DISTRICT SIX: REAPING DAY

Juni Thiz (17)

"The Cyannelid, of the kingdom Animalia, can produce high amounts of cyanide gas when provoked or threatened. The gas exits through thirty small openings on the sides of the segmented worm and is released into the air for the offending organism to breath. Once inhaled, the gas inhibits oxygen use in cells which causes coma with violent seizures, apnea, cardiac arrest, and finally death," Juni read aloud. She flipped to the next page in her brand new textbook full of enticing information called Newly Discovered Species of the Last Twenty Years. "Wow! Chlamina, look at this!" Chlamina scooted away from her book on the floor over to Juni. She peered down at the pages Juni had been looking at. A large worm, roughly the size of an adult male's arm, was pictured on the page. "Eh, that's the most disgusting creature I have ever seen." Chlamina made a disgusted face at the page and turned back to her book. "I think it's kind of interesting. I hope I find one someday." Juni went back to reading a short article on their behavior. "Why? Cyanide poisoning can kill you within minutes, Juni. I know you get excited about this stuff, but geez. Why would you want to go looking for it?"

"Just looking at it on paper isn't enough for a real researcher, Chlamina. Real researches, like the ones who wrote these articles, are the people who go out and actually find these things and study them on their own. That's what I'm going to do someday."

District Six: Town Square

"Mom, I'm hungry," stated Juni. "I called you for breakfast about one hundred times. You just wouldn't get your nose out of that book." Juni's mom, Pam, said. "It was just so interesting! I couldn't put it down," Juni huffed. "You can eat once we get home. It's starting. Won't be much longer." Juni's stomach rumbled loudly.

"Ladies and gentlemen of District Six, please welcome your president, Natrixa Loxley!" announced District Six's escort.

Lady Loxley stepped up to the front of the stage and began her silly introduction. It wasn't long before she stepped back and began digging through the names in the bowl full of the names of the districts female candidates. Juni's stomach began rumbling even more because she was starting to get nervous.

"Juni Thiz, please step forward and claim your spot as the female tribute of District Six!"

That was when the shock started to set in. Juni felt as if she were outside of her body floating aimlessly while watching herself. She could hear some sort of moaning coming from somewhere, but she couldn't quite place it. What was that sound, she was thinking. Then, all of a sudden, a pair of hands were shaking her shoulders and she was sucked back into her body.

"Juni! Hey Juni!" Chlamina was trying to shake Juni out of her strange state of mind. "Are you okay?"

"What do you think?" Juni's eyes were large and frightened. Chlamina hugged her tight. "You should probably say something to you mom. I think she's about to have a nervous breakdown."

Juni looked over to her mother and discovered the strange moaning sound was coming from her. Juni stepped over to her mom and held her for a few moments. "Juni, whatever you do, don't trust anyone. No one is your friend in there. Everyone is your enemy. Be smart, alright?"

"Alright mom, I will."

"Listen, I am so proud of you. Be careful, and remember, don't trust anyone." Juni let go of her mother and turned toward her brother. He had a look of confusion and sadness on his face. "Oh Pan!" Juni hugged her brother tightly. Slowly, he began to cry. "You're the best sister anyone could ask for, you know that?I'm sorry I never told you that before- and I had to say it because of a situation like this." Pan stepped away from his sister and waited for a reply. "I know. I'm sorry too. Take care of mom, okay?"

"I will. I love you, Juni," he said rubbing the tears off of his face. "I love you too Pan."

Juni turned and faced the stage where the president was waiting patiently. She looked back at her brother, mother, and best friend and said "I love you guys," and began to walk away.

She stood on the stage looking out over her home and realized for the first time that that moment was likely her last as the simpleton Juni Thiz. She realized that she was now nothing more than another pawn for the Capitol of Panem to play with. Her mind was racing with thoughts of survival, of collected information on the Capitol, and several different outcomes of The Games. All of them ending in her death. The way she saw it, which was with a very critical and logical point of view, she wouldn't make it out of the arena alive. But in that moment, she decided that no matter what, she would do whatever it took to survive as long as she possibly could without killing a single soul. She would show the Capitol they couldn't control her, no matter what.

Lady Natrixa had already chosen the male tribute when Juni came out of her deep thought. He was some boy named Ronan Tate. He didn't have a chance either, she decided.

"Ladies and gentlemen of District Six, I give you, your tributes!"