Chapter Ten: District Nine Reapings

Jason Kamik and Delaney Moore

DELANEY:

I woke up to the sound of the grist mill next to my house, evenly pulsing each second that went by with a satisfying, muted ker-thump, ker-thump, ker-thump, ker-WHACK! I bolted up from underneath my covers and padded over to the window to see what had happened to the soothing metronome. The sound had already stopped by now and many of the mill workers were crowding the scene, so I couldn't get a good view at any angle. Eventually, I grabbed my robe, pulled on my favorite slippers and tip-toed outside, careful not to wake my parents. I climbed into the tree next to our house and reclined on a branch with a perfect, panoramic view of the vista. As far as I could see, some idiot had decided to put a big rock in the mill, grinding it to a halt and breaking things up enough to put our grain industry on standby for a few days.

JASON:

Ooooh, shoot. I'm in trouble.

I didn't know what I was thinking. I just, I don't know, had a weird urge to put a rock in the mill. I couldn't stand to imagine the repercussions. I looked over the crest of the hill and saw all of the District Nine villagers racing towards the scene. I could really go for a Go-Gurt right now, I thought as I darted underneath someone's front porch. Crouching down, my mind continued to wander. And maybe a cute puppy. Through the asymmetrical pattern of the fence supports I saw the other mill workers crowded around the refinery, scratching their heads and trying to figure out what had just happened.

That was a close one.

DELANEY:

Soon the workers began to disperse back to into their normal routine. I sighed, now unable to fall back asleep, and dressed into my reaping outfit- a worn pair of tan slacks and a light purple polo shirt. Within an hour or so the house was abuzz with the usual reaping day anticipation. I quickly put a leftover slice of pizza in the microwave, and as I waited for it to cook, my mind kept turning to the mill incident.

Who did it? Is it someone I know?

The microwave let out a shrill ding! and I removed the pizza. Savoring every last crumb, I wiped my mouth of the grease and melted cheese and then proceeded to parade out the door with my family.

Desperate to be the first to the square in a race with my sister, I bounded down the steep, marble steps that led towards city hall. If only I jumped the last few stairs, then I could win. I threw myself into the air, my arms opened wide, welcoming the cool breeze. It made me feel like I could fly.

The last thing I saw was the dirty pavement rushing to greet my face.

Famous last words.

JASON:

I trotted into the town square with my younger brothers in tow. I wore a crisp seersucker suit, a hand-me-down from my grandmother (don't ask) and a pair of Timberland boots that I never bothered to change out of after my morning shift at the grain fields.

My family, chronically late as always, awkwardly shuffled into our seats just as the reaping began.

"Hello! Good morning!" our escort, Izzy McDowell, chirped all too cheerfully.

"Good morning sunshine," I mumbled sarcastically. "The Earth says shut up."

"Two of you out there are the future victors of Panem," she said. "Somewhere out there are two contenders for the 96th Annual Hunger Games. It could be you," she pointed to a nervous looking mouse-faced boy. "Or you." Her beady, hot pink eyes bore into that of countless other kids scattered across the audience.

"Now, for the male tribute." She reached her delicate, orange-tinted hand into the fishbowl and selected a slip of paper.

"Jason Kamik."

DELANEY:

I woke up in a hospital bed with a head wrap on and some sort of neck support. I went to move but was stopped by a tangle of IV cords…and my crying mother.

"Honey, I…" she gasped, then fell into a fit of sobbing.

The nurse turned to me, adjusting the rate of the IV. "Should I tell her?" She gestured to my father.

He responded with a solemn nod, and the nurse took a deep breath.

"Delaney, you…you were…"

What? I was what?

She cleared her throat.

"Reaped."

I nearly relapsed into unconsciousness but caught the determined eyes of my younger sister. She handed me a golden necklace, her most prized possession.

"You win this. For me."

And with that, they were gone.