Grayson Urshery POV
My eyes flicker open as I hear the door creak shut. I feel the cold breeze of a snowy morning. Cindy, my sister, would have just left for work. She works at the Clothing Factory down the road. She is lucky this year, she doesn't have to worry about the reapings…but I do. My parents left us a while after I was born when I was 8 and Cindy was 11. We survived off money and stuff they left, but it wasn't easy. So now Cindy is sort of my mum.
The flat mattress creaks as I sit up from a terrible sleep. I'm still trying to wake up as I walk into the dark hallway and into the kitchen/living room. We're not the richest pair. I decide I will go for a run to wake up my muscles, bones and brain on this early, cold morning.
I hear the rhythm of my feet stepping on the gravel road as I feel sweat dripping off my brown hair at a rapid pace. I pass the row of houses, shops, markets and of course the not-so-populated Victor's Village. Then I remember. Yesterday my best friend and I were building a secret hideout in the forest where we can hangout away from the buzz and annoyance of District 8. Her name's Carter and she is the best and only friend I have. She is not like anyone else I know, she is fun and then serious and helps me out with anything and everything. So I sneak under the not-so electric fence and follow the path and clues we set so we know how to get there.
I arrive at the clearing with no one insight. It's a peaceful place where only nature speaks. I start carrying the uneven strips of wood to cover the roof of the fort. Inside we have got some chairs, a table, a bench and draws filled with rations. I hear Carter make her way through the bush and see her with her arms full. She is carrying a basket filled with hot bread rolls and some freshly hunted and cooked meat. I stop the job and we go inside and eat.
Not long after I have eaten a few rolls and a wing of a chicken I hear a gunshot in the distance, creeping closer. I freeze mid-mouthful and open a draw full of weapons. I pull out a mace and peep out the slit hole in the wall to see who it is. I hear multiple voices screaming and ordering in strong male voices. Only one thing clicks, Peacekeepers. We pack up as much as we can of the supplies and run out the door. I think they may have noticed us as we hurry into the bushes. All of a sudden I collapse to the ground and my right leg isn't moving. I look behind and see blood pouring out. I have to get Carter to pull me into the bushes where she is hiding. I notice one of the Peacekeepers hair has fallen out of the helmet and pink tips on the end of the hair is showing. She must have been the one that shot me I think to myself. As my eyes start to weaken and close I see the hut being blown up and feel the whip of wind past my cheeks.
Carter Spulsion POV
As soon as the group of officers leave I get to work. I rummage through the ruins to find the rope that we used to tie the wood planks together. I grab a piece that has been burned at the end from the explosion and quickly run back to Grayson. I wrap the rope around his thigh and pull it tight to stop any blood get to the wound and getting out. If any Peacekeepers notice they will know we were there. I find the wheelbarrow we camouflaged behind the trees to help us carry the supplies to the hide-away. With all my strength I lift the muscly boy into the wheelbarrow and all the materials that we managed to get. I then lift up the back of the barrow and start rolling it to my house.
I go around the back and unlock the door. First I grab all the goods and stuff them under my bed so nobody will know where they are. Then I lift up Grayson out of the trolley and I have used up all my strength so I have to drag him inside to lay him on the couch.
I sit with him for what feels like an eternity until he will wake. I cradle his head and run my fingers through his head brushing it and pull away and dirt on his scalp. Then he wakes.
His eyes flutter open and I undo the rope. My eyes get all watery as I see his dark blue eyes come to life see all of the world. I kiss him on the forehead and hug him tight.
'I thought you were going to die,' I say crying.
'Me too,' he mumbles with a slight grin. We laugh.
'I'll get you some soup,' I say. He nods as I leave the room.
I come back inside the living room with a big bowl of steaming mushroom and cabbage soup. He sits his back up against the wall and I feed him the broth. After he finishes it we talk for a while and then he leaves to go home. I tell him I will see him soon at the reapings and leave to go get dressed.
I walk into the bedroom that I share with my parents that I hardly ever see. I open the closet that holds all of our clothes. Inside I find lots of bits and bobs from Peacekeepers outfits and some finished ones they stole incase they ever needed a disguise or something. I pull out a pale pink blouse and white skin-tight jeans. I slip them on with some woven thongs and then walk into the living room to look at myself in the cracked mirror. I let my strawberry blonde hair fall on my shoulders and wash my face to clean away any dirt. Perfect I think to myself. And with that I walk outside to face the most confronting day of the year.
Grayson Urshery POV
After I got home, had a shower and got changed I walked down to the Town Square. It is the same every year. The same set-up, the same routine and the same things happen. The mayor introduces the escort Marion Starch. Wow, I'm actually surprised she came back. Last year the male tribute Kefler Price got so angry he threw he off the stage. She must have been paralyzed because she wheels onto the stage in a wheelchair. I laugh to myself as she wears a skin-tight suit with sharp points all over it, like an echidna. The old lady slowly pushes herself to the closest bowl and reaches up to pick a name. She can only touch the card sitting on top so she grabs that and wheels ever so slowly back to the center.
'Carter Spulsion,' she reads in a croaky voice. Carter, no not Carter. I look around to the left to see her shaking and then screaming out in alarm. She has an attack as the Peacekeepers charge up to her and put her on the stage. Marion shows no emotion. I can't stop freaking out about Carter. Who's going to help her? This male better care for her, and then the worst thing possible happens.
Marion says the name, 'Grayson Urshery.'
I can't freak out or Carter will too just stay calm, I say to myself. I look up at her and see her crying. We both know this won't end well.
I wait and wait and wait. Nobody walks in through the door. Please, please Cindy just come in, I need to say goodbye. Then she slams open the door with her eyes pouring. I hug her and tell her where to find supplies and what to do if she needs anything. I hug her with all my heart and then it's time to leave District 8, hopefully I'll be back.
Carter Spulsion POV
I wander down the road and take my place in line. I give my blood sample to show that I'm present and then I wait with the other 16 year olds for the reapings to begin. Mayor Ordeo rises to the stage and makes his speech talking about how District 8 is his favourite and how we are the most important since we supply the Peacekeepers and The Capitol with their clothes and without that everyone would look gross. Then he announces the escort. She wheels up the ramp to the stage. It's Marion again, she's back. She rolls to the middle to the microphone and then pulls it down to her eye level. She thanks everyone and then we watch the Treaty of Treason clip that hasn't changed for the last 150 years. Now for the scary part, I think. She draws a name and goes to read it.
'Carter Spulsion,' she creaks. I freeze and then my body takes over my brain. I have a fit, screaming and shaking in fear and I can't take control. The Peacekeepers eventually pick me up and take me to the stage. Then she calls the boys. All I can think of is please don't be Grayson. But then it is.
He walks calmly to the stage but I know he just wants to run and cry. I cry loudly into my hands knowing this is going to be the end. Even if we both survive and it comes down to us one of us will have to die. They tried it once 75 years ago but then the Gamemakers managed to pit them against each other. We are forced to shake hands and then we are taken away as prisoners, away from the eyes of the public.
I sit it the empty room, all alone. I know my parents won't come, they never even can make it to the reapings. If only I could tell them about my stash and then that would help them survive longer. But that won't happen because my time in District 8 is over.
What song did Katniss sing to both Prim and Rue? – 20 points
How did Gloss die? – 30 points
Who won the 70th Hunger Games? – 40 points
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? I know this took me a long time to get out but I was stumped for ideas all week. If you haven't noticed I'm starting a new story. It's a crossover between Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games. If you're a fan of these two series check it out cause I guarantee it'll be great. I also noticed that there are 51 reviews and 9 chapters. That means 8 and a bit people are reviewing. That means out of the 18 people who have tributes in here, 10 of them aren't reviewing. SO 10 people's tributes are gonna die early. BTW at the end of the week I'm on school holidays for 2 weeks so I hope to finish the reapings and start getting into the nitty gritty. Thanks everybody and REVIEW!
TeamCudgee, Signing off :D
