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The 30th Quarter Quell
By silver-nightstorm
Summary: 625 years after the failed rebellion, the districts are still in darkness. Now, the new president brings you the 30th Quarter Quell! Who will survive? Is there hope for Panem's future?
District 9: Reaping
~Sheldon Reeve~
"Sheldon! Get up!"
Thirteen-year-old Sheldon Reeve got up with a groan. He rubbed his eyes and (literally) rolled out of bed. He was combing his fingers though his pin straight hair and looking for a hair tie when the door to his room was unceremoniously knocked off of its hinges.
Sheldon groaned. Like clockwork, first thing in the morning.
A giant ball of eight-year-old-girl tacked Sheldon back into his bed. "Indy!" groaned Sheldon, trying to extract himself from his little sister's choke hold. "Lemme go!"
"No!" Indy buried her head into her brother's shoulder. "Today is reaping day, but you won't get reaped if you don't get up!"
Sheldon rolled his eyes at his little sister's logic. "Indy, if you don't let go of me it won't make a difference. I can't breathe!"
Indy jumped up like she was on fire. "Sorry!" she shrieked. "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!"
The door slammed open again and Sheldon's father walked into the room, adjusting his tie. "I thought I heard a commotion up here!" said Oliver Reeve, grinning at his children. "Stop your messing around and get ready. We can't be late."
"I still have time…"
"Rina said she would be here in ten minutes."
Sheldon stared at his dad. Crap! I forgot!
XX
"Happy Birthday Rina," said Sheldon. "And what a happy day it is!"
Rina frowned and playfully smacked her best friend on the arm. "It's not my fault my birthday is today!"
"I will blame you as much as I wish!"
"That's not fair, Sheldon!" Rina sighed, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "You know I can't control when my birthday is! And it's not something I can change either! You can't blame me for something like that. My mom didn't plan for me to be born on reaping day and I…" Rina trailed off to find Sheldon staring into the distance. "Are you even listening to me?"
Sheldon snapped back to attention. "I swear I didn't do it!" Rina raised her eyebrows at him. "I'm sorry?" he ventured cautiously.
Rina rolled her eyes. "Remind me why I hang out with you again?"
"Oh! That's simple!" Sheldon wiggled his eyebrows at Rina. "That's because of my wonderful personality and smashing good looks!"
Rina rolled her eyes again as the two friends continued on their way to the square. Needless to say, the day was going to end badly for the two.
~Maisie Reese~
"What's she doing?"
"I dunno. She looks totally out of it."
"She's daydreaming again, isn't she?"
"Get your head outa the clouds, Maisie!"
Maisie Reese was daydreaming once again. Her dream (of sorts) was actually quite nice this time. She had been sitting with her mother and father on a swing. Maisie didn't question how strange it was that the Mayor had let the Reese family have a swing in the District. She didn't question why her mother and father were still alive and perfectly healthy. She simply accepted.
Sometimes, staying in her daydreams was the only way Maisie could cope.
A gentle hand on her shoulder pulled Maisie out of her musings. She looked up into the dark blue eyes of her older brother, Silas. Why is he looking at me funny? "Maisie? Maisie?"
Oh. It seemed as though he had been trying to get her attention for a while.
"Yes?" she whispered softly.
Silas brushed Maisie's blonde hair out of her eyes. "I said I have to go now, hmm?"
"Why?"
"The reaping is going to start in a few minutes. The Mayor told us to get into our spots. See?" He pointed to the section for the spectators – Maisie's Uncle Cade and her little sister Lottie were standing there.
"Does Lottie look a bit sick to you?" whispered Maisie, her eyes widening as she began to panic.
Silas shook his head adamantly. "She's not sick, hmm. She's just worried about her big sister."
Maisie's eyes were wide as she looked to her brother for reassurance. "So it's not coming back?"
"The sickness won't come back to her, okay?"
"But what about the seizures?"
"They are not going to come back."
"Are you sure?" asked Maisie.
Silas kissed Maisie on the forehead and began to walk away. "I promise, she's…"
The rest of his words were drowned out by the loud shout from the Mayor. "It's time… for the 30th Quarter Quell!"
~Xena Yumiko~
Xena Yumiko cursed her horrible luck. She had been hoping she'd get lucky again this year. After all, it's only natural. Fourteen-year-olds didn't get reaped very much. But then again, Xena had always had rotten luck.
Needless to say, the very first name that came out of the escort's mouth was hers.
As she made her way slowly up the steps, she pondered. She pondered about her skills, and how she could use them in the arena. Realistically speaking, against the careers of 1, 2, and 4, she stood no chance.
But then again, hadn't Adina defied the odds?
Adina Yumiko. Xena's cousin. The daughter of her father's brother. Adina had been incredibly resourceful. She had learned how to hunt with a bow and arrow and how to throw knives. She had even taught her little cousin how to make a bow in order to shoot the little rodents that always wandered around the District.
But in the end, all of Adina's skills had been for nothing. She ended up dieing anyway. Just like I will.
Xena shook her head vehemently. Being a defeatist won't help me here. I just have to not make her mistakes.
Xena stood on the platform as the escort called the next tribute's name. "Maisie Reese!" A tiny blonde girl took her place next to Xena.
I can't trust anyone. Not even the most trustworthy person here.
Adina had made it to the top three in the Games. But when push came to shove, she lost. She made an alliance with a boy from District 7 who promptly stabbed her in the back at the first available opportunity. He drowned her.
I have to avoid water.
"Our first male tribute is… Sheldon Reeve!"
A dark-haired boy took his place on the other side of Maisie. A thirteen-year-old. It was an unlucky year for the young ones.
I can't let my guard down. Ever.
"Our last tribute is… Felan Hirdler!" A boy with chin length black hair took his spot next to Bartholemew. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
~Felan Hirdler~
"I'm sorry I didn't volunteer for you, man."
Felan shrugged unfeelingly. "It doesn't matter now."
"You don't have to be so depressed about it."
Fourteen-year-old Felan Hirdler fixed his friend with a glare. "I'm going to die, Owen."
Owen gulped, his blue eyes filled with guilt. "You don't know that for sure."
Felan glared again.
Owen sighed. "Look, man. I thought this would be a good way for you to get revenge for what happened to Austin."
"I don't want revenge, I want him back. Alive. With me. Alive."
"I just want you to start talking again."
Felan sighed. "And this is the best way?"
"If I volunteered and didn't make it, you'll just get worse."
Felan frowned. "Let's face it. I'm not going to change. It's no wonder no one volunteered for me. No one likes me."
Owen got up from his chair and sighed. "Kira's coming over here, man. She wants to talk to you." And then Owen left.
A few minutes later, a blonde girl came hurling into the room. She threw herself in Felan's arms and sobbed.
Felan sat immobile; he was completely dumbfounded. "Kira?" he ventured cautiously.
"I hate you, you know?" shrieked the girl, her green eyes pulling him to pieces. "Ever since Austin left, you've let yourself go… and now you've gone and gotten yourself reaped…"
"I…" Felan was at loss for words. "I didn't realize you cared so much…"
Kira scowled. "How could I not care, dummy?" She pulled herself away and composed herself a bit, wiping the tears out of her eyes. "Promise me that you'll come back."
"I…"
"Ugh!" Kira sighed, and hugged Felan close to her. She pulled him in and gave him a little kiss on his lips. The boy just stared at her, shell shocked.
"Promise me you'll come back."
Felan just nodded. He touched his lips where Kira had kissed him for the first time. I have to come back home. There is no other option.
XX
Insert final Author's Note here.