Reapings

District Twelve

Erin Denver (17) D12F

"And the male tribute for District Twelve is Finley Cole!"

A fourteen-year-old boy walked to the stage timidly, but still trying to keep it together. He smiled weakly at the crowd as the grim-faced people stared back at him.

Then he was in the arena, inside a tube. His fear-stricken face was clearly visible, as were his trembling hands. Then the gong rang and it was almost like a stampede with twenty-four children running towards the cornucopia in the shape of a birthday hat. It would have been comical had so many people not died within the first ten minutes.

And then the third day arrived. The cruellest day. The boy from Twelve was trapped. The girl from Two smirked at him whereas the other Careers just laughed. He was in the final ten. However, before Finley could do anything, the Careers began their assault. Within a few minutes they had decapitated his body and it fell on the ground, in a pool of his own blood.

"FINLEY!"

I woke up with a scream, drenched in cold sweat. My heart was beating fast as I panted, looking at the ceiling of my dark room. I was in my bed. Safely, in my bed. I honestly wished I didn't have to relive the time. Three years had gone by and yet Finley didn't leave my memory. I still missed him. But he left me, three years ago. He fought bravely. He went far. But ultimately he died. He died just like my parents did when I was twelve. At least their death was a mining accident and not a publicised one whose sole purpose was to entertain a bunch of psychos.

Looking outside the window, I could see the first light of dawn. There was no point of trying to sleep now. I didn't feel like getting up. A few more hours of solitude would be good.

"Erin? Erin?"

Aunt Cassida's voice came through the crack between the door and the floor. Great. My screaming had awoken my aunt.

"Erin?! Are you all right?"

"Yes auntie," I replied.

"Open the door dear. I want to make sure you're okay."

I sighed. Despite having no desire to get up, I dragged myself to the door and opened it. There she was, my aunt Cassida, a widowed woman. She took me in when my parents died, and had been a mother figure to me ever since my parents died. She had no child of her own, and the two of us only had each other.

"Auntie, I am fine."

"Dear, you screamed so loudly! Are you su-?"

"Yes," I said firmly, and with a bit more aggression than was needed, "I am fine."

She looked at me worriedly, trying to read my face.

"I want to sleep for some ore time Auntie," I said nonchalantly, "You should go back to sleep too."

She opened her mouth as if to say something and then smiled at me. I nodded at her and then she walked away. I shut the door the moment her back was turned and then treaded back to my bed. Sighing, I looked out of the window again. I didn't want to be so rude to my aunt, she cared for me so deeply. But everyone I loved, everyone I cared for, had died. All except her. I didn't want to get attached to her. What if she died too? No, I couldn't think of it. I didn't want to lose her. And if, if it came to that then I didn't want to break down again. I didn't want to go through all that pain again.

Sleep wouldn't come now. Sun was rising already. Maybe a bath would be a good idea. At least there was a tap in the bathroom with constant water supply. Although it wasn't any shower, it was still fine. After shower I helped myself to some bread. It was stale but didn't taste too bad. I couldn't eat much though. After all it was the Reaping Day. The day when, three years ago, I had lost my friend.

I tied my wavy red hair into a high ponytail and then put on a red dress that came to my knees. It matched my pale complexion as well as my blueish-grey eyes. I had a heart-shaped face, a willowy figure and I was fairly tall. Had the circumstances been better, I would have looked pretty.

I sat down on my bed again. There was still time to kill before the Reapings. I wish it would begin soon, so that I could get over with it. Three years ago I would have readily volunteered for Finley if he had been a girl, or if I had been a boy. Now, there was no motivation for me to carry out with that.

I could only hope that I wasn't chosen.

Ashleigh Micas (18) D12M

"Ashleigh! Ashleigh! Let's play the 'Princess Island'!"

My little sister Armite came running over to me and threw herself into my lap, staring at me with her large green eyes that were so like mine. I smiled and tickled her cheek.

"Okay," I replied, picking her up. she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and giggled as I set her on the wooden stool that we called the 'throne'.

"What news have you brought, servant?" she said and giggled.

Making my voice as serious as I could, I replied, "The usual, Your Highness. There is a girl living with her elder brother who is acting all adorable and making her brother's heart melt and not letting him read."

My six-year-old sister put her finger to her chin and looked towards the ceiling as if contemplating something solemnly.

"This brother is good. But he should tickle his sister and not read when she wants to play with him and also tell her that he loves her eighty times."

"Eighty times?"

"Okay fine. Eight times."

I stepped towards little Armite and then started tickling her till we were both on the floor, laughing our heads off and she kept on crying, "Stop! Stop!"

"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."

"You have done good service, my loyal man!"

"Thank you your Highness."

The smile on Armite's face was the biggest reward of my life. She was my everything; my sister, my friend, my daughter and my life. She was two when our parents died due to a mining accident. At the time I was broken. I didn't know how I would arrange for the next meal, how I would cope and most importantly how I would look after my two-year-old sister all by myself.

However, my greatest blessing was Armite. Her live, her sweetness, her childishness- they were the reason that motivated me to live. I had raised her like my daughter. I had acquired a job in the mines recently, and it payed slightly better than before. Sometimes I wished I had more money. Maybe I could dress my princess like a real princess for once. She would like it so much.

"Your Highness, did you finish your breakfast?"

"Yes, Loyal Servant. I finished the bun!"

"Very good! Armite, will you colour the pictures from the Colouring Book I gave you yesterday?"

"Okay!"

And with that my little girl sped out of the room, singing something about fairies in a loud voice. I smiled. Armite was the only one who could make me smile any time. Usually, I didn't like opening up to people and preferred some quietness. But the little girl could make me play all the girly games and make me laugh in no time.

This was my last Reaping year. Then I would be free to look after Armite without having to worry that if I got Reaped then she would have nobody to look after her. I tied my black hair in a ponytail, for they were quite long. I was pale because I was usually in the mines, and had built some muscle due to work. I was six feet three. The tall height made it all the more fun when Armite would attach herself to my legs and look up at me with her cute green eyes. And then I would just pick her up and she would giggle and call me a monster but enjoy it nonetheless.

I put on a royal blue coloured shirt over my trousers. Hopefully, I didn't look too shabby. It was time to leave. Should I take Armite with me? Last year I did but… Yes, I should. I didn't want to leave her behind.

"We have to go the Square, honey," I said, picking her up from the other room.

"Why?" she asked, "Is it that day again? When you all just stand in a line and two people are called?"

"Yes dear, it is that day again."

The walk to the Square was full of bubbly chatter. I narrated a story to her, a story about a princess and fairies and how they gave her magic because she was so beautiful inside-out.

"I want to be that princess!" she said excitedly.

"Be a good girl always and you will be."

I had to leave her when we reached there though. Giving her a hug, I left her where other younger children were and joined the eighteen-year-old section.

"District Twelve! A very good day to you. Today, we are here to select the two lucky people who will have the honour of competing in The Hunger Games from here!"

A few people clapped. Not many, and I was sure those who did it were only doing so because they had nothing else to do.

"And now, our female tribute is: ERIN DENVER!"

The girl who stepped forward looked pretty calm, except for her eyes. Her eyes revealed the anxiety and fear she felt. Her movements were very stiff and unlike the usual desperate kids from here, she didn't look around in the hope that somebody would volunteer. It was sad to look at. I only hoped my Armite wouldn't have to face something like that.

"And our male tribute is: ASHLEIGH MICAS!"

I felt the ground part from under my feet. Suddenly the atmosphere felt too cold. I was Reaped… I was Reaped… What about Armite? Who would take her in? what would become of her?! I couldn't leave Armite behind! she wouldn't be safe anywhere near these people! No, this couldn't be happening! I couldn't be Reaped!

Slowly, I started walking towards the stage. Armite… I had to come back. I had to return. Return for her. By hook or by crook, I had to win.

"District Twelve, give it up for Erin Denver and Ashleigh Micas!"

A few people clapped but it was extremely unenthusiastic. All of them had sympathy on their faces. We shook hands, both of us keeping our faces unemotional. We couldn't show weakness. Not even in front of each other.

As of now, Armite was all that mattered. I would not hesitate in killing Erin or anyone. My princess was waiting for me.

Ah, shorter than before, I admit. So here is District Twelve! What do you think of these two? I honestly love them so much; they were good to write for. And 99 reviews?! Thank you all so much! Your support is invaluable and I am lucky to have readers such as yourselves.

I changed the year of Finley's games because the original year clashed with Charles' games and I have already written about his games. Also, Ashleigh's POV might appear to be much longer but it actually isn't.

So have a great day!