District 11
There was only a slim chance of being reaped...
Four Hundred Thousand people in one District. The chances being reaped were small...
One thousand to one...
Cane had his back against the wall of the District 11 Justice Building room they sent him to. Unlike a lot of the other Justice Buildings around Panem, this one was more run down and didn't have many of the fancy elements and pzazz of the other ones. Not even any windows. The set of grey bricks used to build the place reflected Canes mood.
He was feeling a combination of anger, confused and sadness. His life seemed to be in a state of turmoil
Soon, the door opened and his sister entered the room. Once she entered the room, Cane dropped down and had begun to tearfully sob. His sister quickly rushed over to him and hugged him.
His sister held him tightly before beginning to sob too. Besides their grandfather, they were all they had after their parents had passed away.
After that though, he sat in another chair and watched as the two siblings cried. Eventually, the sad mood slowly dwindled and they were left in a remaining silence.
Cane honestly couldn't believe what was happening. He was confused, but also angered about the results. He didn't expect to go into the games nor did he want to. Even with that, he thought Duncan would've volunteered. What kind of friend was Duncan to not have volunteered for him?!
However, he pushed that thought over to the sides as he looked back to his sister. Both his grandfather and his sister looked upset. both ready to continue crying. However they held on and just waiting for Cane to say something.
Well before Cane could even go there, the last guest entered the room. This was Duncan. He also gave a pretty distressed look as he made his way to the room.
"C-Cane?" He said as he rushed over to his friend.
It took a few moments for him to respond but eventually Cane glared up at his friend. "Why couldn't you have volunteered for me? Huh?" He questioneed his friend who only stepped back, shocked that his friend was so upset.
"V-Volunteer? Why would I have done that-," He began.
"I thought we were friends! You were supposed to jump in for me!" Cane yelled at his friend.
Duncan balled his fist and grit his teeth. "You! WHAT IN ME TOLD YOU I WAS JUST GOING TO WALTZ IN AND TAKE YOUR PLACE! I MAY BE YOUR FRIEND BUT I'M NOT CRAZY!" He yelled. However Duncan calmed down, quickly feeling embarrassed about that little outburst.
"C-Cane... I have family to take care of and protect. I can't just abandon them without thinking." He recoiled calmly.
This couldn't help the situation though. "Duncan, I have a family too! Why do you think I want to stay!" He yelled back.
"Cane! Stop being so damn selfish! UGH!" Duncan angrily left moments later.
His grandfather sat in the chair across from Cane and only shook his head. "Hey, Cane... You mind if I tell you some important things before you go." He began.
Cane didn't really respond. Cane breathed out, still fuming with anger. However his Grandfather just decided it'd be best to continue on.
"I need you to immediately get out of their and stay away from the cornucopia. If you do-,"
"Yeah yeah. Run away. What good will that do me? I'll just die anyways." He claimed, yelling louder than he meant.
His grandfather only sighed. "Yeah but you'll stand a better chance running away." He explained.
"You're just going to tell me things I already know. And I already know that anyways I try I'm probably going to die in the end anyways." He said.
He looked back at his grandfather who just shook his head.
"Trust me. I believe in you. Love you." He said as he got up to leave. Though before he exited the room though, he gave him a sad good luck and left. His sister also began to leave. Though she did so without saying anything. She just turned around once and then she was gone.
For a moment Cane just thought to himself, still a little angry. However once those thoughts faded from his head he felt emotions building up.
I... I just...
District 1
The sun rose around the diamond mining District. Reapings began quite early in District 1, but even at the brisk of dawn the excitement for the games remained quite high as people gathered into the District 1 reaping square. Of course, District 1, 2 and 4 reapings weren't exactly like the other Districts, annually having teens train in order to volunteer and participate in the games themselves. Because of this, District 1 annually had the best tributes in the games and thus lasted the longest. They also had the second most amount of tributes, right behind District 2.
One of the largest questions looming over the rich District were about the tributes this year. Not all knew who they'd be this year and many were anxious to see if they'd be having a new victor this year.
The upbeat feeling continued to the District square, where everyone was either discussing the volunteers or just upbeat about they day and what people were going to be doing.
Eventually the usual reaping things happened. The mayor walked up, read off the treaty of treason and introduced the District escort. Optare Peru was the District escort for the District as he had been for many years now. Though during that time he hadn't exactly seen District 1 with another victor. He was hoping this year would be that year.
"Greetings District 1. I hope you're excited for this years games because I believe this year will be the year." He announced with fierceness in his voice.
The crowd really didn't react much as they stood in silence but there was a small applause in the back. Optare took this opportunity to go out and reap the first name, starting with the females. He didn't even bother taking his time, rushing to pull out a name as in the long run the reaped name usually didn't amount to much in the career District.
"Amilia Sovarus." He announced the female name.
The name of the female announced was familiar. She was a 14 year and a pretty popular girl in school. At school and around District 1 she was known for being quite kind and naive but still a great person to hang around. In any case, you wouldn't expect this girl to last longer than the bloodbath.
She gracefully proceeded from the 14 year old girls portion of the square and found herself moving up the stage. She was silent and had a slight smile written all over her face. She hadn't even finished stepping foot on the stage when she turned her head towards the crowd, expecting Optare to begin the volunteering process.
"Oh." He smiled, realizing the girl already wanted him to do the go ahead. "Do we have any volunteers?" He asked.
In less than a second, a hand was raised in the far back. "I volunteer!" A girl shouted.
As expected, District 1 had somebody ready to replace the reaped tribute and volunteer to jump straight into the action of the Hunger Games. The girl that had volunteered stepped out of her section soon and revealed herself. The girl was very tall, standing out far more than many of the other girls in the section of 16 year olds. She had a bright blonde hair that shone brightly in the daytime sun.
She walked through the crowd, towards the steps of the stage. The girl who had originally been reaped made her way back down the steps. On the way she gave an elbow nudge of good look to the career.
Diamond grinned as she made her way to the steps.
"Oh. What a lovely young lady we have here. Now what's your name?" Optare asked the girl, handing her the microphone.
"Diamond Fletcher. 16." She announced to the nation.
Her age was a surprising fact. Most volunteers usually waited until they were either 17 or 18 to try for the games, knowing that they'd be in their prime around that time. Something seemed to interest the District 1 crowd when it came to this girl. She had already made it to the true games as a career at such a young age...
With the first volunteer set into place, Optare went forwards and pulled out a second name. A form of silence grew over the district as he went to read the next name. Who would volunteer next...
"Terry Yunko." He announced the second name.
This boy was a little bit older than the girl that had been called a second ago. The boy in question suddenly looked upwards hearing his name be called. He was a little terrified but felt a lot more excitement over their still was the volunteer male but he humored the thought anyways.
Quickly, he began moving his way out of the 16 year old section of the Square. It was at this moment everyone got a good look at the teen. He was quite tall and much paler than a lot of other residents in District 1. He was dressed in a more casual wear compared to the other teens in the square who were all dressed in very formal wear.
He made his way up to the stage, through the crowds and eventually he found himself up on the stage with Optare and the girl that had just volunteered.
"Now. Any volunteers?" Optare quickly asked.
A large silence loomed over the District, waiting for the hand to raise, and a volunteer to come out from behind and announce that he was taking the place of the teen on stage. Terry looked on, starting to get a little bored with how long it was taking. Somebody in the back coughed.
"Are there any volunteers?" Optare asked. The silence remained. "No?" He asked.
Optare took a deep breath and looked over to the teen that had his name reaped. Unlike what he had expected, he didn't despair or start crying or... Well anything that could likely happen in a situation like this. Matter of fact he actually half grinned at the escort. "Well District 1. The tributes for the 97th Annual Hunger Games. Diamond and Terry." He announced to the District.
There was an applause as Optare motioned the two tributes to shake hands.
Terry quickly extended his hand to Diamond. Diamond recoiled for a moment but shook hands with the boy after a moment...
There was something going on here...
District 10
So squeezed between District 9 and District 11 was District 10. A slightly impoverished land with a lot for herding and raising things like cattle. One of the most important Districts in the food District groups. It was also slowly turning into one of the most rebellious. The Districts resentment for the Capitol had all but grown in the years as had all of the others, however this one was more fiery.
Not too long ago, there was a rumor spreading around that a revolt was being planned somewhere in the District which led to the District 10 Sullivan ranch Massacre. It was made especially clear by how it was carried out and the targets (All innocents, including women and children) that this was just a warning shot for the District.
With the Hunger Games coming up soon, the tensions would most likely only continue to grow.
The District escort, a young lady named Lilac, exited the Justice Building. She gave a halfway disgusted look as she looked around. The omnipresent stench of the workers in District 10 made the whole place almost unbearable to her. Being relatively new to the escort job, a only starting this job recently with the 93rd games, she was still trying to process the whole thing.
The Districts were far different than the Capitol. Very in fact...
Nobody smiled. Nothing was really clean. A dark cloud of defeat seemed to hang over the people in all of the Districts she had seen. In fact, it seemed 10 was just getting ready to implode on itself.
She already knew the crowd over here resented her. She could actually feel herself mirroring that resentment back at them. Though where she stood, she could kind of understand that pain. The pain of having to lose so much every year and for very little.
However, she shook her head. She didn't want to dwell on it at the moment because it could interfere with her performance.
The mayor had just finished reading the treaty of treason and was getting ready to introduce her once more, however Lilcac just took to the mic and began talking.
"Whatever. Welcome District 10 the the 97th Annual Hunger Games reaping. May the odds be forever in your favor." She said to the crowd.
After some quick thinking, she reached over the the bowl that held the names of all the male tributes. She stuck her hand in the bowl before eventually pulling out the name of the would be male tribute.
"And the District 10 Male for the 97th Annual Hunger Games is... Victor Delaney." She announced to the crowd, looking up to see the reaction.
Soon, heads began to turn towards the front of the crowd all until it became obviously clear who this victor kid was. Almost all the way in the front of the 12 year old section was a boy with slicked back, dark reddish hair. Mortified, he looked around at the kids surrounding him. They all moved out of the way so he could make his way up to the stage, however he didn't even move. He just stood still. His body refusing to move.
A few moments later, a few peacekeepers came marching down the aisle in an attempt to get the boy moving and right when it seemed like there'd be a fight, he dashed towards the stage in fear.
Lilac took a deep breath. She ignored the kid on stage, now starting to sob as the crowd groaned with agony. Matter of fact, down on the floor beneath some kids were harassing and even pushing the peacekeepers. It seemed they were willing to initiate a fight. However, Lilac couldn't allow a riot at the current moment so she quickly moved over to grab the next name. Matter of fact she didn't even bother waiting. She quickly pulled out the first female name should grab out and read it out as quickly and as loud as necessary.
"Corrita Reeks." She quickly read off the name, almost in a desperate shout. This thankfully stopped the teens and peacekeepers from going at it.
Now about the girl...
Slowly but shortly the location of this girl became obvious. She was near the back of the 15 year old section for the females. She seemed to be hyperventilating, to the point where you could hear her panicking from far off.
It was a pathetic but understandable sight to say the least. Before any move could be made though...
"I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" A voice shouted from far off.
Now all at once all heads quickly turned to the back of the crowd, where the 18 year olds were standing. This girl had her hand raised, before standing out of the crowd. The girl had shoulder length jet black hair, a slim but muscular body to compliment that and overall had a very definite tone to herself. She looked quite anxious, but also fierce at the same time. People would probably question what this girl was doing, volunteering like this. More people would probably not question it because... Well she looked quite serious just from first impressions.
"O-Oh. A-A volunteer? 10 hasn't had these in a-a while I guess." Even Lilac was a bit baffled by this.
In all of her career she never expected this to happen. No less in run down place like 10. She looked over to the girl, who was now marching her way towards her. Lilac only gave a face of curiosity as she stood up on the stage with her and Victor.
"So... Your name is-," She began to ask, handing over her mic.
"Bailey Montgomery." She turned back towards the crowd and announced.
To few, that name could be quite familiar. The surname of a peacekeeper in all. No doubt, she was most likely an offspring.
"Hm. Well... District 10, your tributes for the 97th Annual Hunger Games." Lilac nodded to the crowd.
There was a small but short applause in the back, and then the reapings had concluded in District 10.
District 3
A light rain began as teens made their way towards the District 3 reaping. District 3 was easily the least impressive out of the big 4. Slowly, the place had started to become less than stable and it seemed like soon District 3 would be having its own insurgency. However, all of that would be forgotten for the time being. The feared. The dreaded. The day nobody looked forward to and the days that'd follow... The annual Hunger Games reaping.
District 3 hadn't had a victor in many years. Last victory was Lex, who won the 79th Hunger Games through a series of good luck. To be fair, she was actually one of the few stable Hunger Games victors which was most likely because she hadn't seen much of her own games. She hid away for much of it.
That aside, District 3 as a whole really wasn't looking forward to the reapings and what would soon come after.
The day began with all of the teens eligible for reapings gathering into the District square. After that the reapings went on as usual. The mayor came up, welcomed the crowd, read off the Treaty of Treason and introduced the district escort.
This year District 3 had a new one. Ingua Caligula, who was completely new to the whole escorting thing and thus was pretty nervous upon jumping on stage and introducing herself.
"H-Hello I'm... Uh, Ingua Caligula. I-I can't wait to see what this Dis-, District 3 can offer." She also spoke very quickly, making it almost impossible to hear what she had said.
Shaking a bit, she went over to the reaping bowl for the females and began to pull out a name.
"Ladies first, I guess." She steadily began.
In an instant, she pulled out the name for who was to become the female tribute for the games.
"And our f-female tribute for the 97th Annual Hunger Games is, uh, Henrietta Sweep!" She announced, stumbling over herself a bit as she said that.
In the back of the 17 year old section, there was a gasp. Henrietta had not seen this coming. However, she knew she should've. Ever since her parents had divorced and she and her mother had moved to the outskirts of the District, Henrietta was always taking tessarae for the sake of her family.
She gave a disappointed growl, looking up at all the faces now facing her before moving her way through them, even shoving a few of them. However, she wasn't angry. In fact her reaction was more of a numbness. As if she had accepted her fate without any if no problem.
Their was an eeriness to how cold she was as she made her way through the formal crowd. She looked up when she made her way up to the steps and climbed up and stood near Ingua. Ingua didn't even say a word or look at the girl she had just reaped. She just went ahead and quickly pulled out the name for the male tribute.
"And o-our male tribute for th-this years games is... Uh, Deacon Bloomrich. She announced.
There was a small growl in the middle of the 18 year old male section, which was where all the heads began turning towards a particular boy. He took a deep breath and gave out a sigh. He balled his fist, but didn't show any real signs of anger. After that, he put his hands in his pockets and began moving towards the stage in a quiet manner.
However, it was clear from the look on his face that he wasn't exactly excited. He was upset. Angered even. 18 years old, he even had plans in life. Yet today he had been reaped for the games. They were going to take all of that away from him forcibly. Whether he wanted it or not.
He stood up on the stage with the district escort and his District partner. He looked at both of them with uninterested. However, he looked back at the crowd once Ingua announced them to the crowd.
Only a select few applauded and at once they were both escorted into the Justice Building.
Capitol
Alone in his office, President Ramia readjusted his glasses as he reviewed the reapings from across the Districts. He usually didn't pay attention to the reapings but with the previous games... He wasn't going to let anything suspicious get right past him.
He was paying close attention to the way each soon to be tribute acted and moved. Keeping track of any hints of rebellion or something close to that.
Soon his secretary entered the room, confusion on her face.
"You've been in here for the past hour rewatching these reapings? Seriously, what are you trying to accomplish?" She asked.
"frugalis, you should understand above all people that I work with that the Districts aren't going to stay under our thumbs for much longer. Considering last year, there's a chance that they'll strike in the games again considering the large audience." Ramia scratched his hair.
Frugalis only rolled her eyes and sat next to him. "That doesn't excuse you, President." She reminded him.
He gave her an annoyed glare but he chuckled at her before turning his attention back to the television screens. "This is the best we can do until the Districts also hand over the footage of their goodbyes."
They sat their and watched each reapings and studied each person extensively.
"The girl from 2. Yeah, I think she could be up to something. I'm sure she just killed somebody on screen." Frugalis watched in horror as the girl threw a knife across the screen, a bone chilling scream echoing in the background.
"Possibly. However, no rebel would want to give too much attention to themselves would they? They should know after the last game that we're onto them." Ramia sat back.
He looked over to District 1. The boy their seemed clearly nonchalant about having no volunteer. District 1 always had a volunteer so it confused Ramia as to why this year was not only different, but the boy didn't even seem to care.
"He could be just cocky." Frugalis suggested. Ramia understood that was probably truth but he was cautious about every single one of the tributes.
District 4, 8 and 11 all had volunteers, two of which didn't seem to have much combat experience. The girl from 4 was kind of mysterious and Ramia didn't plan on straying away from the possibilities... but the fourteen year old from 8 and the thirteen year old from 11 had him a little curious.
He wondered... The possibilities...
"Riyal Sunbal!"
"Sunbal..." Frugalis said to herself..
"What about it?"
Ramia looked over at her, questioning her when suddenly she jumped up.
"Don't we have some avoxs station here with that last name?." She asked. When the President could not answer her directly she quickly stood up and left the room.
In only a few seconds she came back with a specific list of avox's in the Capitol and pointed to a few.
"Hm. I can see where you're suspicious but keep in mind, it could also be a pretty common surname." He said. He gazed over at the television screen and watched the girl quietly make her way to the stage.
Frugalis only looked over at the door with a longing face...
They were about to begin rewatching 5s reaping when suddenly the Presidents wife entered the room, an annoyed look on her face.
"And what do we have here?" She asked.
"Oh, Persiusa. It isn't what it looks like!" Ramia waved his hands, trying to explain what happens.
"Oh really? I haven't even seen your face for nearly a week now! Come on!" She yelled at him.
"I'm just really busy with work and the upcoming games okay." He tried explaining.
Persiusa turned around and walked out the door in anger while the President chased after he to apologize. This left Frugalis with all of the remaining tapes.
Not too long after a man entered the room. He wore an almost blood red coat that seemed to be larger than he was. His ears were quite pointed and his nose seemed to look broken. He stood out compared to the Capitol citizens because how disorganized he looked. He was almost like a District citizen and less of someone from Capitol decent.
"Is the President here. We have most of the goodbye tapes. Though we're still gathering the ones from 1, 3 and 10." He said, showing her the tapes.
She gave a nod of approval. "Good. The President wanted to look at these. Especially this one." She said, staring at the District 5 tape.
"Alright. I'll talk to you later." He said, kissing her on the head before exiting the room.
Frugalis shrugged before looking down at the tape labeled with a giant green 9. She chewed on her tounge for a moment before looking around. Having a look, she noticed that there were no cameras in the room and quickly picked up the tape.
In an instant she quickly threw the small tape at a fireplace which turned on instantly afterwards. She began taking a few deep breaths.
"Hopefully that helps." She said as she watched the tape slowly burn away in the fireplace.
"I know Oam is too much of an idiot to think about it..." She said to herself...
The 97th Hunger Games would soon begin...
Yay. Reapings are complete. Though the goodbyes will be concluded next chapter (And maybe I'll combine the first train rides along with it).
A big shoutout to My Ship Is Drena, grimbutnotalways The Fire Blossom, MessyModgePodge and (A guest without a name) for all the tributes that appeared this chapter (Respectively their characters are Diamond Fletcher, Terry Yunko, Bailey Montgomery, Deacon Bloomrich and Henrietta Sweep)
Overall a very good lineup of tributes that I honestly can't wait to have interact in the next few chapters. Sorry for taking as long as I did here (and hopefully the final goodbye chapter won't take as long).