. He was looking through the "Memory Drawer," the drawer filled with our memories of them, and he brought it to me, asking what it was. I told him, and put it on a chain for him. He literally never takes it off.
"A token," he says. "I'll keep them okay when Dru can't, I promise."
"Deal," I whisper to him and stand up. Then I find myself in Dru's arms.
"Go get them." I nod and then the Peacekeeper tells us it's time to go. They all start to leave, and then Dru has to hold Liam back as he tries to get back in here with me.
This sight—the sight of all my siblings leaving and one trying to get back sets something off in me. Like landmines. So get them I shall.
D10- 18- (Maxmilian "Lion" Leone)
Erik comes in first. We idly chat of my strategy and I say I'll be a Career.
"Yeah, do those," Erik says awkwardly. "I know you'll win."
"Me, too," I say.
Then he leaves and my family comes in. Alexandera and Suzanna say goodbye and run our crying. My parents do the same, except for my father.
"Careers?" he asks. I nod. "Sword?" I nod. "Just… don't let anyone fool you, okay, son?"
"I won't," I promise him.
Then Tristan and I are the only ones left.
"See? It didn't hurt to spar this morning," he says. I allow a grin to satisfy him. "See you soon."
"Very soon," I add.
"Very soon," he repeats.
Then he leaves and I'm taken to the train. On the train, I see the twenty-year-old, Aaron what's-his-last-name, my mentor, flirting with what's-her-name from my district. He tells me to sit down on the couches with them, and I make sure to sit on the farthest from his chair and her separate one, too. Then our escort comes in with his accent. I stand up to go to the restroom, putting my hands in my pockets. And I feel Emma's bracelet.
I completely forgot it was in there.
I am determined to return it to her. In person.
A/N: Love it? Hate it? Tell me in reviews!
