Harper Urena POV
In District Six, the weather is usually the perfect temperature for working on cars, lucky for my dad, who does that for his job. He's taught me how to help, but it isn't really my thing. The grease and the fumes make my head pound and I always feel grimy for days afterward. Unfortunately, I'm an only child and my dad only has one worker hired, so I spend most of my spare time here helping out. I admit, I've gotten pretty good.
Except today. Today the sun is so sweltering when I woke up that my sheets were soaked with sweat. It probably didn't help that today I have to visit the one person who can tell me the truth about what happened to my mom. I grew up with my dad because my mother gave me away. Dad never told me why growing up, but after talking with Riley Simpson at the bakery last month, I figured out it was because I was 'not a pretty baby'.
For about a year now, I've been hunting down my mom. I tried asking anyone who knew her if she was still alive, but no one really knew. According to them, she just disappeared. I don't know where she could have went, or why. But I will find her. I have to, because I want closure on my past and to hear the words from her.
"Harper!" My father calls from the next room over. "Make sure you're back in time to get ready!" For what, he doesn't have to say. Today is the annual Reaping, and I have my name in twice this year.
"Okay Dad!" I answer, pulling on a shirt, my favorite worn jeans, and boots. Then I walk out of the door and towards the merchants' side of town. There's those of us who make cars and those of us who are merchants here in District Six. No in-between. Near the Grocer's are a pair of benches where I asked her to meet me. She's sitting there, anxiety flowing off of her in waves so strong I can feel them knocking me back from here.
When I sit down next to her, she turns to me. She looks so different from me- short blonde hair, brown eyes, complete with flawless skin. Instead, I have my long black hair that I never cut, freckles unevenly drawn on my face, and blue eyes covered by glasses. We're opposites, the two people you would never expect to be related.
"Hello, Aunt Carla." I greet. She jolts at the title. Aunt Carla has no kids, so she only comes to the Reaping by requirement of the Capitol. "I'm sorry to bother you on the day of the Reaping."
Aunt Carla makes a gesture. "Child, I am not your Aunt."
"Many people told me that you are my mother's sister." I accuse her, trying to seem not desperate for some other family. However, I can't stop the next sentence I speak from sounding eager. "Is it true?"
"Well, yes. But I can't help you much. I do not know you, and I don't know where Maria is…" Maria is my mother's name. I'm so close! If this woman could tell me just a little…
I scoot closer, but Aunt Carla moves back as if burned. "She is missing, I tell you. Last I saw her she was living with a Scum boyfriend in a shack. Edge of town. That was years ago, though." She glances around furtively. I feel chills up my spine. "His name was Jacob Knight."
"I'm leaving," She stands up and stretches subtly, walking away briskly before I can question her more. I sigh in discontent. If I could just meet my mother I could figure it all out…
Jacob Knight. A name is enough to door-to-door, right? Father can take me and wait outside once we find her. I'm positive I can do it now. Even as soon as after the Reaping, I will finally be able to meet my mother! With this new idea in my head, I decide to head back home. Dad got me a new dress for the Reaping since I grew out of my first one.
The front door is open, Dad must be in the garage. He spends his whole life in there. Well, I spend most of my time in my own mind, dreaming myself a new world, so I don't talk. Upstairs, someone has laid out an outfit meant for me. The first thing that I see is a beautiful purple dress. It's amazing. And when I slip it on, it feels like silk on my skin. Below it is a pair of plain black shoes.
When I'm done changing, I go to the garage to show dad. When he sees me, he bumps his head on the underside of a car trying to get up. "You look just like your mother." He tells me, smiling.
"Really?" I ask self-consciously, fixing my crooked glasses. Dad nods and starts rummaging around the messy room for something.
"Here," He pulls out a black ribbon. Using his expert hands, he ties it into my hair and kisses my forehead. "You're as beautiful as she was."
I rub my thumb over my birthmark on my wrist. It looks like a Capitol ribbon being twirled by a performer, in my opinion. "Thanks, Dad. Why don't you clean up and we can head to the Square?"
Carter Rook POV
Every single year, on this day, I feel like I'm going to throw up. The Games always terrify and sicken me beyond belief. Kids my age fighting and killing each other… I'd never be able to handle it. My stomach churns as I watch the bloodbaths every year.
Mom let me sleep in this year. Thank god, because now I don't have to spend an uncomfortable morning looking green-in-the-face and trying not to upset my younger brother. Garner, my brother, is only nine, so he still has three years left until he's twelve.
This year's Reaping outfit is the same as last year's. A plain gray button-up shirt tucked into black pants. I haven't grown much- I must look weak and small. And it doesn't help that I've got the same features as nearly everyone else in District Six- black hair and blue eyes. Our whole District is probably one big mixed-up family. Only a few people get away with other colors of hair or eyes.
"Carter—"My father bellows up the stairs. He gets frustrated easily on Reaping days. Trying not to get him upset, I scurry down the stairs and meet the rest of my family by the front door. We don't live in a very big place, but compared to the shacks near the edge of town, it's nice.
My family consists of my father, my mother, and Garner. Together, the four of us march to the center of town where the Reaping takes place. At the entrance to the blood line (to give the Capitol your blood sample), my mother wraps her arms around me and kisses my forehead. Garner hugs my waist and waves as our parents take him away. He doesn't fully understand what's happening.
Soon I'm grouped in with the other thirteen-year-olds, all of us waiting, nerve-wracked, for the ceremony to start. I find my friend Ryder through all the commotion. We both also know a girl named Lyla, but she's on the other side of the aisle with the other girls.
"Hey." Ryder mumbles, his whole body stiff.
"Hi." I respond, trying not to look like I'm going into shock. What if my name comes out of that bowl?
We don't talk anymore, instead standing together in silence for several moments before the district escort steps up and starts talking. "HELLO!" She shouts, all giggly and swaying. Her name is Strawberry Jones, and we've had her for only a few years. I was Garner's age when she was appointed our district. She wears a ridiculous dress of pinks and greens. "Today, we are going to get the tributes from YOUR district!" After she gets this out, she hiccups. As she says the word your, she points overdramatically at the audience. I can already feel the vomit swirling up my stomach.
She gives a wild gesture to the screens. "And now, an amazing Capitol video for you to enjoy!" Another hiccup, and the video starts. I try to focus on it but can only retain bits and pieces: districts, rebellion, and penance. It's over too soon, and Strawberry is moving on to the bowls.
"L-Ladies first!" Is she… drunk?
Harper Urena POV
Strawberry is as eccentric as they come, in my opinion. I can't even remember the last escort, I wasn't Reaping age back then. She half-dances, half-hiccups (she does this a lot) her way to the girls' bowl, where I know two slips with my name reside. My heart turns to metal, each heartbeat turning into a blast of pain. Strawberry shifts her arm around the bowl wildly, sending slips flying out.
Finally she selects one measly piece. "And now… HARPER U-URENA!" She stumbles over my name…. my name…My feet backpedal, shoving girls on either side of me to the ground. I try to push away from the square, but soon I feel gloved hands grip my arms. The Peacekeepers drag my fighting form to the stage, not releasing me until I'm at the foot of the stage. Mortified at being caught so easily, I walk up to the stage. My last hope of salvation, someone volunteering, is crushed as the square remains silent.
Strawberry regards me for a second before moving on as if nothing has happened. "The boys!" She does the same as she had done for the girls, fishing around the papers like a lottery game. "CARTER ROOK!" She giggles as she spots the boy whose name had just been called. It was easy- the boys surrounding Carter had all shrunk away from him. The boy himself was shock-still.
Eventually a single boy steps forward and pushes him gently forward. Carter gives a betrayed look to the boy but walks up slowly anyways. I can hear my father sobbing, along with a group of people I assume are Carter's family. When he reaches the stage and stands on the other side of the escort, Strawberry grabs both of our hands and lifts them up uncomfortably high.
After that, she drops them and orders us to shake hands, giggling when we do so. "Good, good!" We're ushered quickly into the building behind the stage and I'm brought to a room with soft everything. The walls are covered in tapestries, the floor is carpeted, and the seats are upholstered in something soft and cushy. I only have to count to ten before my father slams the door open and walks over to me. "Harper." He whispers against my hair.
"Harper, I know you'll survive. You're my tough baby, right?" He asks, pulling away and trying to smile. It seems forced, but I ignore it. The two of us sit on the bench and lean against each other, tears streaming down my face. The time passes too quickly. When the Peacekeepers come, I scream for more time, but they swarm him anyway and escort him away from me.
The rest of the hour is spent alone. My heart hopes for someone else to come visit me, but no one shows up. My dad doesn't come back in. The next person I see is Strawberry, here to take me to the train.
Carter Rook POV
The girl who was reaped, Harper something, tries to run away and gets dragged to the stage. My chest constricts as Strawberry moves to pick another slip. I have two slips swimming the pool. Strawberry thrusts her hand in, waving her arm through the bowl before grabbing a single piece and smiling in triumph. She unfolds it theatrically before reading out, "CARTER ROOK!"
My feet decide to stop listening to the rest of my body. The boys surrounding me all shrink back, making me stand out like a spotlight's shining on me. Forever passes. Then, Ryder gains the courage to step forward and lightly push me back into reality. I can't help but glare at him, but there's nothing I can do. I walk to the stage as slowly as I can, drawing out my time.
Strawberry seems annoyed at me when I finally stand next to her, being presented to the rest of my District. She lifts up the arms of me and the girl tribute, shaking our arms excitedly. "Now shake hands, kids!" She commands childishly.
We do as told. Harper's hand is clammy and her shake is weak. As I look at her, I notice she has the same blue eyes and black hair as I do. Although, her hair is extremely long and she wears glasses, while I have close-cropped strands and a lighter shade of blue. I don't have much more time to observe her, because a moment later we're both swept into the Justice Building for final goodbyes.
Not two minutes had passed when my family walks in, looking a bit disheveled. My brother clings to me, crying, and asking, "Where are you going? Why are you leaving?"
It takes me a while to think of a good lie. "I'm going on a vacation."
"Really?" Garner asks, looking up at me with watery eyes.
I make eye contact with him, then my parents, who are watching with sorrow. "Yes." I respond, rubbing his back softly. Finally he pulls away, and my mom and dad take turns embracing me.
"I love you." I tell them both. "Tell him what happened to me. At some point."
"You can tell him yourself." My father amends. "When you get back." Then, in a gesture that surprised me, he pulls off the wedding ring that matches my mom's. He hands it to me and whispers, "Use this for your token."
I can only nod. There's no time for response, because at that moment the Peacekeepers come and force them away. A stretch of nearly ten minutes pass before the door opens again and my two friends Lyla and Ryder enter.
"I'm sorry," Ryder apologizes immediately for pushing me forward. "I just didn't want you to get dragged like that other girl."
Lyla is crying openly and wipes her tears off on her dress. "I'm so- I'm so sorry, Carter!"
"For what?" I ask, pulling her in for a hug. She accepts and cries on my shoulder for the rest of her and Ryder's time. The second the doors are closed behind them after they leave, Strawberry makes a big entrance and pulls me to a car. This is the vehicle that will take us to the Capitol train.
