Yvaine Oronue
Yvaine stood there in her group at the front of the square. She watched the Mayor give his speech like he did every year. Blah, blah, blah. Dark days. Treaty of Treason. Hunger Games. Rebellion. Normality. Yvaine was able to tune him out a lot better this year, because last year, her translator had been Reaped.
Yvaine was deaf. She was kicked by a horse when she was young, and it caused permanent damage in her ears. Her friend Torri had learned to sign along with her, so she could translate for her in public situations. But Torri was dead, killed in the Hunger Games last year, and Yvaine had yet to find someone who could grasp signing.
Now, she was only able to watch as Eunia, the Escort, silently made her speech, then reached over to the girls' reaping ball and pick the first name. Yvaine watched her lips move, and she looked around for the first tribute girl.
No one moved, but Yvaine saw people staring at her. One girl from her group, Ingrid, pointed at her, then to the stage. Yvaine had been Reaped.
Valeria Groulx
Valeria stared in shock as Yvaine took the stage. No way would that girl survive the arena. She couldn't hear! Valeria felt bad for her. She and Yvaine had been friends up until right after her accident. She had shut everyone out, except for Torri, who had gone to classes with her to learn signing every day.
Valeria watched Eunia help Yvaine to her spot, realizing she was deaf. She then returned to the podium and pulled a second name. Valeria could only hope it wasn't her. Please. Please.
"The next tribute for the girls is…Marien Eckings." It wasn't Valeria. She let out a sigh of relief. Safe, for now.
Marien Eckings
Marien couldn't breathe. She was trying, but no air was coming. Finally, when she saw the Peacekeepers coming to bring her to the stage, she caught a choked breath. She couldn't win the games. She was too young, only fourteen. The last fourteen-year-old to win had been thirty-five years ago, and even then he had been a Career.
On stage, Marien avoided Eunia and took her place next to the first girl, who didn't seem completely there, like she was partly off in another world. Maybe Marien would have easy competition in the arena.
Aurelie Dranson
"Our next female tribute, joining these two ladies here onstage, is Miss Aurelie Dranson." Called out Eunia. Aurelie knew it would do her no good to panic, or to cry, scream, or try to run. All she could do was wear a mask, show the Capitol what they wanted to see, and hope that they loved her enough to keep her alive.
She followed the Peacekeepers to the stairs, and shoved away Eunia's hand as she tried to help her up the steps. The action clearly offended her, because she rushed back to the podium to call the next name before Aurelie had even gotten to her place.
"Our last tribute is Valeria Groulx." Aurelie heard a scream come from the boys' side of the square. Someone cared for the Valeria girl.
Nolan Hinkley
Time for the guys. Thought Nolan. Just four name. It was only four names. Four slips in thousands. It was easy enough not to be picked. This was how Nolan had to think. It was the only way for him to keep sane on Reaping Days. Otherwise he'd have to be like everyone else here, terrified, angry, shut-down.
"Now it's time for the boys." Nolan watched Eunia dig her hand deep into the glass ball, searching for a slip near the middle. She finally drew one out of the pile and held it up for everyone in Ten to see. "Let's see who the first lucky lad is, shall we?"
Nolan watched as she opened it slowly, and read the name loud and clear.
"Nolan Hinkley."
Dahl Ledorian
Dahl stood as far back from the stage as he could manage. As if it would help any. There was no hiding from the Reaping. Dahl was only trying to ease his nerves. Everyone had their own way of doing it.
Eunia helped the first boy up the stairs to his spot on stage by the girls. Now she'd Reap the second guy into the quell, and end his chance of a future. Dahl didn't want to watch anymore. It was one thing to have to stand through a normal reaping, but this one was far worse.
"Our second male tribute, representing District Ten…" Eunia opened the slip of paper. "Is Dahl Ledorian."
Casson Scealve
Casson knew Dahl. He had dated Dahl's cousin Lucina for a while last year, and had hung out with the kid a few times. Lucina was protective of him. How was she taking this right now? Casson looked for Lu over in the girls' section, and found her rather easily. She was standing at the edge, crying and reaching for Dahl as he passed.
Casson still had feelings for Lu, and wanted to make her crying stop, but the only way he knew how was to volunteer, and he would never be able to do that. Casson was too afraid of dying in the games.
"Okay, here we go. Our third male tribute is…" Casson looked up at Eunia, and then to Dahl, standing with the other tributes.
"Casson Scealve." It looked like Casson didn't need to volunteer.
Vincent Peresone
"Ah. Almost done. Last but not least, our last tribute is… Vincent Peresone." Vincent froze. The people in his section froze too, and turned to look at him. Way to identify me, guys, he thought. He saw the Peacekeepers start towards him, and decided they wouldn't herd him. He left the group, and, before the Peacekeepers could reach him, walked straight to the stairs. He didn't fight Eunia when she tried to assist him. The stairs were pretty steep.
"There you have it. Your tributes from District Ten. Vincent. Casson. Dahl. Nolan. Valeria. Aurelie. Marien, and Yvaine." Eunia tried starting a round of applause, and Vincent was pleased when most of the crowd remained silent. With that moment of embarrassment, Eunia led the eight of them to the waiting rooms in the Justice Building.
